Countdown to your next trip...
 

So we've all shared our airfares..

Where is your NEXT trip (not all of your 2006 travel, just your next one) and how many days until you leave?

Are you ready (I know we are all READY but are you prepared?)

Is this a first time, second time, and so on?

What are you most looking forward to doing or seeing?

I'll start:

Next trip is Italy, leaving May 19 which is 77 days away. (not counting or anything).

I have my tickets and the hotels so I'm pretty much ready. (I tend to be seat of the pants anyway) Just a lot of reading between now and the time I leave but I already have a good idea of what I want to see and do anyway.

It is my second time each to Venice, Florence and Rome but first time in the Tuscan countryside.

Hard to say what I am MOST looking forward to doing. Just seeing Venice again... the wines of Chianti.. ballooning will be a big highlight... seeing the beautiful Tuscan landscape (stay tuned for photos)... shopping of course... and seeing the Colosseum again. I want to explore more of the Forum and I'm bummed Nero's Palace is closed. pout.

and now your stories!

63 days, Flygirl, but who's counting? ;-)

I'll be spending 4 days in Paris (fourth time, but first time in 5 years) and 4 days in Venice (fourth time in Italy but first to Venice).

I am reading this board religiously and have three guidebooks for each city that I am absorbing.

I'm looking forward to seeing Paris outside of the winter (I've only ever been in March) and seeing places there I haven't been to yet (Cluny, Giverny, Fontainebleu). I also want to spend a full day at the Louvre and revisit Marmottan, the Orsay and Rodin Museum.

Venice...where do I start. As many pictures I've seen I'm just unable to wrap my head around the concept. I can't visualize it or figure out how I'll manage the city. I've been to Europe nearly 20 times, and this one is really baffling my brain. Go figure. I'm just dying for nice weather (northeast of US is cruel this time of year) and lots of good food.

You have heaven in store for you in Tuscany, it is truly paradise on earth!

Next trip across the pond is Berlin, departing May 1. I've no idea how many days that is. Not enough, as I've got loads of work to get done beforehand, including prep for the trip (which is work, but will be fun nonetheless).

As for being ready, well, I'm always ready. Passport in my purse at this very moment.

amyb, you'll love Cluny!!

flygirl, our next trip is to my nephew's wedding in Ottawa. It's not as dull as it sounds, though, as we're going via Beijing and Hong Kong. Like so: Halifax-Beijing on April 4, Beijing-Hong Kong April 12, Hong Kong-Ottawa April 19, Ottawa-Halifax April 23. I may sleep through the wedding.

I think we're ready ... sort of.

First trip to the PRC, second to HK, zillioneth to Ottawa.

Anselm

I will be departing my tiny island airport exactly twelve days from this very moment. I'll be heading to Rome to meet my mother and sister for our mom's birthday dream trip that some very good friends of mine convinced me was possible, when I thought that it was not. It will be my mom's first time to Europe so we are all very excited about being in Rome, the city she's always dreamed of seeing, for almost a week.

I have all our airfare bought (we splurged for Mom to fly first class), apartment rental, wheelchair rental for my mom, reservations for museums, etc. all taken care of. Only a few more slight tweaks of the itinerary and we're set.

This is going to be a very special trip for all three of us since we almost lost my mom to an illness two years ago.

17 days - Switzerland. New X mas suitcase been open since Christmas - slowly adding things. So yes I think I am ready. Was in Geneva in 1977, europe pretty often but looking forward to seeing new sights. Especially eating chocolate, hot chocolate and cheese fondue. And schnitzel.

8 days!

I depart a week from today, flying into Venice and out of Rome. I'm excited, even though I've been to both cities a number of times before. I love a trip anywhere. We're staying in Venice 3 nights and Rome 5 nights. meeting a friend for lunch in Bologna on the way to Rome.

This trip is special because it is a spring break trip with my college-aged niece. She has never been out of the Eastern US time zone so Italy will be a thrill. It was her idea to have her experienced aunt show her around Italy instead of getting drunk on the beach--she tried that last year and once was enough. I'm flattered that she thinks she can stand me for a week. I've been counting down this week with emails to her, a different travel tip every day...

10 . . . IDs--don't need your driver's license (no car), do need your student ID.

9 . . . Pack stuff inside your shoes in your suitcase--my favorite: socks.

8 . . . Pack extra panties in your purse/carryon in case of lost luggage or unforeseen "accidents."

Any suggestions for the rest of the week?

I have another Italy trip planned in May, but no precise date yet. Still counting down, though!

I leave Boston for Dallas this Sunday and if it were not my brother's birthday, I would definitely stay here much longer. It is always so hard to cut the strings!

Prepared? I have not purchased a single thing here, so all I have to do is transfer 2 drawers into my suitcase. Oh, well, I do have that new travel pillow. . .

Though so sad to leave Boston. . . my friends, the city, by crazy but fantastic job, etc. . . I cannot wait to see my Mom, Dad, grandmother, grandfather, and brother. My high school friends are taking Monday off and we are all going to spend the day together, which is also extremely exciting. I am dying for some good barbecue, I desperately need to host another garage sale, and I can't wait for my amazing pilates instructor to work me out. I have really missed her!

Yes, it is going home, but it is also a trip.

I leave for my next trip May 13 - 71 days? I will be travelling to the UK where I will spend 8 days walking half of the Offa's Dyke Path (in England and Wales), and then four days in Shropshire. I am looking forward to days of walking, drinking real ale in the pub, and seeing Stokesay Castle, a 14th-century fortified manor house, Ludlow Castle, etc. I have made all arrangements, though I probably won't start packing until April (seriously!). I've been to the UK before, but never to Shropshire, and I've never done this particular walk before. And right now, this trip is the only thing that is keeping me going!

17 DAYS TO PARIS!!! WOO HOO!!!

Let's see...

5th trip;

Not yet ready. The worst of it will simply be getting 3 new pairs of black pants hemmed. You can never be too rich, to thin, or own too many paris of black pants!

Looking forward to walking in the rain, walking in the sunshine, exploring, eating, drinking, museums, parks, a Fodor's GTG, shopping, practicing my french, and everything else Paris has to offer! Thanks for asking.

Thanks alot flygirl for making me quantify it! Cambodia in 186 days...AARGH

Somehow it seemed closer when I was saying "this summer".....

We leave seven weeks today for ten and a half weeks in France - Paris, Dordogne, Provence and back to Paris. We have our plane tickets, rail passes, car rental and apartment & house rentals. Am I forgetting anything?

This is not the first time for us, more like 13th or 14th time to Europe since 1990.

Just working real hard between now and then to pass the time. LOL!!!

11 days and we are off to France. A week in Provence (two nights in Roquebrune Cap Martin, 1 night in Moustier-Ste-Marie and 4 nights in St Remy) and 4 nights in Paris.
This is the third year we are doing this trip and still seeing things for the first time. On the schedule is to drive the Corniche, see the Gorge du Verdun, visit Pont du Gard, Vaison-la-Romaine, climb the Tower of Notre Dame and visit the gargolyes, visit Sacre Coeur and do the walking tour of the Marais. Have all my Paris restaurants reserved and one night in Eze. Still working on French in Action but will never be a good French speaker since I always sound like I am speaking french with an American accent-ah well. But can't wait to get there!!!

Leave for Paris on 3/31 for 7 nights. Third time (if you count my highschool class trip 30 some years ago) in Paris, first time for over 2 days. Also first time going the apartment route.

Can't wait.

Karl

109 days until I leave for my 4th European trip, this time to Scotland, June 20-29. Have airline tickets, car rental reservation, lodging, and Great Britain Heritage Pass in hand. Still need to reserve tickets on West Highlands Steam Train, and find out whether or not I need to buy tickets for trains between Perth and Edinburgh and Edinburgh and Glasgow in advance.

27 days to Paris and Reykjavik. Can't wait. Sixth time in 7 years to Paris. We are addicted. We live out in the sticks here in the US, so we love getting to the city, especially one as beautiful and addicting as Paris. I can always think of something to do and there is plenty I haven't seen. Just like to hang out and soak it all in. Will probably head out to Chantilly and Senlis this trip. Doing Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik. It's only a 24 hour stopover.

Two months from today: I will be in ROMA.

twk, I bought tix between EDI and Glasgow about 3 minutes before the train left, in each city.

AGM - my fellow Boston area Fodorite...climbing Notre Dame is a blast.

Iregeo and baby, and anyone else off to Paris and/or Italy -- please post trip reports when you get back! I'll live vicariously thorugh you until I go!

Ms_go, allie-go and I will be visiting southern France for two weeks in June (still too far away to actually count the days, but barely). We have all been to Paris before, and LW and I have been to the Loire Valley together, but this will be our very first time in the south.

Our first couple of nights will be in Pezenas in the Languedoc region. We are looking forward to seeing Carcassonne from there.

Next, we will spend a <b>full week</b> at a wonderful rental home in a small village in the Dordogne Valley, about 6 or 7 miles from Domme. Too many highlights to mention around there, but I can tell you that the prehistoric caves in the area (LascauxII, Font de Gaume, Peche Merle, Cougnac, etc.) are greatly anticipated.

The next few nights will be spent down in St. Remy, which, along with its Roman ruins at Glanum, is expected to be a highlight in and of itself. As are Avignon, Arles and countless smaller towns in the area. Ah, Provence!

Finally, we will spend a day in Nice before flying out. I'm really looking forward to exploring the old pedestrianized area there.

And you can all count on a full report and colorful photos galore when we return!

Next trip late August starting in Provence than heading West.

24 more days and then it is off to France for 3 weeks and Greece for 2 months!! I've never been overseas, I've never even taken a plane trip by myself so this solo journey should be quite a feat for me. I think I'm just about ready....I think.

Soooo much of a worry-wart - but then sooooo excited too!

Murphy

woohooo... I just found out last night! April 24th my DSO is taking me &quot;home&quot; to Germany to meet his family. I know he has the tickets; his daughter will find us a nice hotel (I have insisted on a private bath...that's all I insist on)...and then, (on a TRAIN!!! which I love too) we'll go to his sister's house in god-knows-where Germany and then up again to his brother's... on another train.
Yep...black trousers...mix and match...packing light this time because of humping my bags on trains.
The only word so far I've learned is &quot;trocken&quot;

135 days until Ireland.
8-10 friends for 2 weeks. Staying in Dublin (4 nights), Kilkenny (1), Kinsale (2), Dingle (3), Galway (3). Don't have much left to do. Flights and rooms are reserved, just need to rent the cars.
First time to Ireland, 10th time to Europe. Can't wait.

74 days to go...leaving May 16th for Tuscany and Umbria!! This is my 11th European trip and my 4th to Italy. I only scratched the surface of Tuscany before by visiting Florence, Pisa and Lucca. We have our car rental and hotels booked and I'm brushing up on my very poor Italian...love the language though and will try to at least make an effort. I look forward to trying the famous Brunello which I can not afford to buy at home. I look forward to wine..wine...and more wine and eating my way through the Tuscan Hilltowns. I am also looking forward to the slightly less touristy Umbria as well. The trip at 10 nights will be my shortest but I figure it is better than not going at all and I plan to cherish every moment.

April 25th, flying off to Rome, followed by Florence, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Munich, and finally Paris before chunneling back to London.

First time to all of those cities except Munich, and that was only a short weekend before (and I've been in the airports of Paris and Rome, but that doesn't count). I've got all the tickets (not all the train reservations, that'll happen in Rome), plus all the hostels reserved. Figured out pretty what I want to do in every city. I also have no idea what I'm most looking forward to, besides eating good food instead of dreadful English college cafeteria slop.

35 days to PARIS! This is my husband's and my second visit, the first having been on our honeymoon ten years ago. This is the first visit for our 9yo son and 5yo daughter.

My itinerary is all set, and dinner reservations all made, but I need the next five weeks to find a couple of new umbrellas, brush up on my French, and learn to use the new digital SLR camera and lenses that are arriving today by UPS.

I'm most looking forward to honing my photographic skills in one of the most photogenic cities of the world!

I can hardly wait to show my children the glories of Paris.

69 Days and we'll be on our way to Italy for 3 weeks via Zurich and a 23.5 hour layover in London which we are looking forward to.

A day in Zurich, a week in Venice, a week in Positano and 3 days in Rome.

It's over six months away but my DH and I will be going on a pilgrimage through Italy with our Pastor. It IS a bus tour but we had an amazing trip through Italy with Trafalgar Tours a few years ago with our children and still rave about it.

On September 25th, we fly Boston to Rome for 4 days. Then it's off to Assisi, Florence, Siena, Venice and on to Paris for 2 days. Twelve days in all.

In College, I traveled through Italy for two weeks at Christmastime while studying in Paris. Did the Trafalgar Tour in 1998, and revisited Paris again in 2002 and 2004.

I'm sure I will pick up many helpful hints from Fodorites between now and then.

Thanks &quot;flygirl&quot; for allowing me to put this in print.

Carmenr

Our next trip is to Italy; Umbria and Rome. We leave two weeks from tomorrow. This will be our third trip to Italy, and our third trip to Rome, although our first trip to Umbria. We are staying in an apartment at Le Case Gialle near Bevagne. We have everything taken care of, and I just finished sending off reconfirmations of hotels. Can't wait!

We are also planning for our upcoming trip to Croatia in November. The airfare is booked, as well as the hotel in London for the final night, but I've just begun the hotel/apartment searches. Having trouble finding hotels/apartments in some of the areas we will be, as many seem to close down completely for a few months in the winter.

Tracy

Leaving on 7/27 for our trip to Germany, Switzerland and France. Spending (2)nights in Cochem, (2)nights in Rothenburg, (2) nights in Munich, (2) nights in fussen, (1) night in Meersburg, (2) nights in Appenzell, (3) nights in Luzern, (1) night in Freiburg, (1) night in Strasbourg, (4) nights in provence, (2) nights in Paris.

Yes, it is a whirlwind trip. The 1st two weeks I will be with my husband. the last week I will be with my sister.

I can't wait!

Montreal that is the nearest thing to Paris for us this year.

Well...my NEXT trip is in four days, to Tulsa. That is for work, so I don't think it counts. But for the record, it will be my second time in Tulsa, and I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of a production facility.

My REAL next trip is in 24 days. 13 YO DD and I are going to Maui over spring break. This was not a trip planned far in advance. I earn quadruple miles for every mile flown on United during the month of March, so I was looking for some way to take advantage of that. I stumbled on some pretty good fares a couple of weeks ago and said, &quot;why not.&quot; It will be my fifth trip to Maui, but she was last there when she was 13 months old. I'm most looking forward to warm tropical weather (we live in Chicago), great sunsets, and some quality mother/daughter time.

4 days and three months, till my honeymoon.

We are going to Amsterdam, Mardid, Granada, Sevilla, and Cadiz. I’m booking my tickets and hotels this weekend.

My trip is coming soon!!! 27 days from today :-)... flying out of Los Angeles.

I'll be going with 4 other friends. We'll be in Milan, Florence, Rome, Paris, and London all in 8 days!

Are we ready? Almost there.... We booked our hotels, flight from Rome to Paris, and our churrain from Paris to London...

Are we excited? DEFINITELY YES.

Are we ready for the unexpected??? We are praying hard about it! :-)

Ireland is my next trip. Departing May 7...I haven't packed yet, but yes, I am ready! This will be my first trip to Ireland, but my umpteenth trip to the UK.

I look forward to going to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College, drinking Guiness at the Guiness breewery, shopping on Grafton street, singing pub songs loudly over my beer(s), touring Kilmainham goal in Dublin, and getting to know the sights, sounds, foods, and people of Ireland! And this is my second &quot;Writers Challenge&quot; where the writers will write two shorts stories while there, and one will be chosen for our anthology to be published later this summer. So I get to see many of my dear writer friends, and write two stories set in Ireland, so I am more than excited.

tondalaya- Montreal is a great city. A friend of ours calls it 'Paris Lite'. If you go in June or July go see the fireworks at La Ronde

amyb-hopefully I will make it to the top. I have been practicing on my stairs at home but it doesn't compare to 283 steps. Oh my god!

Leave May 29. Two weeks on the Greek Islands and five days in Paris. Can't wait. It's the sixth time to Greece for me and who knows what number to Paris but I'm beyond excited just the same. We're redoing our honeymoon from seven years ago but this time taking my husband's daughter (who we've had custody of since we were married) and a friend of hers. She is graduating high school in May so it's a graduation trip for her. Her friend is so touched and honored that we invited her it makes it very special.
A couple will be joining us who will be on a delayed honeymoon. He's traveled with us some but she's never been to Europe so it should be fun.
Visiting Mykonos (mainly to take them to Delos), Santorini and Naxos (I've never been to Naxos so I'm looking forward to seeing a new island... any suggestions?).
We're renting an apartment in Paris and are looking forward to soaking up the city and using my French.
It's actually a Greece vacation but, we just couldn't go all the way over the pond and not get to Paris!!

March 25th, I leave for BCN for a week.

Flight paid for, deposit made for apt. No itinerary but while looking for acommodations, I looked at all the various sights/attractions.

Have a general idea of the week but will have to delve into it deeper over the next couple of weeks.

wanderlust...i leave for dublin may 6th!!! wow!

12 days till Paris!! This is my 5th trip to Paris, in fact I've been every other March for several years (with London on alternate years) - I may be in a rut, but if you have to have a rut, this is a good one. I'm so ready I'm bored - I'm even all packed. Oh, except I also have to hem one more pair of black pants (Iregeo - still hope I might be able to attend your GTG, but travel companions have other plans for that night, we'll have to see at the last minute).