First time in Europe...have a budget...need LOTS of help!!

I'm assuming you've already paid for your plane, train and bus tickets from a separate fund? So now you are talking at least 60 days with a budget around $80 per day. Let's assume part of the time you are staying free with family in London & N. Germany and that will save you a little on lodging, but still you are hoping to cover about 10 countries in 8 weeks.

If you figure on paying at least $25 to $30 per night for a bed (hopefully, breakfast is included) that leaves you with just $50 for lunch, dinner, snacks, sightseeing admissions, subway or bus fares, bar tabs/club covers (if you drink) and other random expenses (i.e., internet/phone calls to U.S., laundry, etc.). Can some people survive on this budget? Sure. Do I recommend it? No - I'd want at least $100 USD per day.

It's your first Europe trip. If you can't save more, I'd cut back on the # of countries & try to stay longer with relatives who will feed/house you free.

Not including airfare and a rail pass I would say it's possible. I can relate to being a young traveller, on your first trip, and wanting to "see it all". My only advice, take it or leave it, is that you will not regret seeing places thoroughly, but you will almost for sure regret rushing through. You may want to consider trying to see less, I think that you will find that this makes for a much more meaningful trip. I have done both approaches, and I personally will never do the "see everything" trip again. But that's just me. Budget wise, the countries you have chosen are not the most wallet friendly. I agree with the last post, who mentioned trying to make use of time spent with family to help stretch your budget. As long as you prioritize what is important for you to get out of your trip, and you are willing to make sacrifices in other areas, you should be fine. On my last trip, when I spent more $ on admission costs etc, it just meant more park picnics. Have an amazing trip!

Actually, i know this sounds horrible, but I need to use this money for plane tickets and a Eurailpass.

So, I should really cut down where im going. Say I fly into London, Stay with my family there, then visit Paris, then train over to N. Germany, stay with family again, then train to Austria, Switzerland (stay with foreign exchange student), then even venture to Italy?

4-5 days London
3 days Paris
10-15 days Germany (Hildesheim, Romantic Road, Munich, Fussen)
3 days Austria (Salzberg, Vienna, Innsbruck)
3 days Awitzerland (Liechtenstein, Bern)
10 days Italy (Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome)

Also, how can you buy open jaw tickets? like fly into London but out of Rome?

Maybe I should skip London and Paris? or Italy instead?

Kent, im not sure.....

If taking $1,000+ of your $5,000 budget to cover airfare (summer is the most expensive time to fly) & Eurail pass, you have to pare down countries or days spent in Europe.

You are now looking at a budget of $66/day (43 Euro or 33 British Pounds) for a 60 day trip. If you spend $20 USD (rock bottom) for a hostel that incl. breakfast, $5-lunch, $10-dinner, $8-subways/public buses in the city, $10-admission fees for museums and $10 for a couple beers at night, this leaves you $3 leftover. Those prices quoted are being VERY generous. The Euro/Dollar conversion is now $1.52 American for 1 Euro and $2.00 American for 1 British Pound. Do the conversion - can you get around on the London subway for just 4 pounds a day? Can you buy dinner for 6.50 Euro?

Check STA Travel, maybe they can get you a really good deal as a student on air and train tickets, but I would be very surprised if you can get both for less than $1,000 coming from Michigan.

I have gone alone twice on a small budget similar to yours in 2004 and 2005. Don't worry about seeing everything, you will go back. Some of my best memories were doing things that are free. I love the parks in London, people watching, the museums there are free...I had simple meals and didn't have any problem staying in budget. Did I see everything, no, but that is why I am going back (again, and again...)Just pre-plan and know how much you can spend each day, go cheap some days to spend more on others.

I've been planning my trip for this summer for awhile. I'll be going for 6 weeks to Ireland, England, Spain, and France. The key to my trip (and yours) is the family in Europe. I have relatives in 3 out of the 4 countries. This will allow me to stretch my (very weak) dollar a little more. My budget is about $3500 (excluding transportation).
I would limit your trip to about 4 - 5 weeks based on your budget. I got my airline tickets through Aer Lingus, they seemed to be the most reasonable (at least from L.A.) flying to London.
I guess I', trying to tell you to go for it! Just don't try to see everything. I originally had planned to go to Italy as well, but I realized that would be too much to do, so I scaled back. It's better to leave wanting more rather than running out of money with 2 weeks to go before your flight is scheduled. Speaking of which, maybe you could end the trip where your family is so that you can be poor when you are with them? LOL

Stay with family as much as poss so London works, forget Ireland as it is very costly ,concentrate on France , Germany (stay w/ fam in the North)see rest of Germany and Austria. Switz and Italy are very expensive, limit your visits here. Airfare from your area could be about $1300 open jaw in London out Zrh or Germany.Try for consolidators or priceline. Out Rome is also very expensive unless you catch a budget airlines back to Germany like Air Berlin. Assuming you do hostels and family stays I would guess $125 at least per day. Forget regular meals and booze out unless you make them yourself or find a deli.There is alot to see nr London, France and Germany alone and you would save alot in transportation costs by concentrating on just 3 countries. And save yourself a big headache of how to fit all in during the summer on your budget.

Totally go for it just be sure to do lots of research ahead of time and be honest with yourself about how much you think you'll be able to do with your budget, which is largely dependent on the airfare you get. Italy is very expensive so be sure to keep that in mind. That might be the easiest place to scale back but see what works for you. As a way to save money, we usually try to stay at a place that has a good breakfast (if it's reasonable), then we bring (or buy there) granola bars and other snacks to have during the day, and then only really eat dinner out. It sounds simple but food really adds up to a lot.

Thank you all so very much for all the great advice! it is greatly appreciated!!!

Matt

hey instead of flying from london to paris take the euro bus instead ...it's about 45 dollars when i went during the high season..

I was going to take the speed train from London to Paris....not Fly.....but a Bus? is there a website i can find this bus?

Thanks again!

Matt

Matt-I'm confused-exactly how much money will you have after subtracting plane tickets and eurailpass? First, you'll not see Salzburg, Vienna and Innsbruck in 3 days-or you won't see much. I'd skip Bern, I've been and it's not worth the money/time. I live in Pisa and you can probably find somewhat reasonable lodging here and Florence, but because you're going during "high season" Venice and Rome will be expensive for lodging, and also food. Also,look at the map and figure out how long it will take to get places-Venice is way up north and Rome way down south. I would skip Italy this time and stay "north". Trust the person who said food takes a lot of your money, then there's metro/bus tickets, tickets to get into museums etc and the exchange rate is, quite frankly, crap. It will probably cost $40 to go up the Eiffel, and that's not the top. I know you want to see everything, I did too my first couple trips but...Good Luck!

Hey Matt, You are young. See as much as you can on your first trip. Even if it's just a day. Then you can plan future trips better. I loved Dublin! Don't miss it. Again, after you have been somewhere the first time you'll know how to get around easier for future trips. The guide books are great but nothing beats experience.
Have a GREAT time !

Matt, just being back from Berlin to Frankfurt by train for a 5 days business trip... why would you voluntarily go to Hildesheim? If you want, send me a private message and talk about Germany with a local resident...

My advice for travel on a budget such as you have DON'T try to see too many countries !!!
If you try to see a country in 2-3 days you will probably never remember what you saw.

The first time we (husband and I) went to Europe was on a 4 week trip travelling back to Australia from our 5 year transfer to work in the USA (and NOT on such a tight budget!)
We spent time with family in Boston for 5 days(free) London for 14 days(also free) with family from
both sides --- then spent 14 days (with Eurail passes) through France Switzerland and Italy -- staying in appartments found on the Internet and PAID for before we left.

SO my advice is DECIDE what things you REALLY want to see on your first trip and don't try to see everything -- I would do London {Germany if family is really what you want to do this trip} MAYBE Switzerland ( expensive!!)and do Florence Rome and Venice :) MAYBE forget Pisa

For cheap flights around europe check out Ryanair.com or hxl.com... or Germanwings.com. I have bought tickets from Frankfurt to London for 10 euro. There is a trick to it though. And,you have to be flexible. It would be too long of a message to explain on this site. If you send me a private message I will respond with all of the info. I live in Europe on a budget (my hubby is stationed here). smile

If you want a hotel not a hostel, try Hotels Reservations Svcs - http://www.hrs.com/

London is very expensive... makes New York look cheap. Good thing you're staying with family.

Many airlines have specials to London.. especially flying out of JFK.

I would do as one suggested, take Easyjet or Ryanair. As long as you're packing light, travel within Europe is inexpensive. Its getting there that's expensive.