12 days europe

Old Aug 27th, 2016, 03:33 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
12 days europe

Hi , I'm planing my first solo backpacking trip in Europe this October . What I want to see is Aurora and I also want to go to Paris and Jungfrauch . I will arrive and depart from Amsterdam , my trip will be twelve day . Please help me to make the right itinerary , if it possible I would like to add Rome and other east/west Europe city . Anyway I'm not in to the guy who like to enjoy one place too long , so it would be good to be in a lot of place . I also love overnight bus/train .my budget is around 2000 usd . Thank you
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 04:36 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have no idea what you mean by Aurora. A place? Or Aurora borealis?

Also you seem to want to do about 6 places in 12 days, which really doesn;t make much sense - you would spend the bulk of your time/money in just getting from one place to another.

Europe no longer has many night trains and when they do they are not cheap. Of course you can travel between many cities at night, but it often involved sitting up all night and changing trains 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night.

Also do you have 12 nights on the ground - or does this include the day you arrive and the day you depart - in which case you really have only 10.5 days on the ground?

Does your $2000 include airfare from the US? If so, how much of the budget will that take (since we have no idea where you are coming from). It seems you will be going to/fro Amsterdam (a bad choice unless you also want to see Amsterdam and you waste a whole days getting back there to return home - an open jaw ticket into your first city and out of your last would have saved you a whole day).
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 04:48 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I mean aurora borealis , It's not included the airfare ticket . I'm from asian anyway. I wish I could but if you have a better option , I'm gonna consider what's your thought . It's f
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 04:54 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What about over night bus ? Is it reccomended ? My trip is full twelve days .
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 06:28 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Of course seeing the Aurora Borealis isn't included in any arifare. No one can even guarantee you'll see it.

Which overnight bus? In general, that is the lowest-common-denominator of travel, only for those who can survive with no sleep and want to cover a whole lot of ground without seeing much of anything. Plus, overnight buses simply don't go everywhere you want to go.

Is your US$2000 for everything? Airfare, accommodations, food, sight-seeing, etc.? Not enough unless you camp or sleep on benches, IMO.

You don't have enought time in 12 days to see all those places, and flying into and out of Amsterdam instead of open-jaw ticket makes no sense since you seem to want to flit around the whoel Continent.

Read a few guidebooks, pick 2-3 places at most to travel to, and buy open-jaw tickets.
StCirq is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 06:39 AM
  #6  
P_M
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 24,943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A common mistake among first time travelers is to try to do too much in the time you have. You will barely get there and get oriented when it's time to move on. When the trip is over you can say you've been there but the truth is you haven't really experienced any of the places you went. It sounds like your mind is made up but please give this some thought.

Iceland is in your title and I assume that's where you expect to see the aurora borealis. The auroroa borealis is not something you can see on just any given day. Nobody can predict when or where it will appear so if you are going to Iceland just for that, you might want to scratch Iceland off your list. Furthermore Iceland is a very expensive place to visit and you are on a limited budget. Since Iceland is not connected to the European continent you will have to fly from Iceland into Europe which will take even more of your time and money. You also mentioned the Jungfrau which is fabulous but Switzerland is also a very expensive place to visit.

I wish I could make more recommendations but this trip is just not doable given your time constraints. If you trim down your itinerary we might be able to offer more help.
P_M is online now  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 06:54 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I also love overnight bus/train>

when I was your age I did that a lot - and loved it - for lots of great info on the European rail system check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 07:52 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>My trip is full twelve days .
janisj is online now  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 07:53 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Okay , Currently I consider to make itinerary
Amsterdam 1 days ( I dont really into it , so I consider to only take a snap on some windmill ) , overnight bus to colmar about 40€
Colmar 1 1/2 days , colmar to interlaken . Train fare about 50 €
Switzerland 3 days , bern to paris overnight bus 30 €
Paris 2 days , fly to reykjavik about 60 € (promo fare)
Iceland 5 days , fly to amsterdam about 65 € (promo fare)
I'm gonna stay in hostel with average fare 20-30 € , already find cheap hostel in reykjavik . If there is something wrong , would you mind to tell me what it is ?
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 07:57 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As you can see I only use overnight bus two time , so it's not that bad . I've experience that much worse than this , Bangkok-Phuket and Tokyo-Osaka , everything is well maintained , and I still enjoy my day trip ...
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:27 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
All well and good but to get the days in each place you mention the trip would have to be 17 or 18 days . . . not 12

And for some chance of seeing the Aurora in Iceland in October you would want to stay a week or more - and even then if the weather doesn't cooperate you won't see a thing.

You asked for help - we gave it, you have your own ideas . . . Have fun.

(The windmills aren't IN Amsterdam BTW)
janisj is online now  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:31 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lots to do in Amsterdam. Stay there rather than going to Colmar.
Actually, would be better to put the time in Amsterdam at the end, since you must return there for the flight home.

You need to allow for travel time to see how little sightseeing time you really have.

Did a travel agent suggest this itinerary or book your flights? As others are trying to help you see, this is not a good plan, but may be difficult to fix if your flights are set.
Sassafrass is online now  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:33 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yea, let give it a try . Thanks anyway for suggestion . If you were I , what will your trip be ? I mean your itinerary in twelve day .
Anyway there is The Zaanse Schans is just 15 minutes by train from the centre amsterdam .
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:37 AM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@sassafraas yea I already bought it two months ago , considering it is one of the cheapest fare I got from south east asia (kuala lumpur)
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:44 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>If you were I , what will your trip be ? I mean your itinerary in twelve day .
janisj is online now  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:51 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>

You don't seem to understand that you do not have 12 days. You have 9.

My plan would never be anything like this, because I would go for a longer period of time and I would never go all the way to Iceland hoping to see the Aurora Borealis when I probably wouldn't be able to.

Forget Colmar. Forget Iceland. Pick two places at MOST besides Amsterdam.
StCirq is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 08:52 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My trip is 14 days and 12 days is an actual trip . Get it ?

But I see a lot of people get an aurora from a short trip , they just get there for two day and have a sight . If I dont get it , actually I still can enjoy the scenery .

Other than Iceland , do you have any reccomendation where to see aurora ? I heard that tromso and alta is a good choice too , but they are way more expensive than iceland . Svaalbard and hammerfest also good but they are just too far and transportation is a big problem for me if I choose them
justal is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 09:09 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's a crapshoot no matter where you choose to go. Live with it and have alternative plans.

Every August, usually the first week, the shooting stars (Pleiades) are glorious here where we live. This year we had three solid nights of amazing shooting stars. Our friends 12 kms away saw nothing. That's the way it goes with natural phenomena. I would never add costs onto a trip assuming I would see anything like this.
StCirq is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 09:30 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You are likely young and fit, so I get that you can rush about. Being in lots of places is OK if travel between does not eat up all your time, but you are counting time you do not have.

Paris is great for a first visit to Europe, so keep it. I am not knowledgeable about Switzerland and that seems to be a priority for you, so others can advise you in that.

Seriously, if Iceland is really of great interest to you for more than the Northern lights, fine. If all you care about are the Northern lights, drop it! It is not worth all the time and money for only a very, very, very small chance that you might see them when you could spend the time and money where you are sure of interesting things to see.

While not usually a first city of choice to visit in Europe, you are going to Amsterdam anyway, so no point going and coming through there and skipping it. It is really a beautiful and interesting city and there are beautiful and interesting small towns nearby. At the very least, see the Anne Frank House for a personal understanding of that part of history.

Lay out your trip so you can see what you are doing. Use exact days and flight times. Change this to please yourself. It is just a guide on how to do it. Since you are departing from Amsterdam, you need to be there the night before.
Day 1, depart Kuala Lumpur
Day 2, arrive Amsterdam, time? Train to Paris, night in Paris
Day 3, Paris
Day 4, Paris
Day 5, train to Switzerland (where?)
Day 6, Switzerland
Day 7, Switzerland
Day 8, Switzerland
Day 9, travel to Amsterdam
Day 10, Amsterdam
Day 11, day trip from Amsterdam
Day 12, fly home.
Sassafrass is online now  
Old Aug 27th, 2016, 09:47 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK, see you may have a couple more days. Not enough for Iceland, but take away the day trip from Amsterdam and that gives you three days. Actually about 2 & 1/2 with travel, to choose one more place close to the others or easy to travel to/from the others. I would add a day to Paris, but you probably won't so. . .

You mentioned another city like Rome. Rome is too big for just a day. You could
Fly from Paris to Venice. Easy and good flights.
Train or fly, Venice to Switzerland.

You could instead go to a city in Germany for a day after Switzerland, one with good rail or plane connections to Amsterdam.

Whatever you do, I still advise taking the train directly to Paris on arrival in Amsterdam.
Sassafrass is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -