Help Please - Planning August Trip to Europe

[frndshpcptn]

Hello!

My DBF and I, plus another couple (and perhaps another friend) are planning a trip to Europe at the end of August.

We need to be in Edinburgh from August 21 - 24 for an event, but are hoping to fly out of NY the weekend before and travel a bit before we need to be in Scotland.

While I can plan a vacation to WDW with my eyes closed, I'm not as savvy when it comes to Europe.

Ideally, we'd want to visit 2 (maybe 3) other countries that week and not spend too much money doing so.

Initially, we were thinking of Amsterdam - Brussels - Copenhagen - Scotland.

But...that's not set in stone and I'd welcome any thoughts / suggestions for other trip ideas!

Thanks!

 

[EMom]

Anything in Scandanavia will be much more expensive than the rest of Europe, so Copenhagen will bust the budget. I've been to the UK nine times and could go many more. There is so much to see there that you could stay in the UK and fill up an entire week, easy. The first place that springs to mind from Edinburgh is York, England. I loved that city. Gorgeous, wonderful food, interesting museums, wonderful city walk tours, etc.

But if you want to venture to continental Europe, it's almost always cheapest to fly into Amsterdam. I'll be honest.....Of all the major cities I've visited in Europe, I would not rank it among my favorites. The Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House were must sees. We enjoyed staying in Bruges, Belgium better. Once the tourists left in the afternoon, it was a lovely town to base in. We visited Brussels FROM Bruges, not the other way around, since Bruges is so beautiful.

If I only planned to visit one city in Europe it would be Paris, but Paris is my favorite. The food, the romance, the museums, the scenery......it's the best. We visited once for a week and loved it so much we returned two years later. I'd go again in a heartbeat.

 

[EMom]

Oh yes.....August is the month that Europe "closes down." That's when a lot of Europeans take their vacations. Be sure you check and know what will actually be open. Many places have shortened schedules for that month and some places close altogether. There are still a lot of tourists, but you can't assume the summer schedule is still in place.

 

[bekkiz]

The biggest problem with only having a week is you'll waste a lot of your vacation travelling if you're jumping between countries. Since it's a budget trip, you're probably looking at some of the low cost airlines, but those tend to fly in and out of some pretty remote airports, adding extra bus or train travel time.

Since you'll be in Scotland, I would probably stick to the British Isles, simply to make the most of your time. Ireland is awesome, as is England.

I've been to Italy and Greece in the summer and it can get terribly hot--maybe it's not so bad in Northern Europe.

 

[themilesfamily]

The West Coast of Ireland is very beautiful!! And very inexpensive to travel there -- they have a million beautiful inexpensive B&B's complete with a full Irish breakfast each morning. I've been twice and really enjoyed it.

Some things to see:
- the Cliffs of Moher,
- Bunratty Castle -- enjoy a medieval dinner in a real 14th century castle (learn to love Mead -- honey wine)
- Durty Nelly's pub -- right next door to Bunratty Caste -- pub opened in the 15th century
- Kylemore Abbey -- http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/
- take a horse drawn carriage ride on the Aran Islands

I particularly enjoyed the west coast, but Dublin was fun, too.

I also recommend London and Oxford. There is soooo much to do in London -- you will never be bored -- although you'd have to search for a budget hotel.

It's extremely cheap to fly between major cities in Ireland/England/Scotland. And each country has so much to offer.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

I've been to the UK nine times and could go many more. There is so much to see there that you could stay in the UK and fill up an entire week, easy. The first place that springs to mind from Edinburgh is York, England. I loved that city. Gorgeous, wonderful food, interesting museums, wonderful city walk tours, etc.

My sister live in York shes at the uni there and I'm off to visit her in a few days.
Beautiful, lovely city, really nice vibe not too big and lots to do, highly recommend it.

I'd probably recommend staying in the UK/Ireland for that time maybe try and fit in Paris. If you were to say fly into Paris from the US, when your finished there you can take the Eurostar train direct into London, no fussing about with flights that way and it's quite cheap.

You can easily get cheap flights over to Ireland from the UK, and England is wonderful so much to do although I may be a bit biased

London's a great city but everythings very expensive, so maybe worth looking elsewhere Manchester is said to be like a much cheaper version of London - also near York mentioned above.. Also right next to the beautiful Peak District and Lake District - 2 national parks.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Thanks! This is really helpful!

I have been working more on the trip tonight and was considering the following:

Friday night fly into Amsterdam
Spend Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Amsterdam
Monday night fly to Paris
Spend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Paris
Friday fly into Edinburgh

(I really wanted to find time for a side trip to Disneyland Paris, but don't think that will happen this time).

We were in Dublin last year and really liked it. DBF has also been to Cork, but I didn't get there last trip.

We really want to see Prague, but it seems more out of the way vs. Amsterdam and Paris.

We were thinking of taking Easyjet from Paris to Edinburgh - has anyone flown them?

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Easyjet are very budget no-frills you get what you pay for (their not as bad as ryanair though!)

Be prepared to pay for excess baggage I think you get 20Kg free.

As I said though they're not as bad as ryanair though who now charge for checking in at the airport
On a trip to spain we flew out with ryanair and in with easyjet and I much much preferred easyjet.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Thanks!

What about Eurostar - if we take the train from Amsterdam to Brussels to London? I think it's the regional Bennelux pass?

 

[pogo791]

[ . . . ] I have been working more on the trip tonight and was considering the following:

Friday night fly into Amsterdam
Spend Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Amsterdam
Monday night fly to Paris
Spend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Paris
Friday fly into Edinburgh

(I really wanted to find time for a side trip to Disneyland Paris, but don't think that will happen this time).

[ . . . ]

This looks quite doable. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is a good entry point, since it's well designed and managed - as opposed to, for example, Heathrow (London) and de Gaulle (Paris). And it also makes sense to concentrate on, at the most, two cities. Amsterdam and Paris both have a lot to offer.

You might also look at taking the train from Amsterdam to Paris, since what with the time you have to reserve for check-in and security at the airport, the train will probably save you time. (Of course, this depends on how you book your flights.)

Depending on your interests, Brussels (and, like EMom suggested, Brugges) is an option to Amsterdam. Brussels airport is also relatively well managed.

BTW, what's stopping you from making a side trip to Disneyland Paris? Yes, it will be fairly crowded in August, but do what you would do at WDW - get there early. The local train (RER) goes every few minutes, and it will get you from downtown Paris to Disneyland Paris in only about 45 minutes. Get there just before rope drop, and you will be able to beat the crowds, see both parks and still get back to downtown Paris in time for some afternoon shopping and, perhaps, one of the shows.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I loved Amsterdam and Paris so that sounds like a fun trip to me. Brussels wasn't my favorite by a long shot, but like the previous poster, I loved Brugges.

On the other hand, there's sooo much to do in Paris, plus Versailles and Disney that you could easily do the week there, and skip all the moving around. The day you land is always so tiring I barely count it. The day you leave and move from Amsterdam to Paris will be almost shot, since you have to get to the airport early for an International flight. At least the train ride from Amsterdam to Schiphol airport is quick.

I've flown Easyjet. It was inexpensive and the flight was fine.

 

[Huggles]

I hope you enjoy your visit. Just remember that you will probably be suffering jetlag when you arrive and, depending on when you fly and how well you adapt, it may be crippling! The fewer jaunts the better. The Amsterdam and Paris combination sounds do-able but remember that by flying you will have to spend a lot of time queuing for check-in and then security checks so that will cut down, drastically, on time you have free. Plus, if you have a non-EU passport ( I am assuming you have a USA ppt) then you will have to clear Border control on entry to the country, be it the Netherlands or Paris and then the UK. So, all things to consider as they will eat into your valuable time.

Re Easyjet into Edinburgh. I'm not sure about the allowances they give but budget airlines over here are VERY picky about baggage weight and hand luggage allowances. Oh, and security are strict on the liquids carried onto the aircraft. Don't buy a bottle of whisky and expect to carry it on in your hand luggage as it won't be allowed. Better to buy it after you have passed through security but then I think you still have to think about your hand baggage allowance for budget flights.

By remaining in the UK you save time and you can travel from country to country by bus (cheap travel and see the scenery from the ground) or train ( ditto scenery) or you can take ferries to the islands or even take a cheap flight to Eire ( assuming you don't want to take the ferry to N.Ireland and drive down to Eire)

Despite it being the UK all the individual countries have differences in architecture, history, scenery, food and culture. In Scotland, the Highland scenery differs from the lowlands or, you could visit Arran ( a small island off the west coast which is described as Scotland in miniature).

Whatever you decide to do, just remember that you want to remember an enjoyable holiday, not one which is fraught with rushed check-ins and no time to appreciate the sights. Enjoy your holiday!

 

[Danauk]

If you were in Paris and wanted to go to Disney then it is quite doable in a day. The parks have their own metro station and it is only a 30 minute ride on RER line A to get from the centre of Paris to DLRP. If you got there for park opening you could get the main atractions in both parks done in a day. The Disneyland park at Paris is my favourite of all the worldwide Disney parks that I have been to.
Amsterdam is a lovely city too, I love doing the boat rides around the canals. You probably are aware of this, but just in case you are not, beware of some of the coffee shops, those brownies don't just contain chocolate and flour! Also the red light district is just off the main square in the city centre (I found that out age 12 on a school trip there when the headmaster got us all lost and our PE teacher decided to pop into a shop to ask for directions!!)
Hope you have a fab trip.

 

[pogo791]

[ . . . ] Just remember that you will probably be suffering jetlag when you arrive and, depending on when you fly and how well you adapt, it may be crippling! [ . . . ]. Plus, if you have a non-EU passport ( I am assuming you have a USA ppt) then you will have to clear Border control on entry to the country, be it the Netherlands or Paris and then the UK. So, all things to consider as they will eat into your valuable time.

Right. Jetlag is a downer especially when you fly east. It seems to hit quite a number of people especially on the second day, so factor that in.

And to be clear, once you are on the European Continent (for example Netherlands, Belgium and France, of the countries so far mentioned), you are in the "Schengen area". Your U.S. passport will be checked only on your arrival from a non-Schengen country, such as the U.S. or the U.K. Should you fly from the Netherlands to France, there are no passport checks.

Going from the Continent back to the U.K., you will again have to go through passport control. But no matter what the European airport, I have rarely had to wait more than a few minutes for this. It is the lines for security that can be long - and these lines are as bad for flights within the Schengen area, as for any other international flights.

 

[frndshpcptn]

thanks so much everyone - it's been really helpful!

Here's where we netted out last night (and I think will book today!)

Friday night, fly into Amsterdam
Monday AM, leave Amsterdam and take the train to Brussels.
Stay one night in Brussels - head to Paris on the train on Tuesday
Tuesday - Friday, Paris
Friday (me) - Disneyland Paris for one night
Friday (DBF) - Fly into Edinburgh on Easyjet
saturday - all meet up

Any other insights / reccomedations on the plan above would be much appreciated!

 

[Sleepy]

Enjoy your trip. We are heading to America the last 2 weeks of August because nothing is open here.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Enjoy your trip. We are heading to America the last 2 weeks of August because nothing is open here.

Yeah - that's why we were staying away from Italy in the plans! Hopefully Amsterdam / Brussels / Paris will have open restuarants and sights to see!

 

[manning]

Dollar is dropping like a rock.

 

[pogo791]

Yeah - that's why we were staying away from Italy in the plans! Hopefully Amsterdam / Brussels / Paris will have open restuarants and sights to see!

Don't worry - everything you want to see in all three cities will be open - just as everything you would want to see in Italy is also open. All the museums, all the tourist-oriented sights, all the shops, and just about all the restaurants. (Yes, sure, some small family-owned restaurants will be closed in Paris, and in Italy for that matter, but that's like saying there will be a few less grains of sand on the shore. )

And since you will only be in each of the cities two or three days, you will definitely not run out of things to do!

By the way, on the off-chance that you happen to be a fan of Tintin, that intrepid journalist, the new Hergé Museum officially opens today just outside of Brussels.

 

[Sleepy]

Dollar is dropping like a rock.

Thanks for the reminder. Rent is due and just a penny loss on the dollar, when thinking of a couple thousand Euro, doesn't set well.