MohamedMordi

Hello guys,

Me and a friend of mine are planning for a trip to Europe this October for 11 days and we are thinking of the following itinerary;

- Amsterdam: 4 days
- Paris: 2 day (1 day for Disneyland and and the other day for Eiffel tower and louvre museum)
- Barcelona: 5 days

So what do you think of this itinerary and the distribution of days? knowing that this is the first time for us in Amsterdam and Paris and the second time for my friend in Barcelona.

Thanks a lot

suec1

Well its your trip but 2 days Paris? but 4 days Amsterdam and 5 days Barcelona are good amounts of time. Maybe take one from Barcelona for Paris but again, it's your trip. Are you taking the night train to Barcelona? it would give you more time on the ground in the cities.

Christina

It sounds fine if you are not that interested in seeing Paris and just have limited time for your vacation. It's your trip, not much to say but what you want.

If it were me, I'd do more like 3 days Amsterdam, 4 days Paris, 4 days Barcelona (zero days Disney). But if you love Disney and have no other chance to ever go there, I can see why you'd do that. But I really would consider at least adding another day to Paris instead of Amsterdam for 4 days.

nytraveler

You are definitely giving VERY short shrift to Paris (and why Disney - which is subpar versus US - unless you have kids - versus the glories of Paris?).

I would cut a day each from Amsterdam and Barcelona and bag Disney so at least you have 3 full days in Paris.

PalenQ

At least two days in Paris itself if not more - I'd take a day away from Amsterdam and Barcelona and add it to Paris. How are you going between these places - if by train that takes a half a day Amsterdam to Paris and all day to Barcelona from Paris - though there is an overnight train connection on that link.

Amsterdam to Paris trains are Thalys trains - early I mean RIGHT now booking can save you a ton of money over just showing up and buying - I mean you could get tickets as low as 39 euros by booking months in advance - walk up the fare is about $2001!

If not flying Paris to Barcelona consider the overnight train Paris to Perpignan and hook up with French TGVs in the morning to Barcelona. For lots of great info on these trains and night trains in general check: www.seat61.com - good dope on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. To book French to Spain trains in advance with similar delicious savings: www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com (both have same trains, same fares but latter is said to be much easier for foreigners to use.

MohamedMordi

Thank you guys for your replies.

Well, it seems that 2 days in Paris are not enough especially if I'm considering Disneyland which I've never been to one before and I'm not sure if I will be able to visit Paris again in the near future. Does it worth the visit anyway?

So according to your recommendations, I should cut one day from Amsterdam or Barcelona and add it to Paris.

@PalenQ: I'm taking a train from Amsterdam to Paris and fly from Paris to Barcelona

PalenQ

Does it worth the visit anyway?>

If it is your only chance in the near future to visit a Disney park then I'd say probably but if you've been to others they are similar - not like peas in pods but kind of - you can leave that in flux until say your third day in Paris and see what you want to do.

To reach Disney Paris is about an hour or so via RER (fast metro that goes into the suburbs).

PalenQ

PS - Happy ending to Ramadan!

Kathie

You haven't taken into consideration travel times. You can't get instantly from Amsterdam to Paris or to Barcelona. So if you spend three nights in a place, that is just two full days. I'd suggest you cut one city, so you can have 4 full days (5 nights) in two cities, add one night to the city that interests you most.

Everyone is different - you couldn't pay me enough to convince me to go to Euro-Disney. So make the choice based on what you enjoy.

anyegr

I was in Disney Paris in 2010. It's probably fun for kids, but I got bored after two hours and found a place to sit and read while waiting for the bus back to Paris. The rides had long lines and did not look like they were worth the time and effort in the heat. Almost every building was a shop, selling souvenirs or food. You can get pictures taken with yorself together with people in Disney costumes, if you like that sort of thing. It felt like a big commercial tourist trap. But if you love Disney and can't get to the one in the US it may be ok.

Amsterdam is a nice city. Four days is probably enough. I had eight nights in 2013 and it would have been too much, but I did some daytrips so I didn't get bored. If you like museums, get a Museum Pass.

Barcelona has a lot of really odd architecture. If you like Gaudi, there is lots to see. The Sagrada Familia is really special. I thought there were fewer people speaking english in Barcelona than in Paris or Amsterdam.

There's lots of talk about pickpockets in Barcelona, but I never saw any. Keep your valuables hidden and be cautious, both in Barcelona and in Paris. But don't let the horror stories scare you away. Barcelona and Paris are wonderful cities.

PalenQ

I took my French son to Disney Paris twice and we both loved it - if you never have seen a Disney place go for it - it may be the most memorable thing you do (unless you go into a coffeeshop in Amsterdam!

Christina

They haven't called it Euro Disney for years, its name is Disneyland Paris. I'm not sure why, actually, but it makes some sense as it is just outside Paris.

nyt and I are both suggesting the same thing 3-4-4. But I think PalenQ has a good idea -- go to Paris and plan at least 3 days there (or 4). Then if you really get bored and want to go, go to Disneyland on your last day. I don't think you need to plan ahead if you know the train run to get there. You'd just buy your ticket out there.

MohamedMordi

Thank you all a lot that was really helpful