Help! I am a college student looking to visit Europe just before Christmas. I plan on leaving December 13 - my last exam finishes at 11 a.m. - and returning either December 23 or early December 24.

I have been to Europe a few times, but I need some advice/assistance this time around ... I would like to visit London (LGW or LHR) and Brussels (BRU) and most likely Ljubljana (LJU). I live in Midland, Michigan and can easily fly out of Detroit (DTW), Flint (FNT), or Saginaw (MBS).

Anyways, I am looking at this timetable, but am hoping to find something better and perhaps, cheaper:

13 Dec
DTW to BRU (via Amsterdam): Northwest Airlines US$903

14 Dec
BRU to LHR: British Airways US$154

16 Dec
Return to BRU from LHR

19 Dec
BRU to LJU: Swiss International Airlines US$424

22 Dec
Return to BRU from LJU

23 Dec
Return to DTW from BRU

Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you ....

Maybe it'd be easier to fly to London first?

In any case, I recommend you look into other options for flying around Europe as well. I'd think there's a lot of stuff about this on the budget travel forum - references to sites like dohop.com and skyscanner where you can compare LCCs' flights etc.

www.easyjet.com - easyjet, I think, fly to LJU from both London Stansted and Berlin

http://www.adria-airways.com/ - Adria Airways tend to have pretty good deals to LJU as well

Yes, suggest London first as follows on the transAtlantic:

13Dec - DTWLGW
23Dec - BRU(AMS)DTW
cost $709.59

If you were to fly into LGW and return from AMS (train to BRU and back), cost is $607.93.

Adria Air has flights LGWLJU ($108) and LJUBRU ($421), but if you fly LJUAMS instead ($133). You'll have to play with dates as some of these flights/fares are not available on the dates you have listed.

Have a good trip...