Money help: Need help planning vacation! - Help.com

What makes you feel so compelled to go everywhere in one trip? It’s hard to appreciate Europe when you’re cramming everything into one sweeping excursion across the continent. It’s very ambitious, and complicated. Are you sure that’s what you want to do? Have you ever thought about simplifying it? Before you take offence, I encourage you to go to Europe, I think you have a great idea, I know it’s probably not an answer you’re looking for but I’m only trying to help.

Thank you, but please note:

Start date: Mid-June
End date: End-September

Is this truly cramming? (over 3 months)

Hmm…

Here are some sites that may help you plan or make decisions…

http://www.ricksteves.com
He has a section were you might find suggestions on inexpensive transportation, places to stay, food or dining out.

http://www.studenttraveler.com/
If you are a student, you may be able to get some great discounts!

http://member.wayn.com/
A way to meet up with others abroad or find others who may have similar travel destinations and plans.

http://www.interpals.net
You may end up meeting someone from a particular area who can advise you on what to see, do or how to get around.

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/
Another site with oodles of information - yet mostly for working and living abroad.

To save money, you can sleep at hostiles along the way. It’ll save you lots (especially with the price of the Euro up).

Thanks again! What I REALLY need help with is a route plan, so that I can do UK/Amsterdam/France between June 14-24, and June 29-July 7. Do you guys have any ideas?

I’ve been reading lots about budget travel, so I’m already planning on hostels & camping, and maybe getting a Eurail pass (which will make planning even more complicated). ;)

Hmmm… well, I am wondering if there are any books you can check out of your local library about how to see a particular area within a certain time frame. You may want to look into the travel section under travel writers or walking tours in those areas to get an idea. Even look at a tour map to get an idea. Rick Steves does tours that move quite quickly from country to country and usually has a plan sketched out about how to move through each of the countries. I think starting out in the U.K. is your best best and then taking the Chunnel into France and working your way around from there.

If you wanted to start out in Ireland there are a number of help.com users on here from Ireland who may be able to give you some tips. You could start out in Dublin and travel across by ferry to Scotland and work your way down?…

http://www.directferries.ie/

http://www.irishferries.com/

Oh yeah I’m sure you’ve planned to bring your passport but bear in mind that in the EU you don’t even need a passport to travel from country to country; you can roam freely so long as you check in at whatever airport you’re staying at.

lucylocket wrote:
why not fly to your first destination then take it from there, buying your travel tickets as you need them

Maybe that’s what I’ll end up doing, as I’m even more unsure now than before. Apparently, as of 2001, there are no ferries to Egypt or Israel, leaving only an expensive flight or a long and complicated overland journey from Istanbul, then across Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. Or I could ferry from Spain to Tunisia, Africa and try to get across Lybia to Egypt, but I hear travel in Lybia can be difficult and expensive.

lucylocket wrote:
have you thought about the safety of travelling across some of these countries