bitlost

We are a mid to late 20 cpl with a 2 year old son. Our plan is land in Amsterdam from sydney and fly out from a different city back to Sydney. No set time on length of holiday yet, but looking at around 4 to 4.5 weeks. Our work is very flexible. We are not one bit religious or into art. There's a few churches we wouldn't mind seeing as listed but not interested in dong tours of them or into art museums. We would like to go to history museums to get to know a bit more about each city. The holiday we want is to just wander around seeing the landmarks while doing a few tours of our choice. We are looking to go in September. Sorry for the layout, it's a bit rushed trying to get it sorted and my head is in circles haha.

AMSTERDAM 4 nights.
*Canal cruise
*Anne frank house
*Amsterdam museum
*vondelpark
*Half day tour to zaanse schans windmills, market and volendam

DAY 5 Fly to Liverpool
LIVERPOOL 3nights
*Liverpool match at Anfield
*beetles museum.
*Slavery museum
*Albert Dock

train to London
LONDON 7 nights
* Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
*westminster abbey
*the guards museum
*Trafalgar Square
*Buckingham palace ( tour)
*Hyde park
*st Paul's cathedral
*Tower of London
*Tower bridge

Train to Paris
PARIS 4
*Eiffel Tower/ champ de Mars
*river cruise
*Arc de triomphe
*Montparnasse tower
*Notre dame
*palace of Versailles

Is this enough days to see mentioned places at a slow pace? We would like a rest day at each city to do nothing but wander around. After Paris we would like to spend 10-12 nights at beach location or two just relax and chill out before heading home. First choice was the Greek Islands but we were told it gets a lot of party goers at that time of year, so are thinking Barcelona or maybe just go to south France. We are unsure. Open upto any ideas, we are still trying to get our head around Europe with so little notice that we are going.

dreamon

Sounds good to me but wouldn't it make more sense to fly to London and then do Liverpool-Amsterdam-Paris? Or reverse? Fewer flights is always a good move in my book. If you can take the Eurostar to Paris so much the better (London-Liverpool-London-Paris-Amsterdam). Personally I would split the time between London and Paris a bit more evenly but that's probably because I prefer Paris as a place to visit.

Greece and it's islands are hugely varied: some are busy and others much less so. Also consider the mainland as, in my view, it is even more beautiful than the islands. Grab a guidebook and choose a couple of places that sound appealing and then ask here whether they are likely to be busy or not. I suspect there are more flights from London to Greece than from most other cities in Europe. Check amadeus.net or skyscanner.

Wish it were me!

annhig

personally I like the order you've chosen as you have the shorter Liverpool stay between longer stays in Amsterdam and London.

so far you've got 2 ½ weeks' worth of holiday with a possible 1 ½ - 2 weeks to go. Were it me, I'd add a couple of days to Paris [4 nights = 3 + days which with your laudable idea of spending a day in each place to relax gives you only 2+ days there, which I agree with dreamon is not enough].

After that i would get the TGV from Paris to the SoF [Provence or Cote d'Azur] - late September would be a great time to tour or possibly hire a gite for a week or so.

Then return to Paris for your flight home or if possible, fly home from Nice or Marseilles. [if your best return airport is Paris, consider getting the Eurostar/ TGV straight through from London using the Eurostar facility to book tickets all the way through and putting your stay in Paris at the end of the trip, so you'll be in the right place for flying home].

juleslove

Sounds wonderful! And with a two year old, wow, that's a big busy trip, have you thought also about things like Disneyland in Paris perhaps etc for your son?

janisj

The rest looks quite good, but I'd do a week in Paris. Four days would be a real whirlwind and Paris definitely lends itself to walking around, relaxing in outdoor cafes, parks etc.

When is this trip? That makes a very big difference re both Buckingham Palace (only open to the public a little over 2 month a year) and your beach time.

annhig

And with a two year old, wow, that's a big busy trip, have you thought also about things like Disneyland in Paris perhaps etc for your son?>>

Sorry, juleslove, but why would a 2 year old be interested in Disney? perhaps for older children, if you really must, but I can't see it holding any attractions for an Australian toddler. S/he'd be more interested in the zoo [a great one in Amsterdam and another in the Jardins des Plantes in Paris] and running around in the Luxembourg Gardens.

BigRuss

I'm not sure what dreamon is on about. Your itinerary seems clear: Amsterdam, Liverpool, London, Paris, beach. No hopping about or crossing the lines.

The Paris bit is short. The London bit is fine. If you're going at the beginning of September, there may be a good number of partiers at the Greek Islands but it depends upon which one(s). And it's not like Barcelona is known for being sedate.

Also: you're British ("The Queen's on your money, you're British," - Gregory House), how could you honk on spelling the BeAtles?????

PalenQ

Get your train tickets ASAP to get deep discounts on Liverpool to London and London to Paris - www.eurostar.com for the latter and www.nationalrail.co.uk for the former - much cheaper than walk up tickets but non-changeable non-refundable - for lots on trains check www.seat61.com - good advice on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Can book up to 90 days or more in advance.

janisj

Oh -- now I see you are traveling in September. That is a good time for everything on your list

Kathie

I agree with others about adding time to Paris - so much to see/do/experience!

Are you not interested in art? You will be in cities with some of the world's best art museums, but I notice not a one on your lists.

annhig

Also: you're British ("The Queen's on your money, you're British," - Gregory House), how could you honk on spelling the BeAtles?????>>

I don't think that the OP is British - they are coming from Australia.

janisj

>>Are you not interested in art? You will be in cities with some of the world's best art museums, but I notice not a one on your lists.<<

Nope . . . >>We are not one bit religious or into art<<

But even w/o the galleries, I'd add time to Paris

(I'd even add time to London but a week is a good taste)

One thing - you have only listed major cities -- when you are in Liverpool you will be very close to the Lake District and relatively close to North Yorkshire. Have you considered adding a few days in gorgeous countryside?

HappyTrvlr

In the south of France look at Antibes or Cap Ferrat as a base.

PalenQ

4 days in Paris is about tops for the average first-time traveler IME - Fodorgarchs just cannot put themselves sometimes in the shoes of a first-time traveler who may only want to see the major sights and move on.

To me a week in London for the average traveler would be a few days too long too. You certainly do not need a week there to see the sights you outlined in your OP - if you do spend a week I'd day trip to outside London like to York or Bath or closer in Windsor Castle and Windsor/Eton or Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII.

This is all a subjective thing - Janis would add more to a week there - I would take three days away - for the average traveler that is - who is right and who is wrong - neither but we just give opinions based on our experience.

dotheboyshall

See if you can fly into Manchester so you start your trip in Liverpool, you can then then take the train to London, then Paris, then Amsterdam before flying home.

With a 2 yr old the less time you spend at airports the better

BigRuss

<<Also: you're British ("The Queen's on your money, you're British," - Gregory House), how could you honk on spelling the BeAtles?????>>

I don't think that the OP is British - they are coming from Australia.>>

Someone's missing the joke.

PalenQ

September in southern France or Italy would be a good time for beaches- crowds have thinned out but weather still warm. Greek islands are so so many -not all are party havens.

janisj

You want 'not rushed' . . . so obviously Pal's advice isn't your travel style (poor man drinks paint and has a short attention span but we humour him)

annhig

what joke?

BAHItaly

I have 3 children and it not occur to me to drag a 2 yr old all over Europe. I feel you will miss important sights and the child will be wishing he was at a playground.