Hello everyone.
Me and my boyfriend are planning on taking a 2 week Italy/France vacation from Las Vegas. This is going to be the first time in Europe for the both of us, and after doing a relative amount of research and reading, I am still not 100% sure on exactly where I should start. I am very excited for this trip and want to plan well.

This is the rough itenerary that I came up with...

Fly to Paris from Las Vegas. After a few days, take a train to Nice and explore the coastline in the French Riviera..stay in France for 3 or 4 nights total then fly to Venice with AlpiEagle (anyone know anything about that? Heard it was inexpensive). Stay in Venice for a couple of nights, then take a train to Florence via railpass, staying for a couple of nights there(I heard little towns like Pisa, Sienca are nice to see), then finally train ride to Rome and spend the last nights there.

How does this planning sound? Is it pushing the limits of trying to see too much in 2 weeks?

If there are any other cities we should see instead of the ones I mentioned above, please let me know! Also, if anyone knows of where we can purchase inexpensive rail/train passes please let me know.

I know traveling to Europe in December might be a little gloomy, dark and cold, but we had the great opportunity to take off of work at the same time and want to explore the country during our winter break from school.

Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks in advance!

I think Italy at the end of the trip is a wonderful idea but, although I love Paris, I am not sure that the pre-Christmas atmosphere will be so great there.

Could I suggest that you plan to fly into Brussels and then stay two nights (or 1) in Bruges (Brugge). Belgium is famous for its' Christmas Markets and they also celebrate Sint Niklaas earlier in December. Here you will find the streets lined with lights, market stalls everywhere selling Christmas gifts, mulled wine, delicious foods - and of course the worlds best chocolates!!

So many people from Britain do the trip to Bruges for pre Christmas shopping as it is so lovely, historic, friendly etc. My wife and daughter will be there around the 5th and hopefully I will make a trip nearer to Christmas.

The eurostar fast train goes out of Brussels as well so you could still go and see the Eifel Tower and on to the south.

Here is a link that leads you to local info sites:- don't forget to go ice skating in the Market square!!

http://www.oldchocolatehouse.com/Links.html

Prices are better than Paris, food more homely and delicious, beer a national heritage - romance a guarantee!!

Hope you have a great vacation

Wow, thank you so much! Your reply is the first reply and I am definitely considering it! It sounds great, especially the Belgium idea...my bf loves it and said we should go!

The Xmas Market sounds very nice, and spending time there during the holiday season is a must, seems like

Being able to go up North to the Eiffel Tower is a major plus too.

Thank you again and I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip too!!

I wonder if flying to Rome and making our way up to Brussels is better so that we can spend christmas time in brussels..instead of flying there and making our way down to Italy towards the end of the trip?

Any ideas?

your ideas sound fine - until you say you have 2 weeks. You have planned about 18 days

1 night Las Vegas to Paris
3-4 nights in Paris
1 day train to Nice
3 or 4 nights on the French coast
2 nights in Venice
2 nights in Florence
3-4 nights n Rome
1 day flying home = 17-19 days and that is cutting Paris and Rome awfully short.

Or - if you did mean 4 days total in France - how do you get a "few days" in Paris plus the riviera?

My post was re your original idea. Brussels would seem a poor substitution for Paris IMO. Nothing wrong w/ Brussels - but Paris is -- well -- <u>Paris</u>

In December, your hours of daylight will be very limited so you'll probably see a bit less per day than you imagine . . . . .

Yeah, I meant 4 days total in France. But now we are thinking of cancelling the France for four days and either flying to Belgium (Xmas Market), staying there for a few days, then going down to France to see the Eiffel tower...then either flying to Italy or taking Eurostar, whichever is cheaper.

..or doing the above in reverse, so flying to Rome and making our way up to Belgium and spending xmas there. I don't know which one would be better.

Since Belgium and Italy is pretty far apart, would it be a better deal to travel to closer countries like Czech Replublic (prague) or something like that?

I am getting so confused as what is best!...but definitely the Brussels plan that william suggested sounds great.

hmmm..

yeah...I understand what you're saying about Paris.

We could spend some time in Brussels for the Xmas market, spend time in Paris and also sometime in Italy?

ooh, franami,

you're trying to cram a quart into a pint pot - it can't be done! [well not without you needing another holiday when you get home!]

ist of all - remember that europe will stil be here after you go home. so you don't need to try and see it all at once.

2nd - what do you REALLY want to see?

how easy is it to get between those places?

how long have you got?

it seemed to me that your first plan was ok for a 1st time, if a bit ambitious.

is your priority Paris? - or christmas markets? [for example, you might prefer Paris in the spring teamed with a trip to the south of france].

if you decide on Christmas markets, then you might start with Germany - Munich for example - then trains to Venice, Florence and Rome.

on the other hand, if you REALLY want to see Paris, go for Paris, then fly to Venice, trains to Florence etc. [no room for soth of france I'm afraid].

if you MUST fit in the south of France, paris, train to Nice, then Train to Milan, followed by Venice.

I have limited you to 4 destinations in 14 days - remembering that you lose at least half a day very time you move, that gives you only 3 days in each place.

four would be better! which would mean only 3 places.

hope this helps,

regards, ann

Alright...after long thinking I came up with two options. This is suppose to be a fun planning but it is turning out a little stressful. It shouldn't be because Europe will always be there, and no matter where we go it will be beautiful and amazing.
So here are my two options and please give me any input on what you think.

option1: Fly to Munich (want to go to germany for xmas markets..heard it has the best in europe) Then
Brugge and Brussels..it is close to Germany and we can go to the Grand Palace and see the markets there as well. Then Thalys or Eurostar down to Paris and spend the rest of the days there.

option 2:
Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris. completely cut out Belgium altogether. (although it seems like a loss since it is so close from Paris.)

Please let me know what you think.
I guess I want to be around the xmas atmosphere and that would lead more to munich and brugge, but Italy is something I really want to see too.
aaaaah....

thanks in advance

Franami,

Spent 16 days driving around France
last December and had a blast. Also been to Italy several times. 3 or 4 nights in Paris is a must. Not sure I would go to Nice in December unless you really want to say you've been there. The seaside resort will be dead. I'd suggest going to Provence and spending the night in Arles or Nimes. Great Roman ruins and nice towns to walk around. Two nights in Venice, two in Florance, and then 3 in Rome would be great. Yes you are seeing a lot, but suggest you spend at least two nights in each location. There is enough to see in those locations that I don't think you'll need side trips + you can always return!!

thanks for your reply

I love Nice, but it's really at its best in the spring, summer, or early fall. Same is true of the other towns along the Riveria. December can bring dreary weather, not really great for a first-time visit.

With only two weeks, I'd stick to some of the major European cities, which offer lots to see/do even in bad weather.

I'd recommend:

Paris- Five days. Remember- that first day you will be tired after the long trip from Vegas!

Fly or train to Venice ( there's an overnight sleeper train from Paris, and sounds like you two are young enough to deal with it!!)

Venice- Four days

Train to Rome ( I remember this was about a four hour trip from Venice)

Rome- Four days

Fly home

If you're really ambitious, you could spend a day in Florence. The train between Rome and Florence takes a little less than two hours.

By the way, the reason I'm suggesting four day stays in each destination, is that you will thank me afterwards! I have learned the hard way that traveling for one and two day stops between destinations means you are constantly packing and unpacking. Plus you lose at least half a day each time you change destinations.