Pamlover

Hello
We are from Miami and want to make a trip to Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam and London.
We do not plan which will be the place to start. We are between Barcelona, Milan or Paris. We have direct flights to these cities. What is the most convenient? Or maybe it would be logical to start in Paris and leave Barcelona and Milan for another season.
What say you guys?
Among cities is best plane or train. May or June? We want to avoid cold and rainy. We are grateful for the help. Thank you very much.
Sammy
[email protected]

PatrickLondon

Well, if you want to see Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and London, why start so far south as Barcelona or Milan? Check out the map to see how these cities relate.

For the cities you want to see, and if there are no alternative landing points in Europe, I'd suggest flying in and out of Paris, train to London, train from London to Brussels, train from Brussels to Amsterdam and then train or plane back from Amsterdam to Paris. Those train journeys are around 2-3 hours each, much quicker than flying once you factor in check-in times and all the rest of it.

Either May or June would be fine, weatherwise, though you can never discount the possibility of some showers.

For information on trains in Europe:
www.seat61.com

Try www.skyscanner.net for information about flights.

Rubicund

How long do you have for this trip? Length of time will dictate how much you can shoehorn into the time available. What sort of pace do you prefer? Manic or laid back?

nytraveler

Where you want to really go is not clear _ and you should fly only into and from the p;aces you actually want to see - not waste valuable vacation time trekking all over europe for no reason.

And to give you any advice you need to tell us how many weeks you have for this trip and who/how many you are - and what your interests are - so we can help you focus on the best places.

As for rain - you will see some in any trip to europe that is more than a week or so - unless you stick to southern Spain. No reason for it to affect your trip unless you are camping - just carry a sturdy folding umbrella and go on with your trip.

dotheboyshall

You've probably noticed already from your inbox, but it's never a good idea to publish email addresses on an open forum.

As for the question - if you wanted to go to New York would you fly into Chicago?

ssander

I'm pretty sure you can fly non-stop to either London or Paris, so Miami-->Paris-->Belgium-->Amsterdam-->London-->Paris-->Miami (or the reverse) would be sensible. better yet...open-jaw flight, ending your trip in London.

If pressed for time, eliminate wither Belgium or Amsterdam...my personal preference would be to go stright from Paris to Amsterdam, skipping Brussels.

SS

Pamlover

We are very grateful for all the advice. All agreed on how we should do the better to enjoy the sightseeing trip.
Thank you all. Dotheboyshall very wise thing when you told me about the e-mail and also to ssander wanted to say it's not that I wanted to go to Brussels but what happens is that I was told to visit Bruges is a beautiful city.
I had mentioned Barcelona because there come some friends on a cruise and we thought we could find there and we go by car from there or go to Milan and rent a car there but it is impossible, the distances are long so it is best to find us in Paris and then follow as you indicated to us. Besides everything will come out cheaper.
Thanks again.

ssander

Bruges is, indeed, a beautiful city. Try this, if pressed for time. Fill in the X's depending on your taste and time allowed. (You still haven't told us how many nights you plan to spend overall).

-- Fly overnight Miami to Paris
-- X nights in Paris
-- early morning train to Bruges (via fast Thalys through Brussels)
-- 1 night in Bruges (2 would be better)
-- evening train to Amsterdam (via fast Thalys through Brussels)
-- X nights in Amsterdam
-- Amsterdam to London - 3 options: fly or fast trains or overnight train/ferry (http://www.seat61.com/international-...sterdam-London)
-- X nights in London
-- Fly London to Miami

SS

Pamlover

Thanks SS I like this.I enjoyed the journey that you have suggested.
Taking advantage of your kindness and also extended to all friends of the Forum would like to have an idea of how it would be the same route from Miami but this time eliminating Paris.Only London, Amsterdam and Bruges.
Thanks to you and to all friends.

Pamlover

Thanks again for all the answers. we decided to make the trip for half of June. We like the summer and believe it is a good season.
We will visit Amsterdam, Bruges and London. Departing from Miami and calculate 10 days although we have no problems if they have to be more days so if you frends can make suggestions on which city first, trains, cute places to visit, etc .. all are very welcome.
Thank you very much.
Pamlover

KTtravel

I would probably plan the trip based on air flight prices and schedules. You can go to a search engine like kayak.com and put in your dates and see what prices and flight times you get for flying into London and out of Amsterdam and vice versa.

Pamlover

Hi
It is true as sanders says I did not mention the number of days in each city. What you think guys ? 3 or 4 days in London? 2 or 3 days in Amsterdam? It's enough time to know these two cities? And Bruges? You can make a day excursion a round trip from Amsterdam or should stay a night to spend the night there.
And to KTtravel no problems with the trip from Miami as we have saved enough miles. Thanks to all you friends.

Sue_xx_yy

You'll get a slew of answers, but with 10 nights (I count nights, not days)

Fly to Paris; take train to Brussels-Bruges for 2 nights (If you can make the 11:57 from CDG to Lille Flanders, you can make a quick transfer there to Kortrijk in Belgium, where you make an easy transfer to the train to Bruges. ) You'll arrive in Bruges at 15:00 or so.

Train to Amsterdam for 4 nights (3 or 4 hours depending on the exact route and fare paid).

Fly to London for 4 nights. (The flight is fast, checking in at one end, clearing customs and getting into London, somewhat slower.) Or you could train back to Brussels for the Eurostar train to London St Pancras station, but I'm not sure if this would be faster or cheaper, you'd have to check for yourself.

Bon voyage

Tabernash2

We once went London to Paris to Amsterdam, via trains. It was an easy itinerary. We had 3 nights in London and Paris, 5 nights in Amsterdam (DH had a conference there).

I would not drop Paris for Brussels-Bruges.

dwdvagamundo

Agree with tabernash on not dropping Paris for Belgium. Bruges is an interesting city but Paris is Paris.

Three or four days in London (three on such a short trip) will give you a good introduction to the city and reason to go back.