Use ITAsoftware to search multiple airports over 30 day departure windows. There’s a link and tutorial in a new user thread pinned to the top of our Cheap Flights Forum.

Outbound before June 1 probably cheaper due to peak season on a lot of routes starting June 1. Outbound date determines fare season.

Be sure to check consolidators and student sites also mentioned in the new user thread, and then post specific flight questions on that forum. Multi-city, arriving to DUB but return from ROM, for example, will save you backtrack time and expense.

Bus might be cheaper to connect places in some countries. See Busabout, Megabus, and Eurolines. Otherwise, advance purchase train ticket offers probably best bet. For long distances, look at cheap one way flight hops: Skyscanner.net.

Given the high cost of return airfare between U.S,. and Europe i’m not sure 10 days would really be worth the expense. Why not save some more money and then go when you can afford a month or so of travel.

$2,000 will be pretty tough since you could easily spend at least 1/2 of it on airfare. Figuring $100 a day for basic living expense, that could leave you with $ 0 for city to city transportation. If $2000 is your absolute max, you can’t find airfare in under $700 range or less, or you really figure that Ireland is an essential then I tend to agree with Finnegan — wait until you can afford it. You’ve got 9 or 10 days. Getting from Ireland to London can kill one of them if you end up with a day time flight and getting from Rome to London can easily kill another one. Getting back to Ireland kills a third. If your 10 days is the standard flight schedule from North American, you’ve got a problem. Overnight flight is day 1, arriving jet lagged, culture shocked and sleep deprived on day 2 (don’t plan heavy duty sight-seeing). You’ll spend the entirety of day 10 on your flight home. With city to city transportation, you’ve only got somewhere 4 and 6 days to actually see 3 big cities. London and Rome each “need,” IMO, a minimum of 3 days.

IF you can find airfare in the $700 range or you can find a way to scrape together another few hundred AND are willing to do a more realistic 9 or 10 day trip, then I don’t agree with Finnegan. I would go for 9 or 10 days NOW, while you have the chance, not wait until you can afford a longer trip. For 9 or 10 days, plan a single country or 2 or 3 cities that are relatively close together. Ireland is not a great starting place for a short trip that involves Italy. While an open jaw flight will help, I doubt you’ll be able to find a cheap one with one end in Rome and the other in Dublin. If you aren’t going to spend enough time in Ireland to get out of Dublin (“just another city” in my book), then I’d save Ireland for your next trip. If Ireland is a must, then spend the entire time in Ireland (you won’t be bored if you get out of Dublin and actually see Ireland). If you can find a reasonably priced open jaw, then plan Ireland and a couple of days in London.

There are some pretty good fares on Iberia from ORD to Dublin returning from a number of cities if you can fly out May 22 and return June 1 or 3. A round-trip to Dublin is $699-$724, but as others mentioned, you’ll spend a lot of time and money to get back to Dublin. If you’re not completely set on anywhere besides Dublin I’d consider Madrid or Barcelona. They’re often cheaper than a lot of other cities, the nightlife in both is amazing (these are cities to go to if you want to stay out until 4 a.m.), and Iberia has low fares for both – ORD-Dublin, Madrid-ORD for $729 5/22-6/03, or Barcelona for $742. I also see ORD-Dublin, Rome-ORD for $742 same dates.

If you only have 9 or 10 days, then I would recommend to only visit at most 3 cities. Get an open-jaw ticket, say USA – Dublin and Rome – USA. In between, I would recommend London partly because it’s THE hub for both RyanAir and easyJet. Plus, it’s a cool city so check out my London Guide to get your bearings in order.
Also instead of Italy, you could just take the train from London to Paris and fly home from Paris. If you want to visit more cities, then just like what finnegan mentioned, save the money until you can travel longer (say a month).

I agree with oldlady’s advice, but consider that Ireland is on the expensive side. London is also expensive. You might be better off going to mainland Europe and choosing one country for your week or so tour. Investigate rail deals for two or more traveling together. Keep in mind that once you’re out in the working world after college graduation, you likely won’t have many chances to take off a large chunk of time from work to travel, or have the necessary funds to travel. Go, now if you can. That’s really the best advice. Who really cares where? Anywhere but here!

If you are really set on going to europe for 10 days then you have to follow Old Lady’s advice and limit yourself to a smaller geographic area. Spain/Portugal tend to be a little cheaper than northern europe and airfare to these locales from London or Dublin would be cheap.

Spending days in Europe could be expensive. choose destination in Europe where you can enjoy but no need to spend much money

Hi all,

I have a similar story – 2 girls traveling to EU for the first time (from Melbourne, AUS). We’re trying to decide where to go (we both want to go everywhere – doesn’t everyone?!) but we’ve got about 3 weeks. Ireland is top of my friend’s list but she only wants to be there for about 2 days. What are people’s recommendations for places to go for girls who don’t know what they’re doing?

Hmm…Ireland for 2 days is a bit out of the way unless you’re flying into Dublin, kste. What are you guys into? Beaches, nightlife, museums, food, hiking, etc.? There’s an itinerary of good spots for whatever your interests are.

Eastern Europe would be cheaper.

Recently went to Grand Canyon Skywalk. Was not cheap but pleasure has not price.

I don’t think that it is a wise idea to travel with such a low budget as you can’t enjoy to the fullest. I will suggest you to save money and go after you complete your gradation. This way you can enjoy and there won’t be any need to compromise as you will have sufficient money.