Greetings from the pleasant skies! After a busy summer season having fun with stunning British Columbia, Josh and I are on separate journeys to Europe for fast excursions of the continent.
The unique inspiration for a visit to Europe this time of 12 months got here on the Prince of Journey Signature Occasion in Montreal, the place our teammate Rohin instructed a meetup at Oktoberfest. Journey has turn out to be a bit simpler over the previous few months, so a couple of of the Prince of Journey group determined to make an event out of it.
Our itineraries got here collectively in a moderately unorthodox vogue, so let’s check out the planning course of that made the journeys come into fruition.
The Journey
T.J.
I’m actually excited for this journey. Europe was the vacation spot for my first main journey 17 years in the past, and I’m glad to have the ability to return as soon as extra.
The primary cease will probably be in London, which is bound to be fascinating with the latest dying of Queen Elizabeth II. I’ll spend three nights within the metropolis visiting with outdated mates and adjusting to the eight hour time distinction from my dwelling on Vancouver Island.
From there, I’ll get pleasure from a full English breakfast at London Heathrow earlier than flying British Airways Membership Europe to Prague. I’ve fond reminiscences of being within the metropolis way back, and I’m excited to return to see what’s the identical and what’s completely different.
From there, I prepare into Munich for 3 days. A gaggle of us are assembly up at Oktoberfest, which is bound to be a blast.
As soon as I’ve had my fill of beer and pretzels, I head to Budapest for 4 nights with Lufthansa in financial system. For an hour-long flight, I don’t think about I’ll be lacking out on something on the entrance of the airplane.
In Budapest, I intend to go to all 9 thermal baths within the metropolis, and I hope to supply my insights into every as a warmth tradition fanatic. My buddy, who lives in Zagreb, is coming to Budapest to help, and I’m wanting ahead to catching up with him.
We’re additionally going to do a deep dive into the world of paprika, which will probably be a really good addition to my spice rack once I get dwelling.
From Budapest, I head to Paris by way of Vienna in Austrian Airways enterprise class. Intra-European enterprise class isn’t something significantly particular, however I believed I’d give it a attempt.
I’ll spend two nights in Paris earlier than heading again to Vancouver Island. After studying Rohin’s information to glowing wine, I hope to pattern some Crémant and see the way it compares to Champagne.
Paris is a metropolis that I haven’t spent a number of time in, so I’m completely satisfied to mud off my French and discover town by foot.
In complete, I’ll be gone for 2 weeks. It’ll certainly be a busy journey, however that is how my mind works and I’m wanting ahead to each minute of it.
Josh
With the group converging on Munich for Oktoberfest, I set a cheeky Eurotrip in my sights.
I all the time get pleasure from travelling for cultural occasions, seeing a spot in its most vibrantly distinctive type. I’ve additionally been doing a number of solo journey currently, and I used to be excited to grab the chance to plan a visit with mates.
On high of that, I’d lengthy been looking for an excuse to go to buddy in Oslo. One factor led to a different, and the dates aligned excellent to sew the 2 locations collectively.
The Flights
T.J.
I did one thing very uncommon for reserving my flights: I paid money!
Again in April, there have been some very engaging Premium Financial system (Lowest) fares from Canada to Europe. I pieced collectively an itinerary on ITA Matrix, and by chance, “A” fares (the bottom of the Premium Financial system fares) had been out there.
I booked the flights by way of a journey company, and paid a complete of $1,893.26 for round-trip flights in premium financial system with Air Canada.
My outbound flights take me from Comox to London Heathrow by way of Vancouver and Montreal.
I’ll earn double Standing Qualifying Miles, Segments, and {Dollars} on the Canada-Europe legs, which extends from the “Speed up Your Standing” promotion earlier this 12 months. The double SQD will assist me earn a second Tremendous Elite Precedence Reward, which can knock 50% off the price of a enterprise class redemption with Aeroplan sooner or later.
I took a chance and utilized eUpgrades to my flights, hoping for a waitlist improve. Given the latest occasions in the UK, the enterprise class cabins on all flights from Canada to London are full, so my odds are wanting fairly slim from Montreal to London.
However, since I booked in premium financial system to start with, I’ll be first in line for a waitlisted eUpgrade if a seat turns into out there. Want me luck!
If I’m unable to safe a seat in enterprise class to London, I’ll not less than get pleasure from entry to the Air Canada Arrivals Lounge, the place I can have a sizzling bathe and a breakfast earlier than heading into town.
Presently, I’m booked in Air Canada premium financial system from Paris to Vancouver by way of Montreal, after which on an all-economy flight again to Comox. Because it stands, ExpertFlyer tells me the enterprise class cabins are fairly open, so hopefully my eUpgrade request pulls by way of.
If it doesn’t, premium financial system will probably be totally enough for the 2 daytime flights. I’ve an in a single day layover in Montreal to interrupt up the segments, and I’ll in all probability work for a lot of the flights anyway.
I’ve by no means been to Paris Charles de Gaulle earlier than, so I’m eagerly anticipating some critical lounge hopping previous to waltzing aboard my flight.
It’s price mentioning that with a low money fare for premium financial system, I consider I’m popping out forward.
If I had been to ebook Air Canada enterprise class flights from Vancouver to Europe, I’d be taking a look at 70,000 Aeroplan factors per route. This assumes I might discover area on the decrease finish of the dynamic spectrum.
With our present valuation of Aeroplan factors at 2.1 cents per level (cpp), 140,000 Aeroplan factors is equal to roughly $2,940. If I’m in a position to rating enterprise class seats on most of my flights, I’d be very proud of the worth I get from eUpgrades on a money fare.
Lastly, I’ll additionally earn quite a lot of Aeroplan factors for this journey, each by way of the fare bought and from paying with my American Specific Aeroplan Reserve Card, which is icing on the cake.
Josh
It’s no secret that award area to Europe this summer season has been traditionally scarce.
As I attempted to align my journey schedule with mates, my outbound plans had been very unsure till a few week earlier than. I booked a couple of completely different routes to Oslo on refundable Latitude tickets, however with scarce R area, I wasn’t eager to likelihood an improve on the gate with mere Aeroplan 35K standing.
Just a few weeks earlier than my departure, I discovered Swiss enterprise class seats on Montreal–Zurich–Oslo. For this certain, I paid the fastened companion redemption charge of 70,000 Aeroplan factors.
To get to Montreal, I used to be capable of finding R area in Air Canada Signature Class by way of Calgary. Dynamic pricing was a tad larger than I might’ve appreciated, at 44,600 Aeroplan factors.
I ended up reserving Vancouver–Calgary–Montreal and Montreal–Zurich–Oslo individually, with a day in Montreal to meet up with mates.
For the return, I’d booked an upgraded Latitude fare dwelling from Munich at charge many months in the past. Nonetheless, the flight to Vancouver took me by way of Toronto for a clumsy layover, and I’d moderately keep away from Pearson with all the airport chaos currently.
As a substitute, a couple of weeks out, I snagged R area on the Frankfurt–Vancouver direct route. I paid about 25,000 factors greater than my unique reserving, however I’m okay with this for preferable flight occasions.
To attach, I’ll get pleasure from a prepare experience by way of the German countryside. Plus, an evening in Frankfurt lets me see one other new metropolis on what’s successfully a protracted layover.
All in all for the round-trip journey, I’m paying 194,200 Aeroplan factors, $296.48 in taxes and costs, and 17 eUpgrade credit.
It’s steeper than I might’ve appreciated, however I didn’t need that to impede me from taking the journey. In addition to, today I’m incomes factors sooner than I’m burning them, and I’m happy that I secured assured enterprise class seats for each phase.
As for Oslo to Munich? Norwegian financial system for $100.
The Accommodations
T.J.
I booked most of my inns with a journey agent charge, as I’m low on Marriott Bonvoy factors after my journey to the Maldives and the UAE earlier this 12 months. The nights will assist me qualify for Platinum Elite standing, and I’ll earn some additional factors for the previous few nights of my journey with the present fall 2022 promotion.
In London, I’ll be proper within the coronary heart of the motion with a keep on the London Marriott Lodge County Corridor. Because it seems, I’ll be proper throughout the River Thames from the place the Queen is lying-in-state throughout my keep.
From there, I head to the Montcalm East, Autograph Assortment for an evening in a special a part of town. Since my flight to Prague leaves within the morning, I’ve an evening booked on the Courtyard London Heathrow Airport for my final night time, which I think about will probably be totally enough for a brief keep.
In Prague, I’ll keep on the Prague Marriott Lodge for my single night time in Czechia’s capital. Some mates have really helpful some nice locations to eat in Prague, and I hope to revisit some locations I frequented again in 2005 on a backpacking journey.
In Munich, money costs had been very inflated because of Oktoberfest. I’ve two nights booked on factors on the Moxy Munich Ostbahnhof, and one on the Residence Inn Munich Ostbahnhof.
I don’t think about I’ll be spending a number of time within the inns. Relatively, I’ll simply want a snug place to relaxation on the finish of every day.
In Budapest, I’m very a lot wanting ahead to a keep on the Matild Palace, a Luxurious Assortment resort, which Amy reviewed earlier this 12 months. I’ll then spend an evening on the Budapest Marriott Lodge, earlier than capping off the stick with two nights on the Courtyard Budapest.
I scored glorious journey agent charges at two swanky inns in Paris, with an evening on the Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Lodge after which an evening at Le Metropolitan, Paris Tour Eiffel, a Tribute Portfolio Lodge. I think about I’ll be fairly exhausted after Budapest, so my plan is to calm down and absorb some Parisian luxurious earlier than heading again dwelling.
A buddy’s sofa will probably be my dwelling throughout my layover in Montreal, which can probably be a little bit of a change of surroundings from ritzy European inns.
Josh
For my Montreal connection, I’ve booked an evening at Le Meridien Versailles. It’s a bit out of the best way for a typical vacationer, however a perfect location for the buddies I’m visiting.
I booked at an eligible company charge for $165, a superior worth to paying with factors.
In Oslo, I’m crashing on my buddy’s sofa. Don’t count on a evaluation. 😉
For Oktoberfest in Munich, I snagged three nights on the 4 Factors Arabellapark for 90,000 Bonvoy factors. This appears to be “peak” pricing, and for good cause: factors availability on shoulder dates was fully picked over.
Even with out utilizing the Fifth Evening Free profit, the worth of a factors redemption is sort of robust in comparison with money costs on occasion dates.
Earlier than my return dwelling, I’ve bought an evening booked at Moxy Frankfurt Airport for $129, until an unbeatable charge on the JW Marriott pops up!
Conclusion
Europe is a stunning place to go to throughout September (ahem, Ricky), when the summer season crowds have dissipated and the climate is snug. Our journeys to Europe are a bit whirlwind in nature, however generally that’s simply the prescription the journey physician ordered.
Count on quite a lot of flight, lounge, and resort opinions coming from the Prince of Journey group. We’ll additionally provide insights into every vacation spot, together with some deep dives into a few of the issues that make every place particular.
If in case you have any suggestions, be at liberty to achieve out!
