Hello,
Depending on where you fly in and out of is really going to effect your budget.
How you get around- bus, train, or plane- will effect your budget and how much time you will be able to actually spend in the locations you are visiting.
5 cities in 18 is possible, especially since Madrid, Toledo and Avila are so close. Choosing destinations that are nearby cuts down on travel time and cost.
Toledo is only 30 minutes by train. Avila is more like 90 minutes by train from Madrid.
I think if you did Madrid/Toledo/Avila for about 9-10 days and then took a budget flight to Berlin and did Berlin and Prague for 8-9 days it would be possible to have an enjoyable time. I would be hesitant to add more stops than that though just because of time and costs. If you feel that you really want to though choose something on route like Dresden or Liberec.
Without knowing where you are flying in and out of though it is hard for me to say if your budget will work.
If you want to talk over the planning, feel free to Facebook Message me at Crystal Mae Leturno.
Happy Travels
- If you book a cheaper round trip flight from Canada you have to get back to Madrid
- To fly from Madrid to Berlin you have to book low coast airlines which depart from smaller airports of neighboring cities
- From Berlin to Prague take the bus and back
1750 CND each will pay for the trip depending on season but not much else, which means no accommodation, no food, no admission fees.
Is it really worth it?
I doubt that. Better focus on Spain. There are many more interesting cities in that country. Berlin and Prague don't have to offer much anyway except if you are into museums Madrid has the Prado which should cover that. And if it's party you're after I just say Barcelona. Of course if it is the recent history you are looking for, Berlin and Prague do trick but then you have to skip Spain.
Stop thinking of Europe as a country - it isn't.
Madrid is in Spain, and Berlin and Prague are in Germany and the Czech Republic respectively. You are also going to have to factor in travel times from Spain to Germany (at least half a day if you're flying, 2 days if you're taking trains) and from Berlin to Prague (at least one day by train). You seem to have no idea of the distances involved.
Plus you only have just over 2 weeks, if you count the time actually travelling from Canada. While it might just be enough to do a whistle-stop version of a trip for bragging rights, you'll spend most of your time inside a train if you attempt to do all of this.
My advice: Either stay in Spain or just go to Berlin and Prague.
You really need to be much better prepared financially. It will cost you at least $2000 EACH for the transatlantic flight. Euros even at your own bank, will cost you to buy. They are not the same as dollars. Last August I paid $1.42 per Euro that was listed online as at $1.26. You also need to allow time in each place to see the sites and you really cannot do that on this small amount of money.
So what you do is to do a little trip and distance each time your travel internationally and be happy that you are rested enough to enjoy what you are seeing. After a few years, you will ahve done all of the traveling you really want to do. But be sure you travel a lot when young, when you can still handle your own luggage and do all the steps. Europe is full of uneven steps..
Depending on when you go, the trans-Atlantic flight flight will take about 2000 of your 3500 budget. Travel within Europe is expensive, so getting from Madrid to the other cities will take hundreds more. You also have to budget for transportation between airport and hostel.
Verify the actual cost for hostels for the dates you want to travel. Also pay attention to locations as many are way out in the suburbs. However, you can expect to pay at least $25 per night per person. That means about $450 for accommodations AT BEST.
Moving from place to place will use up a day each time in addition to costing money. Even just taking the bus from Madrid to Avila and Toledo (only about 70km) will consume most of a day since you have to check out of the hostel, get to the station, wait, ride the bus, get to the hostel, check-in, etc.
You have to budget $40 per day per person for meals, even if you think you can just buy food from grocery stores (that does not really work). That means at least $700 for food.
2000 + 450 + 700 = 3150 BEFORE you add in airport transportation, moving around within Europe, and the inevitable additional expenses.
I can find no reason to go to Europe to sit around inside the hostel with no money for sightseeing or activities and eating only food you bought at the grocery store.
However, I believe you CAN do the trip IF you reduce it to 14 days and stick with one primary destination (ex. Madrid, with day trips to Avila and Toledo). You still have to carefully watch your money to ensure you don't run out before the end of the trip.
Consider joining SERVAS as it > may < let you avoid paying for hostels the whole time by staying with a host:
http://www.servas.org/join-servas.php
Check with your health insurance to find out if it covers you in Europe and pays for medical evacuation to home (should that be necessary). If yes then take proof of coverage with you. If no or not sure then get trip medical insurance, which is cheap and sold by airlines & travel agents. Europe has good medical care but it isn't free or even cheap for tourists. Please do not skimp on this as an otherwise-silly accident could turn into a crisis if you don't have medical insurance. This is a link from the US government, but the info is good for anyone traveling outside their home country:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw...
Vouliagmeni, Greece is the best place. You will not believe how beautiful it is. It's very safe, nice food, nice people, nice atmoshpere and a lot of things to do. Best holidays! Couldn't be better!
London ,Stratford up on Avon nice place
