Traveling with the bass

[mcnaire2004]

Ok, this is far away, but during Christmas break next year, chamber strings(small string ensemble from my school of about 12 members) is going Paris, Ireland, and England. We will be playing Handle's Messiah in the church it was first performed, and touring playing other stuff around Europe.

Now, I know the first thing I should do right now is get my passport. But with all the horror stories I have heard from my teachers, and right here on TB I am concerned about bringing my bass on a plane, especially abroad. I am working this summer to save up money for the trip. I am wondering how much would a bumbling idiot like me need abroad.

Things I know I need to save up for

1- $1200 (school isn't paying for all of the trip)
2- Flight case (I am clueless here)
3- Spending Money (I am thinking $500 is fine here? Maybe more since I'll be there a little over a month)
4- BOW ( since my bow was raped by a douche bag, I am using a fiberglass one until I get a new one)
5- Clueless........

I am trying to get as much of this done before the summer is out

[Ale]

Personally , i would never spend that money on a school trip , as long as the gigs dont pay.
Maybe you could try to get som scholarship to cover the expenses.
Flying USA-Europa with your bass can be extremely expensive. And once in europe , some of the airline companys dont wanna fly basses.

[damonsmith]

I would only do it if the school can find basses to rent or borrow. You just can't count on anything with the airlines and basses these days. Traveling with just a bow case and luggage is not bad at all.
Depending on where the Euro is at you may need more than $500. I spent about 1500 Euros when I was there for a month in March. At least 500 was on art books, cd, lps and art.
So that is still 1000 euro which is over $1400 right now. I had a few nice meals but most of it was espressos, subway rides, museum admissions, street food and basic expenses.
I was getting paid in Euros, so it was not so bad.

[jgbass]

I would definitely work out something so there is a bass there for you. Airline travel is really a mess right now, and I do not think it will get better any time soon. You might check the ISB site. They have a link to traveling with basses with recent information.

Flight cases for a bass run almost couple grand, unless you can find a way to rent or borrow one, but that might be pricey. But, you are talking multiple trips within Europe too.

$500 spending seems kind of low. How long is this trip? Do you have to buy your own meals? What about transportation within Europe? To and from airport? Passport fees?

[Ale]

yes the school will have to get you a bass.
Even if you bring your bass , the extra expenses for taking the bass with you when in europe will probably be at least 2000+ for that much traveling. And if you gonna buy a trunk thats also 2000+ , so in that case we are talking about a 6000 dollar trip.
It just aint worth it. Since your travelling with a school , maybe your school can work out some deals with local schools and univeritys for borrowing basses in the different citys your playing?