justme
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Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
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Post by justme on Mar 25, 2019 14:29:49 GMT -5
OMG! Everytime I talk to someone they give me another idea or another something to check out. I really need to decide! Blah, I hate this. Parents think I should do something easy now so I can actually research and plan better and go in Oct/Nov time frame. And probably cheaper now too since it's no longer last minute. But mom's suggestion of a Panama cruise is out because they're all leaving Friday and sold out. Another option would be a transatlantic. There's one that ends in London and one in Barcelona. About $1500 for the way over and about $500 if I use the cruiseline's airfare and $400 if I do my own - but doing my own would let me have 2 days in Paris. Though Ugh, I still don't know. I'm in like decision paralysis!! I am a huge fan of Sept/Oct travel, so that would be my choice. With my cruise travel planning, I do not go with the cruise line. The price we paid for our airfare to Bergen in Oct and out of Barcelona is about the same price as what we were offered on Viking. However, it seems to me that they become difficult when you want to go earlier or stay longer, but not take their pre/post cruise tour. I try to give us time on both end, usually 4 days as that gives us time to check out the city the way we want to. I do understand decision paralysis. This would be taking this cruise on April 27th. Maybe spending an extra day or two in London or maybe going to Paris for those two days since the cruise ends on a Thursday. But then going back in Sept/Oct/Nov to do Italy (and Paris if I don't get there). I'd likely have to forgo the Halloween cruise I have planned - but Europe would be more fun than Mexico anyways - to have the time to do this. As for which company - I'm pretty much stuck with NCL as a solo traveler since all other options I looked at were at least $1000 more. Which is fine, I like them. The ship I'm looking at is the same one I went solo on before and I liked it and there's stuff to do - I could walk the plank in the middle of the Atlantic!! I could probably do the transatlantic for $3k. But hopefully going back in the fall would be cheaper - since if I went with my original land trip right now I'm looking at $1400 for the flight - flights later in the year are like $500 less. The cruise goes to Ponta Delgada Azores, Portland England, Brussels / Bruges (Zeebrugge) Belgium, Le Havre (Paris), France. Though from the looks going to Paris during a 12 hour stop in Le Havre is ambitious.
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justme
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
Posts: 14,618
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Post by justme on Mar 26, 2019 10:43:51 GMT -5
Oh, and my parents just brought me mace this weekend. Crazy. They say it's legal over there. Weirdos.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 26, 2019 12:00:10 GMT -5
Oh, and my parents just brought me mace this weekend. Crazy. They say it's legal over there. Weirdos. Can you get it on the plane or ship? I wouldn’t even try. About your indecision, buy a plane ticket or make a cruise reservation, and then just start filling in the gaps. One you have one major restriction set, then it becomes easier to fill in the blanks. Chances are, you’ll find out things you will wish you had done differently. That’s ok.... When I was planning South Africa, I had our safari set in February. However, I did nothing else until 2 months before we left. Then I found that Emirates had a sale going on which handled most of our route.....so I had to make a decision as to a multi leg trip NOW. Once I had the flights in place, everything just fell into place. I could not get a reservation at our first choice resort in the Maldives. Plan B was still awesome. There was a train ride through South Africa I wanted to take but the dates didn’t work, so that idea was trashed. We had 3 days in Dubai....I could have used a couple more. As a time line, I reserved the safari (where I was waitlisted for one of the days) in Feb, flights end of July, resort early Aug and hotels and car rentals 10 days before we left Sept. 1.
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justme
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
Posts: 14,618
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Post by justme on Jun 1, 2019 20:23:20 GMT -5
Ok resurrecting this!!!! Looking forward I have September or April to do this. Technically I have Dec or Jan or Feb but I'm assuming that's going to be too cold to be enjoyable. Anyone have thoughts on best time to go?
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tskeeter
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Joined: Mar 20, 2011 19:37:45 GMT -5
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Post by tskeeter on Jun 1, 2019 21:24:30 GMT -5
Ok resurrecting this!!!! Looking forward I have September or April to do this. Technically I have Dec or Jan or Feb but I'm assuming that's going to be too cold to be enjoyable. Anyone have thoughts on best time to go? Just booked a Christmas Markets tour in Germany for next December. Tour info says expect temps in the mid 30’s. Spent a year ago April in Ireland. Took a mid weight rainproof jacket. Not enough for standing on the sidewalk, waiting for a bus, while “enjoying” the fresh breeze off Dublin Bay. Bought a fleece to wear under the jacket. Weather broke in mid May and turned pleasantly warm. Or, maybe I had gotten used to the cool weather.
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Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,401
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 1, 2019 21:38:53 GMT -5
Ok resurrecting this!!!! Looking forward I have September or April to do this. Technically I have Dec or Jan or Feb but I'm assuming that's going to be too cold to be enjoyable. Anyone have thoughts on best time to go? The best time to go all depends on what you want to see and do. Find out what is 'off season' in the areas where you want to travel. Off season prices can be lower than high season prices. Is it important to you to dine outdoors in the evening? If yes, look at travelling during the warmer months. If not important, look at off season. Enjoy the flora in parks? Warmer months/high season. No? Off season cooler/cold months. You get the idea.
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travelnut11
Familiar Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2011 22:17:14 GMT -5
Posts: 639
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Post by travelnut11 on Jun 2, 2019 20:54:55 GMT -5
September is my favorite month to travel pretty much anywhere in the world. This year I'm going to Stockholm, Sweden and Tallin, Estonia. My first time in Europe since my honeymoon five years ago! April would be nice too if you're still thinking Italy/France. I've been to Italy in March twice and the weather was great though things were still a little sleepy and some attractions in smaller towns were closed. April would probably be perfect though I'd advise against Holy Week (Easter). I think that's a busy travel time for Europeans.
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happyhoix
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Oct 7, 2011 7:22:42 GMT -5
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Post by happyhoix on Jun 7, 2019 7:48:59 GMT -5
Ok resurrecting this!!!! Looking forward I have September or April to do this. Technically I have Dec or Jan or Feb but I'm assuming that's going to be too cold to be enjoyable. Anyone have thoughts on best time to go? Depends on where in Europe you want to go. Southern Europe would be fine Dec/Jan/Feb - not baking hot. Not sure how many tourists will be there - I know the northern Europeans like to take trips to Spain/Italy in the winter months, to thaw out, so it might still be pretty crowded.
I lived in the middle of Europe, and rarely had to wear a heavy coat in Dec/Jan/Feb. Snow was rare. The German Christmas markets are awesome (hot mulled wine is fabulous) so that's a plus. Jan/Feb would be the tourist off-season, so that's a great plus, some of the more popular destinations, like Versailles, can get mobbed up in tourist season. As someone who has a crowd phobia, I always try to find the less visited months.
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justme
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
Posts: 14,618
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Post by justme on Jun 7, 2019 10:33:23 GMT -5
I'm still looking at the Italy/Paris option. While I would love more outdoor focused things, I'm definitely looking at the off/shoulder season due to the cost. I just don't want to freeze - and after packing for Alaska I would rather go in a time where I don't have to worry about surviving 50* weather in the middle of the day or 30* at night. Much prefer nothing below the 60s.
I currently have something Oct 27 - Nov 3 that I'm 99% confident I'm making a final payment on next week. I also have a work conference Nov 11-15 (though I'll likely be in Vegas until the 16th, might fly out on the 10th - not sure if work covers that haha). I also currently have another cruise booked March 8-15.
While I'd miss family stuff, going over Thanksgiving would give me 2.5 free days off. I just don't know how cold - I'd like to be comfy walking around. With the cruise in the middle of March it pretty much crosses that month out so then it'd be Feb or April. September is still an option but I'm not sure if that's truly shoulder season yet or not.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 7, 2019 11:05:43 GMT -5
All I can tell you was we were in Paris over Christmas and we lucked out with the weather. The heaviest jacket I needed was a fleece. I was also there in Sept and froze my ass off (part of this might have been due to coming in from the Greek Islands, and I had one long sleeved shirt with me).
Let me throw this out for you.....we were in Lisbon last Dec. The weather was wonderful, we had rain one day, and the rest of the time I wore a LS top and no jacket. Good food, reasonable costs and lots to see.
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