No not a troll, it’s my other account that I lost my password to. And I had dates changed due to person problems. I explained that in another thread. That was my last post. I just changed the phrasing but basically I got a performance bonus and got a new position at my company’s parent company. So yes I am switching jobs.

Bruh, I got to level with you, you have been straddling this "where should I go fence" since June 18th. You're straddling is so dang far that you're doing the splits. You're barely closer today than you were in mid-June.

This is YOUR TRIP. Choose wherever YOU want to go. You do not need our validation. You have spent 4 weeks asking for advice over two separate threads - two threads that people are concerned that were not legitimate (your inconsistent details do not help that, especially with the ever changing travel dates). You are past being "overwhelmed", this is just you being indecisive.

At this point, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, it is time to cr*p or get off the pot. This will not be your last trip to Europe. If you want to go to Iceland, Turkey and Greece. By all means: GO! To me, that itinerary does not make sense but you do not seem to be heeding the advice of others on here, so why bother advising you about it? It is not our trip anyway. On the other hand, if you want to go to Poland, Budapest and Croatia: GO!

Have fun. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

OK - so assuming this whole exercise is legit . . . There are nearly 45 posts on your first thread and getting close to 25 on this version and you are no nearer making any decisions than you were in the beginning. (Before this big new job offer - did your employer know how indecisive you are? -- Kidding - sort of)

Time to get off the pot (just noticed Travel_Nerd used the same idiom) fish or cut bait. Start booking things already!

The reason I made a new thread like I explained before was because my circumstances changed and I no longer had 4 weeks but have 3 now. I also was planning on leaving a lot earlier when I made that post but now I had a bit more time to plan.

Whatever, I’ll just choose a destination and stop posting.

No one has questioned the reasons you started a new thread (Lost log on ID and different ideas/dates). Totally understandable. What isn't quite so obvious is why its taking you so long to make any decisions - all the while, flights are being cancelled daily, places are booking up and soon you'l be flat SOL. About 35 different Fodorites have posted suggestions trying to help. Take some (any) of those suggestion, stop dithering . . . and book your trip . . .

Because you have so little time, I suggest Switzerland and Germany. I think choosing a few places in those two countries would make a fantastic trip, and other than flights and hostels you could go in without any other formal planning. Buy a decent guidebook and read it on the plane ride over.

I believe your other ideas are too complicated to pull together on such short notice.

And that budget would allow for accepting last-minute lodging availability at much higher rates than hostels.

I don’t plan on actually using that budget. I just said the maximum money I *could* spend if need be. Realistically I’ll probably only spend half to even a quarter of that.

I prefer hostels for the social aspect.

Good point. I apologize for that. I decided to do Switzerland then Istanbul then Greece. So 7 days in Switzerland, fly to Istanbul, spend a week, then go to Crete in Greece.

ivr booked tours and everything so we can end this thread

OK. Good luck. Safe travels. Have fun.

Also, FriendlyTraveler5, if you haven't looked already, the tripadvisor forums are very active and may help with the details of the locations you choose, or simply reading through them will offer information. Have a wonderful time and mask up! Sounds like a fantastic opportunity.

Pretty sure they already posted there (TA).