brit85

Hi,

I am trying to finalize my itinerary for my solo trip in November. I will be leaving on the 7th and returning on the 26th. I have booked my tickets between the cities I will be visiting. I will be travelling by train in Italy and flying between the other cities.

Here is the rough draft:

*** I am use to the rain and cold weather. I did my last trip in December over Christmas and New Years. I honestly enjoy just strolling around and taking everything in.

- Nov.7th - Leave Vancouver - 8:45PM

- Nov.8th- Arrive Rome - 7:35 PM
- This night will obviously be a write off.

- Nov.9th
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza Navonna
- Pantheon

- Nov.10th
- Coliseum/Roman Forum
- Piazza Venezia

- Nov.11th
- Vatican/St.Peter's
- Castello
- Colle del Giancolo

-Nov.12th
- Borghese Gallery
- OPEN...


-Nov.13th- LEAVE ROME 10:00AM/ ARRIVE FLORENCE 12PM

- Nov.13th- Half day
- Ponte Vecchio
- Piazza Santo Spirito
- Piazzale Michelangelo

- Nov.14th
- Academia
- Duomo
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Piazza della Signoria

- Nov.15th
- Uffizi
- After that OPEN....

- Nov.16th- LEAVE FLORENCE 9:30AM/ ARRIVE VENICE 11:35

*** RUSHED I KNOW

- Nov.16th- Half day
- St. Marks.. Square and Museum
- Ponte di Rialto

- Nov.17th
- Dorsoduro
- Murano/Burrano

- Nov.18th- LEAVE VENICE 12:50PM/ ARRIVE PARIS 2:40 PM

*** Was in Paris on my last trip for a week, doing things I didn’t get to do last time.

- Nov.18th-
- Night Tour? If not will go see Eiffel Tower (don’t judge) and take a stroll somewhere

- Nov.19th
- Musee D'Orsay
- Notre Dame (walk up to the tower)

- Nov.20th

- DAY TRIP UNDECIDED- Fontainebleau, smaller town...? I went to Versailles already but kind of want to go back...

- Nov.21th
- Musee de l'Orangerie
- Seine Cruise
- Galleries Lafayette

- Nov.22nd
- OPEN

- Nov.23th- LEAVE PARIS 12:35PM/ ARRIVE AMSTERDAM 1:50PM

- Nov.23th - half day
- Canal Cruise
- Leiden Square
- Red Light District (I’ve read previous threads on this forum and I don’t need to hear about the exploitation of women.)

- Nov.24th
- Anne Frank House
- Van Gogh Museum
- Rambrandt Plein

- Nov.25th
- OPEN.


I know I have free time marked down in almost every city! I would love some suggestions.

Thanks!

mamcalice

You haven't included Ste. Chapelle on your itinerary. I wouldn't miss it on my first or my tenth trip to Paris. You might consider a Seine cruise on your first night in Paris.

denisea

Rome looks pretty good to me. Go to the Pantheon early before it gets crowded.

In Paris, why not take the Seine cruise the night you arrive...the monuments will be lit up.

The view from the Notre Dame is worth it. Get there about 30 minutes early before it opens to avoid a long wait. It shouldn't be too bad in November anyway. I would go to Ste Chapelle if you have not been already.

I don't know the other 2 cities you are visiting.

We liked Fontainebleu and Barbizon is close and very charming.

michele_d

Having free in every city is a wonderful planning strategy. I promise you that you will fill up that time as soon as you start roaming around. It gives you freedom to plan some as you go. Don't fill in all the blanks. They will fill in themselves.

I agree with taking the night time Seine Cruise, and for the same reason take a vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal in Venice after dark. The cities are stunning after dark, which in November won't be too late.

I know you will be seeing the major sites during the day, but don't miss the opportunity to see them lit up after dark also. The Colosseum takes on a whole new personality after dark and St Mark's and Piazza Venezia are just beautiful. Don't miss this aspect of your trip.

brit85

Thanks so much for your suggestions!

I will definitely be checking out Ste. Chappelle and will be taking a Seine cruise the evening I arrive!

I'm still not sure about the day trip. But I think it will be fontainebleu. I do want to see Mt. St. Michel but I refuse to pay $200+ dollars for a day trip there. And from what I have researched its not the most convenient to get to.

I had night walks planned for every destination on this trip! I love seeing everything lit up.

Do any of you know if its worth the half day to go to the Hague and Delft outside of Amsterdam?

menachem

In Amsterdam, instead of Leidseplein (Leiden Square) can I tempt you with Nieuwmarkt? And the off the beaten track places there would be Het Loosje for beer and/or stronger stuff, and cafe Bern for Cheese Fondue. (Or their fabulous cotelet suisse) Especially in November, this could be great.

At Nieuwmarkt you're right at the edge of the Red Light District, but not in it, so it might be a good combination. Also try Latei at Zeedijk for lunch or coffee.

Leidseplein is very touristy: nothing typically Amsterdam about it.

Also: Rembrandtplein, also very touristy, instead try Amstelveld

AlessandraZoe

I really like your outline. I think you can certainly fit other things into it at will.

I commend you on a sense of "space".

Re your Eiffel Tower decision:
We go to Paris at least once a year for what seems like forever now. It took us three trips to do the Eiffel Tower. And looking back, that's about right--Paris is seeing the Eiffel Tower, not going up it. We stay often in the 7th now, and we love looking up at it; we do NOT have to BE on it.

I respectfully disagree with anyone who says a Seine tour or heaven forbid, a canal tour, is a must. If you feel like jumping on a night Seine tour, great. If not, who cares. And St. Chapelle is nice, but should be done ONLY ON A VERY SUNNY DAY.

YOu seem to sense this already. What is ALWAYS a must is at least two walks along the Seine per day, and the direction doesn't really matters. Anthony Bourdain always says (paraphrase)Paris is at its heart an eating/walking/sitting city. You seem set up to do that--soak it in.

brit85

menachem: Thanks so much for the suggestion in Amsterdam! It is the city I know the least about and didnt really know where to start!

AlessandraZoe: I will definetly being following the rule of two daily walks by the Seine. Im returning to Paris because I loved it so much last time! Hopefully this wont be the last time I get to go back

ParisAmsterdam

Night tour/Eiffel Tower... why not try a night Segway tour with citysegway.com You get the tower, a tour and the fun of a Segway all rolled into one!

Got your hotel sorted for Amsterdam? If not go to the Netherlands forum at Trip Advisor and see the "Bidding on a 4 star" and "5 star" threads. Great hotel deals through Priceline's Name Your Own Price and good advice on how to do it

Do try fries with mayonnaise! I could live on the things! ;^)

ParisAmsterdam

Forgot to mention... do try Fontainebleau. We were there in 2008 and enjoyed it. I have been to Versailles twice and find it gaudy and overdone... like Napoleon I prefer Fontainebleau. ;^)

Ozarksbill

Well, there you go...lots of famous place to see and much walking. Yes, I predict tired eyes and sore feet. I suppose I wouldn't add or subtract from anything, most of which we've seen over the many years.

Random comments: A short trip to Giverny-Monet's garden?
Delft and other towns OK but not likely The Hague although wonderful museum. Red Light district is a nothing.

Wow, Vancouver to Rome? Quite a long stretch.

brit85

ParisAmsterdam: Thanks! I think I will be going to Fontainebleau Im not sure about the segway thing but I will look into it.

What other mini day trips are there from Amsterdam? I have been looking but I dont exactly know where would be the most beneficial.

Ozarksbill: It is quite a long flight for me! Im not looking forward to it.

Ozarksbill

Oh well, from Amsterdam you have lots of towns or sites not so far by train...Leiden (Pilgrims here prior to America), Zaanse Schans (a village park with watermills), Enkuizen (pleasant seaside town), Hoorn (picturesque former seaport), Keukenhof Flower Park, Veere (former trading center), Delft (pottery place), Kinderdijk (village with windmills), and i will add The Hague with its museum and Peace Palace. Others have their ideas I'm sure...we avoided touristy Volendam.

artsnletters

Fat Tire bike tour on your first evening in Paris?

Peter_S_Aus

My only comment would be that with only two days in Venice, the time for Murano and Burano might be better spent.

michele_d

No time for Murano or Burano IMO. Two days is barely enough time to get lost roaming the streets of Venice. And you cannot consider yourself a true Venice visitor if you do not get lost at least once while roaming about Venice. It is required after all.

brit85

Ozarksbill: Thanks for all your suggestions! I will take a look into them before deciding

artsnletters: That is a great idea. It also includes a canal cruise which was previousl suggested. Thanks.

Peter_S_Aus and michele_d: I was wondering if I would have enough time to do both. If I dont have time then there is always next time. Did either of you have any other suggestions for Venice?

Peter_S_Aus

Brit, we've spent months in Venice, and so it's hard to give advice for a two day visit. But you'll have a next time.

I wrote a bit during our last visit - a bit long, but might be of interest.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...st-verbose.cfm

If you click on my user name, and scroll down the page you'll find a couple of previous Venice trip reports.

michele_d

We spent one week in Venice our first visit and only three days on our second visit: just giving our son and DIL a small taste.

Head to the Rialto Market early one day. It is fun wandering amongst the vendor tables stacked high with fresh fruit and vegees. The fish market is another unique experience.

One of our favorite things to do in Venice is getting away from the tourist areas and just roam about aimlessly up and down the back streets. We felt we were in the real Venice and absolutely loved it. If you spend all your time in the crowds of tourists, than you will probably not come away with a positive first visit, but if you get off the beaten track, you will see very few tourists and get a bit of a feel for the real Venice.

Another thing we did on both visits was riding up and down the Grand Canal at night. The buildings are softly illuminated and the lights reflecting off the water are beautiful.

Go to St Mark's Square in the evening. Hopefully you will get to witness the 'battle of the bands'. Two orchestra type bands set up on opposite sides of the square directly in front of St Mark's (not the square between St Mark's and the water). The bands alternate playing in a competition sort of way. The crowds cheer for one and then turn and watch the second band. This went on for a good hour. It was a lot of fun.

brit85

Peter_S_Aus and michele_d- Thanks for all the info! This has made my planning alot easier.