12 days in Europe for a first timer...Where should I go??
Mar 12th, 2009, 08:24 AM
#22
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Your updated itinerary is fine. I would offer that Paris and London have more "sights" than Munich, and you might steal from Munich and give to Paris or London.
I would not take time away from any of those cities for Switzerland, which I find boring and overly expensive. It is pretty, but all a bit twee for my tastes. No real soul.
I would not take time away from any of those cities for Switzerland, which I find boring and overly expensive. It is pretty, but all a bit twee for my tastes. No real soul.
Mar 12th, 2009, 10:25 AM
#24
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Hi
I actually love the Fodors Italy 2009. I've been using it to plan my trip to Italy for the summer. It actually does have a lot of good information on different things to do, eat and go in Venice, Rome and Florence as well as surrounding smaller cities.
One good website to check out especially if you plan on visiting other countries like France, London and Switzerland is www.eurocheapo.com. It does talk alot about the different railpasses you can take (http://www.eurocheapo.com/train/types.php).
I actually love the Fodors Italy 2009. I've been using it to plan my trip to Italy for the summer. It actually does have a lot of good information on different things to do, eat and go in Venice, Rome and Florence as well as surrounding smaller cities.
One good website to check out especially if you plan on visiting other countries like France, London and Switzerland is www.eurocheapo.com. It does talk alot about the different railpasses you can take (http://www.eurocheapo.com/train/types.php).
Mar 12th, 2009, 03:08 PM
#25
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I will assume you are in your early 20s if you are going on a study abroad trip.
You are wise to have a "wish list" for your weekends, ready to make suggestions to the others you will meet in the program but ready to go along if someone else has a fun idea or knows of a special event.
If we know a little more about your interests and travel style, we can probably give more personalized advice. What I enjoyed on my first trip to Europe at age 21 was quite different than my nephew who also just went at 21 because our interests are so different. Also, traveling alone can be a little different than traveling with a companion, who you might pick up in Italy as well.
If it were me in my early 20s (love mountains, wanted to see what I thought of as iconic images of Europe, like train travel) and traveling from Venice to London, I would have the following as my outline, but not commit until I was in Italy and knew I didn't want to travel with someone else after the program:
June 12th
Train from Venice to Salzburg/western Austria rather than Switzerland (B.O. is great but out of the way) for a day or two on trails and lakes. Other option is the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area.
June 13th -- Day in mountains, possibly castles
June 14th -- Train to Munich
(I did go there on my first trip, but not my choice as I don't like beer so the beerhalls didn't mean that much to me) for beerhalls, nightlife, day trip to castles if not visited from Garmisch.
June 15th -- Day in Munich, leave in evening for Paris
Night train to Paris to have the experience.
June 16th -- Arrive in Paris, Day in Paris
June 17th -- Day in Paris
June 18th -- Day trip to Versailles
June 19th -- Day or evening to London
June 20th -- Day in London
June 21st -- Day in London
June 22nd -- Day trip to Cotswolds or Oxford or...
June 23rd -- Day in London
June 24th -- Morning in London, Leave for Chicago at 12:45
My nephew, on the other hand, spent a couple of days in London and flew to northern Italy (you'd have that part covered) for his first trip and wandered the cities without specifically seeing sights or museums. Next trip he did the same from Prague to Budapest--fly in, wander around, listen to some music, go to a football game, eat some local food, then fly out. Very different travel style from me in my 20s. He would probably plan a trip of budget air flights from Venice to Munich to Berlin to Paris to Amsterdam to London (or wherever is cheapest) and not stay more than 2 nights in one city.
You are wise to have a "wish list" for your weekends, ready to make suggestions to the others you will meet in the program but ready to go along if someone else has a fun idea or knows of a special event.
If we know a little more about your interests and travel style, we can probably give more personalized advice. What I enjoyed on my first trip to Europe at age 21 was quite different than my nephew who also just went at 21 because our interests are so different. Also, traveling alone can be a little different than traveling with a companion, who you might pick up in Italy as well.
If it were me in my early 20s (love mountains, wanted to see what I thought of as iconic images of Europe, like train travel) and traveling from Venice to London, I would have the following as my outline, but not commit until I was in Italy and knew I didn't want to travel with someone else after the program:
June 12th
Train from Venice to Salzburg/western Austria rather than Switzerland (B.O. is great but out of the way) for a day or two on trails and lakes. Other option is the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area.
June 13th -- Day in mountains, possibly castles
June 14th -- Train to Munich
(I did go there on my first trip, but not my choice as I don't like beer so the beerhalls didn't mean that much to me) for beerhalls, nightlife, day trip to castles if not visited from Garmisch.
June 15th -- Day in Munich, leave in evening for Paris
Night train to Paris to have the experience.
June 16th -- Arrive in Paris, Day in Paris
June 17th -- Day in Paris
June 18th -- Day trip to Versailles
June 19th -- Day or evening to London
June 20th -- Day in London
June 21st -- Day in London
June 22nd -- Day trip to Cotswolds or Oxford or...
June 23rd -- Day in London
June 24th -- Morning in London, Leave for Chicago at 12:45
My nephew, on the other hand, spent a couple of days in London and flew to northern Italy (you'd have that part covered) for his first trip and wandered the cities without specifically seeing sights or museums. Next trip he did the same from Prague to Budapest--fly in, wander around, listen to some music, go to a football game, eat some local food, then fly out. Very different travel style from me in my 20s. He would probably plan a trip of budget air flights from Venice to Munich to Berlin to Paris to Amsterdam to London (or wherever is cheapest) and not stay more than 2 nights in one city.
Mar 12th, 2009, 05:49 PM
#26
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that def sounds like a great plan. I never thought about going to Salzburg/western Austria area to see the Mountains. I def love seeing mountains. Colorado is my favorite place for me to go to in the states. I def am a beer drinker, I love trying new beers and def want to go to Germany since I'm of German Decent. So the beer Halls interest me.
My Travel style is I want to see interesting things but I don't want to be traveling constantly. I want to be able to aimlessly walk around Munich or Paris or London and see something cool and stop or leisurely eat dinner at a restaurant and not rush through it to get to another place. I would like to be able to enjoy the places im in.
I'm pretty sure im going to be going back to Europe after I graduate in may 2010 for three weeks to celebrate that im finished in College. so if i don't see it now, i can see it in about a year.
My Travel style is I want to see interesting things but I don't want to be traveling constantly. I want to be able to aimlessly walk around Munich or Paris or London and see something cool and stop or leisurely eat dinner at a restaurant and not rush through it to get to another place. I would like to be able to enjoy the places im in.
I'm pretty sure im going to be going back to Europe after I graduate in may 2010 for three weeks to celebrate that im finished in College. so if i don't see it now, i can see it in about a year.
Mar 13th, 2009, 06:21 PM
#28
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There is a place in the Dolomites where you are evidently able to take the ski gondola up to a high alpine meadow for great hiking--a weekend for you while in Italy. I've seen it described by Rick Steves and it looks great, but I haven't been.
If Colorado is your favorite then absolutely plan to go to Salzburg or Garmisch or Innsbruck on your way north. I haven't been to Innsbruck so not sure of the views/access to the mountains there. Last trip to Germany I went to little Mittenwald from Munich for a couple of days of mountain hiking recharge, but Mittenwald is just a quiet village while Garmisch or Salzburg or Innsbruck would give you larger cities with more nightlife.
You will enjoy the beers of Germany.
If Colorado is your favorite then absolutely plan to go to Salzburg or Garmisch or Innsbruck on your way north. I haven't been to Innsbruck so not sure of the views/access to the mountains there. Last trip to Germany I went to little Mittenwald from Munich for a couple of days of mountain hiking recharge, but Mittenwald is just a quiet village while Garmisch or Salzburg or Innsbruck would give you larger cities with more nightlife.
You will enjoy the beers of Germany.
Aug 25th, 2013, 07:02 PM
#30
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I really enjoyed the post and all your replies, and I have a similar situation...
I just recently found out I have some funding to have some work presented in Vienna, which will be my first time out of North America. After my events in Vienna I figure I have about 10-12 days before I have to fly back to Canada. I want to maximize it all -- who knows if I'll ever be able to afford to come back! I figure I should fly home from somewhere else--- should I travel by train to Salzburg, Munich, Zurich, and fly home from Paris? But I want to see Prague too, and it would be great to see Berlin. Any suggestions? I'm a culture nut, especially related to classical music and art and architecture, and also a nature nut.
I just recently found out I have some funding to have some work presented in Vienna, which will be my first time out of North America. After my events in Vienna I figure I have about 10-12 days before I have to fly back to Canada. I want to maximize it all -- who knows if I'll ever be able to afford to come back! I figure I should fly home from somewhere else--- should I travel by train to Salzburg, Munich, Zurich, and fly home from Paris? But I want to see Prague too, and it would be great to see Berlin. Any suggestions? I'm a culture nut, especially related to classical music and art and architecture, and also a nature nut.
Aug 25th, 2013, 07:14 PM
#31
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You will have a much better chance of helpful responses if you begin your own post. You should mention time of year you are going. What kind of a budget you are on. Seriously consider flying open-jaw, into one airport and out of another to save on back-tracking.
