re: How much to save for a 2 week European vacation?

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These numbers are hilarious. I wonder if half of you have ever done any serious traveling.

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I consider traveling and honeymooning to be a bit different

Eastern Europe is really cheap

Hendo...just got back after doing 3 weeks in Europe during June/July (Amsterdam/Rhine Valley/Munich/Swiss Alps/Paris/London)

Airfare is your biggest cost (prob 3k for both of you). Consider flying open jaw (into Frankfurt & out of Rome or somewhere), it's slightly more expensive but can be a great value.

I'd say you could do 2 weeks over there for between 4-5K.

For itinerary purposes, Germany/Italy will give you some great sights. Consider Bacharach/St. Goar in the Rhine River valley.

I'd spend 4 days in Munich. Great city, and tons of day-trip options (Salzburg, Fussen, etc). Know you may not be able to squeeze in Switzerland on the trip, but you could travel 1.5-2 hours south of Munich and see the Zugspitze (highest point in German Alps, right near Italy border). That's a decent alternative.

As far as Italy is concerned, 2-3 days in the Cinque Terre is a perfect relaxing break in the middle of the trip. Guessing a 2-hr train ride from Florence. Consider it.

I'd recommend traveling by air & rail only...driving a car can get you lost, and only one of you gets to see the scenery along the way.

Lastly, are you gonna catch a match at Allianz?

I was looking at flights to Barcelona the other day. For two that starts at $3200. 12 nights in a hotel would be roughly $3600-4000. Dinners could easily be $1000-2000. Lunches $600'ish. Plus transportation in and around wherever you are.

Where u r going really matters. Also, where flying from a n d how flexible. I got flights, Houston to Zagreb for 826$ earlier this year, just priced Houston to Istanbul at 758$(round trip prices.

Definitely do open jaw. The convenience of not having to spend the time and money to get where you started is worth the increase in price. Plus you can just plan to finish where your flight is leaving from.

I recommend AirBNB if you are on the fence. Never had any issues and the places were all better than expected. We were staying in nice arse apartments/homes split a few ways for less than $60 a night. You can find some good stuff there under $200 that will be romantic as hell. That said, I would at least stay in a hotel a few times. It's nice to meet people or couples doing the same thing as you. The social aspect of hotels is what I missed when staying at AirBNB.

Don't know if you mentioned when going, but if you can avoid late April-Late July, you will save money. College kids traveling and demand increase price like crazy during those times.

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Gotcha. Sorry I misunderstood. Makes much more sense.

Figure flights for 2 at 2 grand depending on time of year. Look online for apartment rentals. Avoid hotels.

Fly to Munich (lots to do there) on a flight leaving the US in the evening. Sleep on the flight(Xanax?) so you will arrive on the morning. Hit up some day trips to Fussen (Neuschwantstein Castle) and or Salzburg (high speed rail = 90 minutes each way). 3 nights

Take train to Venice or drive with a stop in Innsbruck.
Enjoy Venice, especially at night. 3 nights

Option A- take a day trip to Rome. The major sites can be seen in a day. Make it a long day so you can really enjoy it. The Vatican should be your first stop.

Next, take a Greek Island cruise out of Venice. These can include Croatia and or Turkey. Research it.

Option B
Venice to Rome (also high speed rail...2 hours)
Rome has tons to see and do. Stay off the 64 bus!
Day trip to Florence (high speed rail...90 min)
4 nights

Ferry to Barcelona overnight (cabin style). The ferries are pretty nice. Enjoy Barcelona.

Barcelona to Madrid on high speed rail (2 hours).
Enjoy Madrid.
4 nights

Fly home

I have done both. I prefer Option A as you get to chill a little more except for Rome. Stay a night in Rome if it is too much to cover. Still, I enjoyed both.

PS - don't get fricking Ebola!