Just started to plan/dream a 2-l/2 to 3 week trip from California to various European destinations that might include 2-3 day visits to the following cities: London (have been there once before), York, Edinburgh, (possibly adding Dublin/Dingle), Bruges, Amsterdam (and possibly adding Vienna/Halstatt, or even Vilnius where there is a family connection). We are in our late 50's; will stay in B&Bs; have driven before in Great Britain/France/Germany; yet one of us has slightly restricted walking stamina. Do you experienced travelers have any recommendations on route, and do you recommend we drive, or get a railpass and stay in city centers, or do these in combination with inter-Europe flights? Realize we might have to (reluctantly) eliminate cities if our initial desires are too ambitious.
Help Needed on European Itinerary re: Drive, Rail, Air?
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2.5 - 3 week to visit cities in 6 or 7 countries is more than a bit ambitious. and when you throw in mobility issues -- it is even more so.
In re-calibrating what you think is doable -- be sure to subtract 1/2 to one full day every time you move from one city to the next. Which 4 or 5 places you decide to visit -- that's up to you. But you can't do London, York, Edinburgh, Dublin, Dingle (Dublin and Dingle are on opposite sides of the country so you'd want 4-6 days just for those two), Bruges, A'dam, Vienna/Halstatt and Vilnius.
Start by cutting your list at least in half.
Agree that you are trying to see way too many places.
Seems like train would make sense - except possibly in UK. If you are doing just the 3 cities- then train. If you want to see countryside in between then a car makes more sense. We usually do road trips - since we like driving and a mix of city and town/country vacation. But we took 13 days to do London, Oxford, York and Edinburgh - and it was our 3rd trip to London.
I guess I'm torn between returning to a region I really want to see more of (Great Britain) and the desire to see new places. I guess I needed to be told I can't have it all. Darn...will narrow the scope.