For Labor Day weekend (9/2-9/5).

Now I can fly to London for about $500, but I'm not sure if that will last. Everywhere else seems expensive.

I've checked BMI (I'm flying into Heathrow) and there're no cheap flights that are jumping out at me.

What would you suggest? If I can't use these suggestions for Labor Day, I can probably use them for another long weekend.

I don't really have any great ideas, I must admit. Should I stay home and save money?

Background:

1. London. I've been to London a few times, though I don't know that city that well. It's been many years since I did the standard attractions (like Tower of London). I'm planning to see Westminster Abbey during my next trip when I pass through London.

I've been to Oxford and Bath many years ago. My very first trip was a tour group for Britain.

2. Paris. I'm going to Paris again next week. Not sure if I really want to go again over Labor Day.

3. Benelux. I did this trip in February. I've been to Brussels and Amsterdam prior -- and also Antwerp.

4. I don't want to drive.

Thanks.

I've not been to Luxembourg. But to fly to London just to see Luxembourg?

(So I guess the Bene, no Lux....)

Have you had a look at ba.com? They have a section of Special Offers, flexible flights to Europe mainly out of LHR. Shouldn't be too expensive in Sept.

Thanks for the tip. Will look now.

Denmark? It calls to me for some inexplicable reason. Then of course, Ireland. Islands in the Channel?

I was just in Scandinavia a few weeks ago.

I've never been to Ireland, by the way. And was thinking of Dublin -- what how'd I get there? I'd need to fly (did check BMI, I think). But I'm going to check BA and see what can be done.

Don't know anything about the islands in the Channel -- but is this doable for a long weekend?

Maybe I should see if I can go to Italy. I do want to go again. But flights there are expensive (on Orbitz).

By the way, cost is always an issue -- so don't really want to spend too much for a long weekend (I'm trying to stick to a budget for $800 for hotel + airfare for my trip next week).

If cost is an issue, Ryaniar and Easyjet go to all sorts of fun European places. Both are easily bookable on the net, no paper tickets. Problem is they don't use LHR. How essential is it?
Have a quick look at ryanair.com and easyjet.com

Since we don't know a lot about your interests it is hard to advise (do those words sound at all familiar?).

But I gather it is the price of the flight as much as anything that may be driving this whole thing is that correct?

Are you interested more in cities than in countryside?

"Everywhere else [other than London] seems expensive..." do you mean innterms of airfare or just "expensive" in general. Somehow I find it hard to believe you can find many cities that are more expensive than London.

Help us help you out.

Quite essential for a long weekend, I think. Since I only have Sat., Sun and Mon -- and if I need to switch airports I'll have literally no time (and further, the flight times may not work). It's never worked for a long weekend whenever I've looked at it, so I don't bother anymore.

I do see that Dublin can be an option (via Aer Lingus -- regular flights and cost comparable to Eurostar for London).

What's in Dublin?

But I'm obviously open to suggestions. Even within the UK -- as long as I don't need to drive.

Edinburgh might work - either train or plane.

Dublin. Do it do it. James Joyce and Guinness. You can't go wrong. One of the most vibrant cities in Europe.

Intrepid, I meant the flights are expensive. I don't want to spend another $200-$300 to get to a final destination. So when I took a quick look at BMI, I don't see much that's reasonable -- but could have missed something.

Yes, cheap flight to London, so why not try to use it? (Or not.)

I prefer cities, but then I understand that unless I stay in London or go to Paris it may have to involve the countryside. I don't mind it as long as it's "interesting."

What's interesting, you ask? That's hard to pin down. But I hope it's something worth flying a few hours for. I'm interested in arts, culture, that sort of thing. I'm not interested in sitting on a hotel terrace and sipping coffee all day, if that gives you an idea.

WillTravel, I was in Edinburgh during that first trip. I don't remember anything though.

I hear Dublin is enjoying a new renaissance -- have an Irish friend and should ask her.

More ideas?

I really want to go to Poland. Or to Italy again. But I don't think that I can buy flights that are reasonable. So it'd be have to be something else.

Jeez-Loueeze... you DO get around!
How I envy you!

Well Suzie, not as much as some people on this board. And certainly not as much as that Chez Pim (taking a look at her food blog makes me <b> jealous </b.

But it helps being in NYC. I've been using the long weekends to my advantage since January of last year. I really like it.

So even if I stay put this September I'm sure I'll be able to put some of these suggestions to good use in the future.

Regardless of when it is, given your attitude and outlook I do hoe that some day you'll make it to Berlin as I suspect you would enjoy it.

I've been to Berlin, Intrepid.

Was there in Sept. 2003. I did like it. But I only had a day and a half because I missed my flight from Paris and took a later one.

I do want to go to Berlin again, actually.

I've also been to Barcelona and Madrid, in case that's suggested.

Sorry -- it was Aug. 2003. It was during that massive heat wave.

I had more than a long weekend -- I took a Thurs. and Fri. and Mon. off work, I think, so I was in Paris and Berlin.

Topping this thread for ideas....

Dublin looks doable. However, I asked an Irish friend and she e-mailed me this: &quot;be prepared for lousy weather, long walks in wind and rain, and
potentially zero E.S.P.&quot; Not exactly an endorsement. I forget to ask her what ESP is.

I see from the other thread that Edinburgh is doable.

Other ideas?

I did check flight connections out of Stansted and Luton via the low-cost carriers, but I don't see anything cheap.

Actually, I take it back. I can fly to Berlin fairly cheaply, but I'll be getting in very late on Saturday night. Not sure if I want to see Berlin again under such rushed conditions.