lbui05

I just posted a message and I am unsure how to go back to my message to add on - (first timer).

I am planning to leave June 27 and return July 8. Approx. 10 day trip.

I checked on the railsaver and for $145, we could go from London to Paris, Paris to Florence, and Florence to Rome.

Is this too much to do in 10 days? My plan would be to just fly into London and fly out of Rome. I just don't see myself backtracking to London to fly out.

Advice?

SORRY - my first trip I am planning myself and just going crazy!

Thanks.

Linda

massagediva

Hi, lbui05- If you click on your username,you will be presented with your posts.You can then respond to your own post to add more info.

ira

Hi lb,

>Approx. 10 day trip...we could go from London to Paris, Paris to Florence, and Florence to Rome.<

Each time you move, you lose at least 1/2 day. With arrival and departure days, you have less than 8 days.

This is not a visit, it is an expedition.

I suggest:

Paris and 2 daytrips
London and Paris
Florence and Venice
Rome and 2 daytrips

internetexplorer

What class tain fare are you looking at that will get you from London to Rome for $145?
Are you sure you included the cost of a Eurostar ticket for the London to Paris segment ?
Even with a rail pass of some kind, there still is an additional charge for the train that goes beneath the Channel .

3 countries and 4 cities in only 10 days does not optimize your time to do much sightseeing. You will spend a good amount of time packing and unpacking and checking in and out of hotels.. not to mention getting to and from train stations.
If you have not already bought your plane tickets maybe you would consider picking 2 of your 4 cities and spending 4 days in one and 5 days in the other, allowing a day in between for travel.

nytraveler

That is way too much for 10 days - and does the 10 days include the day you leave the US and return to the US?

You need to hone it down to two places if you really want to see anything in either place. (I've been to London at least a dozen times and still have tons of things I want to see. In a day or two you would see practically nothing.)

Also - you need to make this decision NOW - unless you already have airline tickets - or you will find yourself without seats at any price.

You don;t say where you are leaving from - or if you have looked into flights yet - but I would do that NOW - it may tell you which of these destinations is still even possible/realistic.

AisleSeat

I am a "whirlwind" traveler and this sounds like a lot even for me. For a first timer I would echo the other posts to really enjoy London and Paris and save Italy for your next trip. There is more than enough to take up your 10 days in those two magnificant cities. If you still have itchy feet take a day-trip to Chartre or to the Cotswolds.

suze

Yes I think it is way too much!

And I question that is the correct price for 3 LONG train journeys... only $145 total? Are you sure? That doesn't seem possible.

How about London & Paris *OR* Rome & Florence? That would give you about 4 days in each of 2 cities (less you arrival/departure and one travel day)

And you're right no sense in backtracking (fly into London and out of Paris would be good).

suze

Oops, I said that wrong... not all three legs of the train ride are terribly long, but overall London to Rome is a substantial distance.

lbui05

Thank you Massagediva for advising me on how to use this message board and thank you everyone for the advice and help -

Okay so my sister and I have narrowed it down, EVERYONE is right too much in too little time. So we agreed on London and Paris -

I know I booked way too late...and this is with a travel agent's help! So I have not booked the tickets and just want to go around the end of June and beginning of July - any thoughts on airline tickets or just take whatever I can get? I think around $1,100 a piece right now. Also I am coming out of Portland, Oregon. I've been told to possibly go to another city i.e. Seattle where I might get a better deal but my travel agent said its not worth it..so I am looking to you guys for some advice! Again, I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's help. Thanks.

suze

That's about the price I usually give for a ticket in summer flying Seattle thru London and on to Geneva (or Paris or Amsterdam). I choose British Air because I like their overnight routing, and do not like to have to transfer airports within the U.S. (like a plane change at JFK/New York).

I'm not sure what all the travel agent is helping you with, but you can easily check prices yourself by looking at Orbitz, Expedia, or individual airlines websites.

I would suggest you book the ticket into London and out of Paris (and take a train inbetween, on point-to-point ticket no rail pass needed). Flying 'open jaws' like this is usually not more expensive and saves you having to backtrack.

Intrepid1

I agree with the open jaws idea..no need to go back to the city you landed in.

IF you are doing this yourself then you might consider using a consolidator for airfares such as www.onetravel.com; at least look up the airfares using an aggrgator site such as www.itasoftware.com. These in addition to the usual www.farechase.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, etc., etc.

Another favorite is mobissiomo.com but it won't allow open jaw searches.

suze

It sounds like your travel dates are flexible? Be sure to price flying different days of the week looking for the lowest fares.

suze

from a quick spin on Expedia it appears there are no non-stop flights from Portland to Heathrow. that might make considering leaving from SeaTac worthwhile after all IMO.