honeymooner_2010

Hi all,

My Fiance and I are travelling to Europe from Australia straight after our wedding at the end of January next year. We realise it's not the ideal time to travel being winter but it is the only time we can go...

The places we have decided on for our travels are Greece, Malta, Venice, Rome & Pompei however we are a little confused as to how we are best to go about the travel. We are not afraid of the options of car hire or travel by rail, we have a little time on our hands with a 3 week holiday planned. We are both youths, on a budget but keen to see the history and culture, my fiance is a soldier and has never been to Europe before. I am maltese and have accomodation for us to stay in Greece & Malta. We have also been told that Venice's Carnevale is between the 13th & 24th of Feb so we'd love to perhaps tie that in if possible, it's not a must but would be a bonus! I am not sure if we would be crossing over one too many times or creating excess travels if we did it this way.. Would love to hear your thoughts!!! Are we doing this all wrong?!!

This is what we have so far...

27/1 - fly into Milan (stay overnight)
28/1 - fly to Greece
29/1 - Greece
30/1 - Greece
31/1 - Greece
01/2 - Greece
02/2 - Greece
03/2 - Greece
04/2 - Fly to Malta
05/2 - Malta
06/2 - Malta
07/2 - Malta
08/2 - Malta
09/2 - Malta
10/2 - Malta
11/2 - Malta
12/2 - Venice
13/2 - Venice
14/2 - Early Morning Train to Rome
15/2 - Rome
16/2 - Day trip to Pompei
17/2 - Whole day in Rome and fly back to Australia

Your thoughts would be much appreciated!!

Thanks,
Renee!!

travelerjan

Have you snagged a bargain fllight that goes in to Milan & out of Rome?? Otherwise, why Milan for just a few hours? Unless you desperately want to go shoe-shopping or something, I would have said, look at an "open-jaw" ticket and fly IN to Athens and OUT of Rome. But I'll bet you already have purchased your tickets. Those are my thoughts .. but probably not of much use if you have already committed money down.

At that time of year, I do hope your Greece accommodation is in Athens, because with the weather, the usual summer places will be closed down and gloomy.

honeymooner_2010

Thanks Travelerjan, yes we did snag a bargain flight which flys into Milan and out of Rome.

I am yet to find out where exactly our accomodation is in Greece but I am hoping the same! Not too worried though, there are ways to get around these things. We live in the tropics everyday and when our trip comes around our summer will be at its peak so we will be keen to experience the cooler climate, my only concern is the wind and rain.

brotherleelove2004

You might want to know that Aegean Airlines periodically offers discount airfare between Milan and Athens as well as between Athens and Rome, so if you are able to catch a sale for Jan. and Feb. you will save a significant amount of money. Right now I'm seeing €110 one way Jan. 28 from Milan to Athens but there's a good possibility that this will drop between now and then. Athens>Rome on Feb. 4 is €83.

http://www.aegeanair.com/default.aspx

Sign up for the Aegean email newsletter and they'll notify you automatically of any upcoming sales.

brotherleelove2004

Same applies to flights between Venice and Athens.

honeymooner_2010

Brotherleelove2004 - you are a star! thank you!! that's great news to us.

kfusto

My only comment is that your time in Rome is very short. I would skip Venice and spend more time in Rome.

honeymooner_2010

kfusto - you're right, that was my concern also.. perhaps the only way around this is to forfeit pompei as I really want to get to Venice for the Carnevale, it looks like an amazing festival and one we don't see often down here.

kfusto

I would skip Pompei and focus on Rome.

I have been to Venice for Carnevale and found that much of what goes on is private parties. There was music in Piazza San Marco but the weather was so damp and cold it was not very pleasant to be outside. We saw costumed people at restaurants, etc, but it is not like Mardi Gras (thankfully) where there are big street parties; at least we did not experience that and were there in the middle of the event for several days. It was nice in that it was not packed with tourists as it is so many others times of the year.

As for being there in January, I enjoy going to Europe in the off season. Weather is a small trade off for the lack of crowds.

Have a wonderful honeymoon!