Air Travel

Fri 1-Jul

10:30 pm Depart Boston (BOS)

Saturday 2-Jul

Arrive Lisbon (LIS) 11:50 am 

SATA Internacional 220 – 1 Stop

$708.37

Tu 5-Jul

3:45 pm Depart Lisbon (LIS)

Arrive Paris (CDG) 9:35 pm

Air Europa 1158  / 3431 – 1 Stop

$233.70

Sun 10-Jul

3:30 pm Depart Paris (CDG)

Arrive Madrid (MAD) 8:25 pm

Lufthansa 1037 / 6802 - 1 Stop

$555.70

Thu 14-Jul

9:35 am Depart Madrid (MAD)

Arrive Boston (BOS) 7:50 pm

Swiss International Air Lines 2021  / 52

$711.8

TOTAL:  $2209. 57

Hotels

Tryp Oriente – Lisbon

07/02/2011 – 07/04/2011 (2 nights)

$82 Per Night

Total: $164

Hotel Beaumarchais – Paris (4 nights)

07/05/2011 – 07/09/2011

$120 Per Night

Total: $480

Hotel Osuna – Madrid (4 nights)

07/10/2011 – 07/14/2011

$63 Per Night

Total: $252

TOTAL: $896

Transportation

Car Rental – Lisbon

$31 per day

Total: $93 (3 days)

Car Rental – Paris

$40 per day

Total: $80 (2 days)

Public Transportation

Total: $35 (3 days)

Car Rental – Madrid

$33 per day (2 days)

Total:  $66

Public Transportation (2 days)

Total: $25


TOTAL: $299

Meals

$50 per day

Total: $700

Day 1

Depart from the USA on flight to Lisbon, Portugal.

Day 2

Arrival to Lisbon.

Breakfast: Hotel

Discovering the city: Start your day downtown, down Avenida da Liberdade to Rossio Square before strolling through the pedestrianized Rua Augusta to Comercio Square, where you can hop on tram 15 to Belem. Go inside the cloisters of Jeronimos Monastery and take a break at Antiga Confeitaria de Belem to have one of its legendary custard tarts.

Belem Tower: It is a fortified tower located in the Belém district of Lisbon, Portugal. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the significant role it played in the Portuguese maritime discoveries of the era of the Age of Discoveries.

Maritime Museum: Return down the same road and choose among the several museums nearby - Maritime Museum is a good choice if you become curious about Portugal's maritime past.

Lunch: For lunch you may want to consider one of the international restaurants in Docas.

São Roque Church: Back downtown, walk up Chiado and have some coffee or a refreshing drink. Walk up to São Roque Church for its splendid baroque chapels.
Dinner: Step into the cobbled Bairro Alto streets and choose among the various restaurants. After a long, relaxed dinner, join the locals bar-hopping through the neighborhood.

Belem Tower: Free
Maritime Museum: $8
Meals: $50
Total: $58

Day 3

Breakfast: Hotel

Oceanarium: Take the metro to Parque das Nações and visit the Oceanarium. You can spend the day walking and watching fish and sea creatures and you can also have lunch there.

Dinner: Eat dinner at a restaurant and stay for some drinks and dancing at the neighboring bars and clubs.

Oceanarium: $15

Meals: $50

Total: $65

Day 4

Breakfast: Hotel

Gulbenkian Museum: The day could be one of art and culture. Start at the Gulbenkian Museum where you can spend half a day admiring its treasures, relaxing in its pleasant gardens, and ending at its Modern Art Center.

Lunch: Restaurant

After lunch, you may want to continue admiring art or go shopping.

Dinner: Typical Restaurant  

Gulbenkian Museum: $5

Meals: $50

Total: $55

Day 5

Arrive in Paris.

Breakfast: Hotel

Sacre Coeurand Montmartre: Make Montmartre and the amazing Sacre Coeur your first stop. Located beside one of the seediest parts of the city, Montmarte couldn't be further removed. And as well as being home to the beautiful basilica, this part of the city is home to hordes of artists. You'll see them dotted everywhere with their easels and sketch pads but beware the hawkers. These are the guys who will harass you for the duration of your stay asking to paint your portrait so say no from the outset and let them know that you mean it.

Lunch: Restaurant

Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower): You couldn't possibly visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Even if you do not want to visit this world famous structure, you will see its top from all over Paris. The tower rises 300 meters tall (984 ft); when it was completed at the end of the 19th century it was twice as high as the Washington Monument, at the time the tallest structure in the world.

Bastille (Dinner): For your first evening of socialising, Bastille is a good choice. Laden with an excellent selection of restaurants and an eclectic mix of watering wholes, you won't be short of places to eat and drink. One place well worth a visit, however, is Les Leches Vins. Not the most impressive pub in the city, but it's certainly one you won't forget. And it does sell particularly cheap pints of Kroneneberg which is definitely a good reason to visit. Paris is expensive and the drinking scene will dent your budget most of all.

Sacre Coeurand Montmartre: Free

Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower): $11

Meals: $50

Total: $61

Day 6

Champs Elysees: Beginning day two on one of the most famous streets in the world - the Champs Elysees. Indulge yourself with a nice breakfast in one of the many cafes which line either side of the street and then do some shopping.

Arc de Triomphe: Make your way to the Arc de Triomphe which lies at the top of the Champs Elysees and for a breathtaking view of the city climb the 292 steps to the top where there is an excellent vantage point.

Lunch: Restaurant

Esplanade des Invalides: The huge golden dome is unmistakable and can easily be reached by Metro from the Champs Elysees - or if you're feeling energetic at all it is also within walking distance. Commissioned by Louis XIV as a home for wounded soldiers, it is one of the richest museums of its kind in the world and is home to an unrivalled selection of armour, weapons, uniforms and art. It is most famous, however, as the final resting place for one Napoleon Bonaparte.

Dinner: Restaurant

Esplanade des Invalides: $10

Arc de Triomphe: Free

Meals: $50

Total: $60

Day 7

Breakfast: Hotel.

Jardin des Tuileries: Take the Metro to Concorde, the city's largest public square and walk through the Jardin des Tuileries, the wonderful gardens commissioned by Catherine de Medici, which lead you right into the Louvre.

Louvre: Now, you could spend weeks on end in this world famous art gallery and many happily would. There are a few essential stops, however, if you're not that partial to fine art. One in particular, of course, is the Mona Lisa which can be disappointing in the canvas, but still worth a visit. After this stroll around for a couple of hours and check out Napoleon's quarters and the collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts if you're afraid of getting too 'arted out'.

Lunch: Restaurant in the Louvre.

Notre Dame: The most famous medieval cathedral on the planet is within walking distance. Notre Dame is always full, however, is more than capable of coping with the crowds.

Dinner: All of this sightseeing is sure to work up an appetite so hit the Latin Quarter for something to eat. The narrow streets are lined with restaurants of the cheap and cheerful variety, as well as the more up market. And there are also plenty of bars and clubs to adjourn to after dinner. This part of the city is one of the most popular with visitors to the city and is home to a wonderful mix of people every night of the week.

Louvre: $18

Notre Dame: $11

Meals: $50

Total: $79

Day 8

Breakfast: Hotel.

Versailles: Situated just twenty kilometers outside Paris is the town of Versailles. Palace of Versailles. is one of the most visited monuments in the whole of France. Along with the palace, the other best thing about going here for a day is that it gets you out of the city, which is always pleasant. The palace, which was built for Louis XIV by his father, Louis XIII in 1623, originally started as a hunting lodge, but as he liked it so much he decided to expand it into the huge palace it is today. There are four entrances to the grounds, the best for visitors being entrance D, as this is where organized tours depart from. Also on the grounds are the gardens which are always maintained to the highest standards.

Lunch: Restaurant

Trianon: Trianon is the village Louis XIV bought, then demolished to begin building what is the now one section of the Château. All in all, the rooms in the palace are exquisitely decorated and the grounds command amazing sights. This palace is not to be missed and you could easily spend a whole day there.

Dinner: Restaurant

Tour Versailles: $35

Meals: $50

Total: $85

Day 9

Breakfast: Hotel.

River Seine: A leisurely stroll down the River Seine is the perfect way to while away an afternoon. A boardwalk runs along most of the river which flows through the centre of Paris. A good place to commence a walk down this boardwalk is at the Eiffel Tower. From here you can walk down past Jardin des Tuillieres, the Louvre and Notre Dame, also a good place to stop. There e numerous places along the river to sit down, gather your thoughts and enjoy the scenery.

Luch: Restaurant                                                               

Clignancourt Flea Market: There are a number of flea markets which boast a large number of bargains, once you look hardar enough. Known as ‘Les Puces’ the best of the city’s markets (and arguably Europe’s) is the Clignancourt Flea Market, which can be found on the north side of the city. You will find anything and everything here – you just need to have the patience to keep looking for it. Whether you are planning on doing any shopping or not, browsing is just as much fun.

St. Germain des-Pres (Dinner): On your final night in Paris, one of the best spots in the city for restaurants, bars and cafés is St. Germain des-Pres. During the summer months the area is particularly lively with live musicians playing all descriptions of music.

Meals: $50

Day 10

Arrive in Madrid. Upon arriving in Madrid, check into your accommodation and go for a stroll and see how the locals live.

Sol: After explore the city, make your way to Sol which is right in the centre. All around the area are shops. Also around Sol are arrays of cafés in which to grab a coffee. This will give you another opportunity to watch Madrid life sail by.

Plaza Mayor (Lunch): This is the city’s largest square and is packed with cafés, shops and bars. Something which makes it particularly impressive are the murals around the square. You won’t find it hard to spend a whole afternoon there.

Dinner: Calle Huertas where pubs, traditional tavernas and theatre cafés line the streets

Meals: $50

Day 11

Breakfast: Hotel.

Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial: Madrid city centre has enough to offer any visitor for a short break, but it is always worth exploring what is on the outskirts of the city. If you do this you will come across Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which is 50 kilometres northwest of the city. Built in the second half of the 16th century by King Phillip II of Spain to mark the Spanish’s victory over the French in August 1557, a monastery, two palaces, and a library was built in the entire complex. It is best known for its symmetrical design and as the burial site for many famous Spanish kings and queens. And once inside it is difficult not to be impressed by the stately rooms and paintings from such masters as Tintoretto and Dürer. Spend the day there.

Lunch: Restaurant near Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Dinner: Restaurant near the hotel.

Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial: $14

Meals: 50

Total: $64

Day 12

Breakfast: Hotel.

Museo del Prado: Situated on Paseo del Prado, Museo del Prado is widely regarded as one of the world’s best art museums. It houses over two and a half thousand works of art dating from the 1400’s right up to the 1800’s. While a lot of the emphasis does lie with the great Spanish artists such as El Greco, Goya and Velazques, you will also have the opportunity to see hundreds of works by Flemish and Italian artists including Botticelli, Mantegna, Bosch, Rembrandt and Ruebens. A visit to this museum is a highly enjoyable way to begin the day.

Lunch: Restaurant near Real Jardin Botanico.

Real Jardin Botanico: Whether of not you decide to spend a full day there is up to yourself. If looking at painting after painting becomes a little too tiresome for you, just across the street from the museum is Real Jardin Botanico, one of the nicest of the city centre parks. There are over 100 species of trees in the park and over 3,000 types of plant. A ‘must do’ for nature lovers.

Dinner: That evening visit the area around the Gran Via. Here you will find an abundance of bars and nightclubs. It’s so popular and busy at night time that you are bound to see traffic jams at around 4am! Going from Cibeles Square to Plaza de Espana, this huge street can be a tad tacky at some points but is worth a look.

Museo del Prado: $11

Real Jardin Botanico: Free

Meals: $50

Total: $61

Day 13

Breakfast: Hotel.

Faro de Moncloa (Light of Moncloa):  Madrid’s observatory tower offers amazing views over the city called the Faro de Moncloa (Light of Moncloa). Located in the university district the building stands at 302 feet high and, as well offering fabulous vistas of the city, it’s a nice way to get away from the bustling streets in the city for about an hour or so.

Palacio Real (Royal Palace): Lived in by the Royal Family until 1931, today the palace is used for official state visits. Altogether there are over 3,000 rooms in the palace, more than any other European palace and each one is decorated with great opulence. It also is home to one of the largest libraries in the world, as well as a very serious collection of weapons and armory dating as far back as the 15th Century. Today it is open to the public and organized tours take approximately two hours. After walking around the palace for a while, you could find yourself lazing in the gardens for some of the afternoon as they are perfect for doing so, plus they offer some amazing views of Madrid.

Lunch: Restaurant near Palacio Real.

Shopping: If you still have some time left after visiting both the observatory deck and the Royal Palace (which is pretty likely), take some time to do a spot of shopping. The best known area for shopping is between Sol and Gran Via. Serrano Street, up from Plaza de la Independencia in the north east of the city is especially good for clothes shops.

Dinner: Tapas Bar. Tapas is a Spanish culinary specialty. By going on a bar crawl it is a good way to mingle with some locals, rather than visiting all the city’s touristy spots night after night.
Something which is totally unique to the Spanish capital are bars which don’t open their hours until 3am. Wherever you hear the phrase ‘tres de la madrugada’, this means that the certain event in question doesn’t begin until that time.

Faro de Moncloa: $2

Palacio Real: $11

Meals: $50

Total: $63

Day 14

Flight back to the USA.

Europe Trip

SPAIN

FRANCE

 PORTUGAL