Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
$70 per person for dinner sounds awfully high to me. I know that here in the U.S., a $70 dinner is on the pricey side. We eat out a lot, and I think of very few times when we've spent $70 per person. Perhaps a significant part of this cost is alcohol. If so, it would definitely be possible to spend less.
It's always possible to spend less. But for me, one of the most exciting and important aspects of travel is the food and wine. So we almost always spend more than $70 PP for dinner including wine when in Europe. Just the wine alone is $50 - 100.
I've never understood why people have such an aversion to the idea of just flying into a capital, with no advance bookings, and just have a taxi take them to a modest class hotel and check in, and then find places to go and things to see on local transportation. .
I research and plan extensively before each trip. I have found that our results are much better when I don't leave things to chance. Your odds of finding a special place are much better if you have done your research.
Often a tour for first timers is cheaper: better hotels and meals plus attractions you might miss otherwise. You see more in ten days than on your own. Later You can choice certain area to stay in on such a trip.
I am getting $1610 round trip. Still a little high. Maybe you put in Auckland to Rome by mistake, or chose business class.
No. AUS to FCO. There is a bargain flight for $1308 but they don't tell you the airline until you book it and it has 2+ stops. So that's not one I would choose.
Travelocity and Expedia both show the cheapest flight on a named airline is over $2000.
$1810 R/T One stop in each direction. Named airline. Not sure where you are looking, but it's obviously not a good site.
Austin (AUS) to Charlotte (CLT) — Thu, Jun 18
US Airways 5246
Dep: 11:35 am
Arr: 3:17 pm
2h 42m
Canadair RJ 900
Economy (N)
OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-PSA AIRLINES
Layover in CLT
3h 3m
Charlotte (CLT) to Rome (FCO) — Thu, Jun 18
US Airways 720
Dep: 6:20 pm
Arr: 9:45 am
9h 25m
Airbus A330
Economy (N)
Dinner, Snack or Brunch
Fri, Jun 19
Rome (FCO) to Austin (AUS) — Mon, Jun 29
Long layover
Rome (FCO) to Charlotte (CLT) — Mon, Jun 29
US Airways 721
Dep: 11:20 am
Arr: 3:57 pm
10h 37m
Airbus A330
Economy (N)
Lunch, Snack or Brunch
Layover in CLT
4h 13m
Charlotte (CLT) to Austin (AUS) — Mon, Jun 29
US Airways 5288
Dep: 8:10 pm
Arr: 9:55 pm
2h 45m
Canadair RJ 900
Economy (N)
OPERATED BY US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-PSA AIRLINES
No. AUS to FCO. There is a bargain flight for $1308 but they don't tell you the airline until you book it and it has 2+ stops. So that's not one I would choose.
Travelocity and Expedia both show the cheapest flight on a named airline is over $2000.
Travel date is June 6
Sat-Sat is expensive. If you can, choose a midweek departure-return.
For example, Jun4-Jun11 1-stop on Air Canada for $1500.
My sister in law and husband just flew to Europe .The air lines wanted 1800 each. They went to a site and got direct for 1800 for both. Do not know the site. They did have one stop coming back because of weather using more fuel or something.
there are plenty of budget options if you look for them, for example when I was Madrid a couple years ago I used to eat at this place right by the Puerta Del Sol, a nice tasty toasted cuban sandwich and a small glass of beer for 2 euros...quite a deal similarly I stayed at a very nice pension for only $40/night right in the heart of Madrid.
Spending $250/night for a basic hotel in Europe is the definition of insanity. I would spend that kind of money only in some exotic location...perhaps if it was a resort in the Maldives or something to that effect.
Last edited by k374; 02-05-2015 at 12:18 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
similarly I stayed at a very nice pension for only $40/night right in the heart of Madrid.
