Yes, the hotels would be revelatory. The OP really should ask if the TA has a. been to Europe b.been to any of the hotels recommended.

All of my travelling from city to city will be by train.>

For lots of great dope on the European trail system and railpasses, some of what may be good for your wide-ranging plans check out these IMO fantastic siters - www.seat61.com; great info on online discounted tickets); www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com

Between Barcelona and Rome there are no direct night trains but there is an overnight ferry - more like a cruise ship than ferry however that goes frequently between Livroni, Italy (near Pisa and Florence) and Barcelona. A railpass gets a discount off the fare i believe but not sure how much.

Imperative to book early for Chunnel Trainst Brussels (www.eurostar.com) - cheapest tickets sell out months in advance (non-changeable tickets) so book as early as possible as if you just show up you could pay tons more.

<I disagree about the "great research." This itinerary reeks of Travel Agent Commissions, not independent thought. I'd love to know what hotels the TA has suggests>

I don't think you should throw the baby out with the bathwater - travel agents can and many I know DO do a service for the client - to imply that the average travel agent acts only in self-interest of the most profits they can get is a dangerous charge IMO - and the bulk of Americans I know who go to Europe go thru travel agents and most say they are happy with the service. Not everyone enjoys spending hours online tracking down their own stuff but gladly let a TA do it for them.
A good travel agent could actually save clients money - not all are as sinister as some would make them out IMO.

People who go through TAs are indeed happy with the results. And they pay for it. And they don't want to do the scut work many of us do. AND that is fine. But the OP came and asked for what we thought and some of us told him. I hope he'll take some of our advice.

For London, you didn't mention Westminster (so many historical events) or St. Paul's. Both are certainly worth seeing, and honestly, I would think almost any TA would have included them for you to visit. Lord Nelson's tomb is in St Paul's. I am not much interested in war history, but am a huge Lord Nelson buff and all the stuff about him there is very interesting.

The Imperial War Museum is closed for refurbishment til sometime in July. So your day 4 is totally free . . .

>>Blackadder Theatre<<

Do you mean a play starring Rowan Atkinson or an actual 'Blackadder Theatre'? I have not heard of anything like that.

[Rome]

<<<Day 2: Bike tour of the Appain Way? This is only offered on a Sunday. Is there a better way to see the Roman countryside>>>

I think that would be the coolest way.

Just past the Catacombs is the Circus of Maxentius which is a fairly well preserved smaller version of the Circus Maximus.

Past that you get into the countryside with tombs and other ruins.

<<<or get out of the city to Etruscan villages?>>>
A tough long journey but possible on public transportation for 1 site.

<<<Day 3: Spanish Steps - Fountain of Trevi - other suggestions. There is probably a half day left here. Any art to see?>>>

Cool steps and a really cool fountain but basically 'walk-bys' with ~10min seeing them.

I'd put them on another day maybe on an evening walk?

This would free-up that to a full day for other things.

Day trip to Pompeii? 2:05-2:35hrs and you are there.
A complete Walled and Gated 1C-AD Roman city that was under seige in 89BC.

<<<Day 4: Half Day History Tour of Rome Coliseum - Forum. If not included add the Palatine Hill which you can freely access from the Roman Forum.>>>

<<<Can I get to Hadrian's castle this day?>>>

On Day 5 you're only a 10-15min walk from it.

<<<What else can I do to walk in the steps of Roman history or Art this day?>>>

These were recently posted on another thread;
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm

This starts in the Roman Forum and heads over to the assassination site ~15min away.
He also updates/corrects things later in the post so follow it thru if interested.

And another;
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lking-tour.cfm

<<<Day: 5: Tour of the Vatican - a 10 person jump in the line tour and walk around the plaza after the tour.
This is not a full day so any other ideas for this day would be great.>>>

Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, Hadrian's Castle and if time permits a 20min walk over to the Ara Pacis and Augustus Mausoleum.

And as mentioned earlier be sure the Pantheon is on your list.

Wow!

Thank you all for your responses...I have not had a chance to look at the computer until today. Thank you so much.

I am extremely appreciative. Planning is a lot of work!!!!!

All of you think that I am too ambitious. I have to say though that I go crazy sitting around doing nothing. That said, I do not want to waste a day riding around on a big bus. I am grateful that you all took the time to consider this.

Sincerely,
WLMIV

I would like to note in travel agent's defense all of the tours and information I provided here on Fodor's, I thought up myself. The agent has not suggested any tours. This is why I posted in the first place. I was looking for advice on how to plan my days.

I am happy with the accommodations I have arranged, at least from what I have seen on the internet. They are not hostels, nor are they 4 star hotels. Each place I stay provides me with my own room and bath and breakfast. The agent is also helping me with transportation. Much of this is a big hassle and I am a very busy person.

My concern in regard to my accommodations is logistics and getting to places. The agent has put me in centrally located hotels not on the outskirts of the cities. My only concern about staying in the capitals is if by my doing so, I will limit my ability to see all of the things I would like to see. At the same time, I do not want to be on a train and then have figure out the lay of the land every other day if I do a great deal of jumping around from location to location.

Thank you all again. I may have specific questions for a few of you as I study your comments, especially those that left me links for tours.

WLMIV- In Rome, you might want to take in the Castel Sant'Angelo on your way to the Vatican.

I think the Roma Pass is worth the price, but it depends on where you might use it and whether or not any tours you book include your entrance fee (most do not). (To me, the best use of it is to use one of the free entrances at the Colosseum. It allows you to bypass the long lines. Stay all the way left at the entrance and you will see a sign on the ceiling that reads, "Roma Pass". There are turnstyles. You get through very quickly.) Here is the website: http://www.romapass.it/?l=en

Since you have such a limited amount of time in Rome, I'd also consider getting a guide/tour for the Forum and Palatine Hill. I got so much out of my 3 hours there with a private guide. Context Rome has great reviews and offers several different options. I used Francesca Caruso (she is often seen assisting Rick Steves on his tours). You can contact her at [email protected]

Have a great trip!

I strongly agree that hiring a guide or going with a small group like Context (http://www.contexttravel.com/city/rome) is money well spent for sites such as the Forum and Palatine, where the ruins can be confusing, and also for huge museum complexes like the Louvre and Vatican museums. With a guide who will lead you to some of the highlights and to those areas of the vast collections you most want to see, you will not waste time wandering the mazes of galleries without finding the treasures you came to see.