Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1159 times:
Hello,
I am starting to plan my summer travels now (so I can save money especially) and would love to visit a destination in Europe. I'll probably be moving to the west coast (JFK, BDL, BOS area). What are the preparations one must make for such travels? I have never been to Europe before. What about passports, unaccompanied minors (most likely my brother or parents would go though..), etc..?
Finally, what destination would you recommend in terms of hotels, airfare, transportation, etc? What is the general airfare price for East coast flights to London for example?
Mah4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31111 posts, RR: 74 Reply 1, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1101 times:
If you want the cheapest airfare, Icelandair has great deals from JFK and BOS. You'll connect in KEF, but they offer good deals and good service. As for where to visit, there are so many great cities, but my favourites are Madrid, Rome, and Athens. Take your pick, they are all extravagant. Another good choice is Lisbon. As nice as London and Paris are, they don't have the charm of the rest, and are more expensive to top it all off.
Airplanetire From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1809 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1089 times:
I have been to Europe twice and gone to England, France, Belgium, Greece, and Turkey (well, it was the Asian part), so I can recommend you some places. Paris was great! It's my favorite city in the world now! There are tons of hotels and it's lots and lots of fun. The subways and taxis are good as well. When it comes to airfare, you should be able to get it cheap if you buy a few months in advance. I've never bought my airfare (I'm in the same age group as you, so I don't have a way to afford it, my parents buy it) but I know what it should cost. Because a lot of airlines fly the east coast-CDG route, you can probably get anywhere from $250-$400 per person in econonmy, IF you buy at the right time. London is fun, but not my favorited city. Transportation is good in the city and there are tons of hotels as well. Fares to London are probably the same as they are to CDG, but it just depends whether you can get one to LGW or LHR. Belgium is fun also, but only for a few days. I don't know about the airfare to BRU though. That's where I flew on one of my trips (from my home, ATL) and my mom got Delta frequent flier tickets. Well, we didn't actually get the tickets in time, so we had to buy a month before departure and the price was $1200 for one economy fare. Perfect example as to why you buy in advance if you can't do frequent flier. Athens was great too, but don't expect to get wonderful fares to ATH. Expect something like $500-$800. For any fare to Europe from the east coast, expect $250-$850 if you buy at the right time, all depending on how well served a city is. The less served, the more expensive. Have lots of fun if you go!
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1072 times:
Thank you Mah4546 and Airplanetire! I will have to look into the destination I want to travel to quite a bit, but Paris sounds nice the way you describe it.. I'm going to go check airfares now and see what Star Alliance members I can fly for a good fare so I can accrue mileage plus miles. How was customs? As long as the fare is around $500 I should be able to pick it up, I just need to plan now so I know how much money I need to make....
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1059 times:
LOL, my mistake. Believe me I knew that Airontario. I've just had my mind fixated on living on the west coast while my parents want to live on the east coast...
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1033 times:
BlueShamu330s From UK - England, joined Sep 2001, 2514 posts, RR: 25 Reply 7, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1011 times:
If you're keen on trying something a little different, you won't mind a non-direct service
Get down to IAD or back to ORD on UA and enjoy the service and experience we can offer you on bmi to MAN. From there, you can connect onto a variety of Star Alliance partner services into Europe, and you'll accrue those important miles too !
Shamu
So I drive a 4x4. So what?! Tax the a$$ off me for it...oh, you already have... :-(
Airblue From San Marino, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 1825 posts, RR: 14 Reply 8, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1002 times:
Why don't you visit 2 or 3 cities??
You can buy a ticket with an European airlines who offer also a Euro airpass (SK will do it) and so you can travell within Europe at very cheap fares.
Or try to find a good deal to London (I think it's easier than to Paris or Amsterdam) and then you can add others European cities using low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Go, Easyjet to go to Madrid, Rome, Athens....
BBADXB From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1003 times:
I think that if you visit Spain, you'll have a whale of a time and would definitely have no regrets. It is a cheap place (you wouldn't have to spend a lot of money once you're there), but the service and value for money that you'd get are excellent.
Above all, the people in Spain are among the nicest anywhere in the world.
You can also travel from one place to another by bus, which again are very cheap, yet very comfortable.
Hotels are cheaper than elsewhere in Europe and the quality is second to none.
Barcelona and Madrid are must.
I was in Spain for the first time in January of this year - I liked it so much that I have since returned twice.
Regarding PASSPORTS: it depends on which country issued your passport. As far as I know, people holding US passports can stay up to 3 months in Spain (and the other EU countries signatories of the Schengen Treaty) without the need of a Visa. But it is always best and safest to phone up the Embassy or the Consulate (in your home country) of the countries you intend to visit.
Lumumba From Belgium, joined Mar 2001, 369 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 977 times:
Also if you go from Paris to Amsterdam D'ont mis Antwerp and Brugge it's on the way.
Maybe you take the High-Speed-Train from Paris to Brussels 1H20 minuts you visite Brussels From There you
take a car and you drive.
So i repeat Paris-Brussels with the train than Brugge-Antwerp-Amsterdam with the car.
You will not regret it!
Make a good trip Serge.
Regards
Patrice
OA277 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 76 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 930 times:
If you are interested in going to Greece and then passing to Turkey, you should then know that you must have a visa to get there.
It's quite hard to get it on the borders....so best thing to do is to get it from the Turkish consulate of Komotini (a town just about an hour driving from the south Greek- Turkish borders) or from the Turkish Embassy in Athens.
Good Luck
Mighluss From Spain, joined Oct 2001, 928 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 922 times:
Come to Barcelona!
Iberia Flies from NYC to BCN for about 500$ and from Barcelona you have low-cost to Geneve and London, and with Virgin Express (quite cheap) to lots of European cities. Also you can visit Balearic Islands, You won't get dissapointed! and like BBADXB said, all is far cheaper than Paris or London... etc.
Parra From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 913 times:
You will only need a passport except for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, which you will be required to obtain a visa for. You will be granted entry for anything between 30 days and 6 months depending on which country you are in.
This all presumes you are a US citizen. If you are Aussie or Kiwi or a Saffer then you may need visas even for western European nations.
Another thing is that you will only get a stamp in your passport if you ask in some countries, so make sure you do so that you'll have a nice souvenir of each place you visited.
Konstantinos From Greece, joined Jun 2001, 389 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 906 times:
If you are interested in coming to Greece, I will be happy to take care of all your travel arrengements.
e-mail me at aegean-sky@europe.com and I'll forward you a programme of what you will be doing with prices.
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7791 posts, RR: 23 Reply 17, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 895 times:
Don't be put off by the high prices of visiting London, you can have a great time with a low budget. Try London, you won't be disappointed!
Mls515 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 3069 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 873 times:
Passports
If you don't have a passport yet, you should look into getting one very soon to make sure you have it in time for summer (without paying extra fees to expedite it's issuance). The process is explained at: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html You basically go to the post office or wherever the local agency is and turn in a filled out application and a couple passport photos. You'll also need to send in an original copy of your birth certificate but you get it back when they send you your passport in the mail. If you don't know where an original copy of your birth certificate is, you can call the records department of the county where you were born and arrange to have one sent to you. The state where you were born's records department may also be able to fill this request.
If you're a US citizen, you can visit Canada, Mexico, and some other Carribbean islands without necessarily needing a passport but you'll need one to go to Europe or pretty much anywhere else. Entry requirements (passports, visas, etc..) and travel advisories for each country are at: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html and click on the countries you might visit.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 848 times:
Thank you everyone for the replies, I have to look through all this information tomorrow and start preparing my documents for a passport.. Have to go to sleep right now..
777-200 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 1017 posts, RR: 8 Reply 20, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 841 times:
You should take the Train One or Twice, You'll get a whole new Perspective of Europe that you'll never get Flying!
Parra From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (11 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 806 times:
In fact the train is the cheapest way to travel through eastern europe especially if you buy a ticket from Point A to the border and a ticket from the border to Point B. Email me if you have any specific questions relating to your travels.
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