Economical Europe Travel?
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- mg33
Anyone have some suggestions for doing an 8 day trip in Europe, late summer, probably visiting France, Italy, and maybe one other country?
Been thinking about planing something for the summer and we were lucky enough to go to Paris for 6 days in Feb 03 for only $539 (airfare, hotel in Montmartre, breakfast, a river cruise, and tax and fees, seriously, that cheap). Doubt I could get anything that cheap again but would love to travel by train to a couple destinations.
Big on my list of things to do in life is see the final stages of the Tour de France in Paris, so I'd kind of base it around that.
Anyhow, just started thinking about this yesterday. If you have some tips, that would be awesome. Thanks.
- OSFA0
$539??? How?
- mg330
OSFA - I get that all the time.
seriously, it was through a site called http;//www.francevacations.net
I saw a tiny little article in the paper in December 2002 listing cheap travel to France in the winter. I had just met my girlfriend in October, we talked about it and booked the trip and went there after just three months of dating. It was such a great time.but yeah, $539 a person for all that stuff. Unreal. time of my life. Can't wait to go back again.
- ********0
how old are you?
- mg330
Also, it was cool to be there in the winter. Less tourists, you got a better feel for daily life then. I speak a decent amount of French so that helped a ton.
- ********0
sorry - i asked your age because we have this cross-country railway ticket (interrail) but I just realised it's probably for EU nationalities only.
- ********0
if you have 8 days and like travelling by train you could start in Paris -> Switzerland -> Northern Italy.
- sounds cool actually. keep the advice coming and thanks. going to research it heavily when I have the time this week.mg33
- ********0
- mtgentry0
@Corvo, I got a eurorail pass a few years ago, and I'm from the states. I think it was around 500 for two weeks of unlimited travel. Barcelona was my favorite.
- great. i didn't know NA citizens could apply.********
- NA = North American********
- great. i didn't know NA citizens could apply.
- ********0
go to this site instead. the other one sucks:
http://www.raileurope.com
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rai…
- random_ink0
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/
you can get some cheap flights if your pretty flexy, just note that you dont alway fly into the city you want - some of the airports are a "bit" out of town
- and you pay extra for luggage. ryanair fares are only "seat" fares and not always available innit?********
- and you pay extra for luggage. ryanair fares are only "seat" fares and not always available innit?
- ********0
another cool idea would be to jump into Spain. From 14th June to 14th September there's the International Expo in Zaragoza - it's always nice because countries build beautiful arch pavilions and you can taste a bit of everything in the same spot.
http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/
- mg330
Like this Corvo?
Neither of us are trained for that kind of thing.
- ahahah - yeah. That would be literally a ground-breaking arrival in Spain.********
- ahahah - yeah. That would be literally a ground-breaking arrival in Spain.
- ********0
Well bump this tomorrow - Europe is sleeping right now. I'm just doing the night-watch.
- rafalski0
http://www.ryanair.com/member/fr…
Another Ryanair "hacked system" viral: any 6 digits allow you to book flights for 1 cent. It works, I flew to Portugal for 2 cents last year and I am going to London in a month for the same price. No other charges apply if you book without insurance and checked-in luggage.Book quickly, before they close the "gap".
- shit, seems there 's no flights left, I posted too late I guess..rafalski
- lowimpakt0
it'll be hard to fit much in during 8 days although travelling around europe by train is great fun. Our last two holidays around europe have been 100% train/foot and our next one will be too (we are going from london to The Alps by train, down the east coast of Italy to Bari to get a ferry to croatia, walking up the coast and then trains back stopping off in Slovenia and Austria).
The best site I know for train travel is http://www.seat61.com/
Seat 61 is mostly for getting from London to parts of Europe but includes useful info about the various countries.
And be smart - there are often cheaper inter-country trains than the direct services.
Ryanair airports are always outside the city
- rafalski0
"Ryanair airports are always outside the city"
That's not true and in many cases even if the commute costs the same as airfare, it's often worth it.
- lowimpakt0
ok, maybe not every airport. just relating my experience.
last time we flew to paris with work it took nearly 2 hours to get to the Beauvais airport by bus and they tell you to be waiting for 3 hours 15 minutes before your flight for the bus.
I'd rather get the eurostar and arrive in the centre of paris in shorter time without the grief.
- madirish0
mg33- you might want to look at eastern EU countries as options for a lower-cost holiday. as in; service, quality and amenities will all be on par to the western counterparts, but the quantity and availability will be much higher, thus equating to a better 'value'.
Croatia is wonderful and the coast there rivals *anything* in the EU. estonia is also very lovely along with a host of others.