Ideas for upcoming travel
#21
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,960
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Year before last my daughter and her friends did their europe trip.
They were a group of three.. and they had 11 weeks.
They had an issue as one of the girls wanted to go to Sweden and the two others didnt.. so they solved that by travelling together for first 7 weeks.... then the one girl went north to Sweden and the other two continued on..
The real issue was money and time..
They all had a long list of things they wanted to see and do.. but logistics and money came to the fore.
Sweden was WAY out of the way.. so the two girls decided they didnt want to "waste" their time going there.. ( waste to them as they were not enthused to go there.. )
You have a much shorter trip.. so I would sit down and do as others suggested and map out some routes.. you may find spending the time and money to go to far flung places wont work for you ..
Also.. since you havnt bought airline tickets look into "open jaw" or "multi destination " tickets.. fly into one end of your trip and out from your last destination.. it saves you money backtracking!! backtracking costs time and money.. so even if ticket is 100 bucks more its worth it.. or plan a circular route.
They were a group of three.. and they had 11 weeks.
They had an issue as one of the girls wanted to go to Sweden and the two others didnt.. so they solved that by travelling together for first 7 weeks.... then the one girl went north to Sweden and the other two continued on..
The real issue was money and time..
They all had a long list of things they wanted to see and do.. but logistics and money came to the fore.
Sweden was WAY out of the way.. so the two girls decided they didnt want to "waste" their time going there.. ( waste to them as they were not enthused to go there.. )
You have a much shorter trip.. so I would sit down and do as others suggested and map out some routes.. you may find spending the time and money to go to far flung places wont work for you ..
Also.. since you havnt bought airline tickets look into "open jaw" or "multi destination " tickets.. fly into one end of your trip and out from your last destination.. it saves you money backtracking!! backtracking costs time and money.. so even if ticket is 100 bucks more its worth it.. or plan a circular route.
#22
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
I enjoyed the Dingle Peninsula drive too or you can take tour buses - really remote and wild - featuring many ancient stone huts - there is a youth hostel right at tip if Peninsula that would make a memorable stay - so remote but when I was there long ago there was a pub nearby!
Dingle Town is great for young travelers in its hostels and active nightlife of Irish pubs with traditional Irish tunes.
You can also cavort with Fungi the Dolphin - a friendly dolpjin that allegedly swam into Dingle Bay years ago and stayed and now there is a inudstry where local fishermen take tourists out to swim and yes cavort with the friendly Dolphin.
https://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/home...e-dolphin.html
A great drive would go from Dublin to Killarney and Ring of Kerry and or Dingle Peninsula up coast to Cliffs of Moher and The Burren to Galway (lively university town) and back to Shannon Airport to Dublin Airport.
Driving is slow going on these roads so leave more time than envisioned.
Dingle Town is great for young travelers in its hostels and active nightlife of Irish pubs with traditional Irish tunes.
You can also cavort with Fungi the Dolphin - a friendly dolpjin that allegedly swam into Dingle Bay years ago and stayed and now there is a inudstry where local fishermen take tourists out to swim and yes cavort with the friendly Dolphin.
https://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/home...e-dolphin.html
A great drive would go from Dublin to Killarney and Ring of Kerry and or Dingle Peninsula up coast to Cliffs of Moher and The Burren to Galway (lively university town) and back to Shannon Airport to Dublin Airport.
Driving is slow going on these roads so leave more time than envisioned.
#23
Original Poster
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 9
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Tentatively how does this sound on time: 5 days Ireland based in Dublin, 4 days in Norway based in Bergen or Oslo, 4 days in Switzerland based in Interlaken (Looking for cheaper city nearby), 7 days in France based in Paris or nearby, 5 days in Tuscany, 5 days in Rome. These days are actual exploring days, I would leave a day for travel between each of these places.
#24
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Your original post indicates you want to travel cheaply, but the itinerary involves visiting some of the most expensive countries in Europe, and hopping around which requires expensive flights?
If $ is no object-go for it! Otherwise, I would once again strongly suggest visiting areas within some proximity, and eliminating the outliers. Travel between locations costs time and money.
If you go for Ireland then it makes sense to focus on the surrounding areas-you mentioned England in your original post. I have visited many of the areas in Ireland recommeded by the previous posters. We love it-the country is so beautiful and the people are amazing. That being said, I would have enjoyed other areas more at your age. Dublin is fun and the pubs/music are great, but it wouldn’t make my list of top European cities. Dingle is stunning, but remote. Traveling from place to place in Ireland takes a long time, so “basing” in one area and exploring is almost impossible without backtracking even day. Roads are narrow so despite the fact that it is small in area, be prepared by I spend a lot of time on the driving. Again, I *loved* it but it would not be my pick for this trip...
However, if you decide to go for Ireland I am happy to provide suggestions!
Switzerland/Italy/France would make a nice grouping, but 🇨🇭 is $$$. Once again I lean towards Spain/France/Italy. I think you would have a nice variety of places to see, vibrant culture, plenty geared towards young people, and travel between them is easy.
If $ is no object-go for it! Otherwise, I would once again strongly suggest visiting areas within some proximity, and eliminating the outliers. Travel between locations costs time and money.
If you go for Ireland then it makes sense to focus on the surrounding areas-you mentioned England in your original post. I have visited many of the areas in Ireland recommeded by the previous posters. We love it-the country is so beautiful and the people are amazing. That being said, I would have enjoyed other areas more at your age. Dublin is fun and the pubs/music are great, but it wouldn’t make my list of top European cities. Dingle is stunning, but remote. Traveling from place to place in Ireland takes a long time, so “basing” in one area and exploring is almost impossible without backtracking even day. Roads are narrow so despite the fact that it is small in area, be prepared by I spend a lot of time on the driving. Again, I *loved* it but it would not be my pick for this trip...
However, if you decide to go for Ireland I am happy to provide suggestions!
Switzerland/Italy/France would make a nice grouping, but 🇨🇭 is $$$. Once again I lean towards Spain/France/Italy. I think you would have a nice variety of places to see, vibrant culture, plenty geared towards young people, and travel between them is easy.
Last edited by or2nh4me2; May 18th, 2018 at 05:34 AM.
#25

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
<<We primarily like beautiful nature, historical sites, and cozy countryside towns.>>
Your itinerary sounds fine, but way off base if what you originally posted above is what you're looking for. Except, of course, for the historical sites.
Your itinerary sounds fine, but way off base if what you originally posted above is what you're looking for. Except, of course, for the historical sites.
#26

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24,036
Likes: 6
If you are driving places, I must send you to the gorges of Kakuetta in the Pyrénées. You will not find anything else like it in Europe.
However, I am just saying this as an example that you need to ask questions with considerably more focus.
However, I am just saying this as an example that you need to ask questions with considerably more focus.
#28
Original Poster
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 9
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#30
Original Poster
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 9
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The budget is about 6,000 per person and I’ll be 27 by then. I saw where people said 100 USD per day in Switzerland and Norway, is that accurate?
#32
Original Poster
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 9
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just hostel and food, I will probably get Eurail pass. It will be 100 per person, we each are bringing about 6000 USD for the entire trip, so 12k total.
#33

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
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#34

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
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Your budget is OK, but not plush. Don't go assuming that a Eurrail Pass is going to be a bargain - in most cases it's exactly the opposite (BUT you do have to be smart enough to study how to get cheap train tickets in Europe).
Stop thinking in terms of US dollars. Euros are what you are going to spend, and the exchange rate with them is what counts. Start thinking in euros. But while you're still thinking in dollars, 100 of them per day in Switzerland or Scandinavia is going to be paltry.
With a small budgt and no clear idea of what you want to do, why aren't you thinking of Central and Eastern Europe?They're beautiful, historical,and cheap.
Stop thinking in terms of US dollars. Euros are what you are going to spend, and the exchange rate with them is what counts. Start thinking in euros. But while you're still thinking in dollars, 100 of them per day in Switzerland or Scandinavia is going to be paltry.
With a small budgt and no clear idea of what you want to do, why aren't you thinking of Central and Eastern Europe?They're beautiful, historical,and cheap.
#35
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
OP-
If you are going to Ireland to spend time on the western coast, then fly into Shannon.
Top sights in this area are the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle/Ring of Kerry, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park (close to Shannon),
A good base for Dingle is Killarney or Dingle town itself. We stayed in Killarney, and there is a lot to do in that area. Sounds like there is a hostel on the Dingle Peninsula which would be ideal. Kenmare is a good choice for the Ring of Kerry.
if you are interested in the Blarney Stone, that is right outside of Cork, not far to the East of Killarney...
Ennis is a nice place to stay in the area of the Cliffs. As I think others have mentioned, Galway is a good size city with plenty to do.





