Help with 10 Day Europe Trip!
Mar 5th, 2016, 09:09 PM
#22
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also check out Iceland's WOW airlines. I haven't flow it but recently read that they're now flying direct to Reykjavik from LAX and have cheap fares. I know that Icelandair has a deal where you can book a flight from the US to Europe (with an extended stopover in Reykjavik if you want) so I don't know if WOW has similar a similar program. Even if you don't want to spend time in Iceland, maybe bc it gets you closer to Europe you can then fly on to wherever you want for less since cost is an important part of this trip planning.
Also, I know a lot of people have noted that things like sights and museums can cost money, and you definitely should take that into consideration, but even if you can't do everything and have to pick and choose some, I think you can still have a great time.
Also, I know a lot of people have noted that things like sights and museums can cost money, and you definitely should take that into consideration, but even if you can't do everything and have to pick and choose some, I think you can still have a great time.
Mar 6th, 2016, 01:33 AM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow and Icelandic Air do allow you stopovers in Iceland, but that doesn't help much, because unless you live on those dreadful Icelandic hotdogs, a stopover in Iceland isn't cheap (it's cheaper than most people make it out to be, but still not cheap). And Iceland isn't exactly "Europe" as most people think of it. We love it, but it ain't Paris or Rome.
Mar 7th, 2016, 04:21 AM
#25
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of good advice and different perspectives provided, but here's another, just in case it helps with your decision process.
As other have mentioned, airfare is the key. If you have any flexibility in travel dates, that could save your a couple hundred dollars. you will need it
If needed, I would sacrifice a day or two in order to hit the budget. I would also either pick a major city with plenty to do, or a city with day trip options. On a tight budget, I would try to reduce or eliminate any travel within Europe, so I would limit myself to one city. In addition, be prepared to live cheap, but that's part of the adventure
For example, let's say you picked London. $1200 airfare leaves you $800 'on the ground'. You will need to rely on dorm accommodations in hostels. Now, you say your travel dates or April 20 - 30. You'll arrive April 21, and if you cut 1 day off, you can checkout on April 29. The highly rated St Christopher's Village hostel will put you up in a mixed 22 bed dorm for $253.00 for those 8 nights. that leaves you roughly $550 for the remainder of the trip. You can rely on the airline to feed you on the way there and back, so let's assume 8 days for food and beer. You'll also need to get around, so figure about $50 for a 7 day travel card, plus another $20 for tube from Heathrow to city center (both ways). Now, you'r down to $480. You're in London, you can get around, and you have a roof over your head. That leaves you about $60/day for food, beer and entertainment. Not a lot, but manageable. London has a LOT of free museums and is a pretty great place just to walk around. You can get reasonably-priced food at food markets, or local grocery stores. Not sure on what to do with your beer budget, but if you can scrounge that extra $500, you should be able to double your pocket money, which might even allow you to attend a West End Show, have 2 beers, or enjoy a nice restaurant.
again, just one example of how to put things together. But, at the age of 25, you can get away with a lot more than you could as you get older. So just go for it!
As other have mentioned, airfare is the key. If you have any flexibility in travel dates, that could save your a couple hundred dollars. you will need it
If needed, I would sacrifice a day or two in order to hit the budget. I would also either pick a major city with plenty to do, or a city with day trip options. On a tight budget, I would try to reduce or eliminate any travel within Europe, so I would limit myself to one city. In addition, be prepared to live cheap, but that's part of the adventure
For example, let's say you picked London. $1200 airfare leaves you $800 'on the ground'. You will need to rely on dorm accommodations in hostels. Now, you say your travel dates or April 20 - 30. You'll arrive April 21, and if you cut 1 day off, you can checkout on April 29. The highly rated St Christopher's Village hostel will put you up in a mixed 22 bed dorm for $253.00 for those 8 nights. that leaves you roughly $550 for the remainder of the trip. You can rely on the airline to feed you on the way there and back, so let's assume 8 days for food and beer. You'll also need to get around, so figure about $50 for a 7 day travel card, plus another $20 for tube from Heathrow to city center (both ways). Now, you'r down to $480. You're in London, you can get around, and you have a roof over your head. That leaves you about $60/day for food, beer and entertainment. Not a lot, but manageable. London has a LOT of free museums and is a pretty great place just to walk around. You can get reasonably-priced food at food markets, or local grocery stores. Not sure on what to do with your beer budget, but if you can scrounge that extra $500, you should be able to double your pocket money, which might even allow you to attend a West End Show, have 2 beers, or enjoy a nice restaurant.
again, just one example of how to put things together. But, at the age of 25, you can get away with a lot more than you could as you get older. So just go for it!
Mar 7th, 2016, 06:44 AM
#26
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The post above inspired me to a quick comparison between London and Berlin. Here are the results:
Public transport (cheapest, return) from airport into city centre:
London $16.21, Berlin $5.94
Public transport within city, 7 days:
London $71, Berlin $33
Double room in a hostel, 8 nights:
London $782, Berlin $415
Pint of beer (lager) in a pub:
London $4.47, Berlin $3.28
Taxi, 2km:
London $10.92, Berlin $8.69
Meal in an inexpensive restaurant:
London $21.32, Berlin $8.80
Bottle of wine in a grocery store, mid range:
London $11.36, Berlin $5.50
Consumer prices are 40 per cent higher in London than in Berlin, groceries 29 per cent higher, restaurants 76 per cent higher. (Source: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living...ayCurrency=USD)
So, airfare is just half the story.
Public transport (cheapest, return) from airport into city centre:
London $16.21, Berlin $5.94
Public transport within city, 7 days:
London $71, Berlin $33
Double room in a hostel, 8 nights:
London $782, Berlin $415
Pint of beer (lager) in a pub:
London $4.47, Berlin $3.28
Taxi, 2km:
London $10.92, Berlin $8.69
Meal in an inexpensive restaurant:
London $21.32, Berlin $8.80
Bottle of wine in a grocery store, mid range:
London $11.36, Berlin $5.50
Consumer prices are 40 per cent higher in London than in Berlin, groceries 29 per cent higher, restaurants 76 per cent higher. (Source: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living...ayCurrency=USD)
So, airfare is just half the story.
Mar 7th, 2016, 07:58 AM
#27
>>So, airfare is just half the story.<<
OK -- more of the story: You didn't list a single museum - which are mostly free in London.
>>Double room in a hostel, 8 nights:
London $782, Berlin $415<<
What exchange rate is that site using? $782 = approx £550 - you can definitely get a hostel for less than £68 per night. Heck, I booked a full two bdrm apartment at the Univerisity of London for only £105 per night . . . That is 2 bdrms, lounge, bath, kitchenette and w/ breakfast included. Studios there are much less.
>>Public transport within city, 7 days:
London $71, Berlin $33<<
A 7 day, zone 1-2 travelcard costs £32.40 / $46 - NOT $71.
>>Public transport (cheapest, return) from airport into city centre:
London $16.21, Berlin $5.94<<
LHR to zone 1 costs £5.70/$8.00 . . . NOT $16.21
and so on . . .
That website is pants . . .
OK -- more of the story: You didn't list a single museum - which are mostly free in London.
>>Double room in a hostel, 8 nights:
London $782, Berlin $415<<
What exchange rate is that site using? $782 = approx £550 - you can definitely get a hostel for less than £68 per night. Heck, I booked a full two bdrm apartment at the Univerisity of London for only £105 per night . . . That is 2 bdrms, lounge, bath, kitchenette and w/ breakfast included. Studios there are much less.
>>Public transport within city, 7 days:
London $71, Berlin $33<<
A 7 day, zone 1-2 travelcard costs £32.40 / $46 - NOT $71.
>>Public transport (cheapest, return) from airport into city centre:
London $16.21, Berlin $5.94<<
LHR to zone 1 costs £5.70/$8.00 . . . NOT $16.21
and so on . . .
That website is pants . . .
Mar 7th, 2016, 08:31 AM
#28
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can I also suggest with your budget consider a company that packages airfare, accommodation and transport - not a tour. For example, you could do Barcelona and Rome for 4 nights each and the per person price I just checked on European Destinations is $1430 incl. airfare from LAX, airfare from Barcelona to Rome, and hotel in each city. The hotels won't be 4 star, but also not terrible. I've used them before and was happy.
Mar 7th, 2016, 11:11 AM
#29
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did a blink search on skyscanner.com with "flying out of LAX, but back home to MSY". Results: the airfare for big cities in Europe is almost the same, and at $1200 minimum. Even London is not cheaper (unless you want a flight of 48h).
With that in mind, I suggest 2 itineraries:
- You can fly into Paris, visit the city, then take a night bus to Amsterdam. Buy bus ticket on eurolines.com, it's really cheap. You can sleep on the bus and save one night's hotel fee. Fly home out of Amsterdam. You'll have plenty of ancient history & art & museum in both cities, and night life in Amsterdam, as you wished.
- An alternative one is to take a night bus from Paris to another city of your choice, in Germany/Spain/Belgium/Netherland etc. Put Paris into the departure point on eurolines.com and see the abundant list of destinations. Barcelona is also in the list.
- The 2nd itinerary I suggest for you, if you must do Rome: fly into Rome, visit it, take a train/bus to another Italy town (quaint towns, countryside, Florence, Venice, anything you want).
I would not recommend London, as (I see) it doesn't give you advantages on airfare, and once you land in London it'll be very expensive to go to Paris/Rome/Barcelona or other cities on the continent. Public transport inside London is expensive too, as traveller1959 listed above, or compared to Paris. And London is too big for only walking, while Paris is perfectly walkable.
So at first you should look at the specific airfare into several Europe cities. kalnalcl's advice above is not bad, but I don't know if those websites offer multidestination package, as "flying out of LAX, but back home to MSY".
It's doable, as long as you stay in bed dormitories and eat streat food. I'm often on budget travel too. Have fun planning ^^
With that in mind, I suggest 2 itineraries:
- You can fly into Paris, visit the city, then take a night bus to Amsterdam. Buy bus ticket on eurolines.com, it's really cheap. You can sleep on the bus and save one night's hotel fee. Fly home out of Amsterdam. You'll have plenty of ancient history & art & museum in both cities, and night life in Amsterdam, as you wished.
- An alternative one is to take a night bus from Paris to another city of your choice, in Germany/Spain/Belgium/Netherland etc. Put Paris into the departure point on eurolines.com and see the abundant list of destinations. Barcelona is also in the list.
- The 2nd itinerary I suggest for you, if you must do Rome: fly into Rome, visit it, take a train/bus to another Italy town (quaint towns, countryside, Florence, Venice, anything you want).
I would not recommend London, as (I see) it doesn't give you advantages on airfare, and once you land in London it'll be very expensive to go to Paris/Rome/Barcelona or other cities on the continent. Public transport inside London is expensive too, as traveller1959 listed above, or compared to Paris. And London is too big for only walking, while Paris is perfectly walkable.
So at first you should look at the specific airfare into several Europe cities. kalnalcl's advice above is not bad, but I don't know if those websites offer multidestination package, as "flying out of LAX, but back home to MSY".
It's doable, as long as you stay in bed dormitories and eat streat food. I'm often on budget travel too. Have fun planning ^^
Mar 7th, 2016, 11:29 AM
#30
I like most of your suggestions - however . . .
>>once you land in London it'll be very expensive to go to Paris/Rome/Barcelona or other cities on the continent.<< isn't true IME. There are VERY cheap flights between London and lots of places on the Continent.
and >>Public transport inside London is expensive too, as traveller1959 listed above, <<
But traveller1959 (or more accurately, the website he linked) was wrong w/ the numbers . . .
>>once you land in London it'll be very expensive to go to Paris/Rome/Barcelona or other cities on the continent.<< isn't true IME. There are VERY cheap flights between London and lots of places on the Continent.
and >>Public transport inside London is expensive too, as traveller1959 listed above, <<
But traveller1959 (or more accurately, the website he linked) was wrong w/ the numbers . . .
Mar 7th, 2016, 11:49 AM
#33
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whathello: I took Eurolines all the times and, though it's not the most comfortable transport, it's a good option for young people. Eurolines bus from Paris or London is quite trustable: they have a check-in office inside the station, with plenty of staff. Unlike other cities where there's no Eurolines persons around to ask, and you wait for the bus under some unknownlamp post 
Mar 7th, 2016, 05:39 PM
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for all the new tips and suggestions! I am definitely going to make this trip work. And yes, perhaps fewer than 10 days would be ideal. That is just the max amount of time I have.
The suggestions for night trains is great as well.
And, I have no problem with dorm style hostels, so I'll look into those to save some money!
Cheers
The suggestions for night trains is great as well.
And, I have no problem with dorm style hostels, so I'll look into those to save some money!
Cheers
Mar 8th, 2016, 12:52 PM
#36
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Night trains are a thing of the 1960ties.
Today, we have cheap flights. For less than 100€, you can fly across whole Europe.
And if you want to save the cost for a night in a hostel, better sleep on a park bench than in a night train.
Cherylelise, we still do not know which country do you prefer. Since this thread is dominated by Brits, everyone seems to think you go to London (Europe's most expensive city).
Again, you must make up your mind which country you choose and what your flight options are. Then we can get more into details. A dorm room with 22 beds is ridiculous. But that would only be necessary for London.
Today, we have cheap flights. For less than 100€, you can fly across whole Europe.
And if you want to save the cost for a night in a hostel, better sleep on a park bench than in a night train.
Cherylelise, we still do not know which country do you prefer. Since this thread is dominated by Brits, everyone seems to think you go to London (Europe's most expensive city).
Again, you must make up your mind which country you choose and what your flight options are. Then we can get more into details. A dorm room with 22 beds is ridiculous. But that would only be necessary for London.
Mar 8th, 2016, 01:20 PM
#37
>>Since this thread is dominated by Brits, everyone seems to think you go to London<<
Huh? I just skimmed through so may have missed someone, but I only see one Brit having posted to this thread. And he only posted one very short entry.
>> (Europe's most expensive city).<<
Not if one stays in hostels and goes to museums -- most museums in London are free.
Huh? I just skimmed through so may have missed someone, but I only see one Brit having posted to this thread. And he only posted one very short entry.
>> (Europe's most expensive city).<<
Not if one stays in hostels and goes to museums -- most museums in London are free.
Mar 9th, 2016, 02:11 PM
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Found a deal on European Destinations and found flights from LAX-->Paris-->Rome-->LAX + hotels (5 nights in Paris, 4 in rome), for $1550 each. That would leave me $450-600 (depending on how much I wish to spend) for 8.5 days. So, it appears Rome and Paris it is! My friend who lived in Paris and Italy confirmed the hotels are in fine locations with easy access to public transportation.
Now that I have places figured out, does anyone have suggestions for places to eat, things to see/do, etc? I know I would like to day a trip to Versailles from Paris, but I am open to other day trips as well.
Also, does anyone have suggestions for getting from CDG in Paris to a hotel in the 15th neighborhood (arrondissement? not sure if that is correct)? And from the airport in Rome to a hotel near the Roma Termini?
I am not sure if taxis or trains or buses are the best options.
Thank you all for your input!
Now that I have places figured out, does anyone have suggestions for places to eat, things to see/do, etc? I know I would like to day a trip to Versailles from Paris, but I am open to other day trips as well.
Also, does anyone have suggestions for getting from CDG in Paris to a hotel in the 15th neighborhood (arrondissement? not sure if that is correct)? And from the airport in Rome to a hotel near the Roma Termini?
I am not sure if taxis or trains or buses are the best options.
Thank you all for your input!
