Best lens for a Nikon d40?

I will be traveling to Europe in about three weeks and I'm looking for a new lens to fit my Nikon d40. I'm an amateur photographer as I'm only 16 years old, but I want something that is going to take quality photographs at further distances than the lens that originally came with the camera. I was looking at the 50 - 300mm, but I'm not sure if there was something better suited for me.

Do you have the 18-55 mm lens? If so you may want to look at either the 55-300 mm or 10-24 mm.

Which you choose will have to do with the subjects you intend to shoot.

The 10-24 mm will give you some brilliant landscapes and city-scapes while you are on your travels

The longer 55-300 mm lens will allow you to shoot from a distance or wildlife.

The best lens I ever had was a 35-135. You can use it as a mild wide angle and a mild zoom, it was perfect.

When I traveled in China, I found my Nikon 18-200mm AF-S VR to be a great lens. At the 18mm end, it's a nice moderate wide angle and the 200mm end is a good telephoto for bringing things much closer. It's a great improvement over the kit 18-55mm lens.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...0mm-ii.htm

A less expensive alternative, that will give you a better reach would be to bring both your 18-55mm kit lens and to add a Nikon 55-300mm AF-S VR. You'll have a great telephoto reach at 300mm (450mm on a DX camera), on a sharp, inexpensive Nikon lens.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...-300mm.htm

The 55-200mm AF-S VR give you less range, but is a much more compact lens to carry around.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...0mm-vr.htm

Go to a camera shop with your D40 body and try the different lenses on. See how they balance on your camera body and how they feel in your hands. (and no, you can't buy them all! Lol) With any of these 3 choices, you'll do well.

A 35mm won't give you a true wide angle on a DX camera like your D40