6 Weeks Holiday in Europe in 2016
 

Im hoping to get some ideas, thoughts, comments, advise on our plan for a European trip in 2016. This will be our (my husband and I) first European trip so Im not sure how realistic this itinerary is.
September 2 Arrive in Paris
3 Paris
4 Paris
5 Train to Versailles
6 Versailles
7 Versailles
8 Train to Nice
9 Nice
10 Nice
11 Train to Monaco
12 Monaco
13 Train back to Nice then to to Milan
14 Milan
15 Milan
16 Train to Venice
17 to 24 in Venice to catch a 7night Mediterranean Cruise from 5PM-already booked. This is from Venice to Croatia to Turkey to Greece.
24 back to Venice from the cruise
25 Train to Florence
26 Florence
27 Florence
28 Train to Rome
29 Rome
30 Rome

October 1 Train to Naples
2 Naples
3 Naples
4 Fly to Macedonia (my husband's hometown)
5 Macedonia
6 Macedonia
7 Macedonia
8 Macedonia
9 Macedonia
10 Fly to Paris
11 Paris
12 Fly back to Melbourne, Australia

Hello Shirley - what a fantastic opportunity for you and your husband to spend so much time traveling!

Here are the couple thoughts that came to mind right away when reading your itinerary:

- why so many days/nights in Versailles? If it's the palace you're interested in, that can be visited as a nice day trip from Paris but if it's more than that, then your longer stay would make sense. I would also recommend a day trip to Chartes and the beautiful cathedral with its famed stained glass/architecture which is just past Versailles.
- I loved Milan quite a bit in the 2+ weeks I've spent there, but would you consider a visit to the lake country? A day trip or an overnight on a lake would be quite lovely, depending on your interests. If however, you wanted to add days to another destination, you could consider cutting Milan all together (though the duomo is still one of my favorites!)
- why do you wish to be based in Naples? Many people prefer to go just a bit further south and stay in Sorrento or on the Amalfi Coast. If there's something in particular you wanted to see in Naples, it'd be a quick train ride away. I was once based in Pompeii and visiting in either direction was quick and easy.

I have a feeling some will say that you're doing quite a few cities and will recommend paring that down. I know what it's like to want to pack a lot of things in, especially since it's your first trip so have you factored in the time it will take to get to the train stations/airports, the travel time itself and what time you have remaining for your time in those cities?

I've never been to Nice or Monaco so I can't speak to those, but I love Florence and Rome quite a bit and would add to those days if you're able to - there's a ton to do in each and in the surrounding areas, depending on interests.

Anyway, those are just a couple thoughts - happy planning!

Suggestions
5 another day in Paris
6 Versailles only one night - save a day here for someplace else.
7 nice
Why Monaco? Put those two days someplace else.

Milan, special interest in something there? If not, spend only a night and part of day.
Put those two days somewhere else.

You are going to Venice, but catching a cruise, and spending no time in Venice.
Add at least two days to Venice before the cruise, days saved from Monaco and/or Milan. Three would be even better for a day trip.

24 Train directly to Florence after disembarking cruise. No point checking into a hotel in Venice for only one day if you have added time to Venice before the cruise.

25 & 26 Florence
27 Train to Rome
Add day to Rome - which was short changed before.
28, 29, 30 Rome

Just a Possibility - take one day from Macedonia to add to Naples/Amalfi Coast. There is a lot to see and do there.

Stay in Paris an extra 2 days and go to Versailles for a day's visit. It will also simplify catching a train to Nice.

Monaco is a day's visit, if that.

Give Venice at least one full day (2 nights in Venice).

The early stage is a bit odd. I'd stay in Paris and visit Versailles for a day and maybe Giverney for a day, if you have a deal for something special in Versailles (a Ramsey meal perhaps) then just stay a night(with just a small bag) and "eat" the hotel cost in paris.

Monaco, we all struggle to know why anyone would go there, a gambling issue perhaps, most of the wealthy will have moved on, unless they are tax-cowards.

Nice, I'm not a big fan, but others are. Given that you have Arles/Nimes/Avignon close by I think there are better places to stay.

Milan, after the last supper, a little Opera, a game of Football or a fascisti railway station why would you want to stay long here. (i've spent a week here and trust me there are better towns), especially when you give so little time to Venice (which is one of those places that are truly unique).

Fly Greece to Florence perhaps?? The train will be a bore.

A couple of notes:

Versailles is only 30 minutes from Paris and one day there is plenty - while staying in your Paris hotel - so you can save 2 days there and add to a more important place.

Monaco is also only a few minutes from Nice and really worth it only if you want to watch some uber rich spend their money - or if you feel like joining them. Tourist sights are minimal. We have gone twice to do the James Bond thing in the evening - but the casino is nothing like Las Vegas - limited hours, entrance fees and dress codes - esp if you want to enter the inner rooms with the actual games (versus the outer room with one-armed bandits where tourists are usually confined). And yo have to bring fairly formal clothes. Much better to see some of the wonderful sights in the hills behind the Riviera coast.

Agree you are giving Venice very short shrift for such a unique city.

Agree with nytraveler,

Spend all days in Nice: do Monaco in a day and spend the saved time exploring the area around Nice. Public transport is good, so use it to travel to Antibes, Villefranche, whatever but try to visit some of the perched villages behind Nice.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and ideas. Im re working our itinerary with considerations of your recommendations. A day in Versailles would suit us. Will give Venice and Paris more time.

Another question. Once I have finalized our itinerary and booked our return flight Paris-Melb-paris, is it ideal to purchase the rail tickets on line by myself ? Or is it better to purchase the return ticket and the rail tickets from a travel agent as they would know better?

Why not consider an open jaw ticket and return home from Macedonia. It would be cheap and save the time necessary to return to Paris.

^^^^ agree 500% with open jaw ticket suggestion!

You should be just fine buying the tickets by yourself on the countries' main sites. Googling (or searching Fodors) for tips should make it easy enough if you have questions about particulars.

Regarding Naples - I would stay in Sorrento instead and tour the peninsula rather than spending time in Naples. If you really want to go to Naples you can take the ferry which is only about 12 euros or the train which is only about 5.

Thats a great suggestion , returning to Melbourne from Macedonia. Thank you!

I suggest you fly from Nice to Venice. Since you will be spending 7 days on a cruise, visiting picturesque seacoast towns, your plan to stay in Naples rather than a picturesque seacoast town is a good one to me. Many people like Naples very much, and prefer it t Sorrento. Read up on both and see what you think you would like. If you can fly home from Macedonia, then I would add the days you would have lost traveling back to Paris to spending more time in Rome.