Visiting Europe in April 2015

Old Nov 21st, 2014, 06:29 PM
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Visiting Europe in April 2015

We are planning to visit Europe in end of april 2015, I need your help and suggestions on trip planning. We are travelling for US (South west ) and total trip plan is 10 days excluding travelling dates, We are planning to see 3 countries in this visit , first two are Netherlands (Amsterdam) and France (Paris) and we are not able to decide on 3rd country between Italy and Greece. If it is Italy than Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome , If it is Greece than Santorini, Mykonos and Athens.

5 days for together Amsterdam and Paris and 5 days for either Italy or Greece, is that make sense? We are flexible to increase total dates to 13 (Maximum).

We are newly married and love to see Flowers, Water ,Nature beauty and food lovers (we are vegetarians).

Please advice.Thanks.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 06:42 PM
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Hi

I would not do 3 countries in 10 days. I would restrict it to 1 country. I am biased to Italy so I would go with your Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome itinerary. From Florence you can do trips to Pisa, the Tuscan countryside and towns like for eg. Siena. These would fulfil your must see wish list. To maximise time I would fly to Rome and return home from Venice (or vice versa). If it helps, Emirates flies direct to Venice from Dubai.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 07:24 PM
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When you subtract the travel time between countries plus finding hotels, checking out and back in, transfer times to and from airports, and getting re-acclimated, you really only have 7 days at best if you plan to visit 3 countries. You really need to re-think your idea and take Worldinabag's advice. Stick with one country.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 07:24 PM
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Thanks worldinabag, but we want to see Tulips garden in Amsterdam, that's the main reason we are planning to visit in April, is that make sense If I increase number of days to 13 rather 10 days. I can take out Rome from Italy list.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 07:30 PM
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Yes agree with you brotherleelove2014, Tulips garden in Amsterdam and Eiffel tower in Paris are the only thing we want to see in two countries, yes travel time from amsterdam to paris is 6 to 8 hours and from paris to venice 13 hours(day time), but sure I will think about plan either i increase number of days or cut down number of countries.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 07:35 PM
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Even 3 weeks would be barely long enough for Amsterdam, Paris, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens or Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome

So no, adding a couple of days won't help much. With 10 days you could see Amsterdam and Paris and a couple of days in ONE city in Italy. Or w/ 13 days - amsterdam, paris and a glimpse of two cities in Italy. You simply are not allowing for travel time/logistics.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 07:46 PM
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Thanks Janisj, I will update my trip plan to Amsterdam, Paris and one city (Venice) in Italy...looks like it does not make sense with multi city in Italy...

Could you guys help me on Hotels in these cities. which are best for vegetarians..
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 07:58 PM
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What is your budget?
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 08:05 PM
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100 to 150 euros per day for each person.
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 10:17 PM
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Kumark,

Everybody has their own interests, but you did ask for suggestions. Mine is to look more at some of the incredible, beautiful and wonderful historic, architectural and artistic treasures these places have to offer.

It seems a waste to go to some place like Paris and see only the Eiffel tower unless you have been there before and been to Notre Dame, the Louvre, St Chapelle, Versailles, etc. etc.
The Keukenhof is, of course, a spectacular place, and certainly worth a visit, but have you already been to the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijks Museum?

To get the most sight seeing value for money spent consider two places with perhaps a visit to some other nearby place.

The Netherlands and Paris are a great pairing and both are beautiful in April, though can be cold.

If Venice is a must, add as many days as possible, and fly there from Paris. Fly into Amsterdam and out of Venice.

Take jet lag into consideration.

Not including flight days:
Day 1, land in Amsterdam, get to hotel, bit of touring or walking.
Day 2, Gardens
Day 3 Amsterdam
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Old Nov 21st, 2014, 10:35 PM
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Sorry, accidentally posted and did not do spell check either.
Day 4, travel to Paris (1/2 day to travel (train) and get to hotel)
Day 5, Paris
Day 6, Paris
Day 7, fly to Venice (allow at least 1/2 day to get to airport, check in, fly, get to hotel in Venice, etc)
Day 8, Venice
Etc. etc.
Lay things out and include travel time and checking out of and into hotels to see what you can realistically do.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 03:13 AM
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Amsterdam and Paris - with a day in between for travel (possibly stop in Brussels if going by train) is plenty for the time you have.

Going to a 3rd country - esp with multiple cities - is compete overkill, It would be nothing more than rushing from one place to another with next to no time to actually see/do anything.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 03:17 AM
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And is that budget for hotel - so a room for 200 to 300 euros? And is that just for you and your spouse? Or is the group larger?

If that is an overall total budget including hotel, meals, sightseeing, and intercity and intracity transit that is a whole different thing?
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 07:11 AM
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Thanks a lot Sassafrass, for me it looks perfect, 3 days in Amsterdam , 3 days in Paris and rest would be decided either any near by place or Only VENICE. Time difference between my city and Amsterdam is 8 hours, so certainly I will think about Jet lag.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 07:15 AM
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Thanks Nytraveler, I made a vague budget plan, 150 euros for food (per day, per person), 100 euros for hotel and 100 euros for intercity and intracity transit. I am not sure whether it make sense or not.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 08:08 AM
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3 days in Amsterdam is 4 nights. Ditto Paris. So you've already used 8 nights, actually more like 9, as below:

Day 1: Fly from US
Day 2: Arrive in Amsterdam, jet-lagged and sleepy. Get to hotel, get oriented.
Day 3-5: Amsterdam
Day 6: Check out of hotel, get to train station, take train to Paris, get to new hotel, get oriented
Day 7-9: Paris
Day 10: Check out of hotel, get to airport early, fly to Venice, get from airport to hotel (by bus and vaporetto or Alilaguna shuttle or water taxi), get oriented
Day 11-13: Venice
Day 14: Fly home from Venice

Getting oriented means finding out where your hotel is in the city, where the restaurants are, where the sights you want to see are and how to get there, whether on foot, by public transportation or taxi.

I'm suggesting you fly to Venice from Paris Orly. Orly is easier to navigate than Paris' main airport, Charles De Gaulle, and it's closer to town. Also Easyjet has cheap flights from Orly to Venice.

You really need to get some guidebooks and read up on your destinations. You may find there's much more you want see in each city. Not to speak of day trips you can take from these cities. Much as I love Venice (wonderful for water lovers) I'd subtract a day from Venice and add it to Paris. Or even restrict this trip to Amsterdam and Paris.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 08:48 AM
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If for a ouple sharing one double bed 200 euros per night for a hotel is certainly doable in a pleasant place. 150 euros per person is a substantial amount for food - unless you want Michelin * restaurants. You will not need 100 euros per day (or anywhere near for transit within cities - between cities depends on class and when you buy tickets. But you will need funds for sightseeing (that can come from the transit money you are not spending on the days you are in cities).

Not sure how you are counting days/nights, but for example

Day 1 arrive Amsterdam - 1/ day jet lag
Days 2 and 3 Amsterdam (so 2 days plus a wander around) - 3 nights
Day 4 Amsterdam to Paris (possibly stop in Brussels for a couple of hours)
Days 5 through 8 in Paris - this is 3 days/4 nights

Now you have only Day 9 to get to Venice (fly) and Day 10 to spend there, assuming you head home on day 11.

If you are going home on Day 10 you have only part of one day in Venice (the day you fly from Paris).

Your days in Amsterdam and Paris are minimal for first visits and seeing even the most major sights and don't really allow for day trips outside either city. (I've been to Paris about 14 times between vacation and business - and there are always more fascinating things to see/do - as well as revisits to a few key places - I can;t leave the city without visiting the Musee d'Orsay).

Suggest you lay out your trip this way to see what makes sense.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 09:13 AM
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Thanks to Mimar and Nytraveler, I am not counting travelling days in my trip, Agree with you I will take maps from AAA insurance to get to know more about the area and travelling plans between hotel and sight seeing places. Hotel booking, breakfast/lunch/dinner restaurants and sight seeing tickets and travelling plan , every thing is added in my trip plan....
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 09:34 AM
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Could you please give me few ideas or websites to find good hotels in Amsterdam and Paris....hotels that are near to sight seeing and economical..
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Old Nov 22nd, 2014, 11:22 AM
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You would probably get more meaningful responses, Kumark, if you posted a separate thread for each city asking specific questions. If, for example, you posted asking for Amsterdam hotels @ €150 near the sites, those of us who have stayed in Amsterdam in those sorts of hotels would be likely to respond with helpful suggestions.
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