Thanks
Europe is not a country. Pick a country, and it is advisable to pick a country with a language that you can speak for your first trip abroad. Ireland or the UK would both be good choices.
Do not bring US dollars. They are not legal tender in any country other than the US and its territories. Depending on which country you choose, you will need Euros or another currency, so do a little research. Not every European country is an EU member state, and not every EU member state uses the Euro as its currency. You can always access your own bank account at home through the ATMs and get your money that way, there's a small charge and you get it in the local currency, and it's way cheaper than travellers' cheques.
Do your research - travel section in your local library is a good start - pick a country and then pick a travel guide book for that country. I'd suggest buying one so that you have up-to-date information to hand whenever you need it.
You haven't mentioned how old you will be when you plan to travel. If you are under 18 you will have huge problems with accommodation as no hotel or hostel, anywhere, will allow you to check-in.
Most USA high schools finish in late May. Depart on the trip as soon after graduation as you can to miss as much of the summer tourism rush as possible. Otherwise wait until mid-October if you can. Costs are MUCH higher from mid-June to late September.
You need a passport. You apply at the post office.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passport...
Check airline sites for airfares:
www.aa.com
www.delta.com
www.united.com
Use travel sites to estimate hotel costs, but make the reservations on the hotel websites. For example:
www.bestwestern.com
www.holidayinn.com
There are guides for staying at hostels if you want to pay less than for a hotel.
Budget $60 per day for meals and minor incidental expenses. Does NOT include partying.
Use travel sites to estimate costs for activities. Remember to budget for travel inside Europe, including between the airport and wherever you will stay.
You can realistically visit two (2) or a maximum of three (3) places in a 14-day trip.
If you try to visit more it will
A) Be very expensive as travel within Europe is expensive.
B) Exhaust you.
C) Mean the trip will be nothing more than a blur when it's over.
If it was my first trip to Europe I would go to Dublin and Prague.
For example:
Fly from the USA to Dublin. You need an extra day in DUB to recover from the overnight flight.
Spend seven (7) nights in Dublin. Visit Belfast and the western coast on day trips (bus) from Dublin.
Fly from Dublin to Prague (travel burns up a day)
Spend six (6) nights in Prague. Visit Pilsen on a day trip (train) from Prague. There are also day trips to Germany from Prague.
Fly home from Prague.
If you insist on visiting an additional place then go to Amsterdam between Dublin and Prague. Take one day from Dublin and two days from Prague if you go to the third destination.
Flying TO one city and home FROM another city is called an "open jaw ticket" and they are quite normal. You just have to buy the ticket that way. Then buy separate tickets for travel within Europe. You may be able to get a Europe air pass from your trans-Atlantic airline, but compare the cost with just buying one-way tickets. This is an example:
http://www.skyteam.com/en/Flights-and-De...
Note Delta (www.delta.com) flies non-stop between New York/JFK & Dublin and JFK & Prague.
IMPORTANT: Have confirmed reservations wherever you will stay, and that includes at hostels. Print the reservations and have the copies in your carry-on. DON'T just "go somewhere" and expect to find a cheap place to stay.
Consider joining SERVAS as it will give you vetted local contacts in many places:
http://www.servas.org/join-servas.php
Check with your health insurance to find out if it covers you outside the USA 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. Having travel medical insurance is a requirement to enter some countries (ex. Lithuania & Slovakia). Even if it's not, PLEASE do not skimp on this as an otherwise-silly accident could turn into a crisis if you don't have medical insurance.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html
Spain. 150 Euros a day plus the airfare
