Utrecht is much more economical in every way, and I think (not sure) Airbnb is legal there. You will need to spend time and a few euros getting into the very heart of Amsterdam, but not much. Also would check out Den Haag, although it is possible visitor accommodations there are more expensive than Utrecht -- which, by the way, is a very nice place to be with beautiful architecture in the small and walkable historic center filled with bicycling families and students. Will give you a nice experience of one aspect of Dutch culture.

Great. I have lot of ideas to go-ahead now. Thank you so much.

2 days ain't much in Paris or Amsterdam for 1.5 days either.

Just have time for the 'must' sites like Eiffel Tower (book a time slot in advance on official site); Louvre (ditto); Notre Dame - free just squeeze in anytime - and a Seine boat cruise. And walk around anywhere and sit at an outdoor cafe and watch the crowd go by.

Amsterdam - No 'musts' IMO - many would consider Anne Frank House to be a 'must' (again book time slot to avoid long wait in line) and Rijksmuseum (to ogle famous Nigth Watch painting) and a Canal Boat Cruise too and walk around the canal-laced areas. To some the (in)famous Red-Light District is also a must (afraid to mention as this often raises hackles of locals who post here and to others the (in)famous Coffeeshops where cannabis is sold over the counter and smoked on Premises - again aloof to mention because of locals reactions.

News item after news item on Dutch tv now about how tourists are "destroying Amsterdam"

PalenQ has not visited Amsterdam in many years, and only peddles the usual 'red light district/coffeeshop' stuff you will find in any old tourist guide on Amsterdam.

Who knows what "aloof to mention" means (stoned English at best), but yes, PalenQ hasn't set foot in Amsterdam for a dog's age and has no clue what it's like now. Those of us, like Tulips and menachem and others, who've witnessed its progression in recent years have noted that it is now one super-expensive and fairly unpleasant city, albeit one that many people choose to visit. I used to love visiting Amsterdam, and there are still secluded pockets of it that are endearing, but the main parts where tourists hover these days are, to me, unpleasantly noisy, crowded, expensive, and dangerous because of all the mad bicyclists who think it's "cool" to go to Amsterdam and act "like a local." Its museums are always a big attraction, though, can't deny that.

Nam - take it from the 'experts' - Amsterdam just ain't worth the hassle anymore - scrub it from your itinerary - don't know why so many zillions of people bother to visit it - cross it off! Apparently during the seven years since I visited it (after visiting annually for weeks for 40 years), it has completely deteriorated into some kind of carnival show. Even though my relatives and friends who have gone there recently really liked it as have many posters here on Fodors too - but take it from the 'experts' scratch it off your list and you'll be the better for it. I guess Amsterdam is called the 'Venice of the North' for good reason!

Certain things however cannot be ruined by tourists - like the canals - see the images and see why Amsterdam is a visual feast apart from the relatively few places I suspect that are overrun with tourists:

https://www.google.com/search?q=amst...w=1879&bih=922

" Apparently during the seven years since I visited it (after visiting annually for weeks for 40 years), it has completely deteriorated into some kind of carnival show."

Well, it has. No matter that for 40 years the city was able to manage fine.

Wow!! not the kind of suggestions I was expecting but definitely interesting! My colleague has agreed to join me in this short trip and I think it's much more sorted for me now as no more safety issues. My visa has just arrived and I now need your inputs to actually plan my day/itinerary. I have few things in mind and need your help to check if its feasible/expensive or worth.

30th May - Leaving for Paris by 4.00 PM from Frankfurt after work.

Will reach Paris by 10 PM – may be rest or take a stroll.

31st May – All touristy places and Eiffel tower both in the early morning and at night! An hours cruise ride may be.

1st June morning train to Belgium – I want to visit Bruges, gent and Antwerp. is it at all possible to cover this in a day?

I can leave for Amsterdam at that night or stay back and leave early morning to Amsterdam

2 nights in Amsterdam and back to India.

Since this a work extended trip for me its okay even if I just go and visit places and not rest, relax and spend quality time everywhere I go. I can be on wheels as that is how I do whenever am out for work across the world. I hardly get any leaves.

No you cannot visit Brugge, Gent and Antwerp in one day. Or perhaps you could, physically, but it would be crazy.
Skip Belgium and go straight to Amsterdam from Paris. Or just stop at Brussel Centraal, put your bags in a locker, see a bit of Brussel and continue onto Amsterdam.
Alternatively, do the same but in Antwerp. Antwerp and Brussel are on the direct train line to Amsterdam, for Brugge and Gent you would need to change to another train.
You cannot do this on a Thalys ticket, as the ticket is for one specific train.

Your plan is not reasonable - sorry.

One day in Paris will not let you see even a fraction of 'all the touristy places'.

The train from Paris to Brugge will take nearly 3 hours (you have to change at Brussels) so even if you leave your hotel by 0800 you won't be in Brugge until 11:00 or later. You will have very little time in Bruges, let alone Gent and Antwerp. Brugge > Gent is a short train ride -- but Gent to Antwerp takes an hour. So not nearly enough hours in the day to see more than one of these cities.

I would do ONLY Paris and Amsterdam or ONLY one of the Belgian cities and Amsterdam. . . . OR even just Amsterdam. You don't have time for more . . . Especially with another person now traveling with you.

It's fine to go like an Energizer Bunny without rest. That's not the problem here. The problem is that you are moving around all the time from place to place and you end up wasting time at the train station, airport, on trains and planes, that could be used for actual sight seeing on the ground. You can't do all the touristy things in Paris in 1 day. It will be super crowded, you will wait in line wherever you go. Just ask yourself what would you have seen at the end of the day with an itinerary like this?

Okay I got it.

The train from Paris to Brugge will take nearly 3 hours (you have to change at Brussels)>

There is the Thalys route to Brussels then changing to local trains to Bruges (research the ABS fare for that that for about 5 euros lets you hop any train from Brussels to Bruges within 24 hours of your Thalys train's arrival) or you can go in about the same time via Lille and change there. See whatever is cheapest - www.thalys.com for Thlays route and www.oui.sncf for via TGV to Lille and changing there.

Ok, great!!

If going via Brussels consider stopping off for a few hours to see the neat city center - Grand' Place one of Europe's classic town squares and area. Put bags in station lockers.

Thalys' ABS Fare details- with that and a cheap ticket Paris-Brussels this route could be cheaper than via Lille where ABS fare does not apply.