My wife and I are looking to travel to Europe in July of 2006. We are thinking of going to Paris, Venice, and Rome. I also speak spanish so I think that it would be nice to visit Spain on our trip. Any help with other cities to visit and things to do while we are there would be great. Also how long should we plan in each city and where are some nice (economical) places to stay? This will be our first trip to Europe and probably our last trip before we have children so any advice (other than to not have children) would be nice

Hi C,

My own preference would be fly to Paris (one week), fly to Venice from Paris Orly (see www.myair.com)for 3 nights, train to Florence for 4 nights (one daytrip to Siena), train to Salerno or Naples for a week on the Amalfi coast, fly home from Naples.

However, if you really must go to Rome, I suggest the above, but go to Rome for a week from Florence and fly home from Rome.

I think three weeks should be plenty of time to visit Paris, Venice, Rome and a city or two in Spain. Sounds like you are mostly interested in cities. If you spend five nights in Paris, fly to Venice, spend three or four nights there, take a train to Rome and spend five nights there, you still have a week or so to play with.

I'm not sure what Ira has against Rome, but if it's where you want to go, you should definitely go there. Full of fabulous Roman ruins and Renaissance art and architecture. Layers upon layers of history exposed to view throughout the city.

Nikki and Ira, thank you so much for your input. I would like to know why not Rome, we have never been so if it is not worth the time then that would be good to know.

What are some of the major sites or adventures you would recommend in these cities? Are there some better cities or countrysides that you would recommend over the ones we have chosen? We are so new at this, it will be an adventure no matter where we go.

Thanks again for the information and anything else you can suggest would be great.

Hi Cattenji,
My husband and myself just had three weeks sans child in Paris, Italian Lakes and Rome. I wrote a lengthy report, if you click on my name and look for 20th Anniversary trip report - Paris Italian Lakes and Rome you can read what we did in the same time frame. There are plenty of restaurant suggestions and things to do during the day. You will have a ball!!

Hi cattenj
>...Ira,...I would like to know why not Rome, ...<

Many people love Rome. Many people would rather go to Rome than anywhere else.

I would rather go to the Amalfi Coast.

You might find my trip report useful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Also see Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

Have a great visit.

I don't think I would go to Rome in July unless the trip were free. Hot, crowded, air-con issues, etc. And dirty streets/ public spaces are much nastier in summer because warm garbage smells so much worse.

(kswl ducks as Rome-lovers gather in Fodors' village square with pitchforks!)

kswl--I'm not throwing anything, but I have been to Rome several times in the summer, and I've never noticed any unusual amounts of dirt and garbage, and certainly no odor of rotting trash.

What part of Rome were you in?

But it can be gawd-awful hot in July--almost as bad as Florence.

Rome is no more dirty than any other major city (discounting except Switzerland - than which nothing is as clean). As for rotting garbage - were you hanging out by the dumpsters for some reason?

I would never miss Rome - there's a reason that the Roman empire ruled the world for a thousand years - and to miss that history is IMHO inexcusable - unless you're looking primarily for a beach vacation.

But I do thnk Spain is pushing it - too much travel between cities vs time actually doing/seeing things. For major cities (Paris, Rome etc) I would never reco less than 5 days, and if you do 3 days Venice and 4 Florence (allowing for a couple of day trips in Tuscany) you've run out of time.

Just be sure that however inexpensive your hotels are you find ones that have AC - Italy is HOT in the summer - and Paris often is as well. (AC is much less common in europe than in the US - many less expensive hotels, restaurants and stores do not have any.)

Nothing worse than the Piazza Navona (sic?) after a busy weekend. Garbage all over the place, full trashcans, yuck! Many of the popular tourist areas in Rome are grotty--in a way I've not found in other large European and US cities. No, not hanging around dumpsters--at least, not yet

I love France, Italy and Spain. But if I had 3 weeks, I would not try to visit all 3. A wonderful way to spend 3 weeks, even in July, would be to spend a week in Paris with day trips, 4 days in Venice, 5 days in Florence with trips to the Tuscan countryside and 5 days in Rome. Italy will probably be hot in July but Spain may well be hotter. I would not try 3 countries in 3 weeks, you won't have enough time to enjoy any of them.

I must admit I've never been around Piazza N. on a Monday morning. I will avoid it at that time when I'm next in wonderful Roma.

Now Florence--there's a real pit of city for you!

kswl,

I also am amazed at your experience. I spent a week in Rome during the summer and passed through Piazza Navona every day. It was always spotless and pleasant as was the entire city. OK, so you weren't hanging around dumpters. Perhaps there was a sanitation strike during your visit?


cattenj,

Don't miss Paris, Venice, and Rome! There will always be some posters that have a grudge against a particular city (not you ira). I've seen people here trashing NYC, SF, Paris, London, Venice and many, many other worthwhile destinations. Not unlike the lone reviewer on tripadvisor that gives a hotel an awful rating while hundreds of others say it's the best hotel they have ever stayed in. I would stay at least five nights in Paris, Venice, and Rome. I would only add one or two other smaller destinations to your list. Fly into one city and home out of another to make for effecient use of travel time. Little if any added cost.

There is so much to see in Italy, I would save Spain for another trip. And Paris is a great addition.
5 nights Paris
4 nights Venice
3 nights Florence
3 nights southern Tuscany
5 nights Rome
would be a wonderful trip!

As mentioned, do make sure you have air conditioning in your hotels, it will be very hot!

You know, Bardo, you may be right. I didn't think of it when we were there last year, but there certainly could have been some municipal problem like that. The city was remarkably dirty and I was so disappointed.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful information...it has been more than helpful. I will view all your trip information schnauzer. I agree with everyone that there are places that many people would tell you not to visit but yet those places are sometimes the biggest adventure. As far as touring, many people have suggested getting guided tours while others have told us to go out on our own. Any suggestions on this note?

Thanks
Cattenj

I loved Rome! I can't imagine a visit to Italy not including Rome at any time of year but no one here mentions Naples as part of the places to see. I wonder why?

I wasn't totally sold on Florence and thought I'd do Naples instead. Any one care to tell me why this is a bad idea?

Hi C,

>...many people have suggested getting guided tours while others have told us to go out on our own.<

If you do some research ahead of time, you can do without a guide.

Hi T,

We had a very nice visit to Naples.

See my trip report for details:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044