Europe 2026

Booking Flights

Booking through American Airlines, I filtered on non-stop flights, flying American Airlines.

Where we are staying

When choosing hotels, I wanted to find good value, in a decent location, and where possible, selecting hotels in a loyalty program I'm a member of, in order to take advantage of free nights and other discounts.

Why I chose the New York Hilton Midtown Manhattan

I love this location - although it's a large hotel (it's actually the largest hotel in New York), it's location isn't as "touristy" as Times Square.

I took advantage of a Hilton Honors free night certificate to book this hotel. Manhattan is never cheap, and this week is no exception, so being able to use a certificate was a no-brainer.

The hotel is just a five-minute walk to Central Park and Rockefeller Center, and about ten minutes to Broadway, Times Square, and Grand Central. MoMA is right down the street, Carnegie Hall and Rockefeller Center are a few blocks away, and most Broadway theaters are within five to ten blocks.

There's also a subway station just two blocks away, making the rest of the city easily accessible.

(Click on image for an interactive Google Map view)

Why I chose the Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment

I selected this hotel because of the cost of staying there, and the fact that I have Hyatt certificates offering two free nights stay, bringing the cost of the property down to $410 per room (not per person) for a 4 night stay (including breakfast).

It sits right on the South Bank of the Thames at Albert Embankment, which puts you about a five minute walk from Westminster, with landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and Big Ben nearby. A short stroll along the river also gets you to the South Bank's cultural venues, and the London Eye.

Why I chose Ibis Styles Paris Gare de Lyon

I selected this hotel because of the location, close to one of the major train stations in Paris, and for the cost.

The cost of a five night stay here is $1,075 per room(not per person)

The building which houses the ibis Styles Paris Gare de Lyon TGV hotel was originally constructed in 1900. However, it was fully renovated in 2021, and opened under the Ibis Styles brand in October of that year.

The area near the Gare de Lyon was home to the Bastille, the medieval fortress and political prison, a flashpoint of the French Revolution in 1789.

It's close to the Seine, a pleasant walk to Notre Dame Cathedral, and full of outdoor cafes and patisseries.