June 2016: starting in London

Our son's family used low priced tickets to Gatwick as a jumping off spot for a trip to Turkey. This was a very budget friendly option for them.

I also like your Vienna and Budapest idea.

You can use www.skyscanner.com to see what other budget friendly options there are by choosing Everywhere as your destination.

wiess73,

It's great that you were able to get some of the cheap introductory tickets. As I recall, 2016 is the first year that WestJet will be offering service to Gatwick, so the prices will eventually increase.

Of the three Itineraries you posted, my suggestion would be #1 as that covers places you haven't visited in the last few years and it's relatively easy in terms of transportation. As both you and your youngest daughter have visited Paris, I wouldn't include that.

I would go with a version of Option 2.

June 1 - Arrive Gatwick at 08:00 - Stay London - Central hotel (2 nights)
June 3 - Fly London to Madrid (5 nights) - day trips to Toledo and Segovia
easyJet EZY5477 / 12:15 Depart LGW London Gatwick / 15:50 Arrive MAD Madrid (2hr 35mins)
June 8 - AVE train to Seville (5 nights) - day trips Cordoba and Jerez
June 13 - Fly Seville to London - Gatwick hotel (1 night)
easyJet EZY5176 / 16:30 Depart SVQ Seville / 18:05 Arrive LGW London Gatwick (2hr 35mins)
June 14 - Depart Gatwick at 09:20

Costs would be kept down because...
1) Spain is cheaper than Northern European destinations (and the food is great)
2) You could book apartments for 5 days each to accommodate the four of you
3) Only 2 flights and 1 train reservation required as additional transport costs

Ken:

I think the prices have already increased. Air Canada does a similar flight to Heathrow, we like the 5-hour overnight flights. Connections seem to be good from Gatwick.

David:

I like your suggestion and how this simplifies things. The girls will appreciate the budget implications. I think an apartment will add to the enjoyment of our trip and reduce restaurant visits. We both like to cook and also enjoy picnics.

Does it make sense to try and fly from London the same day we land? I think it is best to book flight the following day. Should we go to London for the day or is there another suggestion?

Thanks

I think you should take the 2 nights in London at the beginning of your trip, staying in a central hotel.
On your return journey just book an overnight at a Gatwick hotel, ready for your morning flight.
The easyjet flights as posted above work well.

David:

Thank you for the information, I am interested to visit Spain and I like the minimum amount of moves. I will also put together a tentative Austria and Germany itinerary for review. Perhaps set up the nights like this: Vienna(4)–Salzburg(2)–Munich(4)? Does this make sense? I need to present it to the travel review board and the finance committee. My wife chairs both and these meetings will most likely take place in the next week or so at my dining room table.

Thanks

"we like the 5-hour overnight flights."

Lucky you! My flights are considerably longer from the west coast.

Ken:

We live just north of Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. I guess that makes YYT the most easterly airport, so that makes it a bit easier on us. We were required to fly west to Toronto or Montreal to board an overseas flight before Air Canada and WestJet started these flights. I hope they continue.

I notice that you were in Salzburg and area in September. Do you have any tips on my proposed itinerary of London (2)-Vienna(4)-Salzburg(2)-Munich(4)? As previously mentioned, I need a second option to present to my travel and finance boards.

Thanks

David - love your sense of humor. We have the same committees at our house!

Hi,

I would choose # 3: Paris to Strasbourg by the TGV ( I've done that as a day trip), Strasbourg to Stuttgart by TGV, although I would prefer to drop this place and add the time to London or Munich, all very doable.

I am wondering if the Travel Review Board ever has any submissions rejected by the Finance Committee.

I am wondering if the Travel Review Board ever has any submissions rejected by the Finance Committee.

David: No, submissions normally pass both as my wife chairs the Travel Review Board and the Finance Committee.

There was some discussion this weekend about visiting Germany/Austria, mostly due diligence, but I think Spain is going to get the nod from the Travel Review Board. My daughters are budget conscious and they have the ear of the Finance Committee. Especially after a Google search of some of the towns we can visit. One question raised is can we swim in the Mediterranean? Will it be warm enough and is it best to visit Cadiz from Seville? I know it is not the Mediterranean. Or should we modify the itinerary to include some beach time?

Thanks,

David

I think you come from a part of Canada that has some of the world's most spectacular coastlines. Being from Australia, I know a good beach, and having been to Cadiz, I didn't see a good beach. It does, however, have a beautiful old town.

You could swap Madrid or Sevilla for Barcelona, which has clean wide Mediterranean beaches right in the city.

Hello David. I think any of the three travel options that you are considering is good. I agree with the suggestion from David in Brisbane :
Two nights at London, at the beginning of your trip.
One night at a hotel located near Gatwick airport (or a hotel located near Victoria railway station in London) the night before your flight from Gatwick airport to Canada.

Another possible detour in our trip. Members of the finance committee are pondering a trip to Coventry to see a concert on Friday, June 3. The reduces our time in Spain by one day but also adds other logistical challenges. One option considered is to take a train up on Friday and spend the night. Then on Saturday morning take the train to Gatwick for a flight to Spain. Is the train convenient for this?

Another option that puts another twist in things is to see the concert at Wimbledon on Sunday night. This option reduces three days from Spain and makes me consider if it's worth it. Maybe something needs to drop.

Option 3 is to forget the concert and continue with the original plans. Nothing is booked yet for Spain so we have flexibility.

Thanks

Another option to consider...
Stay in Coventry for the night and fly from Birmingham to Barcelona. I have not crunched all the numbers but the price seems comparable and saves a train ride back to London. Are there downfalls I am missing?