Where to go for a weeks hols on the cheap?

jimmidy_cricket

Hi folks,
I've been googiling flights and holidays for next week (Kinda spur a the moment thing) and I don't know where to start I'd really appreciate some ideas.
I'm taking from Monday 28th off and I've booked a week but I suppose it could be two if I find somewhere really cheap.
I'd love to go on an adventure holiday, an African Safari or something but I don't think funds will permit this. The alternative would be the canaries or something for about €150, is this a realistic figure? I'd really like to go somewhere new and exciting like Egypt or I dunno somewhere a bit more than just another resort.
Any Ideas?

snackatack

Hi Jimmidy,

Im not sure if you can get something for 150. Is it just yourself that would be going. Since your taking the Mon 28 onwards off, does that mean you can include the weekend before Mon. That way you could have 8 nights somewhere.
I would suggest maybe croatia, or spend 3 nights prague, 3 nights budapest & 2 nights somewhere else? etc.

alternatively this website do lots of adventure type holidays etc, but its very detailed gives lots of diaries, community & safari type holidays etc
Go through all the site. You can even go work for a week with dolphins in Tenerife if you wanted to.

www.gapyear.com

jimmidy_cricket

I'm going to Bob Dylan on Sunday 27th and have been looking forward to it for what feels like forever so thats first on the agenda. I'd be going with my boyfriend who also has to take hols before the end of december, we could prob extend it for 2 weeks.
I voulenteered in Western Australia working with wild dolphins, it was incredible, I'd highly recomend it!
Thanks a mill for your reply I'll try that site out now.

snackatack

Would you be interested in going to different cities in europe for the christmas markets. the reason i ask is that ryanair are doing special offers into certain european countries for only 10c one way exc taxes etc.
For 2 weeks, yourself and your boyfriend could spend 3 nights paris, 3 nights amsterdam, 3 nights hamburg or frankfurt or dusseldorf etc and 3 nights prague etc. Just use the great train service from all the different countries.
Obviously you could chose which cities you would prefer to visit, but the transport is excellent. Plus you would get that full christmassy feeling, walking downt he street with smells coming from different food stalls.

Accomodation can be extremely cheap which sites like
www.activereservations.com
www.centralr.com (this one only takes a deposit, and you give cash when you arrive/depart etc)

I would say keep away from the typical Gran Canaria winter sun. Prices came be crazy sometimes as travel agencies are catching on that it can still be warm and people just want to get away for christmas. But you can still find some great deals out there, for instance www.gohop.ie

Hope this helps

jimmidy_cricket

Brilliant, thanks snack thats not a bad idea at all doing the city hop thing. I'll sit down with my fella and go through your sugested sites. He was telling me yesterday his brothers, girlfriends, sister is a travel agent so might be able to get us a deal on the cheap..fingers crossed, I'll let you know how I get on either way.

Pinx

snackatack wrote:

Would you be interested in going to different cities in europe for the christmas markets........

Plus you would get that full christmassy feeling, walking downt he street with smells coming from different food stalls.

Great idea!!
I think the Christmas markets in Prague run from 26 November 2005 to 01 January 2006. You might want to check this yourself. A friend of mine went last Christmas for the markets and said the smell of the mulled wine and fresh baking along the streets is magical. I was there earlier this year for the Easter markets - the snow was still on the ground the mulled wine is so welcome to warm numb fingers! Prague city itself was stunning. Definitely well worth a visit!

Pinx

....oh - and you'd be able to pick up some nice "unusual" Christmas pressies at those markets as well!

snackatack

jimmidy_cricket wrote:

Brilliant, thanks snack thats not a bad idea at all doing the city hop thing. I'll sit down with my fella and go through your sugested sites. He was telling me yesterday his brothers, girlfriends, sister is a travel agent so might be able to get us a deal on the cheap..fingers crossed, I'll let you know how I get on either way.

They best thing to do then is have a look at the different inter railing passes - these passes can be used for all trains around europe.

If you really want to keep to a budget, most trains travelling into different countries at night time. You can reserve a bed on these trains and wake up in a new country. This keeps costs away from hotels/hostels etc. Lots of people do it this way. That gapyear.com website i gave you has lots of information.

I think this would be the best option. Esp with ryanairs cheap flights, and those cheap hotel websites i gave you. I definetely like the idea of the deposit only site.

I have never been to europe myself, but i woudl agree with Pinx that It would definetely be magical.

Pinx

snackatack wrote:

I have never been to europe myself, but i woudl agree with Pinx that It would definetely be magical.

Magical is the only word I can think of to describe it! The people were so friendly at the stalls and I picked up some really nice presents at the market. I'd go back in a flash if I had half a chance! oh - and the beer in Prague is really cheap too - cheaper than buying a bottle of water!;)