Considering traveling to Europe from Australia?
My boyfriend and I have been thinking for a while now about traveling around Europe. More on the money side of things, we were wondering what airfares would be like? We were thinking about going in November 2010, coming back in January 2011, so their winter or “off-season”. To previous travelers or people with knowledge, could you tell us: what city in Europe was the cheapest to travel too? What airfare prices are like around the time we were thinking of travelling? And any other information or advice you would like to add. Thanks 
Its a great time to come to Europe from Australia NOW!! The Aussie dollar is the strongest its been for about 25 years, so take advantage of it!!! The other day, at a money change place in Charing Cross Road, I got £51 for A$100. Even just four years ago you got £40 for $100. Awesome!
So really, with Aussie dollars you don’t need to worry too much about how expensive Europe was. But here’s my thoughts and list.
Expensive cities -
London, Paris (very expensive), Venice (extremely expensive).
Not as expensive cities, but still a bit pricey -
Dublin, Edinburgh, Rome, Florence.
Cheap cities -
Athens, most of Spain, Naples (Incredibly cheap … best pizza in the world for €1 a slice), Prague (away from the tourist rip-off places in the town centre), Berlin and Munich (once again, away from the touristy rip-off places)
Cheap countries are Greece (the mainland; I’ve never been to the islands, so can’t comment there), and Spain.
Germany is reasonable, if you don’t be stupid and go to posh places to eat etc. I’ve never felt ripped-off in Munich or Berlin. (But I’ve never had a couple of litres of beer in the Hofbrauhaus.) Cities that aren’t so touristy as Munich, such as Cologne, are very reasonably priced.
Expensive, rip-off countries are the UK (top of the list for rip-off in the world, I think …. £19 for a 45 minute train ride from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street???? Are you kidding?????), France and Italy. Italy is reasonable in normal life, but the Italians just see an opportunity and get you. In Rome I was busting for a wee, and the only place was a little bar. The usual custom is when you buy something you can use the toilet. I asked him if he had a toilet before buying a coke, and because I was busting, he charged me €4 for a SMALL can of coke (to take away, not drink there!) So I paid about $7.50 for a small coke, just because I had to go to the loo. Just watch yourself in Italy, don’t let them rip you off, and you’ll be ok. Paris is similarly priced to London, but with the euro so strong, it makes it very expensive for anyone outside Euroland.
You mentioned flights. November is a good time for cheaper airfares. But January is really expensive to fly from Europe to Aust. I paid £1,030 in January 2009 for a return fare from LHR to SYD. In February, the same flights were £700 return. But I’d booked the leave in July and I had to go in January. Never again in January.
I hope this has helped.
*Please note – these thoughts are from an Australian’s point of view, coming to Europe with Aussie dollars. You may have a different opinion if you come to Europe with US dollars or (currently) worthless pounds.