Europe Advice -- First Time and Visiting Mid-April to Early May
Mar 20th, 2011, 04:40 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Europe Advice -- First Time and Visiting Mid-April to Early May
Hi! My husband and I will be traveling to Europe for the first time and would love any advice you may offer. We're flying in and out of Barcelona and will be in Europe for about 15-16 days incluidng over Easter. Places we'd love to see include London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence and possibly others -- depending on what great suggestions we receive 
To do the things we are currently wanting to do, we figure we possibly will only need maybe 2 days in London, 2 in Paris, 2 in Rome and 2 in Barcelona. Florence and Venice are just places to see for us and we won't really mind if we're only there for one day each. That leaves us about 5-6 days not including traveling to and from Europe.
We have no idea what to do, the best way to get around, or what would be a good deal vs. a bad deal. The budget we're contemplating is no more than a few thousand dollars for the entire trip excluding airfare to and from the States (we already have our tickets). We just really want to get a taste of these places while we're young and can do it. If you'd be so kind as to help answer any of the following questions, we'd really appreciate it.
Where should we go and when?
What's the best way to do everyting on a moderate budget?
What are sites we definitely shouldn't miss?
What cool things are there to do besides visit sites in the various places?
Where should we stay?
What is the best way to get around?
Should we do the Eurail thing, budget airfare travel between places (Ryanair) or both?
What should we bring / not bring?
What should we wear / not wear?
Are there any souvenirs you really wish you would have bought / are glad you bought?
Any other insider information would be great! Thanks so much in advance for helping us plan a wonderful vacation
To do the things we are currently wanting to do, we figure we possibly will only need maybe 2 days in London, 2 in Paris, 2 in Rome and 2 in Barcelona. Florence and Venice are just places to see for us and we won't really mind if we're only there for one day each. That leaves us about 5-6 days not including traveling to and from Europe. We have no idea what to do, the best way to get around, or what would be a good deal vs. a bad deal. The budget we're contemplating is no more than a few thousand dollars for the entire trip excluding airfare to and from the States (we already have our tickets). We just really want to get a taste of these places while we're young and can do it. If you'd be so kind as to help answer any of the following questions, we'd really appreciate it.
Where should we go and when?
What's the best way to do everyting on a moderate budget?
What are sites we definitely shouldn't miss?
What cool things are there to do besides visit sites in the various places?
Where should we stay?
What is the best way to get around?
Should we do the Eurail thing, budget airfare travel between places (Ryanair) or both?
What should we bring / not bring?
What should we wear / not wear?
Are there any souvenirs you really wish you would have bought / are glad you bought?
Any other insider information would be great! Thanks so much in advance for helping us plan a wonderful vacation
Mar 20th, 2011, 04:47 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry but you have a couple of problems -
Way too many places and way too little time in any of them. If you want to really see much of anything you have to allow more than 1 day per city (you'll spend the rest of your time in transit)
Flying in and out of Barcelona is a really bad idea - you should fly into your first city and return home from the last. An open jaw ticket won;t cost any more and will avoid wasting a whole day to get back to Barcelona.
As for you other questions - get a couple of guide books and read them. Make a list of what you want to see in each place and how low it will take (you can look AT the Eiffel Tower in 15 minutes - but if you want to ascend to the top and really see anything you have to allow a couple of hours. the same with museums - you need to allow at least 3 hours to see the highlights of any major museum (and a couple of days to see the whole thing).
Once you've figured out what you really want to see - in no more than 4 cities - then come back and ask specific questions.
Way too many places and way too little time in any of them. If you want to really see much of anything you have to allow more than 1 day per city (you'll spend the rest of your time in transit)
Flying in and out of Barcelona is a really bad idea - you should fly into your first city and return home from the last. An open jaw ticket won;t cost any more and will avoid wasting a whole day to get back to Barcelona.
As for you other questions - get a couple of guide books and read them. Make a list of what you want to see in each place and how low it will take (you can look AT the Eiffel Tower in 15 minutes - but if you want to ascend to the top and really see anything you have to allow a couple of hours. the same with museums - you need to allow at least 3 hours to see the highlights of any major museum (and a couple of days to see the whole thing).
Once you've figured out what you really want to see - in no more than 4 cities - then come back and ask specific questions.
Mar 20th, 2011, 05:26 PM
#3
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why do you want to go to Europe? I mean, you are going to spend thousands of dollars to do it, something must be motivating you. Pinning down what drives you to go will make it easier for folks to advise you.
In the meantime, a couple of suggestions (beyond repeating the advice nytraveller gave above, all of which is sound).
1) I haven't had the opportunity to get there myself (yet), but everyone I have talked to has loved Barcelona. Since you going to go there anyway, spend some time there.
2) If a trip can be done by train in less than 4 hours, it will usually be faster to train than fly (though not necessarily cheaper)
3) Within large cities, cars are almost invariably bad. Expensive to park, and frequently there are restrictions on who can drive in the city centre.
In the meantime, a couple of suggestions (beyond repeating the advice nytraveller gave above, all of which is sound).
1) I haven't had the opportunity to get there myself (yet), but everyone I have talked to has loved Barcelona. Since you going to go there anyway, spend some time there.
2) If a trip can be done by train in less than 4 hours, it will usually be faster to train than fly (though not necessarily cheaper)
3) Within large cities, cars are almost invariably bad. Expensive to park, and frequently there are restrictions on who can drive in the city centre.
Mar 21st, 2011, 07:00 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So you want to come to Europe and spend most of the time waiting for transport or actually in transit between places? Narrow it down by at least 50%. If you've chosen to fly into Barcelona- why not concentrate on all the beautiful places you can visit in Spain, for example?
Mar 21st, 2011, 07:14 AM
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Everybody, on their first trip to Europe (and maybe even on successive ones) makes the same mistake of trying to see everything. The more you learn the more places you want to go. But less is more. As Rick Steves says, assume you will return.
So now you must do the agonizing job of cutting down your itinerary. I find the Michelin Green Guides and Rick Steves' guidebooks helpful when trying to figure out what are the must-sees.
So now you must do the agonizing job of cutting down your itinerary. I find the Michelin Green Guides and Rick Steves' guidebooks helpful when trying to figure out what are the must-sees.
Mar 21st, 2011, 07:21 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<< That leaves us about 5-6 days >>
You really don't have 5-6 days. You have to spend time to get from place to place. London - Paris - approx 3 hours on the train. But first you have to get to the train station and get there ahead of time to check in. Then once in Paris you have to get from the train station to your hotel. This will be about 5 hours or half of a day.
A day and a half in London, Paris, and Rome will not be enough time to see much.
You should re-think this plan and spend more time in each location and cut down the number of places you visit.
You state you're on a moderate budget but moving around a lot will eat into the amount of money you have to spend.
All other questions can be answered by a search on this board or by reading guide books. For instance, there are thousands of threads here on what to wear.
You really don't have 5-6 days. You have to spend time to get from place to place. London - Paris - approx 3 hours on the train. But first you have to get to the train station and get there ahead of time to check in. Then once in Paris you have to get from the train station to your hotel. This will be about 5 hours or half of a day.
A day and a half in London, Paris, and Rome will not be enough time to see much.
You should re-think this plan and spend more time in each location and cut down the number of places you visit.
You state you're on a moderate budget but moving around a lot will eat into the amount of money you have to spend.
All other questions can be answered by a search on this board or by reading guide books. For instance, there are thousands of threads here on what to wear.
Mar 21st, 2011, 07:36 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You need to do some real research on this instead of ticking off a list of cities to visit and "sites" in each one.
Fodors.com supposedly has information on many travel destinations. TimeOut.com will have info on most of the cities you mentioned.
There is no way you can visit London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Florence and Venice in 16 days on a budget because the transport costs will kill your finances.
Direct answers to your questions:
<b>Where should we go and when?</b> The where is partially determined from your tickets -- where are you traveling to and from? The when you have decided, it seems.
<b>What's the best way to do everyting on a moderate budget?</b> What's moderate? What's your lodging per night limit? Add to that every trip you take between destinations and amortize it -- your $100/night for 2 nights in Rome is really $200 plus the cost of getting there or getting to your next destination depending upon your schedule.
<b>What are sites we definitely shouldn't miss?</b> None. You know better than anyone else what you're interested in and you haven't revealed that information. Why are you wanting to go where you want to go?
<b>What cool things are there to do besides visit sites in the various places?</b> WTF is a "cool thing" to you?
<b>Where should we stay?</b> Somewhere in reasonable proximity to wherever you decide to go. There is no way to answer this question at your level of abstraction.
<b>What is the best way to get around?</b> Get around WHERE?
<b>Should we do the Eurail thing, budget airfare travel between places (Ryanair) or both?</b> No Eurail passes, just point to point tickets if the trip makes sense. There are other budget airlines than Ryan.
<b>What should we bring / not bring?</b> Clothes, toiletries and camera are good.
<b>What should we wear / not wear?</b> Clothes are good. Nudity is frowned upon even in Europe.
Now go back to the drawing board and realize that (1) your trip plan -- to the extent you have one -- is a mess; (2) no one knows a bloody thing about you, therefore, we cannot tell you what is "moderate" or "cool"; (3) you can't just go somewhere and see a handful of sites and call it a worthwhile trip unless your life is lived just to place checkmarks on a list and blow serious money to do it.
Are there any souvenirs you really wish you would have bought / are glad you bought?
Fodors.com supposedly has information on many travel destinations. TimeOut.com will have info on most of the cities you mentioned.
There is no way you can visit London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Florence and Venice in 16 days on a budget because the transport costs will kill your finances.
Direct answers to your questions:
<b>Where should we go and when?</b> The where is partially determined from your tickets -- where are you traveling to and from? The when you have decided, it seems.
<b>What's the best way to do everyting on a moderate budget?</b> What's moderate? What's your lodging per night limit? Add to that every trip you take between destinations and amortize it -- your $100/night for 2 nights in Rome is really $200 plus the cost of getting there or getting to your next destination depending upon your schedule.
<b>What are sites we definitely shouldn't miss?</b> None. You know better than anyone else what you're interested in and you haven't revealed that information. Why are you wanting to go where you want to go?
<b>What cool things are there to do besides visit sites in the various places?</b> WTF is a "cool thing" to you?
<b>Where should we stay?</b> Somewhere in reasonable proximity to wherever you decide to go. There is no way to answer this question at your level of abstraction.
<b>What is the best way to get around?</b> Get around WHERE?
<b>Should we do the Eurail thing, budget airfare travel between places (Ryanair) or both?</b> No Eurail passes, just point to point tickets if the trip makes sense. There are other budget airlines than Ryan.
<b>What should we bring / not bring?</b> Clothes, toiletries and camera are good.
<b>What should we wear / not wear?</b> Clothes are good. Nudity is frowned upon even in Europe.
Now go back to the drawing board and realize that (1) your trip plan -- to the extent you have one -- is a mess; (2) no one knows a bloody thing about you, therefore, we cannot tell you what is "moderate" or "cool"; (3) you can't just go somewhere and see a handful of sites and call it a worthwhile trip unless your life is lived just to place checkmarks on a list and blow serious money to do it.
Are there any souvenirs you really wish you would have bought / are glad you bought?
Mar 21st, 2011, 09:50 AM
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, you've gotten some great tips here, some tough love as well perhaps!
Now that I see you are flying in and out of BCN, I suggest concentrating on Spain. A few days in BCN, Madrid, maybe a beachy town like Valencia?? There is an awful lot to see in this wonderful country - don't just use it as a transit spot. My kids (20s) spent 3 days in BCN, 3 in Madrid, 2 in Valencia. Loved it and still didn't feel they did just to Spain.
So, maybe after 7-8 days in Spain, you could head over to Portugal (Lisbon, maybe and one smaller city like Sintra) for 3-4 days and up to SW France (Biarritz, or further up to Bordeaux area for wine) for 3-4 days before heading back to BCN.
This itinerary in itself will be a little challenging to keep costs and time in control as it is still a wide area to cover in 16 days, but it is probably doable since you seem like you want to go, go, go.
For me, if it was my first trip to Europe I would probably pick two countries and no more than 3-4 changes in overnight locations. However, knowing this is your first trip and you want to see everything, I can certainly understand your desire to do so. That being said, you really need to look at your locations and the distances involved. You don't want your trip to be a blur or rail stations and airports!
Now that I see you are flying in and out of BCN, I suggest concentrating on Spain. A few days in BCN, Madrid, maybe a beachy town like Valencia?? There is an awful lot to see in this wonderful country - don't just use it as a transit spot. My kids (20s) spent 3 days in BCN, 3 in Madrid, 2 in Valencia. Loved it and still didn't feel they did just to Spain.
So, maybe after 7-8 days in Spain, you could head over to Portugal (Lisbon, maybe and one smaller city like Sintra) for 3-4 days and up to SW France (Biarritz, or further up to Bordeaux area for wine) for 3-4 days before heading back to BCN.
This itinerary in itself will be a little challenging to keep costs and time in control as it is still a wide area to cover in 16 days, but it is probably doable since you seem like you want to go, go, go.
For me, if it was my first trip to Europe I would probably pick two countries and no more than 3-4 changes in overnight locations. However, knowing this is your first trip and you want to see everything, I can certainly understand your desire to do so. That being said, you really need to look at your locations and the distances involved. You don't want your trip to be a blur or rail stations and airports!
Mar 21st, 2011, 10:06 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Should we do the Eurail thing, budget airfare travel between places (Ryanair) or both?>
Hard to answer this until you select your destinations more clear - London for example is not involved in any Eurailpass.
Ideally you would fly into Barcelona and fly out of say either London, Paris or Rome
Here are some great sites to check out European rail travel IMO - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (their free online European Planning & Rail Guide has lots of sample rail itineraries) and www.seat61.com.
You may consider using overnight trains of which there are zillions to cover ground between far removed bases and also save a night's hotel costs.
Hard to answer this until you select your destinations more clear - London for example is not involved in any Eurailpass.
Ideally you would fly into Barcelona and fly out of say either London, Paris or Rome
Here are some great sites to check out European rail travel IMO - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (their free online European Planning & Rail Guide has lots of sample rail itineraries) and www.seat61.com.
You may consider using overnight trains of which there are zillions to cover ground between far removed bases and also save a night's hotel costs.
Mar 21st, 2011, 10:40 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi raquelanna - I definitely agree that you need to pare down the itinerary. I took my first trip to Europe about 5 years ago and I originally had a itinerary that took us all over the place. I (thankfully) dialed it back and came up with a good plan. We ended up seeing southern Germany and a small bit of Austria on our 2 week trip. It was wonderful and I am really really (really) glad we didn't try to see more places. We had the time to really see the places we did visit and we didn't waste a lot of precious vacation time travelling from place to place - instead, we spent that time IN the places we did see. Of course there are tons of places in Europe that I still want to see. I'll get there - or not - but either way, I have thoroughly enjoyed the places I have been. We left Europe after that first trip wanting to go back, but feeling satisfied that even if we never returned, we saw some great stuff and had a wonderful time.
We've been to Europe a couple times since that first trip (planning our next trip now) and have settled on a pace that really works for us - we plan 3 or more nights in large cities, and at least 2 nights most other places, with the occasional 1 night stay along the way. This way we aren't on the move too much and have time to see more than just the highlights in places and to hang out and soak up the atmosphere. Some of my favorite memories are just hanging out, actually.
This slower pace saves money too - every time you move, you have to spend money on transportation, which can get expensive.
So I'd probably choose Spain and France - or just Spain for your 2 week trip.
We've been to Europe a couple times since that first trip (planning our next trip now) and have settled on a pace that really works for us - we plan 3 or more nights in large cities, and at least 2 nights most other places, with the occasional 1 night stay along the way. This way we aren't on the move too much and have time to see more than just the highlights in places and to hang out and soak up the atmosphere. Some of my favorite memories are just hanging out, actually.
This slower pace saves money too - every time you move, you have to spend money on transportation, which can get expensive.
So I'd probably choose Spain and France - or just Spain for your 2 week trip.
Mar 21st, 2011, 10:51 AM
#13
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The best way to see Europe is by train - I would suggest that if you plan to visit a number of places, an Interrail pass would be useful. Ryanair is cheap - however, you don't get to see much of Europe and budget flights are quite unpleasant at the best of times ( this is best kept to a minimum). Museums and art galleries are cheap ( and often free). If your visiting London and wanting to see a West End show, half price tickets can be bought at leicester square for that evening.
Bonne chance!
Bonne chance!
Mar 21st, 2011, 11:19 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<The best way to see Europe is by train>>
That's a gross generalization. If you want to see only major cities it might be the case. If you want to explore, say, the Languedoc, or Umbria, it certainly isn't. It also depends on the number of persons in your party, how much luggage you are carrying, whether you are doing a loop or traveling from point A to point B....and a whole lot of other factors.
<<I would suggest that if you plan to visit a number of places, an Interrail pass would be useful.>>
It might or might not be. You always need to do a careful comparison of passes versus point-to-point tickets. Again, a sweeping generalization.
<<Museums and art galleries are cheap ( and often free)>>
This is just plain wrong. Museums in Europe are expensive, and every single one of them, from the dinky little Grotte de St-Cirq museum down the road from my house in the middle of nowhere to the major history and art museums, charges a fee. Here in the USA, I can spend an entire day visiting Smithsonian institutions for absolutely nothing. There is no equivalent in Europe - none. Art galleries can be visited for free, for sure, but they are commercial enterprises, like stores, so of course they can't charge except maybe for special exhibits.
That's a gross generalization. If you want to see only major cities it might be the case. If you want to explore, say, the Languedoc, or Umbria, it certainly isn't. It also depends on the number of persons in your party, how much luggage you are carrying, whether you are doing a loop or traveling from point A to point B....and a whole lot of other factors.
<<I would suggest that if you plan to visit a number of places, an Interrail pass would be useful.>>
It might or might not be. You always need to do a careful comparison of passes versus point-to-point tickets. Again, a sweeping generalization.
<<Museums and art galleries are cheap ( and often free)>>
This is just plain wrong. Museums in Europe are expensive, and every single one of them, from the dinky little Grotte de St-Cirq museum down the road from my house in the middle of nowhere to the major history and art museums, charges a fee. Here in the USA, I can spend an entire day visiting Smithsonian institutions for absolutely nothing. There is no equivalent in Europe - none. Art galleries can be visited for free, for sure, but they are commercial enterprises, like stores, so of course they can't charge except maybe for special exhibits.
Mar 21st, 2011, 11:33 AM
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 657
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Take advantage of being in Europe over Easter. Many places have local celebrations that are spectaular, notably Sevilla and most of Andalusia in other parts of Spain as well. Mybe other posters can fill you in re their areas of expertise. However, I suspect you will find something of interest wherever you are. Keep it in mind as you are planning. "It only happens once a year!"
Mar 21st, 2011, 01:20 PM
#17
If you really want to do what you propose in your post and don't have any idea what you want to see each place... why not join an organized tour?
That's not what I usually recommend but for your situation seems the most appropriate.
Your itinerary isn't reasonable and you've missed one hugely important detail... the time it takes to move from one city to the next. 2 days Paris, 2 days Rome, 2 days Barcelona doesn't work like that. Start by subtracting at least 0.5 days each time you go from one city to the next for a more realistic picture.
That's not what I usually recommend but for your situation seems the most appropriate.
Your itinerary isn't reasonable and you've missed one hugely important detail... the time it takes to move from one city to the next. 2 days Paris, 2 days Rome, 2 days Barcelona doesn't work like that. Start by subtracting at least 0.5 days each time you go from one city to the next for a more realistic picture.
Mar 21st, 2011, 03:10 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would definitely pick fewer places to see. We had only 4 1/2 days on our first trip to Paris. It was not enough time even to stop to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch Paris walk by. We now plan at least 5 days in the "big" city of our trips.
Mar 21st, 2011, 03:21 PM
#19
"I can spend an entire day visiting Smithsonian institutions for absolutely nothing. There is no equivalent in Europe - none. "
Yes there is. It's called London. You could spend considerably more than one day - more like one week - visiting major museums and galleries (not commercial ones) for free. (Or do you hold to the old view that the UK isn't part of Europe?)
Yes there is. It's called London. You could spend considerably more than one day - more like one week - visiting major museums and galleries (not commercial ones) for free. (Or do you hold to the old view that the UK isn't part of Europe?)
