ilaria2901

The hubby and I have a last minute opening in our schedules between Sept 18 and Sept 30. We looked at using our points and can fly into London on the 18th and out of Frankfurt on 29th of September. We are pretty open to suggestions and using the train. Any advise on stops? Here are our quick thoughts

London 19 arrive early am 2-3 days?
-London Bridge stroll with London eye (didn't do this last time and just always said I would do one day)
-Ride on a double decker Bus Hop on off bus which can do London Eye, Big Ben, Parliament. etc.
-Change of Guard
-Thames River Cruise
- Nice pub area strip?

Paris 2-3 days
We were just there but loved the Eiffel so once again would be nice and a nice crepe yum. Where else should we go? Or skip altogether? We did -Louvre Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montmartre, Sacre Coure, Louve, etc just recently 2 years ago. Other nice places would be welcome in Paris as I am sure there is much more! Not really big museum buffs

Amsterdam 2 days
Canal tour
Ride bikes and see town
De Wallen red light district walk
Coffee Shop visit
(I've been here before but hubby would like to see. Is there any windmills nearby or places not to miss nearby I may not have seen?)

Prague 2 days
I remember loving the architecture and city 15 years ago but don't know a lot in this town. Any recs are welcome

Frankfurt just to depart or is there a lot to do nearby? Since this is the only place I have not been, I would be completely open to help.

If you recommend different stops to different places I am also open. Any input is welcome with soo short notice on our end.

lavandula

>Frankfurt just to depart or is there a lot to do nearby? Since this is the only place I have not been, I would be completely open to help.

Frankfurt is a mixed bag - yes, there is a lot to do in the area, and if you can get past the idea that Frankfurt is a big city with skyscrapers, there is actually plenty to do in that city. I would also factor in a few day trips (Rhine gorge between Mainz / Ruedesheim and Koblenz, also just visiting the city of Mainz itself). So you could spend 2 -3 days in and around Frankfurt easily.

In Frankfurt - Museumsufer with its many museums, Römer (old town square with medieval buildings), Palmengarten, the palace in Hoechst, applewine pubs in Sachsenhausen, shopping (Zeil is the shopping street).

In Mainz - the old part of the city, the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, the Museum of Ancient Shipbuilding, the Gutenberg Museum, the 1000 year old Mainzer Dom, the Chagall windows in the Stefansdom.

Rhine gorge - a cruise or a train ride, stopping at many of the little townships on the Rhine - see wine growing (in and around Ruedesheim), wine tasting, brandy manufacture; in Ruedesheim (which is tourist central), there is also a Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas ornament shop.

There is a lot more detail which doubtless some of the other contributors will add, but I will leave that to them - this is enough to get you started...

Lavandula

KTtravel

If you are arriving on the 19th and departing on the 29th you only have 10 days for touring. I would cut back on the number of places you want to visit as you will lose a good half day's time just going from place to place.

I am not sure why you are flying out of Frankfurt as you don't seem interested in visiting there. If you can change your ticket I would fly out of place you would like to see.

If you must fly out of Frankfurt, you will likely want to fly there the night before.

I would stay in London at least three nights to enable you to get over jet lag and enjoy more of London.

Your trip could look something like:
Sept 19, 20, 21 London
Sept. 22, 23, 24 Amsterdam
Sept. 25, 26 27 Prague
September 28 Frankfurt
Depart September 29

This is still quite rushed but better than your first plan. You might even decide just to do London and one other place to have a more relaxed trip. I would look into cheap flights between cities. You may wish to reverse the order of Prague and Amsterdam depending on train or flight times.

adrienne

You're not allowing enough time for Paris, Amsterdam, and Prague. You have travel time between cities so you don't have as much time as you think. You'll need to fly from Amsterdam to Prague as the train takes 12-13 hours. The train from Prague to Frankfurt is 6 hours. That only gives you 1 day in Prague.

There have been a lot of changes in Prague in the last 15 years. More traffic and the Old Town Square has lost some of its charm as it's now ringed with cafes surrounded by plexiglass. The little tourist train is no more and I didn't see a market when I was there a couple of years ago. It's still a beautiful city.

I would choose 2 of these 3 cities and spend more time.

Man_in_seat_61

For London-Paris use www.eurostar.com from £39

For Paris-Amsterdam use www.thalys.com or www.b-europe.com from 35 euros.

There's a direct Amsterdam (19:01) to Prague (arrive 09:26) City Night Line (CNL) sleeper train, from 59 euros with couchette or from 104 euros with bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper, some deluxes with shower/toilet also available, book at www.bahn.de/en

nytraveler

IMHO too much time getting from one place to another and not enough time actually seeing/doing things. I would cut back to 3 places at the absolute most.

If you're not so enthused about Frankfurt - don;t blame you - there are several smaller cities in the area that are charming and from which you can get to the airport early in the am.

PalenQ

If going by train as I presume or flights and train check out these fine sites for planning a rail trip - www.seat61.com - Man in Seat 61 who posts above - his commercial site and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Yes night trains can save daytime travel time - even over flying - and can save on the cost of a night in a hotel - check the above sites for more about overnight trains. You are not traveling enough to warrant looking at any railpass.

ilaria2901

Thank you everyone for your responses. I don't mind overnight trains and prefer train to air. It seems the concensus is its a bit hectic. What nice places can we research or anyone recommend to connect in between Amsterdam and London taking away Paris and Prague if its too much. We love castles, architecture, historic places, etc.,

We actually may be able to get a flight from Amsterdam which in turn will do Amsterdam-Frankfurt - Mia. Our in/out could be

MIA -London 9/18
Amsterdam - Frankfurt- MIA 9/29

The trip could be
Leave MIA 18th overnight
Sept 19, 20, 21 London
21 travel to location
Sept. 22, 23, 24, Prague or alternative?
travel 25 travel
Sept. 26, 27, 28 Amsterdam
Amsterdam leave 29th early am

Completely open to suggestions, thank you!

adrienne

You can take the Eurostar to Brussels and then a local train to Bruges, Ghent, or Antwerp. This combination would be great for 3 days.

London to Prague by train is a very long trip with several changes (17 to 20 hours). The only way you could make Prague work with your new itinerary is to fly. Prague to Amsterdam is another long trip, 11 to 12 hours.

I would leave Prague for the future when your plans involve that area.

ilaria2901

Would it be feasible to rent a car and do a ferry to Belgium spending some time there in those areas or is train better?

The other option if renting a car in England is feasible is to go north instead and do the dfds cruise/ferry which overnights to amsterdam. has anyone had experience with either?

adrienne

Rent a car in England? The steering wheel will be on the right, it might be confusing. It's far better to take the train and probably less expensive.

jamikins

Not a good idea to rent a car in England to take to the continent...the wheel will be on the wrong side and how will you get it back if you are flying out of Frankfurt?

You don't need a car to take a ferry. stena lines has a very easy train/overnight ferry to the Netherlands. We have done it three times and it is super easy and enjoyable.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry-to-.../rail-and-sail

I will post a link to our trip report too...

jamikins

You don't need to go all the way to Amsterdam, I believe your tickets get you to any train station in the Netherlands so you could pick up a car anywhere there.

Here is our trip report that explains how it works. We did it again last May and it was great.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-adventure.cfm

ilaria2901

Thank you for the input I only mentioned car since we've never driven small towns in Europe and thought it could be interesting. If Belgium and all other towns are accessible by rail and train, thank you =)

PS The stela line looks great! thank you! Any other recs are welcome as we try and package the trip =)

ilaria2901

Ive been at this all weekend and we cant decide. Based on arriving 19 London and departing 29 from Amsterdam ( I think we can swing that) what would you select in between?

Here are the two options we are looking at


Leave MIA 18th overnight
Sept 19, 20, 21 London
21 train to Brussels/Brugges
Sept. 22, 23, 24, 25 (day trips in area but seems like a lot)
travel 25th train to Amsterdam
Sept. 26, 27, 28 Amsterdam
Amsterdam leave 29th early am

or

Leave MIA 18th overnight
Sept 19, 20, 21 London
21 to Scotland
Sept. 22, 23, 24 where would be a good home base
travel 25 train to Stena (leaves at 2315)
Sept. 26, 27, 28 Amsterdam
Amsterdam leave 29th early am

We've loved Paris, Rome, Prague in Europe liking historic places, with beautiful architecture and scenery. Whats a good compliment or balance? Anywhere to see windmills, winery or quaint towns and nature? Is Belgium a good fit or Scotland or am I not thinking of one?

At least I have narrowed the next trip to Budapest, Prague and Vienna but need to book a return air and trains/hotels for this one. ohhh !

PalenQ

If never been to London before add a day or two there - the day you arrive you may be wiped out.