<p>I just checked my trip insurance, which seems to include “natural disasters.” With any luck, I won’t have to find out!</p>
<p>I’ve also had some luck booking triple rooms in Positano and in Rome, which indicated 3 single beds.</p>
<p>Med school Dd is also heading to EU this June/July. Her trip was to be with a friend, but grad school complications intervened the day before they planned to buy tickets. DD is now going alone, BUT she is going to cities where she has friends living (in the UK) and places where friends will be visiting family for the summer…so my DD plans to MOOCH her way across the continent, dependent on the kindness of strangers…well, and friends and their families.</p>
<p>But how can they safely buy airfare? I’ve now heard that some airlines may be going broke after this week of upheaval.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that most insurers will NOT cover volcano-related issues from April 13 & thereafter. Hard to know what will happen with each airline, as there are tremendous losses all around at this point. SAS laid off 2500 employees from one article I read.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that any travelers could be stuck in cities they never intended to even stop at or visit and stranded for much longer than anticipated at airports or other places. That seems to be a larger issue than where to buy tickets for a carrier that will survive the upheaval.</p>
<p>I hear the Queen Mary 2 is nice for traveling to Europe.</p>
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<p>Calmom, I am not certain how my post was contrary to your own opinion that “there are many ways for young women traveling on their own to have fun and cut costs!” </p>
<p>This said, don’t you think that “meeting individuals of the male persuasion from various parts of the world and expecting said males frequently to pick up the tab for meals & drinks” should raise more than a few eyebrows? </p>
<p>To each his or her own, I guess.</p>
<p>I guess I’d be more concerned that there might be an expectation by at least some of the men about “reimbursement” for their generousity. Hubby, I & I believe our young adult D would be uncomfortable with these potential “strings.” As Xiggi says, to each his/her own.</p>
<p>Geez. There are still plenty of men in the world who behave like gentlemen, and don’t expect anything more than companionship when going out with a woman they have recently met. And women who are quite capable of casual dating without jumping into bed with every guy who offers to buy them a drink.</p>
<p>^^#64 I’ve sailed on QM II 3 times (twice in inside cabins) and really, really like that ship.</p>
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<p>Calmon, while there are indeed plenty of young men who behave like gentlemen, this is hardly the issue. Have you considered that the gentlemen who are staying in the same hostel happened to be the sons of parents who also sent their kids on a budget to Europe. It IS the expectation that a girl could defray her own costs by being bought drinks and food by eventual companions that is … dead wrong. </p>
<p>Fwiw, I seriously doubt that Cur would place such onus and expectatations. </p>
<p>Oh well, this is simply another of 100 of issues we do not seem to agree. :)</p>
<p>Most of the young people (male & female) I know, feel that EVERYONE (regardless of gender) should generally pay their own way, rather than expecting someone to generously “treat them” just because of their gender. I still think of these young people as ladies and gentlemen, even tho they don’t expect to treat or be treated due to gender, but I guess we all are coming from different places.</p>
<p>silvestersmom:</p>
<p>That sounds pretty cool (sailing to Europe on the QM2). I’ve never been on it or even seen it. I did, however, sail between Europe and the USA twice as a kid - once on the SS United States (which is now docked permanently in Philadelphia awaiting its fate) and once on some ship used for transporting military and their families back when they used ships for such things. The SS United States still holds the transatlantic crossing record for a passenger liner - 3.5 days.</p>
<p>I imagine going to Europe on a ship like the QM2 is a totally different experience than jostling through airports and flying.</p>
<p>My home airport is LAX. In June I’m going to Ukraine for a few days and then staying in Hungary for four weeks. Which European airport is the best port of entry? I’m considering FRA and LHR now.</p>
<p>I looked into the QM2 while searching for ways for my H to get home. They were booked, and the voyage takes a week, but it’s far cheaper than business class on a plane and you have a whole cabin, food, entertainment and nobody with their elbows in your ribs or their reclined seat in your space. Something to hold in mind should we ever retire and be able to travel at leisure…</p>
<p>Fiona,
Whatever you decide, please do keep in mind that it is unpredictable how long the Iceland volcano will continue & how it will disrupt travel, particularly in London/UK (which is one of the closest places to the volcano. Many are trying to fly into & out of destinations that are more southern, since to date it seems to be less affected by the ash. You will also need to secure ground transportation, which does seem to be quite crowded these days with the unpredictability of air travel.</p>
<p>You might wish to post on the Fodors.com Europe forum for more suggestions, as it’s a very active site with many posters with a lot of experience and information to share.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that many trip insurance companies are not covering volcanic activity any more, excluding it as act of nature/God, pre-existing condition, etc.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I’m going to Europe for summer school so I can’t really postpone that. I’m thinking of flying into Eastern Europe directly instead of via FRA. </p>
<p>About Southern Europe, would you suggesting Spain or Italy? I don’t know which airports are good. I’ve only flown into LHR and FRA before.</p>
<p>I also have only flown into FRA & out of LHR. I’d suggest you post on the Fodors.com Europe website for their guidance. They really are helpful and much more knowledgable about these current travel issues. We always wanted to fly into cities where our lack of other languages wouldn’t be as much of an issue. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Actually, Xiggi, re post #69, most of the people staying in hostels tended to be a little bit older - probably more likely young adults in their late 20s or early 30s - and definitely not reliant on “parents sending their kids” to Europe on a budget. I didn’t “send” my kid anyway – she earned her own money coming and going & paid her own way. And in general the people she was meeting and hanging out with were not Americans. You make a lot of assumptions that reflect a rather provincial view of the world.</p>
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<p>That’s on one of my things to do before I die list. That and riding on the Orient Express. :)</p>
<p>That’s not part of the European travel itinerary for the D. Better not.</p>
<p>Well, I’m making progress with that hard-headed, mule-brained kid of mine. She has now changed the plans to avoid flights into and out of London. Hey, that’s something. Now thinking of starting and finishing in Rome. She is tracking fares and if she can find anything below a grand she is going to book it. Other than that she will be trying to “name her own price” on priceline. </p>
<p>For those of you who don’t do that for hotels, I have to tell you, it’s easy and it has never failed to pay dividends for me. I just booked 3 nights in Memphis for graduation at a savings of 40% over my direct booking AAA rate. I’m a fan.</p>
<p>And as to the calmom-xiggi conversation----y’all ain’t gonna get me in that one, folks. I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night. ;)</p>