2 week trip in Europe / looking at hotels/resorts
May 27th, 2012, 03:15 PM
#21
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Thank you so much, guys, and Charness for your input. Very very helpful advice and info.
I didn't think resorts would be available where we were looking to be located. I'll read over all the posts and do further research.
On a side note, have any of you had experience flying through Iberia airlines (Boeing 767) ?
I didn't think resorts would be available where we were looking to be located. I'll read over all the posts and do further research.
On a side note, have any of you had experience flying through Iberia airlines (Boeing 767) ?
May 27th, 2012, 03:37 PM
#22
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Well, London and Rome will be visited for sure.
We're going to try our best to secure a great deal someone pointed us out to with our airline tickets and that includes flying into London and then later out of Rome and if all goes well, the tickets work beautifully for us.
I'm currently using Booking.com to locate hotels/apartments that best suite our needs.
I agree that a pool and fitness room and all-inclusives are not and won't be needed.
My sister wanted to see one thing in Paris and that of course was The Eiffel Tower.
We included the one day stay in Venice to separate the trek into Rome for the remaining duration of the trip.
We're going to try our best to secure a great deal someone pointed us out to with our airline tickets and that includes flying into London and then later out of Rome and if all goes well, the tickets work beautifully for us.
I'm currently using Booking.com to locate hotels/apartments that best suite our needs.
I agree that a pool and fitness room and all-inclusives are not and won't be needed.
My sister wanted to see one thing in Paris and that of course was The Eiffel Tower.
We included the one day stay in Venice to separate the trek into Rome for the remaining duration of the trip.
May 27th, 2012, 03:52 PM
#24
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Hmmmm...Iberia Airlines reviews don't look very promising, but then again, I am always left with the perception that most people feel like writing reviews on airlines when the experience was slightly more unfavorable.
I guess the low cost of our flight deal is in part thanks to this airline (Iberia - coach class), but at least we have a very nice flight back home (British Airlines - Biz class) and won't be flying with them again both ways if we choose to run with this deal.
I guess the low cost of our flight deal is in part thanks to this airline (Iberia - coach class), but at least we have a very nice flight back home (British Airlines - Biz class) and won't be flying with them again both ways if we choose to run with this deal.
May 27th, 2012, 04:42 PM
#25
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Lauren,
You might also want to look at venere.com for your Italian lodging. It's useful because you can sort by stars, or location, or price. Has a huge number of listings.
I've just been looking at rentalinrome and sleepinitaly for apartments......
You might also want to look at venere.com for your Italian lodging. It's useful because you can sort by stars, or location, or price. Has a huge number of listings.
I've just been looking at rentalinrome and sleepinitaly for apartments......
May 27th, 2012, 05:10 PM
#26
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Hi Lauren
We flew Iberia Chicago to Madrid last year, not a 767 but on an Air Bus, and it was fine. Service, seating, cleanliness, food,were all good. For your vacation I would recommend London ( I do have some concern about attainable flights and lodging because of the Olympic games), Paris, and Rome. If you could spend 4 nights each city that would be an enjoyable vacation.
We flew Iberia Chicago to Madrid last year, not a 767 but on an Air Bus, and it was fine. Service, seating, cleanliness, food,were all good. For your vacation I would recommend London ( I do have some concern about attainable flights and lodging because of the Olympic games), Paris, and Rome. If you could spend 4 nights each city that would be an enjoyable vacation.
May 27th, 2012, 05:43 PM
#27
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Lauren,
I'm beginning to feel the stress you must be feeling. It seems as if you have a family group of adults who are traveling together and YOU are the one stuck trying to assemble an itinerary that will please everyone. And so you end up adding an incredibly brief, and therefore expensive, visit to Paris so your sister can see the Eiffel Tower. And I get the feeling that your father is coming on this vacation under duress, thus his need for resort facilities to avoid touring all day.
With this in mind, I'm troubled that you are trying to put 5 adults (a 17-year-old is an adult size-wise) in one hotel room--a bathroom nightmare, and no place to hide when patience wears thin.
To answer your question-- please tell us the number, in dollars or euros, that you consider "affordable." What is the highest amount you can afford to pay per night to lodge your family? An actual number will help us help you in the best way.
I'm beginning to feel the stress you must be feeling. It seems as if you have a family group of adults who are traveling together and YOU are the one stuck trying to assemble an itinerary that will please everyone. And so you end up adding an incredibly brief, and therefore expensive, visit to Paris so your sister can see the Eiffel Tower. And I get the feeling that your father is coming on this vacation under duress, thus his need for resort facilities to avoid touring all day.
With this in mind, I'm troubled that you are trying to put 5 adults (a 17-year-old is an adult size-wise) in one hotel room--a bathroom nightmare, and no place to hide when patience wears thin.
To answer your question-- please tell us the number, in dollars or euros, that you consider "affordable." What is the highest amount you can afford to pay per night to lodge your family? An actual number will help us help you in the best way.
May 28th, 2012, 02:26 AM
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The best site for accommodation for families of 5 or more is http://www.roomfor5.co.uk
May 28th, 2012, 08:47 AM
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A one-day stop in Paris to see the Eiffel Tower... Right now, access into the Eiffel Tower is extremely limited, and the wait in line to go up/down very long: 2 hours at the base. (Even without the current problem, it's never quick to go up.) So perhaps the Paris stop can be saved for another trip?
This is the page on the official Eiffel Tower website that describes the problem. They don't identify when the problem will be fixed; it could be before your trip, or not...
http://www.eiffel-tower.com/preparin...our-visit.html
<i>We included the one day stay in Venice to separate the trek into Rome for the remaining duration of the trip.</i>
Here are two suggestions, just to put them out there:
1) Remove Paris from the itinerary, and do London-Venice-Rome instead, with more time in Venice to get away from the city center.
2) If you want to keep Paris on your itinerary, remove Venice and "separate the trek into Rome" with: Florence; the lakes region like Lake Como; OR on the coast at Cinque Terre. Venice is geographically farther away, and ultimately is yet another urban environment (albeit different from ones you may have experienced before!). Since your trip is in summer, perhaps a day or two on a lake or the coast between all these urban areas will be a good respite. (You also could look into a resort-type place in Tuscany or elsewhere.)
This is the page on the official Eiffel Tower website that describes the problem. They don't identify when the problem will be fixed; it could be before your trip, or not...
http://www.eiffel-tower.com/preparin...our-visit.html
<i>We included the one day stay in Venice to separate the trek into Rome for the remaining duration of the trip.</i>
Here are two suggestions, just to put them out there:
1) Remove Paris from the itinerary, and do London-Venice-Rome instead, with more time in Venice to get away from the city center.
2) If you want to keep Paris on your itinerary, remove Venice and "separate the trek into Rome" with: Florence; the lakes region like Lake Como; OR on the coast at Cinque Terre. Venice is geographically farther away, and ultimately is yet another urban environment (albeit different from ones you may have experienced before!). Since your trip is in summer, perhaps a day or two on a lake or the coast between all these urban areas will be a good respite. (You also could look into a resort-type place in Tuscany or elsewhere.)
May 28th, 2012, 09:23 AM
#30
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Can we just ask is there any actual reason you want all five adults to share one room? to be honest this is quite peculiar unless you are a bunch of kids looking for a small hostel dorm! You'll find it a lot easier to get a double and a triple (or even 2 doubles and a single and let the 17 year old have their own room). I don't even think a 5 person room in a nice hotel (if you find one) would work out more economical that 2 rooms.
anyway, if you really all have to sleep together you might have more luck looking for a 5 or 6 person room in a hostel.
anyway, if you really all have to sleep together you might have more luck looking for a 5 or 6 person room in a hostel.
May 28th, 2012, 11:33 AM
#31
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In Europe - in fact most anywhere - to put 5 people in a room you will need a suite (as in a bedroom with 2 dboules and a pull-out sofa in the LR) or a family room. But family rooms are really meant for parents with several children - and often have a double and then several small beds.
It's not clear who the members of your party are - but you need to be clear about 2 things:
What bed configuration do you need - how many doubles and how many singles
What your budget is in euros or $
Often you will find that two double rooms or one double and one triple room is cheaper than a suite. The other issue is everyone sharing one bath - a really bad idea. When we traveled with our two daughters we always got them their own room so we didn;t have to be joined at the hip 24/7, didn't get on each others nerves - and I didn't have to share a bath with 2 tween/teen girls. If you're all stuffed in one room what do you do when someone wants to sleep, others are still awake and the 17 year old is still out at a student cafe or bar?
Apartments would work better since you would have more room and a kitchen - but if none of you have traveled before you don;t have a concierge or front desk to fall back on with questions or for recommendations. (Of the places you have listed above for Rome the first is an apartment - with no lodging listed as allowing more than 4 people. The Alpi hotel does have rooms for 4 - in which you wouldn't fit - you would have to get one double and one triple - the latter with one double and one single bed - with the triple costing about $300 per night and the double $230 - so $1600 for 2 rooms for 3 nights.)
People can help with recos if you provide more info.
It's not clear who the members of your party are - but you need to be clear about 2 things:
What bed configuration do you need - how many doubles and how many singles
What your budget is in euros or $
Often you will find that two double rooms or one double and one triple room is cheaper than a suite. The other issue is everyone sharing one bath - a really bad idea. When we traveled with our two daughters we always got them their own room so we didn;t have to be joined at the hip 24/7, didn't get on each others nerves - and I didn't have to share a bath with 2 tween/teen girls. If you're all stuffed in one room what do you do when someone wants to sleep, others are still awake and the 17 year old is still out at a student cafe or bar?
Apartments would work better since you would have more room and a kitchen - but if none of you have traveled before you don;t have a concierge or front desk to fall back on with questions or for recommendations. (Of the places you have listed above for Rome the first is an apartment - with no lodging listed as allowing more than 4 people. The Alpi hotel does have rooms for 4 - in which you wouldn't fit - you would have to get one double and one triple - the latter with one double and one single bed - with the triple costing about $300 per night and the double $230 - so $1600 for 2 rooms for 3 nights.)
People can help with recos if you provide more info.
May 28th, 2012, 02:45 PM
#32
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It also helps to build a spreadsheet to track your plan. For example,
Leave home July 22
Arrive London July 23
Stay 3 nights: July 22, 23, 24
Leave London July 25, fly to Paris
Arrive Paris July 25
Stay 2 nights: July 25, July 26
(this would give you one and 1/2 days in Paris)
Leave Paris July 27 for Venice
options -- if you take an overnight train on the 27, it gives you most of another day in Paris
If you fly, assume you get to Venice in the late afternoon
Arrive Venice July 27 or 28
Stay Venice 2 nights, July 28 and July 29
Leave Venice July 30, train to Rome
Arrive Rome July 30
Stay Rome July 30, July 31, Aug 1 and Aug 2
Leave Rome to fly home on Aug 3
(You did say "give or take" - this is only adding one extra day.) Personally, I would add two more nights (not days) and stay one more night in Paris and one more night in Rome.
Busy, but doable.
Leave home July 22
Arrive London July 23
Stay 3 nights: July 22, 23, 24
Leave London July 25, fly to Paris
Arrive Paris July 25
Stay 2 nights: July 25, July 26
(this would give you one and 1/2 days in Paris)
Leave Paris July 27 for Venice
options -- if you take an overnight train on the 27, it gives you most of another day in Paris
If you fly, assume you get to Venice in the late afternoon
Arrive Venice July 27 or 28
Stay Venice 2 nights, July 28 and July 29
Leave Venice July 30, train to Rome
Arrive Rome July 30
Stay Rome July 30, July 31, Aug 1 and Aug 2
Leave Rome to fly home on Aug 3
(You did say "give or take" - this is only adding one extra day.) Personally, I would add two more nights (not days) and stay one more night in Paris and one more night in Rome.
Busy, but doable.
May 28th, 2012, 02:47 PM
#33
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Oh Drat. (not what I actually said) You need to move everything up a night as you would stay in London July 23, 24 and 25.
BUT this gives you an idea of what you need to plan for, including travel time between destinations. If you drop one destination, it gives you more time to enjoy the cities you do visit.
BUT this gives you an idea of what you need to plan for, including travel time between destinations. If you drop one destination, it gives you more time to enjoy the cities you do visit.
May 28th, 2012, 03:14 PM
#34
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My dad said that about $250/night is best if we can find it.
After talking about it tonight, he's still keen on flying into London for 4 days (3 if you count travel time into France) -which looks like we all want to hit one night in Paris before making it out to Venice for another night and ending the trip in Rome for 4 days. (3 if you count flying home on Thursday)
My mom is going to start helping me look into lodging information, but any guidance is much appreciated.
After talking about it tonight, he's still keen on flying into London for 4 days (3 if you count travel time into France) -which looks like we all want to hit one night in Paris before making it out to Venice for another night and ending the trip in Rome for 4 days. (3 if you count flying home on Thursday)
My mom is going to start helping me look into lodging information, but any guidance is much appreciated.
May 28th, 2012, 03:27 PM
#36
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Thank you for the suggestions, ggreen. 
I'll explain both of them to my parents tomorrow.
It looks like it would be better to skip Paris if access to the Eiffel Tower is going to be cut, and therefore, best for another time even though we'll be passing through Paris via train, which was my dad's argument in cutting Paris in the first place. He might still opt to stay a night there anyways, i'm not entirely sure. But your suggestions will definitely be brought up. Cinque Terre seems like a wonderful addition if we are to pull Venice from the list.
nona1- We certainly don't have to be rooming together. My dad is fine with looking at the option of 2 rooms or inter-connected rooms, so long as they are offered and within the price range. ($250/night)
I'll explain both of them to my parents tomorrow.
It looks like it would be better to skip Paris if access to the Eiffel Tower is going to be cut, and therefore, best for another time even though we'll be passing through Paris via train, which was my dad's argument in cutting Paris in the first place. He might still opt to stay a night there anyways, i'm not entirely sure. But your suggestions will definitely be brought up. Cinque Terre seems like a wonderful addition if we are to pull Venice from the list.
nona1- We certainly don't have to be rooming together. My dad is fine with looking at the option of 2 rooms or inter-connected rooms, so long as they are offered and within the price range. ($250/night)
May 28th, 2012, 03:33 PM
#37
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If we're able to find rooms with 3 beds, ie. one for parents/one for me and my sister/one for my brother (a couch or pull out will also suffice) -that would also be best. Again, we don't all have to be in a single room.
May 28th, 2012, 03:36 PM
#38
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uhoh_busted - I'll work on pounding out a spreadsheet like the example you provided asap, and see if France is still in the cards as well as Venice, as they might change due to this new information and suggestions given to me.
May 28th, 2012, 03:44 PM
#39
I would definitely get two rooms, one double and one triple. The rooms are very tiny in europe! The bathrooms even smaller! I would agree on limiting the travel to several cities as it takes a day to get anywhere even if the flight is an hour. I think London and Rome with day trips if you wish would be the best. If you do two weeks (5-7 in each city) you can more than likely get an apartment. If less, I would go the hotel route.
May 28th, 2012, 03:56 PM
#40
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"even though we'll be passing through Paris via train, which was my dad's argument in cutting Paris in the first place"
If you will not be visiting Paris, then there is no reason to take a train from London to Italy. A flight would be a much more efficient use of your limited time and will probably be cheaper.
Just verifying: $250 per night is for all 5 adults per night, yes? For the expensive cities you plan to visit , that will be a challenging budget. Even better to save money by NOT going to Paris which would add in extra transportation expenses. The more you move, the more it costs.
If you will not be visiting Paris, then there is no reason to take a train from London to Italy. A flight would be a much more efficient use of your limited time and will probably be cheaper.
Just verifying: $250 per night is for all 5 adults per night, yes? For the expensive cities you plan to visit , that will be a challenging budget. Even better to save money by NOT going to Paris which would add in extra transportation expenses. The more you move, the more it costs.
