Backpacking Europe

[Christine Moritz]

Originally posted by 6949:
  Check out lonelyplanet's message boards.   http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

Especially this memorable thread:
 
 http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messagepost.cfm?postaction=reply&catid=32&threadid=776884&messid=6606542&STARTPAGE=1&parentid=0&from=11&showall=true
 
 

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by pdx pollard:
   

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
 www.kayak.com

wow, looks like farechase with better tools, I am still surprised how many useful websites there are that I just dont hear about, maybe we should start a thread for that [/b]

kayak is fantastic, by far the best travel site out there ... root around on it and see all the different things you can do
 
 this section:  http://www.kayak.com/buzz
 
 is particularly cool

[sweetcell]

this is the travel website that keeps me on planes:
 
 http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/prego/calendar
 
 a meta-search engine.  lots of different way of planning your trip, the "Search any 30 day period for the lowest prices" and "Find the cheapest weekend to travel in any 30 day period" features are very useful.  
 
 www.sidestep.com is also good.  but as pdx pollard pointed out, there aren't too many "hidden deals" to be found anymore... most sites have access to the same pool of 99% of the fares.  occasionally i come across a unique fare, but it's getting rarer and rarer.

[Chulahoma]

hahahaha this is keeping me busy while at work.
 
 

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
   

Originally posted by 6949:
  Check out lonelyplanet's message boards.    http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/  

Especially this memorable thread:
 
  http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messagepost.cfm?postaction=reply&catid=32&threadid=776884&messid=6606542&STARTPAGE=1&parentid=0&from=11&showall=true
 
     [/b]

[bnyced0]

You might find you have more flexibility and greater use of time if you use the cheap airlines once you're over there.  It takes a bit of logistical planning but it might provide more bang for the buck. These sites are good for getting an idea about which destinations connect the easiest then I'd go to the airline site for details and bookings, nearly all of them have english buttons so don't fear the initial burst of foreign language.
 
    http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp  
 
     http://www.skyscanner.net/  
 
 only note of caution, the reason why these flights are so cheap are they use underutilized airports sometimes so the lead time on getting to/from major cities may be an issue but there are many destinations that use major airports so it just depends on your itinerary.  Think South West, but sometimes the quality is much better.
 
 As far as venues, depends on where you're going.  Once you have an itinerary PM me and I'll have someone provide detailed info on all the cities you're hitting.

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
 www.kayak.com

seconded.
 
 i was a sidestep user, but have since switched to kayak.  i will never use orbitz again after a christmas-new years trip fiasco (well, that was more us airways fault, but orbitz was no help with the problem either).
 
 and pollard is correct, use these sites for finding the fares, but then go to the airlines web pages to book them- fares will normally be about $5-10 cheaper, and you get bonus miles for booking online.  
 
 as for planning. . .i would recommend finding the cheapest flight you can to london or dublin or even paris, and use that city as your jumping off point by using the european budget carriers (like ryan air) to get to other places in europe.  be forewarned that some budget carrier cities may be 50 miles or more away from the destination.

[bnyced0]

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
   

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
 www.kayak.com

seconded.
 
 i was a sidestep user, but have since switched to kayak.  i will never use orbitz again after a christmas-new years trip fiasco (well, that was more us airways fault, but orbitz was no help with the problem either).
 
 and pollard is correct, use these sites for finding the fares, but then go to the airlines web pages to book them- fares will normally be about $5-10 cheaper, and you get bonus miles for booking online.  
 
 as for planning. . .i would recommend finding the cheapest flight you can to london or dublin or even paris, and use that city as your jumping off point by using the european budget carriers (like ryan air) to get to other places in europe.  be forewarned that some budget carrier cities may be 50 miles or more away from the destination. [/b]

There's an echo in here.

[6949]

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
   

Originally posted by 6949:
  Check out lonelyplanet's message boards.    http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/  

Especially this memorable thread:
 
  http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messagepost.cfm?postaction=reply&catid=32&threadid=776884&messid=6606542&STARTPAGE=1&parentid=0&from=11&showall=true
 
     [/b]

I can't thank you enough for finding that. I'm up to post #51. I'm saving the rest for later because it's that damn good.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
 Especially this memorable thread:
 

Oh. My. God.
 
 That will take care of my Friday afternoon downtime nicely.
 
 Thanks in advance.