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-   -   About my itinerary (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/about-my-itinerary-967320/)

lovetravel2 Feb 18th, 2013 09:30 AM

About my itinerary
 
I will be going to several different places on my trip in may I'm gonna give y'all a rough draft tell me what ya think, whether to much or not enough time between things let me know. Or if know of something else to add or take away.
Day 1)arrive in london 11:45am ride the london eye, see Tate modern, Shakespeare globe exhibition,tower of london,
Day 2) abbey road, British museum, play at queens theater(eve)
Day3) have a meeting at 9:30 am - 12:00,big Ben ,Westminster abbey,buckingham palace, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde park, Harrods.
Day4) Stonehenge bath Windsor castle
Day 5)train to Paris arrive at 11:47
Day6)go to monets home at giverny,
meeting at 7:30 pm
Day7)arc de triomphe,Eiffel tower, champs élysées,maxims restaurant,opera garnier,moulin rouge & montmarte
Day8)louvre
Day9) catacombs,Bastille,Norte dame, muse. D ' Orsay ,musee de' l'. Orangerie,
Day10) Versailles
Day11) fly to Athens 6:20 am arrive 1030am,acropolis
Day12) agora,plaka,monastriki flea market,mount lycabettus
Day 13) trip to hydra
Day14) morning open fly to rome at 4:15pm arrive 5:20pm meeting at 7:00 pm
Day15)piazza del popolo ,Spanish steps,trevi fountain, pantheon,
Day16)Vatican,branch tour bet 1-3,
Day17)roman forum,colosseum
Day18)morning train to Florence when arrive see these: duomo,battistero di San Giovanni ,academie di piazza,delle Bella article, meeting at 5:30
Day 19) wine tasting in chianti region not sure which tour yet
Day 20)ponte vie chip,piazza Della signoria,sante Croce cathedral,4pm train to venice when arrive see piazza San Marco,caffe florian, doges palace,
Day21) grand canal,Rialto bridge, afternoon train to vienna,when arrive schonbrunn palace
Day22) ringstrasse, Secessionhaus,meeting at 7:00
Day23)bus to Prague ,Charles bridge,prague castle,Kampa island, meeting at 5 pm
Day24) old town square,mucha museum,municipal house, Jewish quarter
Day25)fly home

Ok ok this is a whirlwind trip but tried to get as much in as possible. If not see it I don't see it but hope to we it all tell me what ya think guys.

nytraveler Feb 18th, 2013 09:42 AM

Unless you are Superman - flying from one place to another this trip is simply not going to happen.

You have not allowed any time to get from one place to another and have significantly underestimated the time it takes to get through (I won't say "see" but just get through) a number of sights.

For instance - you say arrive London 11:45 - is that by plane? From where? How long will it take to get into central London? And the sights you have listed will take more than a full day - never mind the later afternoon and evening that you will have.

Your trip is littered with similar days.

Suggest you gets city maps and Tube/Metro maps and some idea of how long it takes to get from one place to another. Also use a MIchelin green guide to see how long it takes to visit a sight and actually see anything (you can't do the Tower of London in 30 minutes - it will take more like 4 hours - including waiting on line to get in - except it will probably be closed by the time you get there.

And you haven;t left enough time to get to any of the meetings listed. Arriving in Rome by air and making a meeting at 7pm is going to take Superman - or a helicopter. (unless the meeting is at the airport).

You really need to look into the time/places in much more detail or you will find yourself out of time at the end of every day.

tenthumbs Feb 18th, 2013 09:45 AM

I think it sounds like my first trip to Europe~ambitious and exhausting! :)

On a few of your busier days, you might want to prioritizeand pick the two activities that mean the most to you, then make the rest of the activities "alternates," i.e. Day 1)top priorities are Tate Modern and Tower of London; if I have time, will do London Eye and Shakespeare exhibit.

janisj Feb 18th, 2013 10:01 AM

I'll start w/ day 1 . . . It is impossible.

Totally. Utterly.

>><i>Day 1)arrive in london 11:45am ride the london eye, see Tate modern, Shakespeare globe exhibition,tower of london,</i><<

First of all ifyou arrive at 11:45AM you will be very lucky if you get to your hotel by 2PM. 2:30 or 3:00 is more like it. After checking in and refreshing You <i>might</i> get a ride on the Eye, but definitely not Tate Modern, the Globe and the Tower. The Tower of London is not a 'walk by' - it takes a minimum of 3 hours.

There are other things that definitely need fixing, but since day 1 starts you completely off stride - I'll stop here.

dwdvagamundo Feb 18th, 2013 10:28 AM

I'd definitely drop Vienna and Prague, and would consider dropping Greece too, unless prices right now are too good not to pass up.

I think you've got too much time in Paris and, as indicated above, not enough in London.
Bastille is no longer there--it's just a big traffic roundabout now.

I'd add time to Florence and Venice, or in seeing some of the smaller N. Italian Cities between the two: Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Padua.

Janisj is on the right track: sit down and figure out how long it is going to take you to get from one place to another.

When my spouse and I first started traveling, we would try to jam in four or five things a day. Now, we try to do two major things a day with lunch in between and no dinner. That way, you can take time to see stuff, stop in a cafe, rest your feet, and watch people.

adrienne Feb 18th, 2013 11:56 AM

Day 3 - I can tell you you're not visiting Buckingham Palace in May. It's not open to visitors until the end of July.

I agree with all of the above comments.

Please try to put some spacing in the next iteration of your itinerary to make it easier to read.

Also explain what some of the more unusual things are such as "delle Bella article," "branch tour" and "ponte vie chip."

Heimdall Feb 18th, 2013 12:56 PM

That itinerary seems like too much work. I go on holiday to relax and enjoy myself. ;-)

parosblue Feb 18th, 2013 05:24 PM

hi lovetravel2.
As far as your Greece portion of the itinerary - it is doable but you don't have enough time to get a flavor of the country. The rest of the trip is way too overloaded with destinations. When posters share an itinerary and ask if it is too much, it indicates they already know the answer.

lovetravel2 Feb 18th, 2013 05:36 PM

I want to thank y'all as I know its a lot to put in but I figure can stop if cant do it, we don't do it.do you see anything as more imp. To see than the other things.

Jean Feb 18th, 2013 06:16 PM

I doubt you would need (or want) to spend an entire day at the Louvre (Day 8), but I could be wrong.

You've not mentioned so many things in Rome that I think are significant, I don't know where to begin.

Are you sure taking a bus from Vienna to Prague is the better option? I don't know, so I'm just asking.

As others have pointed out, your plans for some days would require a time machine. In particular, reconsider Days 1, 14, 20 (unless you take an earlier train), and 21 (the train ride is at least 8 hours before you drop luggage at your hotel and continue to Schonbrunn on the Ubahn). I agree with the suggestion to drop a couple of destinations.

janisj Feb 18th, 2013 06:21 PM

"<i>I want to thank y'all as I know its a lot to put in but I figure can stop if cant do it, we don't do it.</i>"

It won't really be that easy in 'real life'. You will have presumably pre-booked all you flights and most of your train trips. What will you do w/ all those reservations once you find out you bit off more than is possible? (And IF you won't have pre-booked most of your transport, you will pay a HUGE amount of $$/££/€€)

StCirq Feb 18th, 2013 06:33 PM

And if you haven't pre-booked the flights and train trips you'll be paying top dollar for them.

It's really an insane plan. Unfortunately, you probably won't find that out until you're a couple of days into it and it all goes haywire, costing you gobs of money.

Sassafrass Feb 18th, 2013 06:41 PM

Check the times of things. Days 20/21 - unless things are open late those days, you will only have a bit of time to walk around the outsides - an awful lot of time & money spent traveling for very little sight seeing time. Actually, on many days you are spending more time on the train or bus than you are being someplace.

Day 14 is iffy for making a 7:00 meeting. It is fine to play some things by ear, but it might be good to have a clear idea of the time involved getting to different places and how best to do it. Example: Oxford & Cambridge on the same day - not a good combination logistically.

ellenem Feb 18th, 2013 08:00 PM

adriene--My guess:
"academie di piazza,delle Bella article" = Accademia di Belle Arti
"ponte vie chip" = Ponte Vecchio

adrienne Feb 19th, 2013 04:08 AM

Thanks ellenem. I have renewed respect for people whose living depends on dealing with tourists. I hope the OP finds her way to ponte vie chip and doesn't need to ask directions. LOL

My favorite is day 21. Wait until the OP finds that the train from Venice to Vienna is 10 hours and goes to Schonnbrun to find it had closed at 5:30.

Heimdall Feb 19th, 2013 07:26 AM

It seems that some of those spelling errors are due to 'autocorrect' in computer operating systems. Even when you've spelled a word correctly, if it isn't in your computer's dictionary it will guess at what you mean. Foreign words are particularly susceptible to this, but sometimes typos can get you in trouble too. When that little autocorrect box appears, check it carefully.
http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/13...cs-first-year/
:-))

live42day Feb 19th, 2013 08:07 AM

I would suggest that you take the hop on hop off busses in places like London and Paris and that will give you an overview of the cities.

Gretchen Feb 19th, 2013 08:49 AM

Pretty ridiculous. It's a "if it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" tour.

Sassafrass Feb 19th, 2013 09:57 AM

In London, a HOHO bus can get stuck in traffic in places where you can't get off. In Paris, they are long and kind of boring. With your limited time, you will be better off picking carefully the things you really want to see and going straight to see them. Otherwise, you won't see anything.

nytraveler Feb 19th, 2013 10:27 AM

Agree that HoHo bus is a really bad idea.

You need to get maps of the Tube and Metro and learn how to use them. The only quick way to get around these cities - to the very numerous and distant places you have picked - is underground.

And I very strongly reco that you rank the places you want to see in order - since you may get to half of those you have listed.

Also look carefully to see what days and hours they are open before heading to any of them.

valtor Feb 19th, 2013 11:20 AM

"Day7) arc de triomphe,Eiffel tower, champs élysées,maxims restaurant,opera garnier,moulin rouge & montmarte"

Do you want just to see all these from outside? Or do you want to visit Opera, or to see a spectacle there? What about Moulin Rouge? About Eiffel Tower?

I do not think that you can do all what you listed for this day.
--------
Day 3 - you have only an afternoon. No time for every thing.

kja Feb 19th, 2013 04:27 PM

OMG, Heimdall - that was hysterical! Thanks so much!

nytraveler Feb 19th, 2013 05:19 PM

I love the guy bringing the cold hermaphrodites over to watch the game with his friend.

oh2doula Feb 20th, 2013 05:51 PM

I can only speak to London and I am someone who does plan plan plan - I have decided that I could have a month and still fill it up in London. Some websites that would be a huge help are http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...T2?language=en
www.londontown.com
find out when things are open - plan routes - prioritize and be prepared that you might not see it all - I did have a crazy plan for my last trip and I can tell you I did see it all but it was after taking advice from great Fodor's and doing research first.

lovetravel2 Feb 21st, 2013 01:45 PM

We really have planned this out by walking maps and subways and buses if needed, from our hotels We have looked at times open /closed for things want to do. We may not tour all these things but just see them from outside to decide for another trip if want to tour it. This will be a great fun trip, I know . Just wondered if y'all know of anything should see

nytraveler Feb 21st, 2013 02:03 PM

Sorry -

You have not planned this all out. some of the days you are bouncing around like a ping pong ball. Have you looked at the times on the tube - to see how long it will really take to get from one place to another. If you are planning on using buses - what speed are you figuring? Are you allowing for the massive traffic in some of the city centers?

I'm sure there are people here who could give you ideas of dozens more things there are to see and do - but you can't begin to cover what you have listed.

I especially love Day 18 in Florence - when you will either trek all over town with your luggage - somehow seeing 6 major sights in less than 5 hours (and will you have advance tickets - or will the hours spend waiting in line for them come out of the 6 sights in 5 hours?) or first go to drop it at you hotel then return to the sights (so now 4 hours)?

nytraveler Feb 21st, 2013 02:07 PM

And day 20. If you take a train at 4 pm to Venice - how will you see the Doge's Palace when the last entry is at 6 pm? Or are you just going to spend 5 minutes looking at the outside.

(Frankly, if that's what you're going to do - you may as well just buy a video and stay home - you'll see a lot more).

suze Feb 21st, 2013 02:25 PM

<Just wondered if y'all know of anything should see>

You already have WAY too much on your list in the first place, you don't need our help to think of more things!!

You have days that are simply physically impossible (Day 7 Paris jumps out as one of those).

oh2doula Feb 21st, 2013 02:43 PM

do you have hotels in London yet?? THAT will help in planning. You arrive at 11:45 at the airport or are you talking about being at the hotel? I suggest going inside the Tower of London - there isnt much to see from the street. This could be three hours! It closes at 5:30 and the last tour is around 2:30.
Like I said before you CAN see alot of stuff in one day - day one of is the only day I see problems with - but I only know London.... I would flip day one and two - Abbey Road, British Museum and a show could be done in one afternoon/evening and then you have an entire day for Tower, Shakespeare Globe, Tate Modern and London Eye - I personally couldnt decide if I wanted to visit the London Eye in the morning or evening - both could be awesome!!

StCirq Feb 21st, 2013 02:56 PM

You are deluding yourself if you think you really planned this out. You have days that are absolutely unthinkably impossible, even if all you want to do is look at things in passing (and why would anyone go all the way to Europe and spend all that money just to look at things from the outside? Have you NO interest in history or curiosity about what those things really are and what they represent?) Seriously, stay home and watch videos and save your money.

suze Feb 21st, 2013 03:44 PM

I didn't see it stated, or maybe I missed it, but I'm assuming this is a 1st trip to Europe?

janisj Feb 21st, 2013 04:00 PM

"<i>We really have planned this out by walking maps and subways and buses if needed, from our hotels We have looked at times open /closed for things want to do.</i>"

You may <i>think</i> you have this all figured/planned out - but you don't. You also seem convinced this is a totally realistic itinerary - but it is not.

Since you seem unable to accept this, I can't see what value there is in additional posts . . .

(BTW, your latest idea - from your other thread - to drive from Venice to Vienna to 'save time' isn't even remotely practical)

kja Feb 21st, 2013 04:11 PM

> We may not tour all these things but just see them from outside to decide for another trip if want to tour it.

I'm not sure I understand how seeing the outside of a building would help you decide whether you want to tour it on another trip.

wrenwood Feb 23rd, 2013 07:13 AM

Are we sure this is for real???????? It's crazy :O

suze Feb 23rd, 2013 07:14 AM

Doesn't mean it's not "for real"!!

nytraveler Feb 23rd, 2013 08:52 AM

Sadly, I believe this is for real.

I just wish the new posters that come here with these outrageous itineraries would come back after the trip and report on what they had learned. But they never do. Not sure if it is
1) total exhaustion
2 severe embarrassment
3)inability to remember what they have seen in the miasma of constant rushing from place to place

I would love to have a report on one of these trips to refer new poster to.

janisj Feb 23rd, 2013 09:06 AM

Or - they <i>could</i> come back and lie about how WONDERFUL everything worked out >)

bilboburgler Feb 23rd, 2013 09:35 AM

Lovetravel2 welcome to fodors. I'm a simple sort of guy and I get a bit naggy after a transatlantic flight, either I get a coffee headache or I need a little nap time. So I just had a look at day 1

Day 1)arrive in london 11:45am ride the london eye, see Tate modern, Shakespeare globe exhibition,tower of london,

Now Tate modern needs at least 3 hours to enjoy and the Globe exhibition (i'd drop) and takes about an hour and then the Tower of London needs say 4 hours. So I thought "could we redesign"

So I suggest 1) tower of london, 2) short nap 3) london eye at night. Job done.

rhkkmk Feb 23rd, 2013 12:54 PM

perhaps this is a "joke"?

StCirq Feb 23rd, 2013 01:25 PM

Even if wasn't meant to be a joke, it is one.


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