Tips for my Honeymoon Itinerary?

Old Oct 17th, 2015, 05:28 AM
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Tips for my Honeymoon Itinerary?

Hi Everyone,

I am in the beginning phases of planning my honeymoon for May 2016. I have read enough forums and travelled enough on my own to know that the itinerary is a bit ambitious. Would love to have some thoughts on what I have mapped out so far.

May 13 - Depart Chicago
May 14 - Arrive Paris
May 15 - Paris
May 16 - Paris
May 17 - Paris
Rent car at CDG airport early May 18 Drive to Normandy for one night (a must for my husband)
May 18 - Normandy (Bayeux?)
May 19 - Return car at CDG - hop on afternoon flight to Venice
May 20 - Venice
May 21 - early train to Florence
May 22 - Florence
May 23 - Rome
May 24 - Rome
May 25 - Rome
May 26 - Depart Rome for Chicago

Like I said above - I know this is an ambitious itinerary. We have done the whole rent a car and drive around the country for 2 weeks thing - and loved it. This is going to be fast-paced and give us a taste of some places we are dying to see (Paris/Normandy) and dying to get back to (Venice, Florence, Rome).

Any thoughts?
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 05:38 AM
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Hi Megan, looks ok to me.

Is it not 2 nights in Normandy or are you going to have the second night somewhere else?

A bit rushed but not impossible, good rest after the long flight and before the car hire.

I'd just check which day Monday is as lots of stuff closes, often best to move hotel/fly on a Monday.
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 06:06 AM
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Hi Bilboburgler -

Right now I just have one night in Normandy - picking up car early on May 18, spending night, and returning it May 19. Would it be more realistic to have 2 nights in Normandy?

Thanks for the tip regarding Monday - I didn't even think about that!
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 06:24 AM
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Like bilbo says, are you sure than you only have one night in Normandy? I can count two, on May 17 & 18. Anyway I would definitely aim for at least 2 nights in Normandy - could you nick a day from Paris perhaps? or jettison either Florence or Venice? [which I would suggest anyway; IMO you have at least one place too many for a 13 night trip which I would suggest is ideally 3].

IME 2 nights in a place is more than twice as good than one night, and three is much, much better than that - if you've only got one night your sight of Normandy is going to be through a car window.

What does your fiancé think?
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 06:54 AM
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annhig - I think we may end up nicking a night from Paris and do two nights in Normandy - it is really important to my husband to get a good feel of that area and I wouldn't want it to be rushed.

I will think about taking out Venice or Florence - it is so hard to cut out a place you want to see so bad though!!
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 07:30 AM
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Megan - I know how hard it is to rationalise a trip, and recognise all too well the temptation just to squeeze in another place because you don't want to miss it. But you have to face the fact that you are missing a whole load of other wonderful places too just by deciding to do this trip.

I think that it's easier once you come to terms with that to work out what your real priorities are.

Here, your itinerary gives you only one full day in Venice and a day and a half in Florence. Will you be happy with that? or would it be better to lose one of them and have a more relaxed time in the one you choose?

only you know the answer!
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 08:59 AM
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Also look into renting the car from Orly or at least returning it there. Orly is a smaller airport south of Paris whereas CDG is northeast of Paris. And CDG is a much bigger more congested complex. Easyjet flies from Orly to Venice.

I too think you need to drop one destination. My preference would be to drop Florence and save it for when you have time to see something of the Tuscan hilltowns and countryside. (Caveat: I've a preference for Venice, my favorite city in the world.)
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 09:08 AM
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It sounds like you haven;t been to Paris before - and taking a day away would definitely be short shrift.

My first choice wold be to add a day to the trip. If this is not possible I would either drop Venice (1 day is going to be rally frustrating) or reduce Rome by 1 days since you have already been there.

Doing from CDG to Normandy one day and back to CG the next is going to give you a really limited amount of time there - not enough to see a whole lot.
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Old Oct 17th, 2015, 09:12 AM
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I'm with Ann on Normandy,

I'd chose Venice over Florence

I'd use CDG but understand where Mimar is coming from, rental point in CDG is a weird building with access from the centre around circular ramps, not for the feint hearted.
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Old Oct 18th, 2015, 06:25 AM
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Thanks guys! This is really helpful!! Appreciate all the input. I will definitely look into Orly for renting car/flying to Venice. I will also add one more night to our Normandy trip too so that it is not rushed. I am still not completely sold on cutting out Florence, but I will take it into consideration (I studied abroad there 10 years ago and I am dying to just wander the streets again!).

Talking to the husband about adding a day
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Old Oct 18th, 2015, 07:05 AM
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If you want to minimize Florence, you could take a morning train there from Venice, store your bags at the station, walk around Florence, then later in the day return to the station, pick up your bags (allow time) and take the train to Rome.

But you may not want to minimize Florence....
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Old Oct 18th, 2015, 08:06 AM
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Talking to the husband about adding a day>>

now that IS a good idea.
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