Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

8-Week Itinerary in Europe (for my 40th Birthday)

8-Week Itinerary in Europe (for my 40th Birthday)

Old Mar 22nd, 2017, 11:46 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
8-Week Itinerary in Europe (for my 40th Birthday)

Hi everyone,
I am a lost soul, a Filipino who is on sabbatical here in the U.S. broke and brokenhearted. LoL!
However, I would still like to find myself in Europe next year for my 40th Birthday.

Can you please help me with an itinerary that is budget friendly? Don't worry about accommodation, I have that covered. I have hosts in most of these Cities/Countries. I need ideas on what to see, and where to go, and importantly the transportation routes, via train and which flights to take. I will be flying out from either LAX or New York.
In no particular order, I would like to see:
France- Paris, Versaille, French Riviera
Italy- Florence, Rome, Nice, Milan, Venice (2 weeks)
Spain- Madrid, Barcelona, Seville?
Germany- Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin
Norway- Which European Country is best to fly to and from Norway?
Netherlands- Amsterdam, Rotterdam, any suggestions?

Thank you all for your help!
WanderfulGoddess is offline  
Old Mar 22nd, 2017, 12:01 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First, you've tagged this as a trip report, which will lead people to think that you've already been. So once you get a better idea of what you're going to do and when, post a follow-up without calling it a trip report.

Second, your question is way too broad to be able to offer an answer. A lot depends on if you are flying from LA or from New York.

Third, even though eight weeks seems to be a lot of time, you have too many destinations, IMO, to see anything well. We spent a month just in northern Italy without seeing everything. I'd begin by cutting Norway (unless there is some special reason to go there). But I'd cut maybe two more of the countries you're proposing to see.

To save time and money, plan to fly into one city--say Paris--and out of another--say Berlin.

So do two things: 1. get a good guidebook or three for Europe and read about what's where. You may find out that what you want to do can be done in, say, Italy, southern France and Spain.

2. write your friends to see when they will be at home to you, so that you can begin to plan this trip around their schedules.

Look forward to seeing an updated post once you get a better idea of what you want to do.
dwdvagamundo is offline  
Old Mar 22nd, 2017, 12:52 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,971
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Things for you to think about.

What does budget exactly mean to you? Low budget for some people would be real luxury for me.

You have chosen mostly cities. No walled cities or castles or quiet walks in the countryside? A mix might be nice.

Only you know what you want from this trip, so perhaps you have personal reasons for your choices, but some seem much less interesting than many you have left out.
For example, you included Frankfurt in Germany, but did not include Granada in Spain. You included Rotterdam in The Netherlands, but not Haarlem.

Pick your top three or four places to start, places you have longed dreamed about seeing. Read about what to see there. Nobody can possibly tell you what to see in all those places. Also, what do you enjoy seeing and doing? Some people love to hike. Others prefer sitting at a cafe. Can you spend all day at a museum or rather stroll and shop? Figure generally how much time to comfortably do that. Add more cities and places if there is time.

On short trips, you can go at a whirlwind pace. On long trips, you have to take breaks.

Are the places your friends live in actually in or very near places you want to visit? No point staying where you won't see anything, except for a rest and to visit.

You can't figure out transportation until your itinerary is narrowed.

What time of year?

You have plenty of time to enjoy the planning part.
Sassafrass is online now  
Old Mar 22nd, 2017, 11:24 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
maybe do some more research before you ask people here to be your travel agent?
menachem is offline  
Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 12:10 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Same as menachem. I wanted to help. But I organisé my own trips not others.
Côme with questions not planning.
WoinParis is offline  
Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 01:16 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Everytime you change locations, it will eat up half to a full day of your time - so, that is 2 weeks gone due to all your city changes.
Even though this is the Fodor website, you call yourself 'broke' and need to travel on a budget - so get the 'Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring' travel guide - this is what really low budget folks use for a guidebook.
Rome2Rio website gives some sequence planning with routes and travel options - now, it does not take in all high season/low season pricing or scheduling, so use it only as a broad start. Even as a starting place, it will give you some idea on the costs of all those city changes.
seat61.com website is probably the best train travel website out there. Train isn't always the cheapest method of travel, however. For example, traveling from Paris to western Belgium, people in the know get off last town in France and have a Belgian friend pick them up because the cost almost triples when you stay on the train to cross the border.
Order train tickets on line and early to save up to 60% on some routes.
Also, if you want to travel in the summer, everything is going to cost more than if you go in off season (also avoid Christmas or Easter)
quiltingmamma is offline  
Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 03:45 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm wondering about this post. Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that OP is broke (by their own account) but wants to fly to Europe from the US and spend 8wks there (and has places to stay in all of these countries?).
or2nh4me2 is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2017, 05:48 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wondered too, but tend to take posters at face value until proven to the contrary. Notice that he (or she--note the screen name) has not been back.
dwdvagamundo is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2017, 08:16 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the transportation routes, via train and which flights to take>

To get a fix on trains and where to go by them check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com. If doing a lot of trains in several countries check out various railpasses.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2017, 11:52 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm wondering about this post. Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that OP is broke (by their own account) but wants to fly to Europe from the US and spend 8wks there (and has places to stay in all of these countries?).>

wanderfulgoddess - what is your 'budget'- do you have enough funds for transportation between those cities- are your hosts supplying your food?
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2017, 12:04 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
doubt we'll hear another peep out of OP on what seems like a sketchy post at best
tailsock is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Misponge
Europe
33
Sep 23rd, 2013 05:23 PM
Miguelvg
Europe
19
Feb 10th, 2012 11:42 AM
jessro1502
Europe
10
Jul 26th, 2011 05:17 PM
aliam
Europe
38
Feb 18th, 2008 04:53 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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