Remember this is a blog & it updates backwards! Go to the bottom and find the first post if you want to get the gist of this in sequence...
This is a diary of how to set up a trip for someone going to UK & Europe for Business on a Budget for a recon mission.
Here we go...
I allowed $1.60 Conv for BPound...it's $1.46 today...AU$D
$1.30 for Euro...it's $1.27 today...AU$D
So, all is within budget, thus far.
It's Castles out of town that will bust the budget.
You could delete a lot and stay put in Edinburgh in a cheap hostel for a week to save dollars, then go on with just visiting 10 major Castles you want for Weddings inside.
I have given Castles inside, Grounds outside, romantic backdrops, great places close by for honeymoons, even a few Palaces thrown in for sheer beauty.
A very wide range of venues indeed...
This is part of that blog from that USA girl...
...”Opera Garnier is also beautiful to see. At Christmas, the markets are fun and the shops are decorated, so you get lots to see just being on the streets.
Many will disagree with me, but I am less a fan of the Louvre. There is lots to see, but you really need to do your homework to find what you are interested. The paintings there are just less appealing to me, as many of them are more religious scenes and I am a fan of Impressionism (hence, the preference for D'Orsay). I do enjoy the Greek/Egyptian antiquities at the Louvre. It is a massive place and can be very crowded, so consider going during the late evening hours (Wednesday evening, I think). It is closed on Tuesday.
I do like the Paris Museum Pass...buy it when you get there (no need to get it ahead of time). It does need to be used on consecutive days and there is a 2, 4 or 6 day version. It's not really a money saver, but it is a time saver, to me. Less waiting in line (pass holders can usually skip waiting lines). parismuseumpass.com There is a list on the site of which museums and monuments accept the pass. Make sure you know where you want to go and what days/hours are for the things you want to do...mistake that many make in Paris!!
Make sure you take small travel umbrellas and good scarves and hats to stay warm. We wore thin layers under our clothes from REI that kept us warm without bulk. I also like the little air activated hand warmers (like you would wear in gloves at a football stadium or for hunters). Great if you find your self outdoors longer than you expected. They stay warm all day.
Have you decided which arrondisement you are going to stay in? Hotel or apartment?
Consider taking the train in from CDG instead of a shuttle or taxi...less expensive and can be faster when traffic is bad.
Use carnets of tickets for the Metro and buses. Choose a location to stay in with a Metro station or a good bus line near by. Use ATMs to get Euros while you are there (notify banks ahead of time regarding your travel plans).
If you can afford it, splurge on a remarkable meal on Christmas Day. I would recommend Les Ambassadeurs for brunch but I think the hotel has been bought and is scheduled to be closed for renovations. We went to Le Cinq last year for Christmas Day lunch (at the Four Seasons)...it was very luxurious and not inexpensive but we enjoyed it. Things do shut down quite a bit on Christmas Eve in the late afternoon. They come back to life after lunch on Christmas Day. The Metro does run though.
If you are considering Strasbourg or Paris, those are definitely the two cities to consider, assuming that you want to experience Christmas in a big city with restaurants and activities. I would throw in Lille as an alternative idea, in case the proximity of England and Belgium appeal to you for some quick border crossings.
If you go to Paris, Strasbourg does have a beautiful Christmas market and I think you could go for a day. Someone did that in 2010 and has a T/R on Fodors' with wonderful pictures. Search for it, if you are interested.
I'm guessing that Les Ambassadeurs is wonderful for brunch. We had a very disappointing lunch there in September. There were 8 women dining and I had to pay a 300 Euro deposit because of the size of our group.
Because there were 8 of us, we had a limited menu, 2 choices each for starter, main and dessert. The service was not the best for a michelin starred restaurant (the restaurant was not full....it was a Wednesday afternoon)and the food was just OK. To top it off, the bill did not reflect our 300 Euro deposit!
We may have just hit them on an off day but have eaten at Plaza Athenee, Le Cinq, Grand Vefour, Taillevent and Pre Catalan among others. They all far surpassed Les Ambassadeurs.
Actually, our favorite dinner that trip was at Hidden Kitchen though I'm not sure they are still serving since they opened their new restaurant, Verjus.
No matter where you choose to dine, you will love Paris during the holidays!”...
End blog info.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
First Draft, Rough in ideas of basic trip...
Costings to follow. Check out the Castle locations on a map & find the one’s you want to visit close by
***All costings are each, as a guide for budgeting...In England I'll call a pound a Quid...Q
1. Day 1...Leave Aust...night on plane. Leave at say 2pm, arrive Bangkok at their 8pm...after 8-9hrs flying...leave Bk at m/night, arrive London their 6am, after 12 hours flying...$2,000 return with 31 days insurance
2. Day 2...Arrive UK/London 6am ish, I will already be there, so we can go directly to Hostel & drop off your 4 bags, then while waiting to book-in to accom at 2pm, tour London, Buckingham Palace, Tower London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey...all walking distance from Victoria Station & hostel....Early to bed, Night in Hostel in London...12 pounds plus food for day 5 pounds each. Train from airport to London Victoria stn, 10 pounds approx Total day 2...= 27-30 pounds/Quid
3. Day 3...Jump on Megabus at Victoria Station (about 10 mins walk from Hostel) and go straight up to that Castle at Rise Hall, about 4 hrs away. I will have organised a car in Hull or you may have arranged for the lady to collect us. After a few hours at the Castle & some great photo shoots, back to Hull and onto the Megabus up to Edinburgh or another Castle you find in Northern Eastern England, on that route. Night in a Hostel somewhere in a bigger city, near 2nd Castle...cheaper! Megabus to Hull about 10 pounds.Megabus to bigger city, $10pounds Hostel 15pounds food 10-15 pounds Total day 3 = 45-50 pounds/Quid ...plus 50 Q for hire car for a few hours. = Q for day
 |
| Edinburgh Castle, overlooks the main street... |
4. Day 4...Tour Castle if found one, or we’ll be in Edinburgh by 6am that morning, after traveling all night on bus, depending on schedules. Tour Edinburgh, free walking tour, see Hogwarts, Elephant House where JKRowlings wrote Harry Potter, lunch with guide in Scottish pub, 6 pounds, includes a drink. After that walk back up to Edinburgh Castle and do some photo shoots around Castle, Arthur’s Seat, see where Edinburgh Tattoo is performed etc. Tour inside Castle, about 10-12 pounds. That’s it on top of the hill, close as. Night in Hostel, walking close! Hostel 8-10 pounds, food 7pounds, pub 6pounds, Castle tour 12, guide 7P...total day 4 = 40P/Quid
 |
| Urqhurt Castle Ruins...Lochness, Scotland |
5. Day 5...Leave Edinburgh for eg...Inverness. About 5 hour trip up to middle top of Scotland. Hostel right at bus stop, 3-50 P if buy online early, 12 pounds after 10am online on day or 27 pounds at ticket counter... From Inverness, visit Castle Ruins at Loch Ness. $12 pounds return to Loch in bus for day trip. Castle ruins are about 2miles walk thru Scottish highlands from bus stop in Dramandroight. Fort William and that other lovely Castle that QE1 said was the most romantic Castle are on this road and buses go there too from Inverness. Back to hostel for night. ...Hostel 15Q, bus to Inv, 10Q, bus to Lochness, 12Q, Castle entry 10Q, food 5Q, Total for day 5 = 50 Quid
6. Day 6...Leave Inverness for Glasgow, inland a bit, about 4 hrs or so...ish. There are lots of Castles in that area, visit Castle of choice in hire car if no buses go past. Stay in Hostel for night. Hostel 20Q, bus 10Q, food 10Q... Total for day 6= 40Q plus hire car and castle entry if applicable...
7. Day 7... Leave Glasgow for Ireland, via Ayre and Stranear Port, Ferry across to Belfast. Arrive 10pm. Stay in Hostel. Hostel 15 Q, Bus 10Q, Ferry to Ireland 20Q, food 15Q = Total for day 7 = 60Q
8. Day 8...See friend in Maegerhfeldt in morning and visit any Castle close by in afternoon by bus, as hire cars up here are too expensive. Night in same Hostel again in Belfast. Hostel 15Q,food 10Q, extras 10Q = Total for day 8 = 35Q
 |
| Coastline, Ayre to Stranear Port, Scotland,beautiful |
9. Day 9...Leave Belfast for Galway Bay via strange places!. About 3-5 hr trip, depending on bus connections, as Belfast is Nthn Ireland & GBay is Ireland. Both have different money. One has pounds the other Euro! Arrive in GBay at lunch, book into Snoozles Hostel 5 steps away from bus station. Visit Castles in this area by either bus or hire car for the day. Really cheap car hire in this other Ireland. Hostel for night. 12E, food 10E, Bus 15 E = Total for day 9 = 37E Plus any car hire and Castle entry.
10. Day 10...Leave Galway Bay for Dublin via bus after lunch for 4-5hr trip. 1-5 euro if book early or 27euro if buy at counter. Arrive Dublin 4-6pm. Go to Hostel in Dublin, around corner from bus station...Hostel 12E, Bus 10E, Food 7E, Total for day 10 = 29E
 |
| Hostel in Dublin... |
11. Day 11...Visit any Castles on agenda to-day by hire car or bus. Same Hostel for night. This one was right near bus station. 20E for day 11 plus car hire and Castle entry if applicable.
12. Day 12...Leave for Wales early, 7am ferry.Fare from Dublin right thru to London was 38 euro, including bus, ferry, Virgin train into London, Victoria Station. We will have to stop off in Wales somewhere to visit a few Castles there. There are 360 wedding venues in wales, on that list I sent you, so surely there will be a few Castles in that lot! Hostel for night or B7B somewhere if we hire a car etc. Total for Day 12...Hostel, somewhere in Wales20, food 10, Ferry etc, 40, = 70 E. I don't know Wales money! Plus Castle Trips in car.
13. Day 13...Wales, Another Castle, Hostel for night or head back to London, only a few hours on train or by bus. Say total for day 13... 50Q all up each?
14. Day 14...Wales to London. Or already in London & can leave for the Castle just 50 km from London, that nice one for Weddings. Have a spell before we hit Europe. Stay in London and go see a show! I’m off to see POTO again...Check up & find one you guys want to see. About 40-50 pounds if you do, but it is West End!
Total for day 14...POTO or such 40Q, Hostel, 12Q, food 10Q, = 72Q, plus Castle trip,
15. Day 15...Leave London for Paris via cheapest route, which is via the Chunnel, about 30 pounds...ish. Arrive Paris by lunch time & book into our apartment .Eat out somewhere Louise’s dream and visit Xmas markets in Paris. See that girl’s blog report I sent you, re the food and Xmassy things to do. I think that’s as far as your New Year in Paris is going to get, this time round! Apartment about 20E each, Chunnel 40E,food 20E, Xmas shopping, as it's about 18-20 Dec Total Day 15...= 80E plus own stuff
16. Day 16...Visit a Castle, either by hire car or bus/train. Night in Paris apartment again 20E for Accom, 10E food =30E for Day 16 ...Plus Castle trip in hire car
17. Day 17...Leave Paris for Germany by Eurolines bus. Area will be determined by Castle areas. Night in Hostel near Stuttgart, eg only, heading eastwards into Central Europe.Bus overnight to somewhere, 50E, food 10E. Total for day 17 = 60 E
18. Day 18...Visit Castle in area by hire car or bus/train/walking or bicycles. Leave for Prague at 10 pm
Total for Day 18 = Bus again o/night to Prague or Vienna 50 E, food 10E, = 60 E plus Castle trip & car hire
 |
| King Arthur's Cave, as I named it, in Prague, Old City, |
19. Day 19...Arrive Prague at 6am. Do walking tour of Old City, visit Arthur's Cave (a restaurant), book into hostel, do night tour of city, about 20 euro equivalent with a meal. Night in Prague Hostel, 6-8 euro max . Total for Day 19...15 E with food, free tours. There is a big Castle on hill in Praha too, free to walk to it.
20. Day 20...Leave Prague for Castle day tours in area by hire car. Night in same Hostel 20E for day 20, plus car hire & Castle entry
 |
| A massive Castle in the middle of Budapest, on a hill. |
21. Day 21...Leave for Budapest. About 20 euro by Eurolines. Arrive about 5 or so hrs later, book into hostel. Do free walking tour of city. Visit Castles walking close by and the big one in Budapest. It’s massive. Night in B'pest. Hostels 8 E, Bus 20E,food 7E day tour on Blue Danube, 25E, with 2hr city tour...Total day 21= 60E
22. Day 22...Leave Budapest for Vienna, about 3hrs and 19Euro return, not sure how much one-way! Book into hostel & go on city tour. Visit Opera House, museums etc. Hostel Huttledorf for night Vienna, about 10 Euro ea. See Richard, my friend & he might have info for you re weddings etc, as he is a muso and has access to all sorts of places of historic value. Total for day 22 Bus 20E, Hostel 10E, food 10E = 40E... Xmas Day in here somewhere. We should arrange to have a nice meal somewhere special.
 |
| The beautiful Belvedere Palace in Vienna |
DDay 23...Visit Hofburg, Schonnbrun and Belvedere Palaces, see Mozarts Haus and eat the biggest schnitzel in the world. Night at Vienna Hostel. 10E, Hostel, Schn 10E, Palaces etc 50E all up, with food for day, train Total for day 23 = 70E
24.
D..Day 24...Leave Vienna for Salzburg and Innsbruk by train. About 6hrs & 50 euro. Stay in hostel in Salzburg, 20 euro, food 10E. Arrive 4pm ish, visit Mirrabelle Castle, walking 5 mins from hostel...
..Total for day 24...=80E
 |
| The Fortress, a Massive Castle, overlooking Salzburg |
25. Day 25...Visit massive castle/Fortress on top of hill in Salzburg, visit inside Mirrabelle Castle/Gardens to-day if too late yesterday. This is a great wedding setting. Do SOM tour to Mondsee, for the most beautiful wedding chapel in the world.
.Mirrabelle Castle is the white building on the left in the pic, where the Red wedding is taking place outside, standing around, sipping champagne!
Total today for day 25 , Hostel,20 food,10 Walking Castle tours, 20 = 50E
26. Day 26...Leave Salzburg for Innsbruk by train. 1 hour or so, with time to visit a Castle in Region. Night in Hostel in Innsbruk. Travel thru Alps area, very beautiful trip.20E train, hostel, 20E, food 10E =Total for day 26 = 50E plus car/train to Castles and Entry
27. Day 27...Leave Innsbruk for Slovenia and Lake Bled, about 1 hr or so by train or bus. Arrive and do tour to castle by boat. About 10 euro plus Castle entry. Hostel in Bled for night. Train, hostel and food, plus boat & castle entry, Total for day 27...60E
28. Day 28...Leave Bled for Venice...Arrive and visit canals, check out castles that surround the area within walking distance, catch train/bus out and head for Munich over night if possible. Train to Venice and then to Munich, 50E, food 20, hostel Munich,
...Arrive Munich Book into Hostel right in main street. Octoberfest area . Tomorrow we visit Neuschwestein & Linderhauf Castles and the little Chapel in gardens, leaving at 7am. Total for Day 28 = 90 E New Year is in here somewhere too, so we must be careful not to book anything on Xmas or NY day, as they are very old fashioned in Europe and like their traditional holidays. Everything closes!
30. Day 29...Visit fairytale romantic Neuschwanstein and beautiful Lindehauf Castles today. About 40 euro for bus trip plus 13 euro for Castle entry. Worth it. Very romantic setting for weddings, at front of Nueschwanstein and at the front of the dear little chapel in Linderhauf gardens. Imaging standing on that staircase with that tower as background! There is a horse & buggy ride the 500 meters up from the town area to here, about 5euro. Awesome venue, very different! Back from this trip at 8pm, it’s a full 12-13hr day tour and stops in at Oberamagau, the Passion Play town. Hostel for night, last night in Europe...Imagine wedding pictures taken on that staircase...WOW!
 |
| Courtyard, Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria |
..Party in Munich? Total for day 29...Hostel, food, Castle trip, Castle entry= 100E
31. Day 30...Leave Munich in am, and fly out to Australia, via Munich, Frankfurt or London.
All up, 30-31 days, 20 Castles, ?? how many actually hold weddings inside, all can have ceremonies outside or photo shoots. Great honeymoon areas all around this area in Winter too.
This is a rough in first draft. Check it out and add castles you want to visit and we'll cull others to fit budget...
Total came to about 515 pounds...at 1.60 conversion rate = 824 AUSD...
And for Euro...935 Euro at 1.30 Conversion rate = 1215 Ausd..= 824 + 1215 = $2039 ...Spot on budget wise, but no room for error, but must allow 10-20% error margin, extras, emergency. So, you'll need an extra 400 to 800AUSD....
No allowances made for car hire and extra Castle entries, in yellow.
Green is daily costs.
Check out what you need to cull to get where you need to go!
