7 countries in 15 days, is it possible?
Oct 19th, 2009, 05:03 PM
#41
Wow - talk about jumping to conclusions. I think 80% of us thought you were 18 or 19 years old 
Not that 52 is old -- not at all. But w/ the new info, I would cut your itinerary even more. Every city change doesn't take 1/2 a day -- but most do.
So w/ 10 cities count on about 4 or more days lost to just travel time.
If one wants to just say "I've been to Florence" (or any city) but not actually SEE anything, your plan is doable. But realize that just getting inside some of the major attractions/sites could take an hour or two standing in line.
If it was me -- I'd pick 6 cites (absolute max). This would still be VERY rushed, but at least you'd have time to catch your breath now and then. Or have a leisurely meal in a cafe. Or anything.
More moving around doesn't let you see MORE, it means you see LESS because you spend so much time just moving from place to place . . . .
Not that 52 is old -- not at all. But w/ the new info, I would cut your itinerary even more. Every city change doesn't take 1/2 a day -- but most do.
So w/ 10 cities count on about 4 or more days lost to just travel time.
If one wants to just say "I've been to Florence" (or any city) but not actually SEE anything, your plan is doable. But realize that just getting inside some of the major attractions/sites could take an hour or two standing in line.
If it was me -- I'd pick 6 cites (absolute max). This would still be VERY rushed, but at least you'd have time to catch your breath now and then. Or have a leisurely meal in a cafe. Or anything.
More moving around doesn't let you see MORE, it means you see LESS because you spend so much time just moving from place to place . . . .
Oct 19th, 2009, 05:09 PM
#42
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<i>now I got the idea leaving with Vienna / Budapest / Prague / Salzburg / Innsbruck / Milan / Verona / Venice / Florence / Rome. Sound better, right?</i>
IMO, even if you want to skim the surface, I'd at least spend:
Vienna, Budapest, Prague = 3 days each
Salzburg, Innsbruck, Milan, Verona = okay to rush thru each in 1 day
Venice, Florence = 2 days each
Rome = 3 days
You'd need 20 days.
Of those you listed, I'd cut out Innsbruck, Milan & Verona. But you still need to cut out one more city, IMO.
IMO, even if you want to skim the surface, I'd at least spend:
Vienna, Budapest, Prague = 3 days each
Salzburg, Innsbruck, Milan, Verona = okay to rush thru each in 1 day
Venice, Florence = 2 days each
Rome = 3 days
You'd need 20 days.
Of those you listed, I'd cut out Innsbruck, Milan & Verona. But you still need to cut out one more city, IMO.
Oct 19th, 2009, 05:18 PM
#43
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Holy cow! I'm guilty, too!
Well, I'm now with everyone else... unless you have the stamina of a 19-year-old (I sure don't and I'm in my 30s!), I think that janisj and yk have presented good options.
Well, I'm now with everyone else... unless you have the stamina of a 19-year-old (I sure don't and I'm in my 30s!), I think that janisj and yk have presented good options.
Oct 19th, 2009, 06:47 PM
#46
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Wow - sorry for the assumption; I've just rarely heard anyone over the age of 25 start with an itinerary like that! I agree that it still needs some paring down. It wouldn't be worth it to me (regardless of my age) to spend SO much time in transit between places. I mean, that is a LOT of time on the train.
Do you know what you want to see in all of those cities?
I agree that it still needs some paring down. It wouldn't be worth it to me (regardless of my age) to spend SO much time in transit between places. I mean, that is a LOT of time on the train.Do you know what you want to see in all of those cities?
Oct 20th, 2009, 03:17 AM
#47
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Hi Siri,
I did a similar trip a few years ago (not so many towns and cities) and I am in my 50's. I think you have too many places and would agree about omitting Milan, Innsbruck and Verona. I would also choose between Prague and Budapest. I loved both but the train journey from Budapest to Prague is long as is the one from Prague to Salzburg.
I used this German site to arrange my trains and found it excellent.
www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
This is how I would do it
Day 1 Vienna
Day 2 Vienna
Day 3 Vienna
Either
Day 4 train to Budapest (depart 08.25 arrive 11.34)
Day 5 Budapest
Day 6 Train to Salzburg (depart 09.30 arrive 14.29)
Day 7 Salzburg night train to Venice (Depart 01.34)
Day 8 Venice arrive 08.34
Or
Day 4 train to Prague (depart 09.58 arrive 14.29)
Day 5 Prague
Day 6 Prague to Salzburg (depart 07.14 arrive 13.47)
Day 7 and 8 As above
Day 9 Venice
Day 10 Venice
Day 11 Train to Florence (Depart 08.43 arrive 11.23)
Day 12 Florence
Day 13 Train to Rome (depart 09.18 arrive 10.58)
Day 14 Rome
Day 15 Rome
I did a similar trip a few years ago (not so many towns and cities) and I am in my 50's. I think you have too many places and would agree about omitting Milan, Innsbruck and Verona. I would also choose between Prague and Budapest. I loved both but the train journey from Budapest to Prague is long as is the one from Prague to Salzburg.
I used this German site to arrange my trains and found it excellent.
www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
This is how I would do it
Day 1 Vienna
Day 2 Vienna
Day 3 Vienna
Either
Day 4 train to Budapest (depart 08.25 arrive 11.34)
Day 5 Budapest
Day 6 Train to Salzburg (depart 09.30 arrive 14.29)
Day 7 Salzburg night train to Venice (Depart 01.34)
Day 8 Venice arrive 08.34
Or
Day 4 train to Prague (depart 09.58 arrive 14.29)
Day 5 Prague
Day 6 Prague to Salzburg (depart 07.14 arrive 13.47)
Day 7 and 8 As above
Day 9 Venice
Day 10 Venice
Day 11 Train to Florence (Depart 08.43 arrive 11.23)
Day 12 Florence
Day 13 Train to Rome (depart 09.18 arrive 10.58)
Day 14 Rome
Day 15 Rome
Oct 20th, 2009, 03:43 AM
#49
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You do realise don't you that many Europeans visit the US on just such a schedule. the only difference is they are driving, not going by train, and are often covering huge distances per day. Often all they see is the view from the Interstate. If you don't believe me have a look at some of the trips on offer in Europe with prebooked hotels. Scary!
If the OP is young then let them try it. I would leave the and/ors and Paris out of the mix, but if they have had enough, and provided they haven't booked everything in advance, they can slow down, give up, whatever.
If the OP is young then let them try it. I would leave the and/ors and Paris out of the mix, but if they have had enough, and provided they haven't booked everything in advance, they can slow down, give up, whatever.
Oct 20th, 2009, 06:48 AM
#51
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Night train is no longer preferred.>
I would re-think that - many people do not have problems with overnight trains like those above. I have taken hundreds without few horror stories some above report - do not throw the baby out with the bath water - night trains can save on hotel costs and more importantly relocated you overnight so you can expand your itinerary - taking a night train from Rome back to Vienna for example could be very utilitarian IMO - and if you get a private compartment you will probably enjoy them like i do.
I would re-think that - many people do not have problems with overnight trains like those above. I have taken hundreds without few horror stories some above report - do not throw the baby out with the bath water - night trains can save on hotel costs and more importantly relocated you overnight so you can expand your itinerary - taking a night train from Rome back to Vienna for example could be very utilitarian IMO - and if you get a private compartment you will probably enjoy them like i do.
Oct 20th, 2009, 06:56 AM
#52
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"... now I got the idea leaving with Vienna / Budapest / Prague / Salzburg / Innsbruck / Milan / Verona / Venice / Florence / Rome. Sound better, right?"
No, it does not sound better at all. I don't think you are really listening to the advice people are taking time to type.
No, it does not sound better at all. I don't think you are really listening to the advice people are taking time to type.
Oct 20th, 2009, 07:02 AM
#53
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we just got back from Holland and France.
My 6th trip to Europe.
Holland 7 nights on board boat..
then Paris 4 nights, then back to Amsterdam for 4 nights.
I have decided that from now on, any big city.. Paris...for example deserves at least 5-7 nights. Otherwise you REALLY dont see or enjoy much.
LESS IS ALWAYS MORE...
My 6th trip to Europe.
Holland 7 nights on board boat..
then Paris 4 nights, then back to Amsterdam for 4 nights.
I have decided that from now on, any big city.. Paris...for example deserves at least 5-7 nights. Otherwise you REALLY dont see or enjoy much.
LESS IS ALWAYS MORE...
Oct 20th, 2009, 07:52 AM
#54
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Regardless of your age (and take note I did not make any assumtions on the subject) your plan A is just silly. Plan B is no better, you still need to omit some destinations for your trip to be a sucess. Unless this is the type of trip you want:- www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7CpkzJU9kA
You really need to read a guide book and determine what YOU want to see.
I've been to all the places you list, except Prague and Budapest. I can tell you what I like and dislike, but it's not my trip, this is YOUR trip and you need to deceide how you want to spend your 15 days. I am surprised that some people are telling you how long to spend in each destination without knowing you, your travel style or your interests.
Do you just want to go from A to B, just for the sake of getting to these places, but not being able to see the places? Or, in 15 days do you want to see some of these places properly?
You really need to read a guide book and determine what YOU want to see.
I've been to all the places you list, except Prague and Budapest. I can tell you what I like and dislike, but it's not my trip, this is YOUR trip and you need to deceide how you want to spend your 15 days. I am surprised that some people are telling you how long to spend in each destination without knowing you, your travel style or your interests.
Do you just want to go from A to B, just for the sake of getting to these places, but not being able to see the places? Or, in 15 days do you want to see some of these places properly?
Oct 20th, 2009, 10:28 AM
#57
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Everyone has a different idea of how to spend their holiday. My idea of hell would be two weeks on a beach somewhere, or possibly even worse, two weeks in a big city somewhere. If this sort of holiday appeals to the OP then let them do it - it is their holiday. Having tried it once they will know whether or not it is for them. I do suggest they remain flexible and don't book everything in advance so that should they find it too exhausting or they decide they really want to explore one of these cities they can do so without losing a lot of money on prebooked nights elsewhere.
Oct 20th, 2009, 10:34 AM
#58
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You new plan is still possible - but ridiculous.
Get a map of europe. Go to the bahn.de website to see how long the train rides between cities take.
Make a ist of what you want to see in each city and howlong it will take. (You can look AT the Eifel Tower in 5 minutes. To go to the top and view Paris will take a couple of hours. The same with other sights - unless all you want is a photo of the outside you can probalby do 3 sights a day (if you start early, end late and trot in between).
I have been to europe more than 70 times - and to all of those cities at least once. There are one or two that you an get a feel for in one day (Innsbruck, perhaps). For Paris or Rome anything less than 3 days (4 nights) is simply a waste of time.
It's you life and you get to do qhatyou want, but IMHO the trip you have planned is a complete waste f time and (a LOT) of money.
Get a map of europe. Go to the bahn.de website to see how long the train rides between cities take.
Make a ist of what you want to see in each city and howlong it will take. (You can look AT the Eifel Tower in 5 minutes. To go to the top and view Paris will take a couple of hours. The same with other sights - unless all you want is a photo of the outside you can probalby do 3 sights a day (if you start early, end late and trot in between).
I have been to europe more than 70 times - and to all of those cities at least once. There are one or two that you an get a feel for in one day (Innsbruck, perhaps). For Paris or Rome anything less than 3 days (4 nights) is simply a waste of time.
It's you life and you get to do qhatyou want, but IMHO the trip you have planned is a complete waste f time and (a LOT) of money.
Oct 20th, 2009, 10:52 AM
#60
hetismij: "<i>You do realise don't you that many Europeans visit the US on just such a schedule. the only difference is they are driving, not going by train, and are often covering huge distances per day. Often all they see is the view from the Interstate. If you don't believe me have a look at some of the trips on offer in Europe with prebooked hotels. Scary!</i>"
yes - I totally realize that happens. That's why I spend half my time over on the United States forum trying to help poor travelers who want to see all of California (SD, LA, the coast, SF, Napa - WHY always <u>NAPA</u>???, Tahoe, Yosemite) Las vegas and the Grand Canyon in 10 days. That is just as difficult as this plan.
"<i>If the OP is young then let them try it</i>"
The OP said she is 52 - I'll leave it to you to decide if that is young or not.
yes - I totally realize that happens. That's why I spend half my time over on the United States forum trying to help poor travelers who want to see all of California (SD, LA, the coast, SF, Napa - WHY always <u>NAPA</u>???, Tahoe, Yosemite) Las vegas and the Grand Canyon in 10 days. That is just as difficult as this plan.
"<i>If the OP is young then let them try it</i>"
The OP said she is 52 - I'll leave it to you to decide if that is young or not.
