Where to go for three weeks in May!

Each of your proposed itineraries has a mix of expensive/inexpensive places. If I had three weeks (I've been to all the places you list except for Hungary and the Czech Republic), I would go to northeastern Europe. Berlin and Prague are not cheap, but Berlin has a wide range of accommodations and restaurants for most budgets (don't know about Hungary or Czech Republic). Greece/Istanbul would be my second choice, but I would spend more time in Turkey than in Greece (personal preference). You can see some of Italy in three weeks, but not most of it. All of your choices are big on arts, culture, history and food. RS states often that Italy is one of his favorite destinations, and probably has more art per square mile than your other choices. If you want fast-paced travel or are content to visit a few places at a more leisurely place, Italy moves to the top of the list.

You can't make a wrong choice with what you've listed.

Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic are cheaper destination than most of western Europe. Istanbul and Greece are also cheaper. If you are prepared to spend more then Italy would be a good choice. Berlin is price-wise somewhat in between. You got three weeks so what about Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary one week each. In Poland: Gdansk, Warsaw, Krakow, in Czech Republic: Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Brno, in Hungary: Budapest, Eger, Balaton Lake. There is a lot of information about these countries on this Travel Forum and the best books for short time visits are IMHO Rick Steves guides.

I like options 2 or 3. Not knowing where you have been before you could easily see a lot of Italy in 3 weeks. Start in the North and work your way down. Milan, Venice, Florence, Siena, hilltowns, Cinque Terre, Rome, Naples, Amalfi coast are all possible places are you could add Lake Como. (Not necessarily in that order) Italy offers it all. Great food and wine, art, history, architecture and even down time to hike or sit at the beach. Costs in Italy can be reasonable and depending on how you eat you could eat affordable and splurge at dinner time.

Option 3: With three weeks you could cover a lot. Perhaps, start in Berlin (3-4 nights, great museums), Dresden (2), Prague (3)Cesky (2), Eger (2), Budapest (3) and from there you could add Vienna or slow it down and not move as often.

Luckily, you are going in May so it will be less crowded but in June things will pick up and get a little more crowded. Both of the above are also doable with public transportation.

Let’s see, relatively young, adventure Hungary, not crazy expensive and not crowded. Not sure what “crazy expensive is” but try this idea.

Day 1 USD1200 Fly to Sofia, Bulgaria. One change in Frankfurt.

Day 2 USD 150 Arrive Sofia and check into the hotel. There are a number of nice hotels in this price range.

Day 3 USD 150 See Sofia on your own.
Day 4 USD 350 Begin a 4 day tour of Bulgaria. USD350 includes, Private Guide, Car and Hotel

I love Bulgaria and am heading back for a second visit in late May. Not “cheap” if you do it this way but you get substantially more for every dollar you spend. Unfortunately public transportation isn’t that great in this part of the world and while you can save about USD250 a day by using the train you will lose a lot of time and time is precious to me when I travel.

Day 5 USD 350 Private Tour of Bulgaria
Day 6 USD350 Private Tour of Bulgaria
Day 7 USD350 Private Tour of Bulgaria
Day 8 USD500 Guide takes you across the border and into Istanbul

I know a guide that does this. Excellent guide.

Day 9 USD400 Hotel Room in Istanbul and a half day private orientation tour
Day 10 USD200 Istanbul on your own (hotel cost)
Day 11 USD200 Istanbul on your own (hotel cost)
Day 12 USD800 Morning Flight Istanbul to Vienna (non-stop, 2.5 hours I think) and Vienna hotel

Okay, here is the big expense. Two $300 tickets to Vienna. You can also fly direct to Budapest and then go on to Vienna from Budapest but I am pretty biased and always try and end my trips in Budapest because I enjoy the place so much.

Day 13 USD250 Vienna self tour
Day 14 USD250 Vienna self tour
Day 15 USD300 Vienna to Gyor, Hungary and Hotel Klastrom (converted monastery)
Day 16 USD300 Morning trip to Pannonhalma to see the Archabbey and afternoon train to Budapest.
Day 17 USD100 Budapest Apartment and metro passes (historic Pest)
Day 18 USD150 Budapest Apartment and Danube Bend day trip with boat taxi on the Danube.

Day 19 USD100 Budapest Apartment and metro passes (Buda)
Day 20 USD100 Budapest Apartment and metro passes (Jewish Pest)
Day 21 USD1200 Return to the US

Total rough numbers about $8,000 with airfare; or maybe $5,500 without airfare or about $260 a day for all but food and incidentals. You could probably cut that to $225 without much trouble or spend $300 and live like a king.

Still too expensive. Then look at Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. I can do some guesstimates for that as well.

Orrrrrrrrr

1. Leave
2. Arrive Budapest
3. Budapest
4. Budapest
5. Budapest to Gyor / Pannaholma Archabbey
6. Gyor to Vienna
7. Vienna
8. Vienna
9. Vienna to Bratislava
10. Bratislava to the High Tatras of Slovakia
11. High Tatras
12. High Tatras
13. High Tatras
14. High Tatras to Kosice
15. Kosice
16. Kosice to Eger, Hungary
17. Eger
18. Eger to Budapest
19. Budapest
20. Budapest
21. Home

Much cheaper as you can do this on the trains with relatively short segments and you buy a simple round trip international ticket. You see two vvery different cities, spectacular mountains and castles in Slovakia and three great baroque towns, one with an amazing archabbey

As you can see from the above replies, all of your ideas are good ones. I suggest you start reading travel guides and watching some travel videos (Rick's are on Hulu), and just go to whichever place calls to you the most now.

Harold: ditto

Option 2 1/2 could include visiting Venice, then heading east to Slovenia & Croatia. Bulgaria is just a bit farther east, Hungary/Austria/Slovakia/Czech Republic/Poland a bit farther north. Anyplace, May will be great to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds of summer!

I would choose Turkey. Great for everything you are interested in doing. Been all over Europe ( except Hungary and Czech reb; going next month) and Istanbul is my favorite city ! So much to do and it's affordable and the people are so nice.
We divided our trip between Istanbul and Cappadoccia as we had only about 12 days. istanbul is an amazing , beautiful city. Cappadoccia is a must do. Super cool hotels and lots of adventure. From there you can fly to Bodrum and travel around the coast or do a blue cruise. We didn't have time for that leg of trip but we'll definitely go back.