TravelJazz

@Sarge56

Thank you so much for your comment I feel like everyone means well and I do appreciate all the words of wisdom and advice... I know my budget may be ridiculously small... Im sure my mommy wouldn't mind helping me out a bit... I think the ideas about getting a temp job are good. there are some things I can probably help my parents out with that they may be willing to pay me for... I have been working to find small ways to make some extra cash for this trip... Thank you so very much for the luck I feel like I really need it... this has been very stressful because I do feel like the timing could be better... however I just dont want to miss the opportunity... Because at this point I do have the time and ive always wanted to travel... I will be sure to check out monasterystays.com although we have all of our reservations nothing is set in stone so if we can find a better deal that would be great!


@Msteacher
I will be checking them out! Thank you I found fodors after reading so many of the travel guides they have for all my locations

@amer_can
Thank you so much! There is some way to stay at a university while I am there?? I will go and check that out, especially for Rome.

@Yipper

I am in California, and that would be very helpful! Thank you!

TravelJazz

@Nytraveler

Im responding to your last comment sorry for the double reply. We are for the most part staying in Hotels. Our hotel in Paris has a private bathroom, however our hotel in both Venice and Rome are shared bathrooms, but apparently they are shared with only one other room. The only hostel I will be staying in is for one night in London. We have found some really good budget places and have made our reservations for them. According to my sisters budget We will need a total of $800 which will include lodging, a $20 a day budget on food, Transportation while there and a few paid attractions. If I use her calculations I will be over my budget by $95 which is fine... as long as I am still kind of close. I have to check if her budget is accurate... but I will bring an emergency credit card just in case but im hoping i can do this without putting much on credit.

TravelJazz

I appreciate everyone's comments they have been very helpful. I dont have overdraft protection with my bank.. but the card I will be bringing is connected to another account so if I really need to i can tranfers money from one account to another. However I would like to refrain from doing that because I have saved the money to pay bills etc. while i am not working. My parents are both aware of my budget so I am hoping that maybe they will allow me to do some work in order to make extra cash... However I do know if in the case of an absolute emergency they will def. help me out.

Cathinjoetown

I just do not understand the fascination or even interest in the catacombs. In 30+ trips to Paris it has never made the bottom of my "to do" list. Find a youtube video of it before you waste your money.

PalenQ

I guess you have to go to the catacombs to appreciate them - experience the gruesome scene and atmosphere - something you cannot get from a YouTube video - anyway I've always enjoyed them and most folks I know do too.

But a chacun a son gout, an archaic saying some elderly French still like to say - to each their own taste.

Cathinjoetown

gruesome = enjoyed Interesting.

StCirq

I agree about the catacombs. Well worth a miss IMO.

suze

<In Venice we dont plan on really going to museums etc. we just plan to walk around and really explore the city.>

Good plan, there's so much to see for free. Although do take the vaporetto that runs along the Grand Canal. The price of that ticket is well worth the ride.

TravelJazz

LOL thanks for the advice about the catacombs. I have read about it in a couple of travel guides and it sounds kind of cool. However I will take the advice and check out some YouTube videos before i invest any money/time into visiting.

@Suze we will definitely be taking a vaporetto ride, we have looked up prices and it seems like such a great low cost alternative to the ghandala

suze

It is (poor man's gondola ride!). And it's amazing. I *think* it was the #1 route that runs on the Grand Canal? It's the best "tour" you can find at a rockbottom price!

Food in Venice can be expensive. Keep you eyes open for the small cafes that have sandwiches ready-to-go in glass cases. Those make a nice lunch. Also the stand up coffee (or wine) bars along the sidewalks.

sarge56

Jazz, in Rome, there is absolutely a lot to see for free..when it comes to art, especially. Pretty much every church in Rome has something worth seeing- Bernini's, Caravaggio's, Michelangelo's, etc. St. Peter's is free to visit, as are most churches in Rome. Fountains and statues and lots to see... for free. However, DO hit your local library soon to look for some good guide books to bring along!

Have a great trip!

sarge56

PS Check these out: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...rome-traveler/

http://goeurope.about.com/cs/rome/a/rome_free.htm

I'm sure if you Google, you can find similar sites for Venice/Paris.

janisj

A quick comment just in case re your bank accounts . You won't be able to transfer funds between accounts at an ATM like you may do in the States (nor access anything other than your primary account at an ATM). You can do transfers on-line though - if you do on-line banking you should have no problem.

Gretchen

I thought there was something wrong with me and the catacombs. What a waste of time!! My opinion.

Gretchen

The REAL problem with having a VERY close budget is that something may come along and just blow the whole thing in a NY minute. For example, knowing that you can't go into a cafe in Paris and sit down and afford a coke--it will be eye wateringly expensive. These are customs you'll need to be aware of everywhere so you don't overspend.
AND that was very interesting about the one way fares. BUT I'm with the other poster who asked about the expense of getting to Ireland for your return flight. Don't think we saw that but am not sure

DebitNM

Will there be an issue leaving US/entering UK with one way ticket [s]?

DebitNM

You do have a passport,don't you?

TravelJazz

I sure hope there wont be an issue with having two one way tickets, I considered that but I figured if I let them know that it was just cheaper for me, they will understand. Also I do have my passport It actually just came a couple of weeks ago.. I was almost stressed that it was going to be late, but turns out our postal system isn't as unproductive as I thought...

@Gretchen I included the price to get to dublin into the whole price. At the time the ticket from rome to dublin cost $84 however i just checked and it has been lowered to $70 (go figure...) so in total with the $84 I was paying something like $534 for my way back home.

@janisa I planned on bringing my laptop and making use of the free wifi provided at all of our hotels in order to transfer the money... the only thing im concerned about is the amount of time it could take.. because the accounts are linked but they aren't through same bank..

@Sarge56 thank you so much for the tips! You have been so very helpful! My sister and I have visited three libraries and have checked out over 50 books between the two of us, along with rick steves and globtrekers, and europe to the max videos. lol Id say in that department we are def. prepared. I will check out the site as soon as im done typing this message

TravelJazz

@suze Thanks so much for the tips! hopefully we can avoid the fate of having to buy overpriced Venetian food...