Portland, Oregon to Spain or Finland?

Marck, Kayak.com or any airline website can tell you what the prices are running now. It's not pretty. Unfortunately, there are no bargains in airfare to Europe, but you especially won't want to go during the height of summer tourist season. Going off-season (January, February) can be significantly cheaper, but obviously the weather won't be the best. You're going to have to do your own sleuthing to find the best price you can - there are no shortcuts. Good luck!

marck, As the previous reply mentioned, you can check any of the airline booking sites such as Kayak, Expedia, Travelocity, Hipmunk or others to get some idea of the prices for fliights. You might find that if you expand your list beyond Spain or Finland, there are cheaper flights to major hub airports such as Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam or some of the London airports. I can assure you that you won't be "living like a King" on $450 in the Scandinavian countries. Europe in general tends to be expensive, but they're among the most expensive. With careful planning, it is possible to travel reasonably well for fairly reasonable cost. If this is your first trip to Europe, I would highly recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door before you get too far in your planning. It contains a wealth of information, including budget planning. The country-specific Guidebooks are good for planning sightseeing, accommodations, and transportation within Europe. Good luck and happy travels!

A warning: do NOT look at prices in Europe (whether Spain or Finland) through a Costa Rica lens. You will be miserable. I once met a traveler in 2004 in eastern Germany who was very upset, because it was so much more expensive than India. When I tried to explain that the Berlin Wall had fallen 15 years before, that eastern Germany was therefore economically part of "Germany" and therefore was no longer "cheap," and that you couldn't compare prices in Germany with those in India, he roared back, "but I DO compare" and went on to complain that he wasn't getting the "bargain" he expected (and, mysteriously, felt entitled to). So, do some research on what things actually cost in Finland and Spain (take a look at the Rick Steves guides, as he lists hotel deals and restaurant prices). If these seem too high, look at Let's Go or the cheapest listings in Lonely Planet. If these still seem too high, don't go.

I think a budget of more like $450 a WEEK (plus airfare) would be much more realistic and even then you wouldn't be living anything like a king.

Thank you all for this info. I'm hoping in a year or so to have what it takes to spend a month in Europe. Any help is good help!Marck