We'll be visiting Amsterdam, Paris and London in September - just under 4 months!

We've just booked airfare so we'll have to focus on train and hotel for now!

We leave for Italy Oct 9, 2008, our 6th trip there. Fly into Roma, pick up a car, 3 nights in Orvieto, 4 nights in Perugia (the 1st 4 days of the Eurochocolate Festival), 3 nights in Ferrara, 1 night in Verona and 4 nights in Bologna. We fly back home from Bologna.

It's Tuesday morning here in Sydney, Australia, and we leave for Italy and France on Thursday night. I am excited about everything we will be doing, but I must admit that I saved the best until last and we have 10 nights in Paris before we fly home on June 18!!

5 more weeks; 5 more weeks; 5 more weeks...(Venice, Ravenna, Montepulciano, Florence)

The countdown is officially in the single digits now - 9 more days!

Sounds like Theresa is on her way today! Have a great time in Germany...

Leaving for our wonderful trip to France today! Who-hoo!! A trip report will follow as we are doing our own thing...driving and eating our way through. We start in Paris, then Beaune, on to Uzes area for a week, then the Auvergne area for another. We will spend 2 nights in Paris b4 flying home! Thanks to all who helped with the itinerary and great advise!

Cathy, have a great time!

Just got back from Istanbul two weeks ago (see my trip report).

Going to Florida for a week in August - renting a beach house and spending time with all my family who live there.

Going to Rome in November '08 to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday with her and our best friend who lives there (who also has a birthday). Girls vacation and party in Rome.

22 days till our cruise to Alaska - first time to Alaska for both.

ONLY 22 days? And I am not packed yet? Alarm sound

Fainagain, we leave TONIGHT!!! for Rome and I'm just now throwing my clothes into a bag. Biggest dilemma, can I justify taking my hairdryer or do I need to compromise and take the horrid little travel hairdryer, that makes me look as though I cut my own hair blindfolded!!

131 days until a trip to Washington DC, the Baltimore area, and ??. The agreement is to navigate my parents through the airports, transport them around once we get there and generally keep them in one piece. This is all after Dad attends his Navy reunion and we have 4 extra days afterwards to wander around.
Sweet part for me is they pay for my plane ticket and possibly the hotel room as well.

I have no itinerary as I currently have no idea what the Navy reunion people have planned for the 3 days of the actual reunion.

My first time to this area. Bummed that the only museum on my must see list (Smithsonian American History) is closed for renovations.

And so I ask myself....why did I pick up travel books on Lisbon, Portugal at the library?

My connection to the Europe board is the Portugal Guide books....have FF miles available, time available, and a little $$. So I guess I better get started on a countdown....I'm thinking March 2009.

Leaving in a couple of hours for Phoenix, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde. Normally would be going to Europe, but the prices are SO high now on flights and the Euro/dollar ratio is so bad. Decided to FINALLY go and see the Grand Canyon. It gets embarrassing to admit that you've seen most of the European countries, but not as much of your own! LOL I have mixed feelings about the trip. I just LOVE travelling in Europe. This will be very different. Easier in alot of ways, but I don't know if I will enjoy it as much.

KristineLane: Don't feel bad, I'm an Arizona native, lived here for 37 years and I've never seen the Grand Canyon but scoured every nook and crannie of Italy LOL

Leaving two weeks from today for two weeks in Italy. Three nights in Florence, one week in a villa in D'Ambra and then three nights in Rome. DH has never been to Italy...I have a few times but am so excited to see his face when he sees the Duomo in Florence! Family and friends will be staying with us as we travel the countryside!

Counted up the days today 42, traveling to the UK, London and Edinburgh SOOOOO excited. 20th anniversary in June but couldn't go in June so July it is.

11 days until our trip to Greece for 2 weeks....Santorini, Naxos, Athens. Can't wait!

ok.. it's now 3 DAYS until our first trip to Africa, we leave Thursday!

We just returned from a trip, got another one to the Bay area in two weeks, and are in the planning staged of a long one to Portugal next fall. I wonder, will we even be able to afford it with the Euro/dollar exchange? So far, we have had no trouble getting reservations....maybe we are the only ones going..anyway, I am going to go and enjoy it, money or no money, dang it.!!

clarasong:

Having just returned from Portugal and UK, the Euro exchange (1.54-1) in Portugal won't hurt too badly...we found that eating, lodging and admissions were much less expensive even with the bad exchange rates (in Portugal). We stayed in several Pousadas on their Golden Age plan (if you're over 55, at least 40% discount..and the Pousadas at Arraiolos, Marvao and Belmonte are superb experiences). Eating in this sinful pastry-crazed country is true pleasure...and we had memorable meals everywhere we went. You will meet exceptionally friendly and warm locals!

Now, Clara, London is entirely another matter...we spent 5 days in London and five in the Cotswolds. Leave all of your property ownership papers at home so you won't be tempted to mortgage the farm to pay your dinner or hotel bill. Just keep repeating to yourself that 10£ translates to $20...double everything you see on an English menu or hotel rate card, and voila! There is your sticker-shocked bottom line. Yikes. We had a great time, regardless.

Stu T.