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Lost in Place |
Hi everyone- I am a new Bootie to this forum. My boyfriend and I are leaving for Europe at the end of December. I recently drew up a rough itinerary (which we probably won't follow exactly) to map out the general route and all the places we'd like to visit.
I realize this might be a daunting task to read over, but I really want to make sure I'm being realistic about how much we're trying to see in our time frame and if the route makes sense. Also, I'm curious to hear opinions as to whether or not you think we can do this trip under $10,000 each...? We will be staying in hostels and eating at grocery stores for the most part, but would like the occasional nice meal and cocktail. Being part-time students, we hope our ISIC cards will also keep us within budget. Thank you in advance for any help! --- 12/29: DAY OF DEPARTURE 12/30-1/3: Portugal (Lisbon) > 4 days 1/4: TRAVEL DAY 1/5-1/8: Spain (Madrid) > 3 days 1/9: TRAVEL DAY 1/10-1/15: Spain (Barcelona) > 5 days 1/16: TRAVEL DAY 1/17: France (Montpelier/Vic-La-Gardiole) > 1 day 1/18: TRAVEL DAY 1/19: France (Avignon) —> Chateauneuf-de-Pape day trip 1/20-1/22: France (Arles) > homebase for 2 days • 1/21: France (St. Remy/Les Baux) day trip > 1 day • 1/22: France (Avignon) day trip > 1 day 1/23: TRAVEL DAY 1/24-1/25: France (Aix-en-Provence) > 2 days 1/26: TRAVEL DAY 1/27: France (Nice) > 1-2 days as homebase 1/28: Monaco > 1 day 1/29: TRAVEL DAY 1/30-2/2: Italy (Liguria – “Cinque Terre”) > 3 days 2/3: TRAVEL DAY —> stop in Pisa > 1 day 2/4-2/11: Italy (Florence) > 7 days as homebase • 2/8-2/10: Italy (Siena) day trip & wine tasting > 2 days 2/12: TRAVEL DAY 2/13-2/18: Italy (Rome) > 5 days 2/19: TRAVEL DAY 2/20-2/22: Italy (Naples OR Sorrento) > 2 days as homebase • 2/21: Italy (Pompeii)/Mt. Vesuvius day trip > 1 day • 2/22: Italy (Capri) > 1 day 2/23: TRAVEL DAY 2/24-2/28: Sicily > 4 days 3/1: TRAVEL DAY —> spend the night in Bari? 3/2: TRAVEL DAY 3/3-3/8: Greece (Athens) > 5 days 3/9: TRAVEL DAY —> take the ferry from Piraeus (Pireas), the port serving Athens 3/10-3/12: Greek Islands (Mykonos) > 2 days 3/13: TRAVEL DAY 3/14-3/17: Greek Islands (Santorini) > 3 days 3/18: TRAVEL DAY 3/19-3/22: Greek Islands (Crete) > 3 days 3/23: TRAVEL DAY —> spend the night in Athens? 3/24: TRAVEL DAY 3/25-3/30: Turkey (Istanbul) > 5 days 3/31: TRAVEL DAY 4/1-4/3: Serbia (Belgrade) > 2 days 4/4: TRAVEL DAY 4/5-4/7: Bosnia & Herzegovina (Sarajevo) > 2 days 4/8: TRAVEL DAY 4/9-4/11: Bosnia & Herzegovina (Mostar) > 2 days 4/12: TRAVEL DAY 4/13-4/16: Croatia (Dubrovnik) day trip > 3 days 4/17: TRAVEL DAY 4/18: Croatia (Split) > 1 day 4/19: TRAVEL DAY 4/20: Croatia (Zagreb) > 1 day 4/21: TRAVEL DAY 4/22: Slovenia (Trieste) > 1 day 4/23: TRAVEL DAY 4/24-4/27: Italy (Venice) > 3 days 4/28: TRAVEL DAY 4/29-5/1: Vienna (Salzburg) > 2 days 5/2: TRAVEL DAY 5/3-5/5: Vienna (Austria) > 2 days 5/6: TRAVEL DAY 5/7-5/9: Slovakia (Bratislava) > 2 days 5/10: TRAVEL DAY 5/11-5/16: Hungary (Budapest) > 5 days 5/17: TRAVEL DAY 5/18-5/21: Poland (Krakow) > 3 days • 5/21: Auschwitz day trip > 1 day 5/22: TRAVEL DAY 5/23-5/25: Poland (Warsaw) > 2 days 5/26: TRAVEL DAY 5/27-5/31: Germany (Berlin) > 4 days 6/1: TRAVEL DAY 6/2-6/7: Czech Republic (Prague) > 5 days 6/8: TRAVEL DAY 6/9-6/11: Czech Republic (Cesky Krumlov) > 2 days 6/12: TRAVEL DAY 6/13-6/17: Germany (Munich) > 4 days 6/18: TRAVEL DAY 6/19: Switzerland (Zurich) > 1 day 6/20: TRAVEL DAY 6/21: Switzerland (Lucerne) > 1 day 6/22: TRAVEL DAY 6/23-6/30: Paris > 7 days as homebase • 6/24: Versailles day trip > 1 day • 6/27: Normandy, Mont St. Michel day trip > 1 day • 6/28-6/29: Loire Valley wine country > 2 days 7/1: TRAVEL DAY 7/2: Belgium (Brussels) > 1 day 7/3: TRAVEL DAY 7/4: Belgium (Bruges) > 1 day 7/5: TRAVEL DAY 7/6-7/11: Netherlands (Amsterdam) > 5 days 7/12: TRAVEL DAY 7/13-7/15: England (London) > 2 days 7/16: TRAVEL DAY 7/17-7/22: Scotland (Edinburgh) > 5 days as homebase • 7/18-7/19: The Highlands > 2 days 7/23: TRAVEL DAY 7/24-7/31: Ireland (Dublin) > 7 days as home base • 7/26-7/27: Galway day trip > 2 days OR • 7/28-7/30: Belfast day trip > 2 days 8/1: return to USA --- "People say that what we are all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think this is what we're really seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive." —Joseph Campbell |
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Street Food Connoisseur |
Wow, that is a pretty impressive itinerary...although I think you're rushing things a little too much...but I understand you might have to do this if you are under a time constraint...
I personally would add another few days to see what Turkey has to offer apart from Istanbul although I'm sorry I don't know much about Turkey I'm afraid...but have a look around on the Net and see if there is anywhere else in Turkey that interests you... Also, 2 days to see London is asking a lot of yourselves and you won't get to see that much in that space of time...I would add another couple of days....(feel free to PM if you want some ideas of what to do in London). As for your budget, just be aware that in Western Europe you will need more money than in Eastern Europe. A hostel dorm room in London for example will be about £15 a night which I think is around $30US and you need money for food and attractions....so you're looking at around $55-$65 US per day... I hope that helps some....feel free to ask more questions  |
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Squat Toilet Professional |
Hey there
Wow your itinerary looks amazing - i dont think its rushed at all - well no more than what most people try to see of europe in a specific time frame. To spread it out over the 7 months should mean that you will see A LOT. I would say make sure you have set aside a few days that allow for doing nothing - just relaxing and recharging - Cinque Terre is good for that, as is the Greek Islands. $10,00 each is your budget? does that include all transport and accomodation? I think it might be a squeeze but if you try to account for your transport and accomodation and then work out a daily allowance you shouldnt go too far wrong. A lot of museums and tourist attractions throughout europe have become cheaper - some free especially in London, and in Rome the Vatican was 1/2 price day when i went for some random reason and the Colosseum and Roman Forum were free on the lastsun in the month If you need any more advice feel free to PM - also have a look at this for more idea budgets. here and here is the spreadsheet here Michelle |
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Holds PhD in Packing |
First, I wish I was going with yous... I have some suggestions. Hope you don't mind.
I think 4 days might be too long in Lisbon itself. City is alright, but take day trip to Cadiz or go to Porto (it's better than Lisbon). You might want more time around Siena, Italy. Great area! Also, the ancient city of Troy (Helen of Troy) is on the coast southwest of Istanbul and worth a look. The city of Izmir is on a much smaller scale than Istanbul and a good view of Turkish life. Split, Croatia is worth a couple days I feel. Really stunning little place! Salzburg, Austria too is charming to say the least! Make sure to find the beer garden down the riverside going away from the city center. Great time! Any trip to the Czech Republic that misses Kutna Hora would be a shame. It is a truly marvelous wee town recognized by UNESCO --> (you should visit their website too). Lucerne, Switzerland is gorgeous and so is Brugges, Belgium. They can be done in day trips from Zurich or Brussels (respectively), but are worth a deeper look as well. And from Edinburgh Stirling is a nice day trip! It's very William Wallacey up there. I live in Prague by the way. If you want suggestions from this region. Ciao! |
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Lost in Place |
Thank you for your feedback everyone! I have re-worked my itinerary to include your suggestions.
DreamerHelen, we are taking a few days to explore more of Turkey on our way to Istanbul- specifically, Izmir, Troy and Bandirma. Michelle, we are giving ourselves more time in Cinque Terre and the Greek Islands. Do you happen to know what the weather will be like in Cinque Terre at the end of January? I'm hoping to enjoy the hike between the five cities without freezing! Fugazi, thanks for all of your tips which I've incorporated into our itinerary. We will be in Prague at the beginning of June for 5 days. We're planning on visiting Kutna Hora and have also heard about day trips to Krivoklat Castle, the Nezabudice Cliffs, and the Macocha Abyss. Any suggestions? Lastly, in regard to our budget... I'm getting concerned about transportation costs. I haven't bought any Eurrail tickets yet in hopes that we could get by on buying as we go. Plus, it seems like we might be taking the bus more in Eastern Europe. Am I crazy not to be buying train tickets beforehand? I'm mostly concerned with the summer season with higher demand and possible higher costs... "People say that what we are all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think this is what we're really seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive." —Joseph Campbell |
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Squat Toilet Professional |
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Lost in Place |
For anyone who's interested in checking out our itinerary (we made it work at $10,000 each for 7 months), please check out our blog:
http://www.brianandrachel.blogspot.com "People say that what we are all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think this is what we're really seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive." —Joseph Campbell |
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Lost in Place |
A couple of thoughts:
- Spain - You're focusing on the two largest cities (Madrid and Barcelona) and though I love Barcelona, I think there's a lot to see in the smaller towns. Sevilla and Grenada are particularly popular, but I loved the mountains in Galicia (though I am sure it will be freezing there in January). - Italy: My suggestion, just because I love the countryside, would be to stay outside of Florence in Tuscany and then take day trips into Florence. But, not everyone loves the countryside, so if you like small cities, stick to Florence. Cinque Terre will be cold in January; if you're into skiing and snow sports, maybe you could try the Piedmont region/Turin? - Ireland: I would not do 7 days in Dublin as a home base. Even though mileage-wise, it doesn't take long to move around Ireland, because the roads are so terrible, it will take you four to five hours to get to Galway. I think three to four days is plenty for Dublin. If you wanted to do daytrips from Dublin, your best bet would be Newgrange/Knowth/Trim Castle (one day), Wicklow/Glendalough (one day). Plus, Dublin is super expensive compared with the rest of Ireland. Instead, I would suggest spending two days in Dublin, then rent a cheap car and head toward Galway and spend five days in that area. Around Galway, you can take fairly easy day trips to the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, the Connemara, Bunratty Castle, etc. And, you could fly out of Shannon back to the U.S. Galway is also a lot cheaper because it's a college town. Of course, both Galway and Dublin will be slammed with tourists in the end of July, so if you want to avoid tourists altogether, then rent a car and roam around Northern Ireland. If you head up that direction, make sure you check out Donegal. |
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Holds PhD in Packing |
FYI- They've already gone and returned - see above post. Although, this will surely help someone else... |
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