20th wedding anniversary, Le Grand Tour
 

I am looking for ideas for a special trip, coming up in next year in March. Can spend 12-14 nights on the ground as needed.

I am thinking of a romantic "Grand Tour" type of trip that would have at least one nice "scenic" train ride.

Ideas include into London, then on to Paris with a day trip (still haven't seen Chartres!), then perhaps to Venice, then onto Rome and home?

We've been to Europe many times, and instead of going someplace new (yes, we still need to get to Prague and Spain one day), I'm thinking we'd spend this anniversary trip revisiting some favorites.

Any ideas for lacing together a "best of europe" type trip for a big anniversary? In the off-season?

Ideas include into London, then on to Paris with a day trip (still haven't seen Chartres!), then perhaps to Venice, then onto Rome and home?>

12-14 days

London - 3 days
Paris by Eurostar train (www.eurostar.com)
Paris 4 days including day trip to Chartres (catch Malcolm Miller's guided tours if he's there!)
Overnight train or fly to Venice. Overnight train -www.thello.com

Venice 2 days

Train to Rome- book own tickets at www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.com (competing rail companies using same tracks and stations)
3-5 days

Booking your trains online ASAP to get nifty discounted fares over full fare or walk-up fares. But such tickets usually non-changeable non-refundable from specific train at a specific time and date. for lots on trains check www.seat61.com - adroit advice on booking your own online discounted tickets - general info www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

I don't see where you can fit any really scenic train into this time frame and wish list.

About the only possible scenario - tweek the days according to interests.

If we skip Rome, wondering if the train from Venice through the Brenner Pass to Innsbruck is scenic? The Man in seat 61 makes almost every train trip look like "fun" but would seeing some Alps in March be a nice choice? Not ever been to Austria...

It's IMO not dramatically scenic being a fairly low-level crossing but yeh it's the Alps - if you wanted to go Paris-Switzerland-Italy and add a day to your trip you could take a TGV Paris-Zurich then regular trains to St Moritz, stay the night then do the famous Bernina Express train - Europe's most scenic train IMO and only north-south crossing that goes up and over the Alps without any tunnels like at Brennero - to Italy and Milan and over to Venice.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...w=1536&bih=759

Brennero train route -using long tunnel:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bren...w=1536&bih=759

That sounds nice!

What do you think about this routing?

https://www.railbookers.com/vacation...rnina-express/

Or wait, the routing I posted would include the tunnels?

Wherever you go, I'd suggest you start at the southern-most point (Rome? Venice?) and work your way north. I would want the dates in London as late as possible. FYI, the clocks will 'change' on March 25th.

You could take the day+night Orient Express train from Venice to Paris....

That's a good idea Jean, might could help with the weather. I looked at the Orient Express. It sounds like fun, but boy is it pricy. Less going north than south though.

"... but boy is it pricy."

As I like to say to my husband, how many 20th anniversaries do you think we'll have... We're celebrating 40 next year, and we've never regretted the splurges every 10 years.

Well, the latest idea is perhaps Prague, Venice and Paris, with a daytrip to finally get to see Chartres Cathedral. Prague would be the one "new" destination, as we've been to Paris and Venice before.

I can't quite figure out how to squeeze in the Bernina Express in a way that makes sense (besides just taking a train for "taking a train" sake.)

There will be flights between these places obviously, but that's okay by me.

Are you OK with Prague weather in March? Maybe go to Venice first, then Prague....

If it’s above 45 F, I’m good. No guarantees though I suppose. Was trying to avoid was is described as the “tourist crush” in Prague.

According to historical averages on accuweather.com, temps in Prague in March aren't above 45 until after the 11th, but the actual records for 2017 show two days in the low 40s in the 3rd week of the month. Average overnight lows aren't historically above freezing until the 3rd week.

In March 2018, sunset will be at 5:45p on the 1st, 6:00p on the 10th, and at 7:22p on the 26th when the clocks change.

IOW, for me, there are multiple reasons to go to Prague as late in March as possible.

Bernina would mean an extra day of travel to fit in - way out of your direct routings.

Good points, thanks. Trying to use points for the flights, which is driving me mad at the moment!

I also would rather not be in Europe for Easter weekend....