If you are going to have the car whilst you are in Bath definitely ensure that you have a guaranteed parking space where you stay. Parking is horrendous in Bath.

The Lake (not Lakes) District is most famous for its stunning scenery and the literary connections with the area. It's not an obvious 'artifacts, architecture and castles' area although it does have all those things to a degree. Anywhere less like a Jane Austen area would be hard to find!
Most people are drawn to the Lake District to admire the views and do some walking or climbing.
Four days in Oxford sounds a lot. I also think you would love York - a beautiful city.
http://www.visityork.org/
The thought of winging it in September would totally horrify me, especially as you are visiting very touristy areas. The long school holidays for children finish at the beginning of September. However many people are aware of this and therefore wait and book their holidays at exactly this time, so the first two weeks of September are very busy! And the best places do get booked up first of course. I am sure you will get some other responses to say winging it would be ok - but personally I wouldn't even contemplate it at this time and at the places you are choosing to visit.

Linblu, I am someone who will tell you to DEFINITELY WING IT FOR SURE. You are going out of season and even if you were going in Peak season, you will find somewhere to stay as England has a B&B on nearly every street corner. However my husband and I prefer big hotels to B&B's and we have been twice to England both times in June and had no problems finding hotels or b&b's,the second time we winged it in England. The first time, i was like you and booked the whole trip except for 2 days at the insistence of my husband and if we didnt do that we would have missed out on staying in a beautiful hotel right in the centre of Bath. We stayed in Francis on the square, Mercure hotel. It was very expensive but in 2008 our aussie dollar had dropped to 48c against the british pound. But it was right in the middle of town and about 5 minutes walk to the roman baths. We did have a car and the hotel provided free parking but it was so tiny (and you will find this everywhere in england) that we were lucky my husband can park a car almost blindfolded. When we went to leave other cars were parked just with about an inch to spare all around us but the hotel had the owner;s keys and moved the cars. Because we came into Bath after touring england, we had a car but i would suggest to you to rent a car when you leave bath as you dont need one there. The city also has the hop on hop off city tour bus which is very good and we left our car locked up for 2 days. On our second trip to england and scotland and ireland in 2010 we spent 4 weeks winging it in June again and never had a problem. We decided to stay at best western hotels which are very reasonable and they give you a book so you can call ahead if you wish or they call ahead for you.

My husband and I are history buffs like yourselves and our first trip was from London to stratford on avon, to York, chester and Bath and back to London. On our second trip we went down south and then travelled up north to Scotland and across to Ireland. We havent been to Oxford or cambridge but like the previous poster, i think you are spending to much time in Oxford. York and Chester are beautiful cities. Both are medieval cities and York has a well preserved medieval street and Chester has all the Black and white beautiful old buildings. They are a sight to behold!!!

So dont pre-book anything except maybe your first night into the country and last night out. On our first trip in 2008 in pre Sat Nav days we spent so much time trying to find our pre-booked hotels whilst passing so many b&b's and hotels with my husband shaking his head as he didnt want me to book anything. He had been to england before me and as he told me and as i learnt, England, Scotland and Ireland are the Kings and Queens of B&B's. And it is so much better to wing it, than have to be somewhere at a certain time.

I am currently planning our trip in June to Greece, which i have fully booked and then Germany, Prague and Austria. I am in a dilema whether to pre-book or not those 3 countries and have asked the question here also. then we fly from frankfurt to NYC to tour america for 4 weeks and have only so far booked NYC but since I know exactly where we will be staying and there will be no straying from the path, I am going to book all the american hotels.

I'd book Oxford rooms as students start coming back up when you will be there. Lots of proud parents will fill up the hotels.

Also you need to find a place to dump the car while in Oxford. Maybe use the "Park and Ride" which you can find on the Oxford council website.

Not sure of "the other place's" timetable but I guess Cambridge will be busy as well.

I don't know the Lake Distric as well as Morgana, but if she says it will be busy then I think you will find it will be.

Places of interest between the Lake District and Cambridge are Durham (also an old university), York (city walls, medievel centre and catherdral) and Lincoln.

Near Cambridge is Ely and its Cathedral.

mmm - i have to say I think that you are being over-ambitious in trying to do all 4 of these areas [which are by no-means near to each other, especially the lakes] in 12 days.

you could do Bath, Oxford and Cambridge, or Bath, Oxford and the Lakes [at a pinch adding York to the mix]

Certainly i would not pick up a car til I got to Oxford, or preferably when i was leaving it - there is a relatively easy train link [one change] between Bath and Oxford, and really a car is not an advantage in either place.

to fit in all 4, I would do this:

Day 1 - train to Bath. stay 3 nights.

Day 4 - train to Oxford, stay 2 nights.

Day 6 - pick up car - drive to Lake District. Stay 4 nights.

Day 10 - drive to York. [or cambridge] stay 2 nights.

Day 12 - train back to London.

1. I'm a worrywart/overplanner, but I'd never want to take off without accomodations secured. I'd rather spend the time researching that and securing such from home than "waste" precious time looking around for rooms.

2.Keep "playing" with map/routes/itineraries and keep YOUR interests/strenghths/type-of-travel in mind. All the above feedback makes great sense, even if any of it contradicts. It's YOUR trip. But you're wise to seek feedback here.

3.One piece of advice to seriously consider is to NOT have a car IN Bath or especially IN Oxford. If you drive to Oxford, you are going to have to make arrangements for parking. Our last family trip there we did have a car and we had rooms in a B&B on the outskirts, parked there, and rode local bus into town/city. (I know there's a difference.) That worked very very well. But I'd never want to have a car if we had rooms IN Oxford. I've been to Oxford 4 times and will try to go every time I have opportunity to visit England, and with all the Tolkien/Lewis/Carroll/Potter/Inspector Morse etc, etc., connections, there is plenty to do on top of its non-literary beauty and interest. But with 12 days total, I'd probably limit to 2 days there.

3.I'd also probably only spend 2 days in Bath. It's also marvelous, but again with 12 days, I'd limit.

(Oh, let me say here that I'm of the "let's be reasonable about this but not do slow travel but see several places" type of traveler. I mean, others would/will tell you to pick 2 places and savor more, but I totally understand the desire to see as much as REASONABLY possible!)

4. For Austen connections, since you will have a car headed toward the Lake District, I'd suggest you think about going to Chatsworth in the Peak District? Very doable if you shorten Bath and/or Oxford days. Seeing that estate is definitely a highlight of my 4 trips to the UK!

York would be a shame to miss on your way toward Cambridge. If you cut a day from the Lakes, that would be doable. The Lake District is what had to be short-changed on our 2010 trip, as we just drove through--in the rain and crowds. If castles and history are driving your itinerary more than scenery, then I'd question 4 days there.

(In 2010 we made a loop driving from and to London in 9 days, with our itinerary set largely by literary and historical interests. After 3 nights in London, we did this, staying only 1 night in each place--Oxford, Shrewsbury, Conwy, Carlisle, [spent a day along Hadrian's Wall] Durham, York, near London [had Marriott points and needed a way-stop], Dover, Heathrow. So a loop like you're thinking is completely doable--we went further west, north, and south of London than you are considering, so your more-than-one-night in 4 places seems very feasible. You have your own reasons for your choices and you certainly don't want to repeat my trip, as we didn't even go to Bath or Cambridge, but you might find my trip report helpful a little, to see some of the timing/logistics. You may have less traffic than we did, but also a bit less daylight. Here's the link if you're interested-- http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/keep-calm-and-carry-on-trip-report-of-13-days-in-england-and-wales.cfm
My trip report with our day trips to Chatsworth and Oxford is here http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/oh-to-be-in-england--and-we-were-trip-report-of-2-weeks-in-london-and-day-trips.cfm Oxford is Day 5 and Chatsworth is Day 9)

Okay, thanks for this. I can see I need to reassess the plan, including car hire. Neither squeezy car bays or patience finding parking spots are my forte. I'd best defer hiring until we depart Oxford!

I also take on board time allocation to each spot with York being a necessary stopover and Chester warranting attention too. As this is my first time to Europe, I know nothing about such places other than what I see on TV and good advice from helpful people like yourselves!

As luck would have it, I've been worrying over accommodation in Bath (I thought that is one spot I'd better arrange) and Rushngal's reference to the Mecure Hotel is timely and helpful. thank you for that!

As to Rushngal's travel around the US, that I have done many times (husband's family lives there) and I can relate my US accommodation experiences if you're going to the cities I've seen (or lived in for a year). I find the US an interesting place. The "culture" of each state varies so much that to me, each feels like a different country!

With my UK accommodation dilemma, I've not yet decided whether to wing it or plan, but am leaning a towards plan because I am normally highly detailed and the prospect of multitudes of tourists and school holidays is a tad frightening. However, I see the merit in both ways which is why I thought freedom could be fun for the brave. The ready availability of B & B's certainly sounds reassuring. What I should ask I suppose, is what type of accommodation do B & B's offer? we've never been to one before.

As an alternative, if we could find castle stays... now there's a fantastic thought!! NOt only to see a real castle but sleep in it too! What an amazing experience.

We wanted to go to Lyme house and Chatsworth as day visits but are not committed to going anywhere other than Bath, Oxford and Cambridge. We could forgo the Lake District altogether if it is more scenic than historical, and especially if we could stay in castles elsewhere?

I am very appreciative of the information that has been given here. It is informative, insightful and gives a leg up to our lack of experience in England. Thank you all.

Thank you for this post. It is informative, as we are a month away from beginning our first trip to UK. We are the type that like to have reservations in hand before we leave. We have "winged it" before, both here in US and abroad, and prefer not to deal with the anxiety of late afternoon/evening searches for accommodations.
As to your question about B&B's, which we prefer, I offer this. The charm of the B&B is the building and the room. We usually seek out older, historical buildings that have been refurbished. Ensuite is a necessity for us. So the rooms and the public area usually have a lot of "personality" not found in hotels. Also, we enjoy the camaraderie usually found in the breakfast room. Conversations with other travelers almost always results in interesting exchanges of travel related information. In many cases, you will not find phones and TV's in B&B rooms, which is just fine with us. Most B&B's I have researched for this trip offer some type of wifi for those of us that can't do without the old pc.
Hotels of course offer more services, such as in room dining, concierge, etc. While we prefer B&B's, we have no problem with hotels, especially "boutique" hotels (as opposed to chains), which sometimes are pretty close to the definition of B&B.
So I would encourage you to try a B&B. It is a different experience. Some folks like the sometimes family atmosphere, some don't. Research the B&B's in each city as you would hotels.
Happy travels!

As texasbookworm said, if you want Jane Austen filming sites, you should visit the Peak District. Chatsworth and Haddon Hall were used in the most recent Pride and Prejudice, and that's where you'll find the gorgeous scenery from that version and the BBC version.

Near Bath, Lacock was used as Meryton in the BBC P&P - you've probably seen it in other costume dramas as well - and Stourhead Gardens was featured in the 2005 P&P.

If you have time, Jane Austen is buried in Winchester Cathedral, and her home in Chawton is only a few minutes away.

Here's a link to my 2007 trip report, if you'd like more information: http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/roundabout-the-uk-p-p-the-professor-and-some-p-ob-may-2007.cfm

I'd take a day from Bath and maybe one from the Peak District in order to visit the places I mentioned.

Lee Ann

Oh, and as you are 3 adults, that a bit complicates things sometimes if you are trying to stay in one room. We stayed in B&B's almost exclusively on our two 2-week stays, and the trip with adult daughter found me scrambling a bit more for one-room-for-three. Many B&B's offer family rooms which have room for 3 or more.

And B&B's in the UK have a WIDE range of meaning. Many are smallish hotels, with several to dozens of rooms, and include breakfast. What I think of as a B&B is someone's home with one to a few rooms, where you meet the owner, and there is breakfast. We stayed in both but I searched for the privately owned, smaller ones and liked them generally better. (The B&B we stayed in in Oxford, however, was of the first sort and was wonderful, too.) We found B&B's to be nearer the center of town when we wanted that and cheaper than hotels. Generally.

And as you plan, as it's your first time to travel and probably drive in the UK--if you use a mapping site, like Google maps, to plot out routes, I'd strongly urge you to DOUBLE the time it suggests for getting from place to place. We allowed twice as much time as such sites suggest, and we found that overall it took about 1.5 times what the website says. And we encountered no major bad weather, wreck, or construction. If you allow extra time for the travel and it doesn't take as long, then you have extra time at your destination. (The only snag to this would be earlier than planned arrival at rooms, but that's an unlikely problem.) Travel in the UK (including in London) takes lots and lots of time, more than the uninitiated might realize. And more than some suggested travel itineraries might suggest.

You will have so much fun! The problem, as you are finding, is what to leave out!

As LeeAnn says, Winchester is a wonderful stop, too; maybe not as high on your list as the others.

And when you say Chatsworth as a day trip--from where? And as I said above, when I had to leave something out, I chose to forego the Lake District with its scenery and literary ties (I just waved at Dove Cottage and walked to the edge of one of Ransom's lovely lakes for 10 minutes and didn't see any Peter Rabbits!) for the medieval and Roman lure of Carlisle, Hadrian's Wall, and York.

Forgot to add--if your time in London allows for any day trips, I think you'd love Dover. The castle is terrific.

Oxford can be a day trip, too. But you don't want to take away too much time from London itself, of course.

I see a whole new itinerary opening up here! I just read Texasbookworm's trip report and am awed! Wow! If I can arrange our trip even half as well and see as much! However, I'll give police interrogation a miss thanks all the same. You certainly had more experiences than you bargained for (or warranted) but you certainly would make a fun traveling companion! I am intrigued to learn what Elendilpickle(or should I say Lee Ann?) got up to now.

I am taking note of your tips, places and details to walk in footsteps that have found what is possible within a limited time frame. BillJ, thanks for briefing me on b&b's. We don't need TV or phones on holiday either so I'll look into b & b's as a really good option. Especially older refurbished buildings. I think I read a b&b organiser's name in Texasbookworms trip report & will start looking there.

I am heartened to read there are like minded travelers passionate about history, classic literature and the geniuses of the past. I will make a point of finding the burial places of Austin, Lewis and the like, to pay homage. Thanks for the advice on where to go.

My worry is becoming excitement!

Jane Austen (before someone else snipes at you!) As a Texas-dweller, I am guilty of often subbing our capital--Austin--for Miss Jane--Austen.

And just to clarify, there are 2 TR's (I'm glad one helped at all, just want to make sure, if they were helpful, that you noted that there were 2 rather different trips.) One was with husband, without a car, London and day trips for 2 weeks, and one was almost 2 weeks, with husband and daughter, with a car for 9 days.

The B&B agency we used twice was only for accomodations in London--At Home in London. For the rest of the accomodations, I found them on my own (I described in brief my process in the TR from 2010. In 2008 we used this agency for great rooms in London, but we stayed there the whole 2 weeks and did day trips via public transport.) I found direct contact with different B&B's via usually email was a quick and reliable way to make arrangements. (Those who didn't respond quickly got crossed off my list of possibles!)

No worries! Keep calm and plan on!

If you have 12 days and are thinking 4 places at 3 days each you haven't allowed any time to get from one place to another. Even with a car - which I think is the only thing that makes sense for 3 people you need to allow most of a day to get from one place to another - allowing for seeing something on the way and having lunch. So you really have 3 nights (2 full days in each place).

I would definitely make specific reservations for Oxford and Cambridge - as others mentioned this is a very busy time of year there - and if you have specific appointments (which I'm assuming you do if you're looking to attend - you can't just walk in and start asking questions - and, in fact, I would get all the info in advance you can so your time there will be well spend). Similarly for Bath, whch is also a hotbed of tourism. Have never been to the Lake District - so can't comment - except that it is a erally outdoorsy area - not necessarily full of major castles and ancient sites. (York is fascinating - for everything from earlu Britons on.)

In York and the Lake District in particular you may struggle to find a B&B that will book you for just one night at weekends.

I am beginning to realise I underestimate driving conditions in a serious way. Being a West Australian, distance traveling by car is second nature to me, but clearly traveling in England is outside my experience or understanding. Looking at the map and road networks, my (West Aussie) perception interpreted the distances as a breeze and I cannot understand why it will take as long as described here, but do not doubt it. Clearly I am mistaken.

I'm wondering the wisdom of driving now, as there is something very different in rural England from what I imagine. Maybe terrain/ roads/ traffic density? Whatever it is, I am in for a surprise and not in a good way. I'll have another look at public transport options, ie train and coach. I am also thinking there must be a reason Texasbookworm chose to public transport her 2nd trip after driving the 1st.

as to my spelling, I give no warranty and apologise in advance for error! Blame my typing After I went to bed last night, I started thinking about my favourite authors and wondering if their graves are accessible? Does anyone know the resting place of George Elliot, Anthony Trollope, Wilkie Collins or Thomas Hardy?

Anthony Trollope is in Kensal Green cemetery in London. The Friends of this cemetary do an excellent Sunday afternnon tour.
http://www.kensalgreen.co.uk/

Linblue, i am an aussie also and we visited more places than you have on your itinerary and in 10 days on our first trip. It was very quick to get around by car. England is small. I think the others are saying that you are staying too long in one spot to get around. You only need about 2 nights in bath and 2 nights in York, 2nights in chester (if you love architecture then you will love chester) We only spent one night in the lakes district and it is more for scenery than historical. Beatrix potters house is there but it was too far for us to travel. 4 nights there is way too long unless you just want to sit and relax by a lake or go out on a boat. As i said i know nothing about oxford or cambridge but i think 4 nights anywhere in one spot in England is too long. I am surprised that you are not going to stratford on avon, if you are into history. Shakespeare was born there and his house is still there, as well as his wife's house and his mother's house. It is a lovely little town. Warwick castle is not far from there. I dont know about castle stays in england, but i know you can do them in Ireland. The closest we got to staying in a castle was Studley castle near stratford. It is a Best western hotel and it was beautiful. It looks like a castle but not a castle that is hundreds of years old, i think it was a former Nursing teaching school.

Regarding B&bs, we dont like them for the following reasons:-

1) they are houses divided into rooms and on arrival, you usually speak to the owner, who is always very friendly and wants to know everything about you. After a long day of travelling and sightseeing, all we want to do is get to our room, have a shower and relax.

2) you only have your bedroom, which always has an ensuite and a TV. There is usually a communal area in the B&B but its only for reading and watching tv.

3) You can only have breakfast in the B&B and not dinner. So you have to drive out again to find a place to eat or if you are lucky you only have to walk to find dinner.

4) breakfast is a set menu.

THE REASON WE PREFER HOTELS:-

1) on arrival you are greeted by the hotel staff, who make some small talk and then you get the key to your room. No standing around for about an hour before you get to your room.

2) Hotels have bar areas and you can have a small snack or eat in the restaurant. No searching for somewhere to eat or having to go out in the car again. We love going down to the bar to sit and relax with a drink and usually the room isnt crowded and the barman will have a chat with you, which we like and others may join in, but you are sitting down and relaxed and thats what we like. And then you just take the elevator to your room. No worries about blowing the breathyliser (sp?) I dont drink but my husband does.

3) hotels have great buffet breakfasts. We absolutely pig out on the food and then take along some muffins and fruit for lunch which we dont eat until about4 pm as we are still full from the breakfast. And most of the time we just have a small snack for dinner.

4) you can talk to people in the breakfast room, whether it be just the waitress or a couple of people near you.

5) hotels are usually (but not always) in the best spots.

If you decide to take public transport around england, i think that would be awful. You are going to have to carry your luggage on the train or bus and then when you get to your destination, have to get a taxi to your b&B and what do you do then, if you want to see the sights. Take a bus again?? I wouldnt like that. A car is the only way to go and you will see plenty, as long as you dont stay too many nights in one spot. You can get around england very quickly and see lots of things if you drive.

I forgot to mention that you may have a problem with 3 people in a b&b but dont quote me on that. However, with a hotel, they always have rooms for 3 people. Double bed plus one bed or they bring in a rollaway bed.

Hi Linblue

We are ex-pats in the UK and have also visited some of the places you are interested in seeing. Here are some photos and comments that might help your research further:

Lake District
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/lake-district-weekend.html

Bath
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/bath-stonehenge.html

Chatsworth
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/christmas-at-chatsworth.html

York
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/alnwick-york-easter-weekend.html

Peak District
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/hartington-peak-district.html
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/dove-dale-rainy-days.html
http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/thorpe-cloud.html

Your initial plan might be a touch ambitious but I think you can do most of what you want and have a really nice holiday (say eliminate one like annhig and others have suggested). Good luck.

Whew, relief!

The amount of time and effort you all volunteer to help out is truly kind and generous. Thank you sounds inadequate in return.

I am going to spend a few days sifting through suggested places and potential accommodations, to re-plan the whole 12 days with the benefit of the experienced comments and links above. I'll post my new itinerary when done. One thing is for sure, I'll be pre-booking accommodation for each stopover and doing it first in Bath, Oxford and Cambridge. I'm a woman on a mission now!

Ah linblue, i can only tell you that i enjoyed our second trip to england much more, when we just winged it as opposed to our first trip when i pre-booked. You should just go with the flow and relax, its so easy in England to do that especially at the time you are going. But you are a woman on a mission, to each his/her own and i hope you have a wonderful trip!!

We absolutely love b&bs - so much more personal than hotels! I would at least book for the weekends because in many places you need to book for two nights on the weekends. Bath and York are two places I found that needed two nights.

If you book b&bs in towns (we always do) then you can just walk to dinner...no need to get back in the car!

England is small. I think the others are saying that you are staying too long in one spot to get around. You only need about 2 nights in bath and 2 nights in York, 2nights in chester (if you love architecture then you will love chester) We only spent one night in the lakes district and it is more for scenery than historical. Beatrix potters house is there but it was too far for us to travel. 4 nights there is way too long unless you just want to sit and relax by a lake or go out on a boat. As i said i know nothing about oxford or cambridge but i think 4 nights anywhere in one spot in England is too long.>>

linblue - i seriously disagree with the above. [posted by rushngal - the clue is in the name!] if you are the sort of person who likes looking at gravestones, you are not going to be satisfied with 2 nights in Bath [which means only one day,] 2 in york etc. etc. her statement that they " only spent one night in the Lake district but didn't see Beatrix Potter's house as it was too far" says it all - had she stayed longer, she would have had the time to see not only Beatrix Potter's house, but Dove Cottage, [where Wordsworth lived] Sizergh Castle, and many other lovely places:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/local-to-you/north-west/things-to-see-and-do/lake-district/

please don't try to do a whistle-stop tour - you will miss so much, just to spend the majority of your time rushing from place to place.

And I will reiterate - and as a local resident (I live near York) and not an occasional visitor, that the beginning of September IS a very busy time for the reasons I have already explained. And you ARE going to be visiting tourist hot spots. I would think very carefully about 'winging' it.

Kudos to you for being flexible and responding to good feedback.

About car vs. public transport: As I said before, I'm glad you read my TR's and hope they help, but if you note the dates, we used public transport the FIRST trip and then got a car the SECOND time. And if hubby ever takes me back again, we would definitely rent a car if we were going to see anything outside of London. With a car you can get to places you can't get to or are really hard to get to via public transport, you are on your own timing, and you can carry more "stuff" if you want to. Our first trip hubby, having never driven in the UK, was reluctant to do so; then after a business trip gave him some practice, he was willing to drive the second trip.

Don't discard idea of a car for a bit. We would get up as early as we could arrange breakfast, usually leave before 8, drive 3-4 hours, and then have most of the day to see the next place. If you allow 2 nights per place, don't spread the places too far apart, and don't get late starts, you should have plenty of time to see a good bit of each place.

Another idea would be, if you left out the Lake District altogether, would be to stay in London your entire time and take many day trips--Oxford, Bath, Cambridge, Winchester, even York are doable via train. Rooms in London are usually more but sometimes there's some discount for staying longer (in some places)--or you could look at apartments.

And I think most of those authors you mentioned are buried in London--I just googled Collins and Eliot.

Majority of experts above say secure rooms so I'd do that.

From your other threads, it appears you are going to be traveling for 2 months or more, Ireland, the UK and all over Europe. Is this still your plan? If so, staying put in London and taking day trips might make even more sense after all the rushing around before and after. Just a thought.

Yes, you have our trip figured! Texasbookworm, You are one smart woman! Since you ask, our itinerary iis 9 weeks total, as follows;

1. Ireland for 7 nights & first priority to trace family heritage.
2. England. 4 nights London, 12 nights touring, 7 nights more in London. We have to split time in London so my daughters can attend relevant events/appointments.
3. Paris for 12 nights
4. Switzerland, village of Thun, 1 night (recent addition to our itinerary & well worth the effort from what I hear)
5. Venice 3 nights
6 Florence 4 nights
7 Rome 6 nights .

We are also staying in Dubai for a few days both on our way to Europe & on our way back.

I have booked a hotel in London for our 1st 4 days & an apartment when we return for the remaining 7.

Any stay lasting 6 days or more is in an apartment. I have prebooked every night of the whole trip except the 12 days touring England. But, after weighing all suggestions above v my personal risk aversion, I will book those 12 nights as well. We will rethink our England tour plans & secure accommodation as soon as possible. I will include b & b in my search, but will select where we stay based on overall facilities as we like a level of comfort. We will be exhausted on this trip and good sleeps are essential.

This forum has been my most valuable planning tool. I've been helped with difficulties in many locations & with much that i could not figure out myself. And I have so much to learn & prepare! The links i have been provded are heaven sent. I really am grateful as my research timr is limited around working.

Annhig, you say the clue is in my name. Rushngal. Do you think i am Russian, no I am an aussie but the name is a play on my ancestry or do you think I RUSH around. I have been to England twice and have seen just about everything i want to see. And we didnt see beatrix potters house because it wasnt really a "must see" for us plus we only had 10 days in the english countryside, the opp has 12 days.

Please dont be so ignorant and rude. I am only trying to help the op. That is what we are all here for and people can take what they will from our advice.

Every post has given persoanal preferences based on iIndividual interests and ALL have helped me tremendously with info and clarified what to consider in deciding what is important to us. Rushngal, as we are both Aussies, we have a similar frame of reference and I have relied most on your comments about driving & distances. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me, you have helped a lot.

I can promise all of you, my daughters & I will diverge in our personal preferences while on the road but we'll be in each other's pockets & tied for a very long time. Pity us! I'm hoping that what doesnt kill us makes us stronger.

To ask a dumb question, what does opp mean?

Ps - my husband elected to stay home rather than join in with us in Europe. Bit sad, but each to their own if that's what he prefers!

OP means original poster. In this case, you.

Hi - have only just seen this thread.

Thomas Hardy's heart is buried in Stinsford churchyard (just outside Dorchester). It is accesible to the public. It looks like Bath would be your nearest stop to Stinsford. It is about 60 miles from Bath, but the journey is likely to take 2 hours.

Also open to the public is Thomas Hardy's birth place and Maxgate where he spent his final years. Both have been renovated to look as they would have doen when Hardy lived there. They are about 3 miles from Stinsford. Both are run by the National Trust.

For more info on Stinsford see neal.oxborrow.net/Thomas-Hardy/stinsford

Driving in England is not a problem (even for someone use to driving on the correct side of the road). BUT - if yuotake the major motorways you can run into heavy traffic - esp near big cities, rush hour and on weekends/holidays. Once you re off the motorways the roads have lots of small towns/villages that can take forever to get through/around (think of a road system from 1200) and out in the country there are many roads that are 2 lanes (barely) with ditches or hedges on each side - and often not a lot of room to maneuver. (We once came around a curve - luckily slowly - to find a couple of lambs in the middle of the road. There was a field with sheep and apparently the lambs were small enough to get out under the fence. They were just milling around bleating - since they wanted to get back to their moms but couuld't figure out how. I'm a city person - but apparently lambs have the IQ of an asparagus. We were trying to herd them back in - when the owner came by - opened the gate and had a dog that chased them back in.)

We did fairly well on the motorways since we avoided rush hours and holidays - but there isn't much to see - it's just making time. If you want to see the countryside you need to assume a speed of perhaps 40 mph - and less on smaller country roads.

I still think a car makes sense for you - you just need to adapt to the local conditions.

Please dont be so ignorant and rude. I am only trying to help the op. That is what we are all here for and people can take what they will from our advice.>>

Rushngal, i haven't insulted you, just suggested that your name suited your style of travel. if you don't think that spending only 2 nights in each of Bath, York and Chester is rushing around, i don't know what is. and you posted that you didn't have time to see Beatrix Potter's house, not that you didn't want to see it or indeed anything else.

i'm glad that the OP found your advice helpful; i hope that she isn't disappointed when she realises that she is spending more time in a car or train than actually seeing or doing anything.

for my part, if I had driven from Oxford to the Lakes [about 230 miles taking at least 4 hours, not allowing for any traffic hold ups] i would want to spend more than one night there, especially as the journey to get there is mostly very boring motorway.

Megdorset,your post has me intrigued. Why on earth would just a heart be buried somewhere (presumably when attached to the whole at time of death)??? It begs the question, what did they do with the rest of him??? I find this extraordinary and will do bit of research out of curiosity.

Nytraveler, having lived and visited the US many times over the years, I can authoritatively say driving on the right hand side of the road (as in the US) is the wrong side for me! I cannot spatially flip my brain, annoy my husband no end and cause road havoc. Thank goodness England drives on the "better" side of the road.

Can't say I've ever found a sheep on the road in Australia (seen plenty in paddocks), but I do drive cautiously for kangaroos beyond city limits and far up North, watch out for brumbies (big wild horses), emus and perhaps the occasional camel. The main difference with England (other than animal type) is your description of hedges bordering narrow roads. I predict I'll drive in close quarters no faster than 20 mph and probably less!

Annhig, I never said that the op should spend 1 night in the lakes district. That is what we did because we thought it was lovely but hubby and i are much more into history than scenery. If the op is travelling from Oxford to the lakes district then of course they should spend more than one night there. But linblue is like my husband and I and more into history than scenery as well.

I am not the only one who has suggested 2 nights here and there. Read the posts. Be well informed before you decide to pick on me.

Ultimately the OP will decided what she wants to do based on the advice of everyone and not just myself.

And you did insult me because I am partially disabled (look at my post about travel to greece) and i would love to RUSH around just in daily life but can not!! Dont pick on poster's user names as you may just hurt them and dont speak about a person in the third person in a nasty way. This is a very good forum and i have only been a member for a few days and have read dozens of posts and havent found anyone to be rude. You are the first. Just because you have been a member for many years doesnt give you the right to rude and ignorant.

Linblue, thats a shame that your hubby is not going with you. Does that mean you have lost your driver or are you or your daughter still going to drive?

We are spending 2 months overseas also. FIrst stop Greece (arriving on the day of a crucial election, great timing) then flying to frankfurt and doing a circuit of Germany including Prague, Vienna and Salzburg, then up the rhine back to frankfurt, flying to NYC, driving to Washington DC, flying to LA, driving to SFO, driving to Vegas and san diego then back to LA. Phew!! I get mentally tired just thinking about it.

And since you are going now with just your daughter, I would pre-book all accommodation definitely. I wouldnt wing it at all without my husband. I would turn into a chicken without him.

Yes, us aussies think nothing of driving long distances as thats what we have to do in our big country. On both our trips to europe, the europeans were absolutely shocked at how much we had travelled and seen. My own french cousins, only go to spain!! I cant understand that but thats the difference between us.

Thanks for your kind words above. WHatever you choose to do, you will have a great time and I look forward to seeing your new itinerary.

My husband and Europe were never a match, which is why I am at the latter end of 40 without ever being there! But, with 2 grown daughters and stubborn determination, I'm going without him! I've ventured out into the world without him before, at times entirely solo, the furthest to Asia. Bit scary, but okay. The scariest thing Ive done was inside Australia. I drove solo from Kununurra to Lake Argyle (the pink diamond mines). I did it last November and the magnitude of this great ancient country, the isolation for hundreds upon hundreds of kms without phone service and the heat (averaged about 50 degrees C in the shade)... But it was amazing. The bungle bungles, OMG! A good classic audiobook, lots of bottled water and a full tank of petrol - off I went. For those unfamiliar with Australian geography, Kununarra is about 3000km north from Perth (home) where the movie "Australia" was filmed. Population is scarce in the outback and I drove maybe 2 hours at a time without evidence of human life. Not for the faint hearted I assure you.

I am grateful my 2 daughters want to come to Europe with me. Frankly, I cannot understand why anyone wouldn't want to go?!! Luckily, they love literature and history too and want to see all the "old stuff" as much as me.

Rushngal, you have your hands full on your trip! Have you been to the US before? WAshington DC is a city of contrasts, and beautiful. The West Coast is like a different country altogether and well worth seeing for different reasons. We've driven the routes you are taking in California and to Vegas and my husband (he goes to the US!) always drives without difficulty. Sounds like your husband is a skilled driver so you should be fine. The tricky bits are are Californian city freeways at peak hour. Take a packed lunch and sleeping bag! Im curious to know how your trip goes, where you stay and what you get up to. The planning and booking is as tiring as the doing isn't it? But so worth it!!

Linblue, the planning and booking is awful!! it drives me crazy and i always swear i will never do it again but here it is our 3rd time in 4 years and you are right, it is SO worth it in the end, but this is the last of the BIG trips. From now on, its just 2 weeks max and thats around Australia and NZ and maybe south africa and egypt.....

I have been to america but way back in 1979!! and did the west coast only.I was a healthy 22 year old and we loved it. My girlfriend and I also did a 3 week tour of europe in 1980 and i would never go on tour again after that. I hated the organised tours. i wouldnt go back to the west coast and only doing so because my husband hasnt been. I would have preferred to have done more of the east coast. Perhaps next time 2 to 3 weeks doing that?? ANd yeah the freeways scare me!! but thankfully not my husband. I say i am the brains behing organising the trip and hubby is the brawn. I said in another post that he should be in a precision driving team!!

My husband and I also dont understand people who dont want to travel and we know many like that. A friend of mine once asked "whats so good about travelling" I dont know if she was jealous or being serious but I was floored by that. I told her,how about, no cooking, no cleaning, and on the road almost every day seeing something new, exciting, exhilirating. As i said my french cousins only ever go to spain. Just cant understand it.

WOW you are one strong lady, doing all that you have done on your own with your travels. THose travels were not for the faint hearted that is for sure!! I could never do that, even if i wasnt partially disabled. I am a big chicken!

How wonderful that you have 2 daughters travelling with you. Great bonding session and can do lots of girly things. Can you just imagine the 3 of you in Paris?? Absolutely AB FAB!!

I heard a great saying last year which has become one of my favourite quotations "travelling is a virus for which i will be happily infected for the rest of my life". SO TRUE!! (as long as the money holds out!)

Interesting you didn't like the planned tour. I've never tried, but friends here say the same thing. Many have done 21 days and more in different spots over the world, and say they felt too rushed, missed too much, and life on a bus becomes unbearable. Plus, one unpleasant traveler on the trip ruins it for all.

It was actually a friends recent tour experience in England that made me think of winging our 12 days roaming. Probably a knee jerk reaction after listening to their frustrations from a pre-planned tour program.

I think the infos in the above posts are sensible and practical, especially as posters give reasons or examples to explain their views. I feel confident pinning down our 12 days now. Still sifting the info, but it is coming together different to our original idea, and much the better for it!

Girls holiday with my daughters? absolutely! Paris and London, shopping and theatre! With lots of old buildings to admire as we go. Note our time allocation for these 2 cities!

You're in for a treat shopping in Orange County! So incredibly cheap at the moment! Have a coffee/lunch in the Rainforest Cafe West Coast Plaza, visit Knotts Berry Farm and have dinner at Medieval Nights jousting. So much to do and enjoy! And Vegas! That is a must see!

Save the US East coast for another trip another day. If you drive South from NY, past WAshington DC, there are really interesting things to see & do. I haven't been to the EAst coast for a number of years now, but in my past experience, the people and "culture" are different from the West. I think Australia and the US sort of appear similar, (sort of, if you squint your eyes really tight), but under the surface we are very different. Poles apart. My husband loves the US. He goes every year! It is a fantastic place to see and you're going to have so much fun!

The whole burying different bits in different places was pretty traditional when travel was slow and there were no fridges, hence the body might be buried at the nearest graveyard but the core of the soul (the heart normally) could be pickeled and put in a jar for transport to the "home" church.

As a result kings and saints got buried all over the place, and various gastly people even ate the odd bit to show their reverence.

At least one English king failed to make it back to London when campaigning in France and the problems of exploding coffins. I could go on but I guess the best story is of Admiral Nelson (he of the piller) was a small guy so they pickeled him in a barrel in French Brandy and sailed back, but he had gone rotten by the time he got back as the sailors who guarded him had a thirst.

Hi. Thomas Hardys ashes are buried in Westminster Abbey - but his heart was buried in his home church yard at Stinsford. It is believed that he wanted to be buried in Stinsford. He actually died at Maxgate which is 2 miles from Stinsford.

That's so funny, you really made us laugh!! Exploding coffins? Cannibalism? Now there's a side to European history not taught in Australian schools! Gross, but interesting. How did you learn all about this?

And you did insult me because I am partially disabled (look at my post about travel to greece) and i would love to RUSH around just in daily life but can not!! Dont pick on poster's user names as you may just hurt them and dont speak about a person in the third person in a nasty way>>

I still don't understand how I insulted you by picking up on your screen-name, RUSHNGAL, and i can't find any reference to your being disabled, not that that would have made any difference to what I posted. I continue to think that 2 days in each of Bath, york and chester with a one night in the Lakes is crackers, but obviously as a UK resident of some 55 years, i know nothing.

clearly the OP finds your approach akin to hers, so I will bow to your superior knowledge and depart this thread.

education,

don't even start me on the bodies you find littering churches in Italy/Spain/Greece. In Corfu they take the body of St Spiros for a jog around the capital on his saints day in a windowed sedan chair no less. He has lost one of his big toes as some nut bit it off.

Enough already..

Annhig accused of being "nasty?" I think not.

Good thing rushngal wasn't here in the old days (but I miss them.) Come back zeppole.

Bilboburgler, you must be in jest! Are you? Any "unusual" ceremonies practised in places we are visiting during the time we are there? If so, my husband is reconsidering joining us ' cause he says something like that he's got to see!

Strange that poor old T Hardy was "separated" and his ashes buried far from his home & against what is believed to be his wishes. Seems odd to do that, not that he cares now I suppose!

I'm working on our 12 day itinerary and guess what, Bath is already heavily booked! It looks like the trip will be partly decided by accommodation availability within the price range we are seeking in each target area. How good is public transport around Bath, if we stay say within a 10 km radius?

We just spent 4 nights in Oxford. -- because a previous one-day visit was not enough. We visted 3 of the colleges and their gardens. We took an Inspector Morse walking tour. And we did a day-trip by train to Winchester. And got over jet-lag.

Previously we spent 5 or 6 days in Bath doing some day-trips and seeing most of the sights: the Roman baths, the pump room, the Assembly Rooms, the Jane Austen Museum, the circus, the Crescent, the parks. And walked over to and along the river.

All of which is to say there's lots to see in those two places.

No the keeping bodies about is an issue for Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic and particularly in the south of Europe. In the UK we move them on. Though you may find bits of humans in museum and I know one B&B with a skull, but that's normal.

What is your lodging budget, Linblue?

Lee Ann

Hi there!

I've been researching accommodation in Bath, Oxford & Cambrige as our most urgent priority. To get a room for 3 people in those areas, I don't expect much change from AUD $350 per night. In Bath, the "better" options according to trip advisor, with beds for 3, are booked out. That is, Unless we expand our radious outside the inner city. There is a great looking castle stay outside of bath, but it is 6 miles drive & I've decided to skip hiring a car while there. Bath public transport it must be.

As to the uni cities, we will try to secure rooms within campus colleges ''cause some rent out. proximity to uni is a priority in those areas.

I've decided 3 in bath, and 2 each in Oxforrd & Cambridge. I've researched each & will need at least that much to see things of interest to us. In oxford & cambridge we will mainly be on campus. We would revel for a day just in the libraries. I wish I had more time for Bath because it is rich with everything we love. Remenber you're dealing with someone here who intends an entire day under Rome in catacombs!!!

That leaves us 5 days to loop up and around between oxford Cambridge with a hire car. I'm focusing as far as peak district, but no further. This is purely based on a preference to explore details & thanks to this forum & knowedgable advice, i get how to plan it. Thanks for this. As amazing as York is (& all that surrounds) I'll save it for another trip & do justice to it then.

I've really studied the roads up to the peak district, & with assistance from fellow travellers experiences, thank you, have no qualms with distances or travel times. Even if I double times estimated in google map, even triple it, it looks comfortably manageable to me. Even quick! I will drive cautiously however. Sheep noted!

However I don't want added hassle moving in and out of accommodation (plus I'm so over it!!! I've already secured 11 hotels/apartments over 9 cities in 5 countries!!) I'm thinking stay in 1 place ( 2 spots at most) nearIsh the Peak distrct and using it as a base to drive around during the day. I like the prospect of the best western Studley castle. Heaps within driving distance too. Thanks for the tip!! Maybe I'll look for one more to move upwards in increments towards the peaks??? Shudder! On day 5 after Oxford, we"ll swing hard right and down to Cambridge.

There are so many things to see suggested in this thread. I've followed up on all. Some Ill forgo to give more time to others. Tough to do, but decision time. Chester is a maybe if we have day trip time. On the way back we will pass through Ely. Until this thread I'd never heard of either. thank you. We"ll forgo Dover too, but very regretfully.

Bilboburgler, you made us laugh again!! The normalacy of a skull in a b&b depends entirely on one's frame of reference. I've never seen a real human bone in my life! Let alone as an ornament. We Aussies have no propriety claim over human body parts of others and therefore cannot own a skull. Even our own body bits cannot be owned once severed. Only the medical profession & related interests with proper legal sanction may deal with such things.

I can't wait to see the normal, let alone the bizare, so totally beyond my experience! And I thought only the past held wonders!

lin - have you thought of a double and a single [or a double as a single] ?

that might actually work out cheaper, or no more expensive, as triples are like hen's teeth.

i think that your nights in each place are about right; as for the Peak district, there a few threads here that deal with it, but not many, which is a shame. Buxton and Bakewell are the main towns - you could start by looking at them, and seeing what you can find.

Sounds like a plan!

If you still look for B&B's, remember to see if there's anything like a "family" room offered--these will always accomdodate at least 3 and would usually be cheaper than single and double, although that would obviously work well, too, if available.

Booking rooms does take time, doesn't it--but remember that then you won't have to use that time in situ!

You do have many days in London, which of course you can fill with "just London" but if you decide to take a day trip or so--well, you can fit in Dover still. But just being in place without travel for a stretch will be welcome, I'm sure.

Oh, you are planning on giving us at least a bit of a trip report upon return, I hope?

Hi All,

I'm starting to plan a visit for Fall 2013.

Thanks for some very useful information.

For the Peak District, consider the YHA hostel in Hartington. http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/hartington#

Mr. Pickle and I had a lovely ensuite double room. The hostel has a restaurant and pub, and I *think* they have options for three adults to stay together.

You'd be close to Bakewell, Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, and a number of good hiking trails.

Lee Ann

Hi there & thanks for tips above. I've now booked Cambridge, Oxford, & a b&b in Bath! So far so good.

My remaing 5 days up & back from the peaks in between cambrdge & oxford is not yet booked, although I've found some great looking stays, including Plus, there is also the option of the hotel on the Chatsworth estate, overlooking the house or the YHA mentioned above which also looks good. But, I'm hesitating if I should book all 5 nights in the Peaks, or only 3 nights and the other 2 in the Cotswolds before we arrive in Oxford. Rural is nice, but is 5 days too much of a good thing? But then, Chatsworth, haddon hall, Lyme park etc are such a pull. I'm anticipating a day for each?

Oh, if anyone is looking for castle stays, I've found loads!!! Scattered throughout, but none in the peak districts. There's one in the Cotswold & a number in the west/ Welsh region, & up in Scotland of course. Some are amazing! Especially one near Chester. Sigh. If only we could all have unlimited time & money.

Ira, how long is your holiday & where do plan going??

Ps - excuse poor drafting, I can't see properly on the iPad. And this finger by finger tapping doesn't do it for me.

Just a small comment, neither Oxford or Cambridge have a "campus". I'm sure you are aware of this but the people who inhabit these places are very aware they are members of a college and they work in departments but "campus" is not the word (in fact the university is blended in with the town). Each university has a library, the departments have libraries which are normally part of the University library and each college will have a Library.

Have great fun, my Kiwi lecturer sister seems to come to one or the other every other year and I went to Oxford so I get to keep in touch.

Not owned bodies, you are going to love the Ashmolean!

We spent about half a day at Chatsworth and 2-3 hours at Haddon Hall, which is smaller than Chatsworth and doesn't take as long to visit. I wrote about it in my trip report, which I linked somewhere in this thread.

Lee Ann

Too bad you won't have time to head down to Cornwall. It's so beautiful and rugged down in the SW of England. I've been to the UK three times and I've always rented a car since I'm usually with one or two others and we always head out of London to visit the countryside, including into Wales and Scotland. We stay at B&Bs in the countryside and hotels or family whilst in London.

I wasn't that impressed with Bath, quite crowded and the town itself is pretty small. South of that is the Cheddar Gorge - very cool and worth a quick visit. A visit to the Cotswolds is a must. Stow-on-the-Wold is my favorite little village there. Stratford-upon-Avon is a pretty little town too, but quite touristy. While in Oxford, a visit to Blenheim Palace is a must. The grounds are amazing!

The Lake District and the Peak District are so beautiful. Personally I would dump Bath (no pun intended) for time in the north. Keswick is a pretty little town in the North Lakes. Chatsworth is a beautiful property. Worth a few hours. Amazing that the Duke of Devonshire still lives there!

The cities of York and Durham are worth some time. The York Minster and the Durham Cathedral are wonderful to see and experience.

I really enjoyed Canterbury with it's amazing cathedral. I also enjoyed Brighton with it's giant pier and Royal Pavilion. The circle in Avebury is great too, much more interesting than Stonehenge. All along the south coast is interesting and, of course, great fresh fish to eat and don't forget about Devon cream tea!

Okay, I'm just about to book my flight, lol!!

Too bad you won't have time to head down to Cornwall. It's so beautiful and rugged down in the SW of England.>>

that's us, rugged.

where are you going to on this trip, Kerry?

shame that Cornwall is off the OP's route, but perhaps another time!

Annhig you are absolutely right! I am just going to have to come back again with more time in England! My son is unable to travel with my daughters and me this time, so I'll be back and the sooner the better!

I can't not see Bath. It features so strongly in Regency literature, I must see the pump rooms and all before I return home. Who knows, Mr Darcy might be there!

Bilboburgler, you are too kind. I did not know the respective Uni's do not have a campus. Clueless actually! I can see we need a new thread for Oxford. You're a person of many layers with each more interesting than the one before. And yes, I admit you got me. I just had to research Ashmolean and now must go see it. Thanks for letting me know it is there!!

I learnt a number of things today, one of the most unexpected being Avebury. I'd never heard of it. It even has castle peaks showing in the near distance as a bonus! Thanks.

Iam going to take Texasbookworm's suggestion and take a day out of London to do a day trip by coach to Avebury, and as much else as can fitted into that day trip. Worry free way to go.

Linblue

FYI, there are Avebury pics at the bottom of my Bath post

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/bath-stonehenge.html

where are you going to on this trip, Kerry? >>

Ann, I sure wish I could go back to Cornwall and Devon this summer! I'm planning a bike and barge tour with my hubby through Germany and Austria in July/August, so no UK for me this year. Plus, with the Olympics occurring during my travel period, it's just too hard to find an affordable room.

I'm glad someone else picked up on Avebury. There is a nice little pub right in the center of the village. I got my first Ploughman's lunch there - yummy!

Indy_dad -

That could have been my trip photos along the south of England - except for Bath! I had forgotten about seeing the White Horse. I also saw the Long Man of Wilmington during that trip. Lots of great memories

Hi linblue, here's another trip report for you to read just to get some ideas but we were lucky to have 5 weeks. Am also from Perth so I an relate to your driving questions.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/2-aussies-in-london-paris-yorkshire-lakes-wales-cotswolds-in-5-weeks.cfm

Good luck with your planning, it certainly takes some time but just remember, you will get back to Europe so don't try to cram too much in, save something for next time! Oh and you will love Thun.

Thanks for the supportive comments Maudie. My daughters think I'm nuts trying to squeeze in Thun, so it's heartening to have independent approval.

Love the idea of watching the crown jewels being locked at closing time. A really interesting trip report. Thanks for sharing a great holiday & what you experienced!!

Indy-dad, great photos! We love the owl too!

We're finally at the stage of thinking about what to do at each location as accommodation & travel.is sorted. My younger daughter (21 yrs) is a real foody & wants to experience Heston Blumenthal's restaurant. The menu is on the web & refers to main ingredients..... Oh dear!

Hi Linblue, we had 3 weeks in Switzerland in 2007 just traveling around by train, it's so beautiful - almost makes your eyes hurt! And coming from dry old Perth the greenery coupled with brilliant blue skies and the white snow - well you just wait and see!!! We spent 8 days staying in our own little chalet in Brienz on the lake. This is the lake next to Interlaken. We stopped off in Thun for a walk around one afternoon, make sure you walk up to the castle. Europe is all so old and so different from home that you just can't help being blown away by it all.

If you want to read that trip report just click on my name and go down to the reports at the end of the page.

I bet you will have to make a really advanced booking to get into Blumenthal's restaurant and possibly rob a bank?

Sounds like you are making good progress, bet you are spending hours and hours sitting at your computer!!! We are off in October to Venice for 4 days before picking up a cruise to New York via the Caribbean so I am in the final stages of planning as well.

It's a small world! Here we boh are Maudie, probably unbeknown neighbours here in Perth and of the millions of places on the planet possible to explore, we both will be in Venice in October this year. It'll be the first week for us. Is it the same as you? Actually, I get to spend my birthday in Venice. Chuffed about that.

I'm so with you on the old and incredible in Europe. I can't wait!!! I'm sure everywhere I've enquired thinks I'm a weirdo. I look for oldest buildings, ask for the oldest rooms, the quaintest villages etc. Just love it!

Surprisingly, heston's restaurant is accessible. Bookings are about 90 days in advance and prices are on the web which I translate roughly $100 Aussie per head. Ok for a Treat. It's the content of meals that worries me. I can see a night of coffee & cake while my daughters bravely delve in.

Your reaction to Switzerland is exciting. Maybe it is our own desert home that gives it such a pull. I didnt know much about it, until a friend of a friend invited me to dinner expressly to tell me the errors of my way. One look at their photos, and i got it! You are so lucky to have trained around for 3 weeks. Yep, the castle thing in Thun is a must. Quirky me booked the closest hotel on its doorstep so we can wander over without wasting time.

A cruise to NY sounds wonderful. What's your itinerary? The planning is unbelievably time consuming and stressful. And you are right. I've spent every waking, non working moment tied to the computer for more weeks than I care count. But the pay off is the doing with maximum knowledge & focus I suppose. And it's interesting finding the pulse of other places with a bird's eye view!

Hi Lin, yes we could well be neighbors, I'm south of the river. We arrive in Venice Friday Oct 5th, via Singapore Airlines. There will actually be another 2 couples from Perth that I know off there at the same time and could well be more. The cruise was advertised in The West so I am guessing we won't be the only ones. What I great way to celebrate your birthday! We have an apartment booked so really looking forward to that.

I am sure once you get a taste of Switzerland you will have it on your list for a longer visit next time but the problem is - it's such a big world and there is so much to see, but we are trying our hardest to spend the kids inheritance!! It just goes to show how isolated we are in Perth, catch a train in Europe and you can zip through a couple of different countries in a day. I love that!

Your hotel choice in Thun sounds like something I would do. Oh and by the way it's not pronounced as it looks it's more like Toon as in cook, does that makes sense? The trains in Switzerland are fantastic, make sure you pack a picnic to eat. We even took plastic wine glasses and shared a bottle of the local red with ours. And the trains run spot on time so don't be late.

I saw the cruise advertised 2 days after we got back from the UK and said to hubby - "that's too good to pass up, we are going", our friends agreed and the deal was done. We have 4 nights in Venice before we board, overnight on the ship then it's Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes, Barcelona, Casablanca, Azores with a couple of sea days in between then we head off across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale. The cruise line then offered us a week sailing the Caribbean, same ship same cabin for a great price so how could we say no to that! We then have four nights in Washington DC and five nights in NYC and top it off with an overnight splurge in Singapore.

This will be the second long cruise we have done, first one was from San Fransisco to Sydney via Hawaii, Samoa and New Zealand. I never thought we would get into cruising but it has it's pluses that we have seen places we normally wouldn't have dreamed we would see.

I am already planning next year, Alaska and Canada. I have to drag myself away from the computer sometimes, I get stuck into reading things and the time just flies. But having so much info to suck in sure makes it worthwhile in the end, it gives you confidence that can do what you want armed with knowledge and understanding. You should see the spreadsheets that I do!!! And the word documents that I copy and paste all my info onto then have to go back and cull it down while trying to make sense of it all!! But I really do enjoy the thrill of the chase as it were, must drive my hubby nuts.

Your trip & cruise sounds so good! The number of stops is impressive and all without changing hotel rooms. Your cruise is so diverse it is really around the world. I missed that west aust add! I like the idea of cruising down the Nile in Egypt & hope to do it one day. But, first things first with this Europe holiday.

I had a giggle at your planning schedules, cause you sound a lot like me. I haven't formatted as schedules, but have various categories of research, maps, locality info & all manner of bits I've found of interest. My home desk is full of printed tickets, booking confirmations, itineraries etc. I collect as much knowledge as I can find too, then sift it into our itinerary or add it to a maybe pile.

We leave Venice the day before you arrive, but journey onto Rome after Florence, so it is possible our paths may cross in Italy at some point. As to neighbours, I also live south of river! Winthrop. What are the chances you live in this area too? That would mean we really are neighbours!

Hi again Lin, yes that is the great thing about cruising - no changing hotels rooms and dealing with luggage. I guess it is sort of an around the world type of cruise. Shame we only have one day in all those places but one day is better than no days!! Anyway our plan is to spend 3 months in Europe when we retire so this a just a taste to keep us going until then.

The Nile cruises sound fantastic but think we will wait until that part of the world settles down a bit - but we might be waiting a long time for that.

I have made cyber friends with another lady going on our cruise, they live in NYC and her trip planning is just like ours so we aren't alone. My hubby has no interest in the planning I just shove stuff under his nose that I want a second opinion on but most of it is all my own doing. And I haven't failed yet which is a bonus. This forum has been so helpful, every now and then you get some person who seems to be after a fight but I take everything with a grain of salt then do my own research. I just have to cull it all so I am not taking a book with me!!!

Well if we hear an Aussie accent then we might be passing each other on the streets. The chances are extremely high. . . . . I live in Leeming, isn't that crazy?

What were the chances!!! I suspect we've alresdy crossed paths in the Bull creek shopping centre, or garden city etc and probably will again without knowing it. the odds are our kids probably know each other too!