simavj

Hi All,
My first trip to Uk and Europe,planned as follows:
London-20-22
London to Paris-23rd July
Paris-23rd
Palace of versile -24th July
Rome -25th by flight from Paris
Vatican City-26Th July
Pisa/Florance -27th July
Florance to Interlaken by Train-28th
29-30-31-1Switzerland
2nd and 3rd Aug -Amsterdam
We are four Adults and on budget travel.We are Vegetarian.
Is the above itinerary good or need to amend?
Can I go to Paris by Train?
Should I keep 4 days for switzerland or visit pisa/Florance instead?
My departure is from Amsterdam so cant change.
Please Guide
Thanks
simavj

thursdaysd

Too many places, too little time. You need to cut back. Especially if you are on a budget, moving isn't free.

Trains: see seat61.com.

Budget flights: see skyscanner.net

Get some guidebooks and figure out what you want to see instead of just ticking off towns.

janisj

>>Is the above itinerary good<<

No -- it is not good. Not to be snarky but the fact you are vegetarians is not a problem at all. Your itinerary on the other hand is a HUGE problem.

You have 11.5 days (not counting the 3rd which I assume is the day you fly out) and want to visit five countries and at least 7 cities.

You will spend almost 5 full days of your 11.5 days on trains/in transit

2.5 days in London
half a day in Paris
most of a day at Versailles
1.5 days for Rome and the Vatican
half a day in Pisa and a few hours in Florence
4 days in Switzerland
half a day in Amsterdam

Have you already booked flights in to London and home from A'dam? If so - London, Paris and Amsterdam would fill your time nicely.

sparkchaser

Holy crap. Are you even going to have time to see anything other than the security line at the airport?

menachem

london: 4 nights (1st day doesn't count because of jetlag)

eurostar to Paris

Paris: 3 nights, 4 if you want to do a day trip

thalys to Amsterdam

Amsterdam: 2 nights, 3 if you want to do a day trip

and there's a little bit of wiggle room.

fly home.

the whole italy/switzerland excursion is impossible. you haven't enough time.

StCirq

It looks as though you have modeled this "itinerary" based on those fly-by-night bus tours sold by travel agents all over Asia. But you're not going to be on a bus with someone else handling all the logistics.

Scrap this, read some guidebooks, study maps, and come up with something sensible and affordable (the trip you've planned will cost a LOT, as you are constantly moving and paying for transportation). menachem has you off to a good start.

bilboburgler

It does depend on how much you are vegetarian. So any problem with root vegtables, milk, butter, cheese, eggs will be an issue or if will not eat food in a kitchen that also prepares meat.

To be safe as possible use https://www.happycow.net/

For many people from the Indian sub-continent this rushed holiday seems to be the norm. For me it would be spending too much money with transport companies.

Look at London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam and maybe a special trip to Switzerland.

Whathello

Same.
Your itinerary is one for ticking boxes. However I do appreciate that Indians don't have much holiday.
I'd at least scrap Switzerland (that is a whole country) and put the saved days in all of your other stops.
Namaste.

simavj

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for your guidance.
so how about this plan?
17- Malaysia to Manchester
18-19 -Manchester
20-23 London
24-27 Switzerland
28 night train to Rome
29-1st Rome
2 morning flight to Amsterdam
3rd Night Flight to Malaysia

PalenQ

there is no overnight train from Switzerland to Italy - there used to be years ago but not now so either do a long day on a train or fly Zurich or wherever in Switzerland to Rome.

for lots about trains check www.seat61.com- lots of good info about discounted tickets say in Italy and the U.K. - huge savings for really early booking (but non-changeable non-refundable I think!)- you are not nearly traveling enough on trains to even think about railpasses except a Swiss Pass - for lots of general info on trains check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

for Switzerland if you are going to more than one place look at 4-day straight Swiss Pass or Swiss Transfer Ticket if going to just one place.

nytraveler

That is better but still very rushed. Manchester? Is that to see relatives? If not, head directly to London - the biggest city in europe and with way more to see and do than any of the others.

sparkchaser

Maybe he just wants to see Trafford Center?

simavj

Thanks for your help.

Is it safe to travel from Rome airport FCO ,I will land at 10.30 pm .Then go to hotel after immigration n all so probably 11.30-12 .Is it safe to travel at night?

PalenQ

Is the hotel in the airport area - and yes IME it is save - never heard of many problems.

How will you go to the hotel - train or taxi or private driver? All should be safe.

simavj

Hello sparkchaser ,nytraveler

I am visiting Manchester for my daughter's graduation on 19th July.
The whole trip is arranged for this.

sparkchaser

Congratulations to her.

PalenQ

And you'll see why Manchester is not as bad as many portray it as - a vibrant clean city.

simavj

Thank You sparkchaser.
Indeed PalenQ
So far planning ....
17‐07‐2016 Kuala Lumpur to Manchester
18‐07‐2016‐Manchester
19‐07‐2016‐Manchester
20‐07‐2016 till 24‐07‐2016‐London
24‐07‐2016‐ London LTN‐Zurich‐Flight
24‐07‐2016 till 29‐07‐2016‐Switzerland
29‐07‐2016 Zurich ZRH –Rome FCO-Train-evening
30‐07‐2016 till 02‐08‐2016‐Italy
02‐08‐2016‐Rome (Flumincio)‐Amsterdam (AMS)‐Flight
02‐08‐2016 till 03‐08‐2016‐ Amsterdam
03‐08‐2016‐Amsterdam to Malaysia

PalenQ

Nice - but too bad you could not put one more day into Amsterdam.

simavj

Hi PalenQ
Kindly guide me where should i cut one day and adjust in Amsterdam?
And what are the places of main interest for which I want one more day?
Thanks