How Realistic is it to see rest of Europe??

We never let having kids stop us.    We like to travel and have seen quite a bit of Europe with the kids in tow.

For those of us who aren't going to have kids (or who don't have them yet) the decision to travel *is* getting on with life.  For me it was anyway, I simply could not put it off any longer without resenting myself.  It was the best decision since I had a great time and also met my husband!

With all due respect, I don't believe that anywhere did I say that travelling *wasn't* getting on with life? I was talking about MY life and MY realistic travelling  experiences. I have done quite a bit of travelling before I had my first and I will continue to do travelling with him and the children that we have in the future (as I have done in the last 2 years since he was born) but I think you feel as if I was attacking someone who has made different choices...I can assure you, I wasn't.

Well I have no kids, no wife. I am breaking up with the GirlFriend in US and starting with a clean Slate in UK> so I am what you might consider a lone wolf. I can go wherever. And I do hope to see rest of Europe. Thanks for all the great information on travel sites.

With all due respect, I don't believe that anywhere did I say that travelling *wasn't* getting on with life? I was talking about MY life and MY realistic travelling  experiences. I have done quite a bit of travelling before I had my first and I will continue to do travelling with him and the children that we have in the future (as I have done in the last 2 years since he was born) but I think you feel as if I was attacking someone who has made different choices...I can assure you, I wasn't.

I didn't mean to imply that you weren't getting on with life!  I was just offering a different perspective from someone without a family (me) and someone who waited way too long in life to start travelling.  I know people who regret not travelling and feel they can't now.  I'm sorry if my wording made it seem that I felt attacked or that I was attacking you--I didn't feel that way at all, and I'm very sorry if I offended you.

Have a look here for the ultimate guide to travelling round Europe by train - it's a fabulous site!

www.seat61.com

With the budget airlines, do watch out for where they actually fly to, and what time that means you'll arrive and have to leave at your destination. I had a rather annoying experience last month where I had to get to Luton airport (2 hrs from us), arrived at Berlin whatsit at 9.30pm, didn't actually get into central Berlin till 11pm, by which time there was quite literally nowhere in the vicinity still open to eat. Even the take away places were closed. And then coming back it was the same story in order to get the late afternoon flight, it was a case of leaving the hotel at around 2pm.

My favorite budget airline website search is http://www.whichbudget.com/.  It's really helpful when you want to see what your options are, especially if you're flexible in where you're flying out from.

Have a look here for the ultimate guide to travelling round Europe by train - it's a fabulous site!

www.seat61.com

I'd like to second that recommendation. I use that site extensively since I love to travel by train whenever possible.

I understand you'll be in Uxbridge, that puts you very close to Heathrow.  The good news is you can get virtually anywhere from Heathrow, the bad news is, they tend to be the most expensive flights.  Much cheaper flights depart from Luton and Stanstead which means a bit of a trek to get to the airports.  You could be looking at hundreds of pounds difference potentially because EasyJet and Ryanair only fly out of those 2 (maybe Gatwick for a few flights but not much help to you!)

As long as you have the money you can get almost anywhere from England to Europe, it's quite well connected.

Flights from Luton/Stansted aren't all that cheap necessarily if you consider the costs to schlep out to them at untimely hours in the morning (which is when all the flights I tend to want seem to run). I've found it about the same price to take BA from Heathrow in some instances because my travelcard already covers travel to that airport. Just don't make the mistake of forgetting to calculate travel costs to/from the airport when looking at the cost of the flight. You can make BIIIIG mistakes that way.

Just don't make the mistake of forgetting to calculate travel costs to/from the airport when looking at the cost of the flight. You can make BIIIIG mistakes that way.

Yep, or travelling on bank holidays when transportation services may be running on limited services or premium rates.

one of saving money  is to take the train as hotel ..
see below ..
http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm