As always, our vacation grows much bigger than initially planned due to that argument. I don’t know how to fight it – it seems valid to say “if we are already here at this glacier, I may as well pay extra $300 to hike across it. It is a unique experience and when is the next time I am coming here?”
So, planning upcoming vacation in September, I started out with 7 days in Paris and 6 in Amsterdam. Than Eastern Europe (cheaper, and I speak/understand some languages).
Now I realize that we’ll be there during Oktoberfest, and Munich is not far from Paris by train. It seems a shame to waste an opportunity to experience this festival in Bavaria, even if for 3-4 days.
But this will be expensive – hotels are either already sold out or charge a much higher price for these dates. Besides, to really experience the festival we will drink a lot of beer and eat special dishes made there (again with Euro it is pricey).
And than… Munich is close to Vienna and more flights leave from Vienna… after that Eastern Europe (visiting some friends who now live there) min 8 days.
I need to make an estimated budget, but it is really hard to project how much we’ll spend – considering that a lot of spending is of the “I am already here, half way across the world variety”. I want to experience French cuisine, explore beautiful places… That is the point of going.
But each time I promise myself that the vacation after that his going to be modest and simple. Yet, each time we spend more and more.
I am afraid to make an estimate – I have a feeling that sum would furnish our entire apartment beautifully.
“Well, I’m already here” argument always leads to big spending
May 22nd, 2008 at 09:06 pm
May 22nd, 2008 at 09:09 pm 1211490595
May 22nd, 2008 at 09:22 pm 1211491369
Fly into Paris (3 days)
then do Amsterdam (about 4.5 hours by train eat breakfast in Paris lunch in Amsterdam! 2.5 days)
Then to Munich (7-9 hours at night via train 3 days)
Then to eastern Europe (where do you want to go? 5-7 days)
Then to Vienna (3 days). (17 days so far)
Fly out of Vienna.
Always travel by train at night. I have done trips like these the past ten years and each year i add an extra day or two someplace almost every trip.
You can do it and have a grand time.
May 22nd, 2008 at 09:37 pm 1211492239
When I went to Edinburgh, I had a per day budget and no advanced plans (because I do prefer spontaneous trips the first time to an area) BUT, and this is important, I know what I like to do and had included enough money to be able to do those type of things. You can alternate cheap days with expensive days to keep the price down.
Oh, and a big thing for keeping prices down? Check out the hostels, very cheap, very useful and usually located in the heart of places you want to be.
May 22nd, 2008 at 09:42 pm 1211492558
I already bought one way tickets to Amsterdam and 6 days later we are going to Paris (hotel booked for 7 days). We are hoping to go by Thalys train (I hope they will have one of those promotion deals they frequently have). So that part is clear. I don't yet know if there is a good price for train from Paris to Munich and if not, there must be a bus.
From Munich to Vienna by train. Than to Ukraine by air. (Hope to find cheap tickets!) Than fly back to NY.
All together 31 days - about 20 Western Europe and 10 Ukraine. This is with buffer and travel days. Originally we were flying to Ukraine sooner and booking a week-long trip beach vacation in Egypt from there (much better deals) but if we go to Munich and Vienna time will be too tight to do that. Money too, probably.
May 22nd, 2008 at 09:54 pm 1211493241
However, the big difference is that in Latin America and Asia, if you book things locally and last minute they are much cheaper than if booked in advanced. This is not the case for Western Europe. That is why I feel we have to plan. Getting a hotel last minute in Paris in September or in Munich during Oktoberfest will cost much more than if we plan it in advance. Same goes for train promotions. So we have changed our approach to travel for this trip.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 pm 1211494818