Europe travel itinerary help

Old Apr 11th, 2009, 09:47 PM
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Europe travel itinerary help

Paris- July 25 to 27
Bruges- July 27 to late 28
Amsterdam- July 29 to August 1
Berlin- August 1 to 4, is this to many days?
Prague- August 4 to 7
Munich- August 7 to 10
Rome - August 10 to 13
Florence- August 13 to 15
South of France- (Monaco, Nice, Marseille) August 15 to 18
Barcelona- August 18 to 21
I will be traveling mostly by train but I think flying from Munich to Rome would be the best way to travel. I just need help making sure that I have enough time in each city and traveling between each city. I appreciate all your help!
stdnttravler is offline  
Old Apr 11th, 2009, 10:57 PM
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Sounds like a great trip. Personally I would say that you could spend less time in Berlin and with your South of France itinerary I would go for smaller places rather than the bigger cities. Marseille in August will (probably) not be a lot of fun.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 01:24 AM
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Here are my thoughts about travelling to multiple locations using trains and planes:
When you travel you are effectively loosing a day in a location sightseeing. So it may look good on paper that you are spending say 3 days in a location when the first half on the first day is spent getting to the location and then a good part of the last day is also lost. You normally have to check out before noon or 1 pm and sometimes cannot enter until as late as 3. In those times what will you do with your luggage?
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 01:44 AM
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I am perpetually puzzled when people post that anytime you change locations while traveling, you lose a day.

First of all, all hotels and BBs in Italy will cheerfully hold your luggage for you when you check in or check out. Or you can stow the luggage at the train station. Most Italian train stations are a 10 minute walk from accommodations, or a 10 minute cab ride at most. Typically when I travel in Italy without a car, I check out of my hotel after breakfast and either (a) leave my bags and sightsee until it is time to catch my train or (b) catch a train that gets me to my next destination before lunch, drop my bags and go sightseeing. It is hard to have a long train ride in Italy, especially given the above itinerary.

I agree that the difficult transit in the above itinerary in Munich-Rome. There is a train, but it is a long one.

stdntraveller,

You might consider staying on the Italian Riviera instead of the French Riviera after Florence, and taking an overnight ferry from Genova to Barcelona. The train between Florence and Monaco is long.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 04:30 AM
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I would spend more time in Berlin, not less. This is a huge, wonderful, exciting capital city. If perchance you possibly run out of interesting things to see and do, you can always do side trips to Potsdam and see the fabulous palace there, or go to Sachsenhausen or Ravensbruck concentration camps.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 04:36 AM
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Even for someone who just wants a "taste" and likes whirlwind travel I think you have too many destinations. While you may not loose an entire day each time you change destination, it will certainly take longer than you think. Even with trains you need to get to the station a half hour or so before the train leaves to find the right track, your seat, etc. And even though you can almost always leave luggage at hotels before or after check in/out, it still means trekking back to the hotel an extra time to pick up or drop off that luggage. It adds up.

It looks like you have less than two days in Paris. Have you been before? I would either add two more days (which is what I would do) or skip it. Brugge you can do in a day if you just want to see it. It's pretty small.

Of the next several destination I would skip at least one of them and distribute the days in the others. I would skip Berlin but then it's the only one of your destinations I have not been too. Maybe it's great, but if you have to skip one I'd skip that one. If you goal is to sample as many countries as possible, you are still going to Munich so you have Germany covered. I would also probably skip either the south of France or Barcelona. They are both great, but again, I really think you need to limit the total number of destinations. I would try for at least three days in most destinations - not counting travel days. In Italy it is pretty easy to go from Rome to Florence, so that part looks OK, but the others I'd pare down a little.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 04:39 AM
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I definitely wouldn't skip Berlin. I'd be more inclined to whiz through the south of France or skip it. I don't like Barcelona in the slightest so it would be off my list, but it's a popular place for young people. And I would skip Brugge entirely in favor of Antwerpen, a much, much hipper place.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 06:07 AM
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I would keep your itenerary as is for the most part. I think you will need at least one more day in Paris. I spent a week there four years ago and it was a packed week, not to mention I still didn't get to see everything I wanted. I think I would consider taking a day out of Berlin or Munich. And I would leave Brugge early for Amsterdam. I wouldn't worry about the transit taking up so much of your time. I've never had problems storing my luggage at the hotels. And most of the train stations I have left from have oversized lockers to store your luggage. Also, while most check-in times are at 2pm-ish, I have always been able to check-in earlier if I have arrived before that time. Having said that to make the most of your days I would leave on the earlier trains for an early arrival to you next city. And it looks like for the most part you won't have terribly long train rides. You will see some of Europe's beautiful country-side while riding along in the trains. Definitely fly from Munich to Rome, don't even give it a second thought. You will be constanly on the go throughout your trip, it is a busy itenaray. But I think the excitement of it all will keep you charged. I definitely would keep the time alotted for the South of France. It will give you time to relax by the sea. I have done two trips now where I give myself a few days break at the beach. There is still a lot to do and see, but you can relax as well and it has been so worth the time doing that.
Good luck, you will have a great time no matter how you arrange your itenerary. So go with your gut and have fun!!
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 07:13 AM
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zeppole - Not all B&B's/hotels will hold your luggage or are in minutes of the train station. Nor do all train stations have luggage storage, but usually the larger stations in the big cities do. The OP isn't just traveling in Italy, but is traveling between 8 countries and backtracking to a couple. The travel times between some of them can be quite long. If the OP isn't familiar with all the countries/cities/train stations/public transport, then it will take time to figure everything out no matter how much advanced prep is done especially if the OP doesn't speak the language. The OP is planning 10 locations in 27 days (don't know if that is hotel nights or days) which only gives 2.7 days each so when you subtract travel time from the 2.7, you don't have much time in the actual location.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 11:01 AM
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You have not allowed any time for travel - and have one day listed for 2 cities each time.

For instance - is August 1 spend in Amsterdam? Or is it spent getting from Amsterdam to Berlin? Or is it spend in Berlin? It can;t be all 3 - so you have to pick one. If it;'s spent getting from Amsterdam to Berlin you have to remove it from both of the cities.

Your itinerary is really:

Paris- July 26
Bruges- July 28
Amsterdam- July 30/31
Berlin- August 1 to 3
Prague- August 4 to 6
Munich- August 7 to 9
Rome - August 11 to 12
Florence- August 14
South of France- (Monaco, Nice, Marseille) August 15 to 17
Barcelona- August 19 to 21

Now, a coupl;e of those trips are short - but most of them will take the better part of a day. IMHO you should remove at least 3 places from your list if you really want time to see anything. You are especially cutting short Paris and Rome - which each deserve at least 4 days minimum (5 nights).
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 11:10 AM
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ky,

Your point about all train station is well taken, but the OP is going to Italian cities with luggage storage at the train stations. And I have yet to encounter the proprietor in Italy who will hold bags for a guest, and I've even found ones who will hold them for non-guests (likewise, owners of bars and cafes).

My comments were all Italy specific, but I have traveled in other countries and it doesn't take me all morning and all day to move from one hotel to another, or one city to another (obvious exceptions, noted). Pack up before you go to sleep, ask for your bill on the way to breakfast, pay it on your way back upstairs to gather your things -- and go. I never spend more than 20 minutes checking out of a hotel and 10 getting to the station. As for location, it's not hard to find safe and clean accommodations near train stations in Italy. The internet is full of first-person reviews.

The OP is a student traveler. Most young people travel this fast and have fun. If he or she is miserable enroute, he or she can slow down.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 11:11 AM
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OOOPS. Typo. Obviously I meant to say that "I have yet to encounter the proprietor who will NOT hold bags for a guest." I frequently request to leave my luggage while I tour, coming in or out of a hotel. I have never been turned down.
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 12:01 PM
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Thanks for all the help so far, and I forgot to add information because I was in a rush earlier. I will actually be studying in Dublin prior to doing my trip and therefore plan on seeing Paris, which I have already been to, during my stay in Dublin. I was also hoping to travel mostly at night by train, leaving early or late afternoon at current locations to arrive late night and then catch some sleep in preparation for going out. As far as the idea for removing the South of France in favor of the Italian Rivera, is that a good idea? I'm open to all suggestions and everything has been really helpful thus far!
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Old Apr 12th, 2009, 12:15 PM
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Do be careful on the night trains, since on some legs people report petty theivery, even in locked compartments. Keep your valuable documents right on you when you sleep.

If you can re-jigger your itinerary, there is an overnight train from Rome to Munich.

Regarding the Riviera, the question is really whether you want a culture-art experience, a party scene or a nature beauty spot. Under all circumstances, I would drop Monaco from your itinerary.

If you want art-culture, it makes sense to keep Nice. For the party scene, go to St Tropez, etc -- but it is pricey and you might find heading straight to Barcelona and beachy Spain more fun and less empty glitz. If you want beautiful vistas and lovely people and hikes, then stop for a day or two around Cinque Terre or Camogli after Florence, and then take that overnight ferry to Barcelona out of Genova.

Be aware that during the time in august you plan to be on the Mediterranean it will be PACKED. If you want to avoid crowds, don't pick the most famous towns (ie, try Moneglia instead of Cinque Terre, or Camogli instead of Portofino) .
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