mah1980

Hi,

I've just recently started posting on the European Board, although I'm a regular on the U.S. and Caribbean Board. I'll try to make this question as narrowly tailored as possible as I've noticed that the broad questions (e.g., where should I go in europe) are not as productive.

I am seeking feedback for a close friend that is looking to go to Amsterdam, Bruges/Brugge, and Paris in Oct. (06) or Feb. (07) ,all for the 1st time. He'll be going with his wife- he's very busy and he knows that I like to post/lurk on fodor's so he asked for my help.

Based on my research, the best option seems to be to purchase an open jaw ticket, flying into Amsterdam and ultimatley departing from Paris. I've read that some prefer flying into Paris, but I think that for my friend and his wife it would be better to experience the smaller airport from the outset of the trip.

Here is the proposed itinerary that I've come up with to suggest to them based on reading past trip reports and the fodor's destination section:

(1) Overnight flight into Amsterdam
(2) Amsterdam
(3) Amsterdam
(4) Amsterdam
(5) Depart Amsterdam, take train to
Brussels to connect to train for
Bruges, arrive in afternoon in
Bruges
(6) Bruges
(7) Depart Bruges to take train to
Brussels to arrive in Paris in
afternoon
(8) Paris
(9) Paris
(10)Paris
(11)Paris
(12)Paris
(13)Depart Paris for U.S.

Therefore, the allocation of time would be 3 nights Amsterdam, 2 nights Bruges, and 6 nights Paris.

Before I do any further reserach for my friend I'd like to make sure that this itinerary wouldn't be biting off too much.

Perhaps skipping Bruges for another trip to allow for a 5 night Amsterday/6 night Paris itinerary would be more rewarding in terms of relaxation?

I know my friend and his wife well, and I know that too much travel between multiple destinations may take away from the experience for them, especially on their first trip to these cities.

Please provide me with any advice regarding the feasibility of this itinerary.

p.s.- I just realized that this is actually a 13 day trip, really 11 nights. Sorry for the error in thread title.

Thanks!

mah1980

ttt please

lyb

This is pretty much what I just did, except in reverse. I definitely wouldn't skip Bruges, it is a very relaxing city and absolutely beautiful. I think it's a very easy itinerary.

subcon

if i were you, i'd suggest the october alternative. february in northern europe can be unpleasantly cold and dreary.

mah1980

I'll let my friend know that the end of Feb. would be too cold for Europe. He hoped to go during the days off people get here in Louisiana for Mardi Gras.

ira

Hi mah,

It's a good plan.

I also suggest Oct over Feb.

You can get lower fares for Bruges/Paris if you take the TGV via Lille Flandres rather than the THALYS via Brussels.

See www.sncf.com

mah1980

They'll be disappointed that Feb. is too cold but I'm sure they'll enjoy October.

Another question- he has taken to doing priceline for most u.s. travel. would doing priceline to stay at european hotels take away from the "experience" of interacting with locals. since priceline carries generally multi-national chains like hilton, marriott, etc., should this be avoided?

Last question- my grandpa has been to Amsterdam when the tulips bloom and goes on and on about it. Should they try to go during end of April to beginning of May to take advantage of this, or are the crowds unbearable?

mah1980

ttt for any info please. Thanks!

ira

Hi mah,

>Another question- he has taken to doing priceline for most u.s. travel. would doing priceline to stay at european hotels take away from the "experience" of interacting with locals. <

Where you sleep has nothing to do with interacting with the locals. Some folks do, some folks don't.

>..my grandpa has been to Amsterdam when the tulips bloom and goes on and on about it. Should they try to go during end of April to beginning of May to take advantage of this, or are the crowds unbearable?<

No, the crowds are not unbearable. I prefer May-June, when you can get the fresh herring, but some people might prefer tulips.

suze

I think Priceline may be a fine idea for Amsterdam in particular. I found hotels expensive there, and not as nice as I lucked into in similar price range in other cities (Venice, Paris).

I can't imagine all of A'dam would ever be unbearably crowded, certainly not due to tulips in bloom (though I could be wrong about that!). Doesn't the flower season last for a month or so? Amsterdam is a major city with so much more than tourist activity going on at any given time.

I do not know Bruges but have been to Paris and A'dam. For me personally I would pick only those two and have a bit more time in each place since I'm a fan of "slow travel" style and would prefer one less hotel and train ride in a two week trip.

I would go with October rather than February for the weather. But if they could go in the late spring or early summer instead, that would be best of all, as I (again it's personal) don't care to travel in cold weather. Packing/dressing appropriate is more of a hassle than when it's milder.

Flying into Amsterdam and out of Paris with a train ride in between would work nicely.

mah1980

I guess the decision regarding whether they should fit in a short 2 night trip to Bruges is just a personal travel decision. Perhaps saving it for a future trip would be best considering they are of the take it easy variety.

I know I don't like to change hotels too many times b/c there is always some unforeseen problem, and priceline tends to increase the likelihood of snafus.

While they'll want to see a lot, they don't want to do a breakneck cursory trip through too many sites and not really experience of it.

suze

5 full days in Amsterdam seemed about the right amount of time for me on my first trip there.

mah1980

Dear lord, I just did a search of possible itineraries/things to do for a 13 day trip to Amsterdam and Paris (7 nt Paris/4 nt Amsterdam) and now i know what posters are talking about with the over-ambitious itineraries.

here is a sample itinerary i found on sta travel when i googled it:

_________________________________________

Days 1-2 Paris
Days 3-4 Bruges
Days 5-6 Amsterdam
Days 7-8 Rhine River
Days 9-10 Rothenburg
Days 11-12 Munich

I would need 3 vacations after a trip like that. Is that even doable without having a heart attack?

suze

Tours can cover more ground than independent travelers... because they make you pack your suitcase and set it outside your door then get yourself on a bus at the crack of dawn, etc.

ilovetulips

That itinerary is very doable. My husband and I planned for 3 nights in Amsterdam and 5 in Paris this past May. We only got 2 nights in A-dam because we were stranded at DFW. The Schipol Airport in Amsterdam was easy to get around and the Dutch people are very friendly and helpful. I wish so much we had gone to Bruges, but we were on time constraints. Spending 6 days in Paris is perfect. No matter how much time you spend there, you leave longing to come back again. Paris is just that way or at least it was with my husband and I. The weather in late May was beautiful, but that time is too late for the bulbs. You would probably have better luck in April or early May. I have no idea how crowded Europe is in the summer, but the crowds very bearable to us and we only had one morning of drizzle in a week.

MaureenB

I think your proposed itinerary sounds good, but better in October for travel weather. We liked Amsterdam so much, that our five nights there was barely enough. So, I'd say dropping Brugges might be an option, but others really like it there. Re: open jaw flight plans, I suggest you price it both ways if you haven't already. For some reason last June it was much cheaper for us to fly home from Amsterdam than Paris, but it could have been just a fluke.
If you click on my screen name above, you will find my trip report from London-Paris-Amsterdam, with specific recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities in those cities.
For train travel, try BudgetEurope.com. They are very helpful and you can call their 800 number in the states, to discuss options. They charge a minimal S&H fee to buy tickets and have them in hand before you leave home. I highly recommend them.

mah1980

thanks so much for the responses!