mesia

My husband and I want to hit up Europe for about 18 days on open jaw. This was suppose to be our honeymoon, but making it a 1st year anniversary trip so we can do more splurging and go during the warm weather season.

We would like to start our trip by late Aug. or very early Sept., because it is the best time to work around our schedules. We were considering late August since there are lower hotel rates we found in Italy. With August, I'm mostly concern about crowded trains when we go from 1 city to another as well as places being closed. I heard it is very humid and hot!

Please let me know what you think about visiting up the following places in late August and early September? Will the trains be crowded particularly on August 31st or generally whole last week of August? Also will enough places be closed during the last week of August to make our trip less enjoyable?

The cities we are visiting - in order:
1. Rome
2. Florence
3. Pisa (day trip)
4. Munich
5. Geneva
6. Paris

Thanks! We really appreciate your feedback since this is our first trip to Europe!

eurotraveller

Although I usually spend 18 days in each country I visit I think your trip is doable.

I would spend:

5 nights in Rome
3 nights in Florence
3 nights in Munich
2 nights in Geneva (just curious, why Geneva? Luzerne would make more sense. Or maybe even Salzburg or Hallstatt).
5 nights in Paris



I stayed at the Hotel Parlamento in June and loved it! www.hotelparlamento.it

Cheers!

Tamara

elaine

ok
so it's not just 4 countries in 18 days, it's to be 5 stopover cities in 18 days?
Does the 18 include your return home day?
Rome to Florence is only about 90 minutes, but on other distances the intercity-travel will eat up at least half a day, and that's if all goes smoothly.
So, out of the 18 you've lost the equivalent of another 1.5 to 2 days.

I haven't been to Munich or Geneva, so don't know why they are on your list, but I'd drop at least one of them due to time constraints and not wanting to move around so much.

But if they are all must-sees, eurotravelers time suggestions are good as anything else.

A lot of restaurants (not all, just a lot) are closed at the end of August into the first week of Sept, but if you end in Paris that won't be a problem since that's at the end of your trip.
It's not really a problem anyway, there will be plenty of places open, perhaps just not some of the places you were counting on. All major sightseeing venues will be open.

I've been in Rome in late September into early Oct, and the daytime temps in Rome reached 80F, and I don't think that was atypical. So I imagine that late-Aug early-Sept can be very warm indeed.
For historical temps by month, one place to look is www.wunderground.com


I have long files on Rome, Florence, and Paris; if you'd like to see them, email me at [email protected]

elaine

Here is the Paris Superthread

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

elaine

and here is the Helpful Information Italy superthread

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

ira

Hi mesia,
>My husband and I want to hit up Europe...<

Far more traveling than I would do.

Early Sept is better than late Aug. If you go after Labor Day, air fare is much lower.

Is there a reason why you have left out Venice?

If you skip Geneva and Munich this trip, you could visit Venice and Siena.

Travelnut

A lot of people like to do a "sampling" trip the 1st time (if this is mesia's first time)...I'd do something like:
1-4 Rome
5-7 Florence
8-10 Lucerne
11-13 Montreux
14-18 Paris

JN

I'm sure you'll get tons of advice, Mesia. My suggestions:
1. Wait a bit into Sept to travel. As stated, fares cheaper, weather less hot in Italy.

2. Itinerary: IMO, Pisa & Geneva don't rank up there with many others for a first trip to Europe. I like Munich, but you might save that for your next trip.
4-5 nights Rome
3 nights Florence
2-3 nights in Venice -- a must see on a first visit IMO
2 nights in Salzburg -- beautiful city
2 nights Luzern --lake & mountain scenery
4 nights in Paris

indytravel

I know you mentioned cheaper hotels in late August in Rome but there's a reason for that. It can be hot.

Why don't you reverse the order? Start in Paris and work south with the cooler weather.

As always there are no guarantees with the weather but you can go with the odds.

elaine

.....or, take your Munich and Genevea time, and see London instead

mjs

I think that you have gotten very good advice here. I too would recommend later in September or even early October due to less crowds, possibly cooler weather and possibly lower airfares. Going from north to south also makes sense to me at this time. I too wonder about the selection of Geneva. Wanting to get a glimpse of Switzerland as you make your way north/south makes some sense but Geneva would not be my choice for a place to stop in Switzerland.
I too would add Venice and drop Munich for time constraints. Maybe add another day to Florence and use it for a day trip to Siena. Adding in London is an intriguing idea but you would have to probably drop the destinations between Italy and France for you to do that. Actually London, Paris and Italy is a nice first overview of Europoe if you have not been to Europe before but your original itinerary with a few modifications would work fine too. Sounds like fun!

mesia

Thanks so much everyone for your feedback. They all have been very helpful. I wanted to add Geneva because it would give us some rest time and sightseeing between Munich and Paris.

Originally we planned on visiting 3 countries - Italy, Spain, and France. I figured it would be a beautiful train ride along the coast. A family friend recommended to have a southern Europe adventure, because we're young and still enjoy the night life. Though we changed our mind, because we thought that we could do more "sampling" the other way. Do you think the Italy-Spain-France would be better for an 18-day trip (not including the return home day)?

We wish we had more time, since we originally planned to go for at least 3-4 weeks. Unfortuntely employers can be on the stingy side with giving time off from work.

ira

Hi mesia,

Focus on one trip. If you start rearranging now, you will never get it done.

JN has a good plan.

Robespierre

Remember that Munich is logjammed with Oktoberfest starting in late September. You may wish to either include or exclude it, depending on taste (I'd include).

mesia

Hi Robespierre,

I was hoping to catch the first couple of days of Oktoberfest, but had a hard time looking for nice hotels available and reasonably priced. Hotel Advokat, Hotel Admiral Munchen, and the Cortiina Hotel are my choices if I got to Munich.

Advokat seems to to be all booked starting the week before Oktoberfest - already!

eurotraveller

Keep this in mind - You can always go back and most likely you will want to!!!

mesia

I chose not to see Venice just because I was told that Florence is better for my first time in Europe and that it is a nice central place to take day trips to the provence/towns nearby. Is that true?

What do you think of Bologna vs. Venice?

elaine

For every person who prefers Florence over Venice I can probably show you two who prefer Venice over Florence, but that doesn't predict how <u> you </u> would feel. My first trip to Italy was Venice and Florence, and actually I waited on Rome for a couple of trips later. I'd do it again that way, Rome is pretty demanding and hectic.

RufusTFirefly

Bologna vs. Venice? No comparison. Bologna is a pleasant enough place worth a day or two if you've already seen the important sights of Italy.

Venice is a unique world treasure. A one-of-a-kind experience that can't be duplicated anywhere else on earth.

mamc

I am with those who highly recommend including Venice. In fact, I would suggest Venice over all the other stops you have considered except Paris. I think JN's plan is a great suggestion. And if you can go in September, I think you will find the crowds, the weather and the experience to be better.