If you had 2 weeks in France & Italy...where would you go
May 29th, 2002, 10:31 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you had 2 weeks in France & Italy...where would you go
We're going to France and Italy in July for 2 weeks. I know that's not a lot of time, but I would love to hear your ideas on which cities/regions are the must-see's. I know we'll see Paris and Rome...but where else do you recommend, and in what order? We are flying in and out of Paris.<BR><BR>thanks for your responses!
May 29th, 2002, 10:37 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you have already locked yourself into flying in AND out of Paris, I might recommend that you omit Italy from this trip altogether. If not, then at least fly into one country and fly back home from the other.<BR><BR>I recommend more rural and less "city" on many itineraries. And I think you will get a better feel for the country you visit if you spend 10 days in that one country - - and then if you feel you must, allow 3 or 4 days for the other country as a contrasting footnote.<BR><BR>Starting from Paris, I might recommend two-three nights in Burgundy (Dijon, Beaune and related countryside), then head south to Lyon and the Rhone valley before cutting through the Alps to Milan and Lake Como (or Maggiore). Milan is worth barely 0.5 to 1 day, compared to other parts of Lombardy - - but it is the necessary hub for train or air travel.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>
May 29th, 2002, 10:44 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ah Rex, just when I'm starting to think you are ok you come up with something like "Milan is worth barely .5 - 1 day". Sheesh. People LIVE in and LOVE Milan. I don't live in but I do love Milan and there are a ton of things to see and enjoy there. It's a way of Italian life that is so different from anywhere else in Italy and to understand and appreciate Italy is to experience many aspects of it. <BR><BR>At least you could preface remarks like that with "in my opinion".
May 29th, 2002, 11:53 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you really want to see both Paris and Rome it's doable in 2 weeks. I would spend some time in Paris, take a train to Bern, then to Milan, then to Rome, spend a few days and then take an overnight train back to Paris. You will see some amazing countryside between the two. Everyone is so intent on the cities but from the train you do see a lot of local life.
May 29th, 2002, 11:54 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
I think everyone on this board should already know that everyone here does posts "their own opinion!" Give the man a break! <BR><BR>Deidra, I think that 2 weeks in France is much better than splitting your time with both countries. There is so much to see and do in each. Save Italy for your next trip!
May 29th, 2002, 11:59 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Please read the full context of what I said.<BR><BR>Milan is worth barely 0.5 to 1 day, compared to other parts of Lombardy...<BR><BR>The second half of this is the point I was trying to make - - for a 14 day trip to Paris, with a desire to include some of Italy, Lombardy is a good choice for three or four days. And I would allocate 0.5 to 1.0 days to Milan - - and 2.5 to 3.5 days to other destinations like the lakes, Monza, Pavia, Bergamo, etc.<BR><BR>It is very popular to trash <BR>Milan here on this forum, and I have being a defender of including it on any trip to Italy - - and I am doing so now also. After all, I am recommending Lombardy over the "big three" (Venice-Florence-Rome) for this particular person's trip!<BR><BR>Milan is to northern Italy as Oakland/Berkeley is to northern California; worthy of a visit, and an extended one if you wish - - but not at the expense of missing Muir Woods, San Francisco, Sausalito and Carmel/Monterrey peninsula.<BR>
May 29th, 2002, 12:01 PM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Deidra. If you're set on both countries, I'd recommend flying roundtrip from Paris to Rome (or you could take the train if that roundtrip is super-expensive). You could easily spend a week in Paris and a week in Rome. But, if you'd like a sidetrip from at least one of the cities, you might consider a trip from Rome down to the Sorrento Peninsula/Amalfi Coast for a few days.
May 29th, 2002, 12:15 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Paris - 3 days. Fly easyjet to Nice 13.80 GBP (www.easyjet.com). Rent car, buzz around small villages in the hills and along the coast for 4 days. Drive or take the train to Florence, buzz around Florence/Tuscany for 4 days, then on to Rome for 3 days (ditch the car). Either fly to Paris from Rome, or take an overnight train.<BR><BR>You gotcher cities, you gotcher beaches, you gotcher quaint villages.
