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June to Paris and ideas for 2 other cities

June to Paris and ideas for 2 other cities

Old May 4th, 2008, 04:28 AM
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June to Paris and ideas for 2 other cities

I am unexpectedly now between jobs and want to take the opportunity to take my 16 yr old daughter to Europe for 3 weeks (in US, don't often have the opportunity to take a long trip). I thought I'd get Eurorail pass to allow impulsive trips to neighboring towns; however want to select 3 places in Europe to rent apartment for 1 week each.

Paris is a definite; but would like recommendations for 2 other cities. We like to soak up the city with only 1 to 2 sites a day and lots of relaxing. Only 1/3 the time in a city would we like to spend in museums or churches; so sites with general beauty, shopping, other sites are best. Ideas we are considering are: Venice and Munich as we thought we could do some day trips from each of those too. For flights in and out; looking at possibly Zurich or Rome since difficult to get to Texas, USA from Venice.

Unfortunately, since it's 1 month away, I may not be able to pull this off but saw some apartments available in all 3 cities that looked good and flights... so now just narrowing down the exact cities to make a decision and book within 2 days.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 06:37 AM
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You might want to look at www.untours.com. They help you with finding places to stay for a week or more as well as transportation. And kind of get established.

Nice would make a good base. Venice is always good. You seem to be concentrating on bigger cities. Something smaller, say medium sized, might make a good break. For example, there's a lot to see around Sorrento.

Finally, except for convenience, a Eurorail pass is probably overkill for this trip. For many trains you need a seat reservation in addition to the pass, so you'll have to buy that ahead. This doesn't apply to local trains, the more likely ones for daytrips, but the local trains are probably not that expensive, especially in Italy.

And from Venice there are connecting flights to the US via airports like Paris, Amsterdam, and London Heathrow. These usually requires a very early start; you might put Venice in the middle instead of at the end.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 06:42 AM
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Since you seem to be concentrating on major cities, you might consider low-cost flights instead of trains (and I highly doubt you'd want a railpass in any event).

Check out www.whichbudget.com and see who flies from Paris to where for how much and base your trip on the best deals.

Just a thought, since the exchange rate is so crappy right now.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 07:07 AM
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I think the three cities you are thinking of would all work well. As you say they are all good for general exploring and all have many easy and interesting day trips. It would certainly be easier if you could fly back from Venice.
Rome is another great city to explore and has good apartment options. Our then-16 year old son loved the week we spent in Rome last year.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 08:05 AM
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Other may not agree with me, but I would be inclined to spend 6 days in Paris, Fly to Rome for six days and then rent a car, drive north toward Florence/Pisa (3 days) and then East to Venice (2 days) and head across the Alps, doing an over night en route,for a day or so in Bavaria and then a flight out of Munich ....actualy I'd do it in reverse.....
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Old May 4th, 2008, 09:57 AM
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London - Paris - Amsterdam

Perfect for a 16-year-old daughter and if you want to do some relaxing between some great culture.

Good shopping in all 3. Each is different from the others - 3 different languages, cultures, foods. Lots of green spaces in London and Paris for the relaxing and you can do some wonderful biking in Amsterdam. (In Amsterdam the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum are priceless...esp. for a teenager...)

I'd save Rome for another trip - Rome in June/July will be hot, crowded, expensive and not relaxing... Fascinating and good shopping though.

Enjoy this time...

Look up my trip report on Paris with my 17-year-old if you like - google "over-the-moon" and gruezi.

gruezi
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Old May 4th, 2008, 09:59 AM
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I'd save Rome for another trip - Rome in June/July will be hot, crowded, expensive and not relaxing... Fascinating and good shopping though.<i/>

ditto on Venice

g.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 10:39 AM
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Completely agree with gruezi.

Do A'dam last. It will be a peaceful retreat after London/Paris. Stay within the canal rings; in that area Amsterdam has to be one of the quietest cities in Europe.

You and your daughter will love the Jordaan district of A'dam.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 11:47 AM
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I have only been to Venice once, over 20 yrs ago, when I was young, LOL. It was only worth a few days to my friend and I, it is painfully expensive, and could not even stay in Venice but on mainland.

I would do Paris, Rome , and Munich.
Or Paris, Nice and Rome.
Don't over do too much or it makes trip seem shorter.
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Old May 4th, 2008, 12:20 PM
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I lost sight of the weather - skip Italy!
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Old May 5th, 2008, 06:29 AM
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Singercpa is making this trip in June. Shouldn't be quite so hot or so crowded as later in the summer. Summer is probably the only time she can travel for 3 weeks with her daughter.

boazama, staying in Venice proper makes all the difference. Though I'd seek out an apartment in a quieter location, away from Piazza San Marco or the Rialto.

And the OP hasn't mentioned any particular budget constraints.
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Old May 5th, 2008, 07:23 AM
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Hi S,

> I thought I'd get Eurorail pass to allow impulsive trips to neighboring towns;

Highly unlikely that you would save money on that.

Fly into Paris - 6 nights

Train to Strasbourg - see www.voyages-sncf.com - 5 nights
Daytrips to Nancy, Colmar and Baden Baden.

Train to Munich - 3 nights
Daytrip to Neuchwanstein

Train to Salzburg - see SNCF or www.bahn.de - 3 nights
Daytrip to St. Wolfgang or other town in the Salzkammergut, or Berchtesgaden

Train to Munich - See www.bahn.de - 3 nights.
Daytrip to Dachau,
Daytrip to Garmisch, Innsbruck, Oberammergau or Augsburg

Fly home.

Enjoy your visit.



Fly home.
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Old May 5th, 2008, 09:02 AM
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I've got 14 and 17-year-old daughters who have spent a lot of time this year seeing Europe and I think they found Strasbourg and Colmar a bit "yawn"... Although they both loved Salzburg as does every teenager I've met - I don't get it, but they just do!

Esp. since this sounds like her daughter's first time in Europe, and knowing teen-aged girls, I still vote for the bigger cities -

London - Paris - Amsterdam.

There are amazing day trips from all that are not far and won't involve long train rides...

I liked Colmar and Strasbourg but they really can't compare for a first-timer to L, P, or A, IMHO.

If she is waiting for school to be out, part of her trip will likely be at the end of June heading into July. It was hot as hell last June in Rome and crowded. My one daughter loved it, but the other one and I were less enthralled with the lines, crowds and heat.

g.
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Old May 5th, 2008, 09:27 AM
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London-Paris-Amsterdam is perfect!
They are so different from each other, have so many options that will interest a teen and are easy to travel between.
Save Rome and Venice for cooler and less crowded times.
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Old May 5th, 2008, 03:41 PM
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my sons were not great Salzburg fans at ages 10 and 14. They had absolutely no interest in Sound of Music sights which may make a difference. They did like the trick fountains at Schloss Helbrunn and the younger one enjoyed the trip to the salt mines (slide, boat trip underground, etc)
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Old May 5th, 2008, 03:57 PM
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I like gruezi's plan. Avoid the busiest hottest cities!
Museums in London are free but any shopping would be expensive. Spend longer in Paris if possible.
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Old May 5th, 2008, 06:21 PM
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London/Paris/Amsterdam are perfect distance wise to be done by train. They would make for a wonderful introduction to Europe for a 16-yr. old. You'd get some variety, and a glimpse and some very historical sites.
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Old May 5th, 2008, 10:04 PM
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Singercpa I am in the final stages of planning a trip for June/July to Paris and Italy for my family of 5. You can still get nice apartment rentals (get moving fast though) especially for smaller apartments that just 2 or 3 people require. Given that you have a 16 year old, I agree with another poster that you may not have another more convenient offseason time to go to Italy with your daughter, so keep your own counsel regarding what YOU think you want her to see. Since you are from Texas, you will also be use the warm to hot weather of Italy which you will not find too different from Texas (probably cooler actually). Good luck.
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Old May 6th, 2008, 12:22 AM
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Paris is great!

I would consider Florence...lots of recognizable things of which a 16 year-old could take a personal memory home...Michaelangelo, the Medicis, Duomo (go up in the Dome), day trips to Pisa (the tower is a complete Hoot) & Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti (maybe take a father-daughter cooking class at Badia a Coltibuono), even a quick day trip to Rome to hit the biggies (Coliseum, Vatican (Pièta), Pantheon, etc.).

I would finally consider a base in Vienna from which to explore Austria's musical richness (wine country nearby in Baden bei Wien, Schönbrunn palace-Austria's Versailles, Belvedere, Hofburg, maybe a father-daughter night at the opera), day trips to Salzburg (Mozart), Innsbruck, & another country Slovakia (Bratislava--1½ hours by train from Vienna).
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Old May 7th, 2008, 04:44 PM
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All - thank you for all the helpful information provided. I have booked my trip with the following high-level itineray:

Paris Apt - 8 days/8 nights beginning Jun 6th at 9:40 am

On way to Amsterdam via Train; will spend the day in Brussels (there by 8 am; then leaving at 5 pm on high speed train to Amsterdam (there by 8 pm). Just a quick peek of Brussels since the Train station if right at the main square.

Amsterdam Apartment - 5 nights, 4 days

London via Eurostar Train - 8 nights, 7 days

Flying back home mid-day Jun 27th.

I took the advice that these three are so different, yet close for connecting trains.

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