Showing posts with label EF College Break. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EF College Break. Show all posts

Thursday, November 21, 2013

EF College Break: New Years's/Spring Break Trips

As much as I want to go all out on a trip to Europe, I just don't know how realistic that is. I need to save money for when I graduate college and am in the real world. A New Year's or Spring Break trip may be my best option if I want to go to Europe, but want to save some money. Or this money could go towards a bigger trip when I am older. This post is to weight the options and see about how much these trips would cost.

New Year's Trips:
You can see my post on the London,Paris, Rome trip here. This trip can also be taken over New Years which is why I included it here.

Now on to other New Year's Trip options (note: most of these trips can also be taken in the summer)

London/Paris


Length: 8 days

Cities Visited: London, Paris

Countries Visited: England, France

Excursions I would go on: Versailles, New Year's at Ministry of Sound

Starting Price: $2,440

Price with excursions ect...: $2,810

Thoughts: Add $50 for food ect... This trip is short, so I would prefer to go ahead a few days early to spend more time in London, this would interfere with Christmas potentially then....I would also want to spend more time then 3 days in Paris as well. But at least I can say I went there? But is it worth rushing a trip just to say I was there? Also do I really want to go on a trip over New Year's? I will be missing New Year's at home, plus there will be people getting out of control at clubs ect.. in the group, which is bound to happen, but especially since it would be New Year's. Also there is no trip to Stonehenge on this tour.

Total Price: ~$3,160
                                     

Germany/Italy/Switzerland

Length:10 days

Cities Visited: Munich, Innsbruck, Venice, Verona, Mt. Pilatus, Lucerne Region, Rhine Falls, Heidelberg, Frankfurt

Countries Visited: Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland

Excursions I would go on: Mount Pilatus

Starting Price: $2,575

Price with excursions ect...: $2,870

Thoughts: Same thing with the partying as above. $50/day for food ect... I would get to see other countries. Not my top choices, but would still be VERY interesting to see. I would get to see more countries then the other tours.

Total Price: ~$3,320

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Amsterdam/Paris/London

Length: 11 days

Cities Visited: Amsterdam, Paris, London

Countries Visited: Netherlands, France, England

Excursions I would go on: Versailles, Stonehenge/Bath

Starting Price: $2,900

Price with excursions ect...: $3308

Thoughts: I would want more time in London, I like how I can still go to Versailles and Stonehenge/Bath. This trip is more expensive, but there are 3 cities.

Total Price: ~$3,808
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I was going to consider a longer New Year's trip, but between the price, weather and the time I would be away, I decided I would rather do a bigger trip in the summer. I would not want to spend most of my winter break on a trip to Europe and I would rather go to Europe in the summer.

I also was going to include an Ireland trip over Spring Break for St. Patrick's Day, but decided it did not line up with my Spring Break, plus it would get 'crazy' what with all the drinking people would be doing so I would prefer to go in a calmer atmosphere. I will just enjoy my spring break with my friends and family. 

Friday, October 18, 2013

My top trips (EF College Break)

I am looking into 3 different trips through EF College Break. Has anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Anyone know someone who has? What was it like?

My 3 top trip choices (well 4) are the London/Paris/Rome Trip, The European Panorama Trip and the Grand Tour of Europe Trip. The Australia/ New Zealand one I would like to go on after this first trip to Europe I am planning.

Overview of each trip:


London/Paris/Rome

Length: 12 days

Cities Visited: London, Paris, Rome

Countries Visited: England, France, Italy

Excursions I would go on: Stonehenge/Bath, Versailles

Starting Price: $3,039

Price with excursions ect...: $3,755

Thoughts: I don't know about spending 1 night on a train. It seems like I would be wasting time on a train for what I am spending. This trip would be good if I end up not being able to save enough for a longer one, however I would like to visit more places when I go to Europe to see the most I can while I am there. But this is better than nothing and is shorter so I will not be away for as long (I could add the stay ahead option where I go to London earlier then meet with my tour group once it starts). Take into account about $50 a day for food/souvenirs.

Total Price: about $4,355

                                                                                                                                

European Panorama:


Length: 25 days

Cities Visited: Dublin, North Wales, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Lucerne Region, Florence, French Riviera, Barcelona

Countries Visited: Ireland, Wales, England, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain

Excursions I would go on: Stonehenge/Bath, Amsterdam Bike Tour, Versailles, Mount Pilatus

Starting Price: $4,187

Price with excursions ect...: $4,896

Thoughts: This is also a good alternative if I can not save enough for the Grand Tour of Europe. I would get to see Ireland on this trip and skip Madrid, but I would only get to see one city in Italy (Florence), not Venice or Rome. I get 4 days in Paris instead of 3 like in the other two trips. Take into account about $50 a day for food/souvenirs for 25 days.

Total Price: about $6,200
                                                                                                                                   

Grand Tour or Europe

Length: 30 days

Cities Visited: London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Heidelberg, Lucerne Region, Venice, Rome, Florence, French Riviera, Provence, Barcelona, Madrid

Countries Visited: England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain

Excursions I would go on: Stonehenge/Bath, Versailles, Amsterdam Bike Tour, Mount Pilatus

Starting Price: $4,847


Price with excursions ect...: $5,773

Thoughts: This is my top choice of tours, however it is expensive. I need to take into account the fact that I will need money for food/souvenirs. With about $50 a day for food for 30 days that is $1,500 dollars. So the total price comes to be very high. I would get 3 days in Amsterdam as opposed to 2 days like in the European Panorama trip. Also a plus is that I can use the stay ahead option and spend a few extra days in London before my trip starts.

Total Price: about $7,300

                                                                                                                                   

All of my total price estimates are just that. Estimates. My final price will probably be lower than this number. I am just overestimating to be prepared to make sure I will have enough money. Some meals are included (all breakfasts and some dinners), and the first and last day of the tour are travel days on the airplane, so those meals do not need to be included either. My final estimates will probably be lower than this, but I just want to be prepared.

Have you ever gone on an EF College Break trip? About how much money can I expect to spend on food? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!