Themynx12

Husband and I are 28F and 38M, together a decade. Looking to go Europe June 25th -July 9th, so 14 nights.

Cities in question are 4 nights in Paris, 3 nights in Bruges, 4 nights in Amsterdam, 3 nights in Cologne. Thoughts? Too many? Any of those too many nights to stay? I wanted to do London too but that seemed to be too much.

I'm also not sure which option:

1) fly into Paris, start there and just eat and relax and wander around. Head to Bruges for 3 nights just enjoying a smaller city. Head to Cologne and sightsee, drink beer, etc. Then head to Amsterdam to party a bit before flying home.

2) Reverse where we start with Amsterdam, go to Cologne, Bruges, then finish off in Paris and fly home from there.

We can't decide whether it's better to party up front and potentially wipe ourselves out for the rest of the trip or to save that for last and be exhausted coming home. The flights seem to make more sense flying in/out of Paris or Amsterdam (were from Arizona, US) than Bruge or Cologne so I think those have to be begin and end cities.

Were taking this trip to have some us time since my parents and grandparents died and we took in my two teenage brothers who are causing a lot of stress (ok more than a lot). We want to blow off some steam, see some sights, and just enjoy each other and experience new things together to take us out of the hell adjusting to having two teens is. So some partying, some relaxing.

Any advice on better/different cities? Time line ok?

Oh we're not really museum people, both introverted but enjoy drinking and the occasional night club. We love experiencing new cultures and not being rushed or set to an exhausting schedule. We might check out a couple museums if it sounds worth it and are interested in exploring the RLD for a night. Other than that no idea what to really do.

Thanks in advance!

Themynx12

Oh forgot to mention dates are flexible though have to be either around end of may or over the 4th of July week. I hate the cold so late June early July seemed to be best.

janisj

Just a quick comment:

Basically nice -- except Paris has much MUCH more to see/do than Bruges or Cologne.

I'd seriously consider 6 nights in Paris, and reduce both Bruges and Cologne to 2 nights each.

Themynx12

Thanks! 4 days for Amsterdam adequate?

StCirq

I can't imagine 3 nights in Bruges, but then I find it Disneyesque (it was great 25 years ago). Stay longer in Paris. Agree with Janis - 6 nights in Paris (with a daytrip if you like -there are so many to choose from), 2 at most in Bruges, and 2 in Cologne.

StCirq

4 days for Amsterdam is perfect - about the same amount of time I've spent there on several trips. It's not a large city.

Themynx12

Was just reading in another thread that apartment rentals, which I was planning to use for every city, are illegal in some places. Anyone know if thats true? Was going to use VRBO.com and now have no idea as I dont like hotels typically.

StuDudley

We visited Cologne on our very first trip to Europe in 1977 and I was completely underwhelmed.

It would skip Cologne, which would really simplify your travel and reduce your "lost" transit days.

- Fly to Amsterdam and stay 4 nights - 1 to recover from Jet Lag & get oriented

- Train to Bruges & stay 2 nights - which is plenty since you are not into museums

- Train to Paris & spend your remaining days there

Party at both ends of the trip.

Stu Dudley

Themynx12

Stu Dudley,

We have heavy German heritage and wanted to check out Germany somehow. Would maybe 5 nights in Amsterdam with a day trip to somewhere nearby in German be a good work around for more time in Paris?

Kathie

Virtually all apartment rentals in Paris are illegal. If you must have an apartment, opt for an apart'hotel like CItadines. But you might also stretch yourselves and try out a small hotel.

I like Stu Dudley's itinerary. Bur if you must pay a visit to somewhere in Germany, keep the two nights in Cologne in. I'm someone who was not impressed with Bruges. A day trip was more than plenty for me.

janisj

Rent a flat in Amsterdam if you want -- stay in a hotel or aparthotel in Paris.

As for Bruges -- It gets very crowded w/ all the day trippers -- but it is really lovely in the late afternoon/evening after the coaches leave. I would stick w/ 2 nights there.

Scootoir

Love Bruges and could easily spend 3 or more nights there, Cologne not so much. Spectacular cathedral, 2 nights would be fine. More time for Paris!

mjs

Stu has a nice itinerary

spaarne

<i> Married couple first time to Europe, 4 cities over 2 weeks, questions.
Posted by: Themynx12 on Jan 31, 17 at 5:53pm
Oh we're not really museum people, both introverted but enjoy drinking and the occasional night club. We love experiencing new cultures and not being rushed or set to an exhausting schedule. </i>

For 14 days and your interests I suggest 3 cities, Amsterdam, Paris, and either D&uuml;sseldorf or London. Bruges is full of tourists and Cologne is rather flat.

The Altstadt of D&uuml;sseldorf is a great party area. In Amsterdam hang out around the Spui. Try the Cafe Hoppe after working hours to meet the locals and the Cafe Luxembourgh for lunch. The RLD is good for a half hour, if you must. The West End of London is a beehive and has plenty of things to do day and night. Paris is THE city you can't miss. Stay in the fifth or sixth, Latin Quarter. You'll probably like Le Caveau de la Huchette for music and dancing.

To enjoy a smaller city make a day trip to Haarlem from Amsterdam. If you do the summer trip a visit to Zandvoort on the North Sea will be a refresher. Both are short train trips from Amsterdam Centraal Station.

txhomes

http://www.prinsenhuis.nl
If you were thinking of staying in apts, I highly recommend this apt in Amsterdam. We stayed in the Mandarin apt and watched the boats go by on the canal. It is walking distance to everything. The host was very nice. Such a good price to be on a canal.

StuDudley

My wife is one-quarter German (Fischer). She even lived in Germany while she was a young child & her father was "stationed" in Munich in the early 50's. We've visited Europe every year since 1997 and the first 3-4 trips focused on Germany - because of my wife's heritage. Once we started spending time in France, Italy, and England - we started to enjoy Europe a lot more than we did when we focused on Germany. As you know, much of Germany was destroyed in WWII. We are major architecture buffs - and the architecture, landscape, and "culture" in other regions (mainly France) was much more to our liking than Germany. We've returned to Germany once in the last 20 years, - and it seemed rather "bland" compared to France, Italy, and England. Our favorite region in Germany is the Mosel.

We now spend 2 months in Europe every year.

Stu Dudley

fuzzbucket

Citadines Les Halles is a legal apart'hotel in a great location - you'll be right in the middle of the Marais, all kinds of action and partying going on here.

You'll probably need air-conditioning, especially if you're used to it. Short-term apartments and some apart'hotels do not have any a/c.
In this case, the best option is a hotel, which always have a/c.
Try Villa Mazarin, also in the Marais.

WoinParis

Paris Koeln by fast train thalys is under 4 hours.
You can board thalys in Bruxelles.
Koeln is a great city and in June has a lot of fun. Crowded bars along the Rhine etc.
Aachen is nicer and smaller though.

hetismij2

You could do Cologne as a day trip from Amsterdam. I have done it from Utrecht.

Three nights in Brugge would send me daft. I agree with St. Cirq on the place.

You could add time to both Paris and Amsterdam and do a couple of day trips from both. There is a lot more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam. (or even Haarlem/Leiden/Delft).

I like Germany a lot, but for your first trip maybe keeping things fairly simple is best. you can always have a holiday concentrating on Germany another time.

menachem

Amsterdam city gov is cracking down hard on illegal apartment rentals. Don't do it, not even by VRBO.

janisj, the situation has now become so unbearable in the center of Amsterdam, that there are active raids, if the neighbors inform the authorities that they suspect an illegal rental.