This was a pre-cruise trip in November 2017. We flew from London’s Stansted Airport on Ryan Air($61pp/one way) to Bergamo Airport. A friend joined us for the trip, and we split the costs 3-ways. Per person cost for the rental car + lodgings was about $390. Plus we bought about $120 gas. Meals were about $20pp on the average including lots of wine.

Day 1: Rented a car from Europcar for a week(Euro 192, automatic compact) at Bergamo & drove 2 hours to Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Airbnb 2-bedroom house for 2 nights($89/night).

Day 2: Drove around Lake Maggiore visiting some towns on the lake.

Day 3: Drove to Varenna via Bellagio. Ferry from Bellagio to Varenna(20 minutes, Euro10.90 for the car, Euro4.60 per person). Walked around the town and visited the castle. Airbnb studio for 2 nights($100/night).

Day 4: Day trip by train to Tirano(2 hours, under Euro5 pp) & transfer to the Bernina Express train to St. Moritz(2 hours, Euro32pp each way).

Day 5: Drove 1.5 hours to Milan & explored the city. Airbnb 1 bedroom($100) in an up and coming area east of the center – street parking was possible.

Day 6: Drove 4 hours to Florence. Walked around the city. Airbnb 2 bedroom($125) near Ponte Vecchio.

Day 7: Drove 3.5 hours to a Rome suburb. Airbnb 2 bedroom($85) farmhouse.

Day 8: Drove to Civitavecchia & returned the car. Got on Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas for a trans Atlantic cruise.

 

 

We stopped in Iceland on our way to Italy in October 2017 to explore further outside of Reykjavik. The original plan was to see the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but it rained constantly for two days, which made it hard to see much of the scenery as we were driving.  Thus, we gave up on the Peninsula & toured the Reykjanes Geopark instead. The rental car and the lodgings cost under $400 for 3 nights. Meals are expensive in Iceland. You can find $20-30 per person meals if you look. Beer and wine are very expensive.

Day 1: Flew WOW Air from LAX($199pp/one way) to Reykjavik(KEF) and rented a car from Sixt($125 for 3 days/automatic compact). Drove 90 minutes NE to Akranes, a fishing village. Airbnb studio($115).

Day 2: Drove 30 minutes to Borganes & visited the Settlement Center Museum. Due to the heavy rain, we headed back to the city. Airbnb room in a wonderful house right outside of Reykjavik($95).

Day 3: Drove 45 minutes to Reykjanes Peninsula; visited Kleifarvatn Lake and the Geopark. Airbnb room in a house in Sandgerdi($65).

Day 4: Flew to London on British Air($65pp/one way)

 

This trip was in December 2017 before our SE Asia cruise on the Celebrity Millenium.  The cruise started in Singapore & ended in Hong Kong. With two couples traveling together, the total cost per person was about $700 + meals for 6 nights/7 days. We could have a great meal for $20 for the two of us, including beer and tea. Hotel prices included breakfast. If we had two more days, we would have gone to Inle Lake. According to our guide, flying would have been the best way to get there. Maybe next time.

Day 1: Hong Kong to Mandalay: Myanmar National Airline; 3 hours, around US$220pp. Two nights at Ayarwaddy River View Hotel($65/night)

Day 2: tour with a guide/driver($95 for the day)

Day 3: drove to Bagan: 4 hours, guide/car($150)  Two nights at The Regency Hotel in Nyaung-U near the bus depot($57/night)

Day 4: tour with a guide/driver($90 for the day)

Day 5: Air KZB to Yangon; 1.5 hours, around $80pp   Two nights at a two-bedroom house near the U.S. Embassy – found on Airbnb($50/night)

Day 6: self-guided tour using taxi($2 to $5 per trip)

Day 7: Jet Asia to Singapore; about 4 hours, about $100pp