Summer Trip to Eastern Europe + North Africa

[zinfamous]

Allrighty guys, here's the deal. My GF and I are planning to fly out to Riga, Latvia this summer (June-Julyish), spend some time there, and then fly to Casablanca (most likely destination), spend 1 week there, then fly back into the US.

We will be flying out of and back into Chicago.

Naturally, this isn't a simple trip to plan b/c this ends up being 3 one-way tickets to destinations with rather limited travel options. (low traffic) Travelocity doesn't even recognize Latvia (Assholes :|), and the others (Orbitz, Expedia, etc) will only respond with requests for round trips, and at this point, they are quite expensive. We have been searching these sites to get a good idea of price (so far, round trips b/w Chicago and Riga are running $1200-1600 each....this is less than ideal) in order to compare with what our likely best option: a travel agency

I know commissions can be a pain sometime, but I know (at least in the best) Travel Agencies have access to some rather solid deals; and for a series of one-ways, and the base expense of such a trip, it seems the best route to take. We haven't found any local agencies (and have searched online) that specialize in these destinations.

So here I am, humbly hoping that the collective wisdom and might of AT can offer a sampling of brilliant suggestions that will speed us along on our journey. I know a few of you have experience traveling to these parts of the world...and a few of you are rather saavy when it comes to planning such trips.

Much obliged.

Cliffs for the impatient:

1 summer trip: Chicago>Riga>Casablanca>Chicago
2 ???

 

[davestar]

search on kayak.com

Book your Riga -> Casablanca trip through one of the discount European airlines (Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizzair, etc). There's a good chance that it'll be cheaper to book a Chicago ->Riga -> Chicago RT, and then buy two one ways Riga-> Casa and Casa -> Riga

 

[zinfamous]

Thanks, and good point. I was planning to check on Ryanair, but haven't done so yet. Only thing is, those are more-or-less last minute deals, no? Our schedule for when we can fly will be rather set. Also...I thought Ryanair was Euro only?

I'm gonna check it out anyway.

 

[K1052]

Just screwing around on Aer Lingus I can get an $800 round trip Chicago to Dublin in June. Another really cheap Ryan Air flight gets you to Riga and back.

 

[Carom]

Originally posted by: K1052
Just screwing around on Aer Lingus I can get an $800 round trip Chicago to Dublin in June. Another really cheap Ryan Air flight gets you to Riga and back.

There are (I recall hearing) 17 flights/week from Dublin to Riga so getting to Dublin for cheap would be great. Can you screw around some more and find a $600 flight?

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: K1052
Just screwing around on Aer Lingus I can get an $800 round trip Chicago to Dublin in June. Another really cheap Ryan Air flight gets you to Riga and back.

Haven't found anything at Ryan Air cheaper than about 300 USD from Dublin to Riga. The cheapest round trip we found from Chicago to Riga is about 1200, so not much different...

grr.... it really sucks trying to travel on the dollar these days

 

[Farang]

Ryan Air:
29 June - London Stansted - Riga $90 one-way tax incl
Varying dates 10-16 July Riga - Frankfurt Hahn $103
10 July - Frankfurt Hahn - Fez Morocco 144.48 EUR tax incl

Play around you'll get much better on the Riga - Morocco deal. I've seen flights from London - Morocco through Ryan Air for under $50.

If you're a student you should be able to find a fare to London for $120-$150 off of student travel sites. Do not pay over $400 round trip. Look at Shannon, Dublin, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen.

Note Frankfurt Hahn is over an hour outside of Frankfurt, bus is 11 euros so if you can't get the dates to match on your trip to Morocco (the times seem to match well so if you could that would be great), factor in 22 euro for getting into town for a room. I don't know where London Stansted is.

 

[zinfamous]

unfortunately, we're past the age of student deals. STA won't talk to us anymore

I'm gonna spend more time at Ryan are, see what I can find. thanks, man.