|
|
Post by devinlaw on Dec 17, 2007 11:16:47 GMT -5
 hey. im just starting to plan my euro trip for may 2008. im from england and will be going with one pal, and we want to do it as cheap as possible because we are not the richest of people. this is what we have in mind so far, one month away should hopefully do it staying in hostels to minimize costs places we want to visit are amsterdam (been a few times and love it) - 4-5 days paris - 3 days prague 4-5 days rome - days brugge - 3 days florence? barcelona? berlin - 4 days greece? is there any hostels people would recommend in any of these places, any advice on which cities to go to, advice on anything really??? im thinkin a cheap flight to amsterdam then take it from there by train to berlin, prague, greece, italy, spain, france, belgium, then back to england. or maybe we could invite a friend with a driving licence and hire a car somewhere and travel through like that if its cheaper any suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Dec 17, 2007 13:31:42 GMT -5
Hi, Devinlaw!
for a May trip, i'd suggest starting at your southernmost destination: Greece, if you opt to go there, or Italy, or even Barcelona. more northern locals will still be chilly in May. warmer weather makes for lighter packing. (as you see below, packing light is important)
with just 2 of you, it probably would cost much more to rent a car. petrol, parking & highway tolls, as well as rental fees & insurance make it cost too much when split between just 2 people. budget flights and train/bus fares would surely be cheaper.
- d
|
|
|
|
Post by herrbert on Dec 17, 2007 16:50:03 GMT -5
Hi devinlaw, I hope you are going to fit in Brugge inbetween Amsterdam and Paris  Or if you plan on a nighttrain to Berlin, you can also add Brugge after Amsterdam, as the nighttrain travels to Brussels first. What are your plans for Greece, you already put a questionmark behind it, so if you think you only have time to see Athens, then I think it would be wise to go there on a trip in the future. You would need about three days in Athens, and then about three for (each) Island you want to visit. So take into consideration if it is worth the effort and money to go there know, and to see a little. On Hostels: In Berlin the Circus, stayed there and would use it again. I would maybe skip the breakfast as it is cheaper to go to one of the many backeries for a breakfast. Rome: Beehive, or one of the two Alessandros (Palace or Downtown) |
|
|
|
Post by devinlaw on Dec 18, 2007 6:23:30 GMT -5
thanks.
regarding greece, we really want to go there, especially athens for 3-4 days. is there anywhere else in greece that needs to be seen? i know very little about greece.
starting from the southernmost is a great bit of advice, thanks a lot david. i'll try and look at a route from there.
has anyone tried camping options? i have a good quality two man tent that we could use if its advisable? is it considerably cheaper than hostels in anyones experience??
|
|
|
|
Post by herrbert on Dec 18, 2007 9:31:35 GMT -5
Well in my opinion if you put Greece on the initerary, you should take a look at one of the Islands, Santorini is the most obvious choice. As you are looking to minimize costs, Greece doesn't seem a logical choice, as you need to spend much more money to get there and back, and for connections within Greece. At least much more money than adding another city on route of the other ones.
Camping and big cities don't seem to go together. The benefits of a cheap place for the night don't outweigh the negatives. Campingsites are always outside of the city, so it would cost you time and money to get to the city, each day again. Also hauling the tent with you on travelling days, isn't that tempting, esp. if you want to book a cheap flight. (weight limit restrictions!)
|
|
|
|
Post by devinlaw on Dec 18, 2007 10:19:14 GMT -5
thanks herrbert.
so, ive decided to leave greece out, i'll have to leave that for another trip i think.
your point about campsites is very true. the last two times ive been to dam ive stayed at a campsite and it took 30mins to the city center via sneltram each day with the last one back being at midnight.
so my list of destinations is now looking like this for a month trip
rome 4
pisa 2
venice 3
prague 5
berlin 3
amsterdam 5
brussels 4
paris 3
london 3
now need to create a new route that is most effective and efficient
|
|
|
|
Post by pointofnoreturn on Dec 18, 2007 12:51:15 GMT -5
No!!!! London for 3 days?!?! You'd be crazy enough to put 3 days! Should be like 10 days! LOL!
4-5 nights is the BARE minimum for London pretty much!
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Dec 18, 2007 14:53:40 GMT -5
i'd suggest more time in Italy. Rome could use another day. Pisa would be better done as a daytrip from Florence, imo. you could also stop in Siena between Rome & Florence, see the Campo and the Duomo there. <they really are magnificent!>
P.S. have read that Brugge is a more interesting place than Brussel. wasn't Brugge in your first plan?
- d
|
|
|
|
Post by herrbert on Dec 19, 2007 4:50:13 GMT -5
No!!!! London for 3 days?!?! You'd be crazy enough to put 3 days! Should be like 10 days! LOL! 4-5 nights is the BARE minimum for London pretty much! Devinlaw is from England, so I think it's safe to say he's been there before. I agree with David, Pisa is more something for 2 hours, instead of 2 days. I think that 5 days should be your stay in Rome, for Prague and Amsterdam that seems a little bit too much. I would suggest this: Rome 5 Florence 3 (daytrip to Pisa) Venice 2 Prague 3 Berlin 4 Amsterdam 4 Brugge 2-3 Paris 3-4 London 3 If you travel by train between Venice and Prague, it might be usefull to plan an extra stop in Innsbruck or Salzburg for a whole day (2 nights). |
|
|
|
Post by devinlaw on Dec 19, 2007 5:18:57 GMT -5
i can go to london whenever really with it being close enough. so a few nights should do it, jus to vist the museums etc and maybe a night out or two.
as far as belgium is concerned i want to visit brugges, ghent and brussels, but will realistically only have time for one, so i think brussels will have to be that one.
herrbert - the plan you wrote is lookin ideal, im trying to plan around that one now and see how it looks
our reasons for extra days in amsterdam and prague are basically financial ones. prague is really cheap and in amsterdam we would stay with family for 2days and hostel for 3.
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Dec 19, 2007 12:05:59 GMT -5
Devinlaw,
you're leaving out a top destination which is also one of my favorites - Vienna. may i ask why?
perhaps a better thing to ask, what is your goal with this trip? what kinds of things do you want to see?
- d
|
|
|
|
Post by devinlaw on Dec 20, 2007 4:31:35 GMT -5
vienna has always been in my thoughts regarding this trip, it would be an ideal stop inbetween prague and venice. im really wanting to add it but it isnt as important for me as say prague, rome or paris.
out of this trip we want to meet new people, museums, gallerys and sightseeing by day. an important aspect for us is nightlife as we like to party. thats why we would like to go to ghent, because it has a good nightlife and great music.
thankyou everyone for all your help, all advice is greatly appreciated.
on raileurope.co.uk i can get a 10days in 22days for £175.
the continuous one for 22days is £226 and continuous for one month is £292.
the cheapest option would be 10/22 days travel as that will cover all destinations at a fantastic price yet it brings my trip down by a week.
got to say im confused which option to take. i could always get the 10/22days and then pay for a seperate point to point for the last country which will prob be france.
|
|
|
|
Post by me on Dec 20, 2007 10:24:57 GMT -5
got to say im confused which option to take. i could always get the 10/22days and then pay for a seperate point to point for the last country which will prob be france. maybe check to see what www.RailSaver.com sez? but, i don't know if it's set up for Europeans. - d |
|
hey. im just starting to plan my euro trip for may 2008. im from england and will be going with one pal, and we want to do it as cheap as possible because we are not the richest of people. 
Or if you plan on a nighttrain to Berlin, you can also add Brugge after Amsterdam, as the nighttrain travels to Brussels first.