Europe Tour for first time - Help required
 

Dear All;
I am having a business trip to Florence-Italy by end Jan, 2012 for two days. My wife is also going with me and this is our first ever trip to Europe. We are travelling from Asia.
After that we are planning to Visit some beautiful places with in Italy and also would love to see France. Complete tour may be for 15 days max.
We will be arriving in Florence on 29th Jan and will remain busy in Business meeting till 30th Jan, after that we are free to move places.
I would love your comments to Plan my Itinerary (Duration of Stays and Places to visit). My first preferences are
- Rome , Venice
- Paris , Disney Land (My wife loves that)

I would also welcome any change/better plan than my suggested places and countries.
My preferences are Scenic sights, Country life and some shopping.
Please suggest best travel tips to be helpful in our Journey.

Thanks in advance.

First, congratulations.

There is all sorts of information to be had on this board and lots of knowledgeable people. However, to get the most out of your inquiry, I would suggest that you first search the forum for information that already exists, specific to your proposed destinations, then come back when you've narrowed down your question.

Welcome to Fodors!

Things that will help us help you is to get an idea on what kinds of things interest you and what things you have no interest in at all. Since this is your first trip to Europe and having 15 days, you could do 3 locations fairly easily. While the time is close, since February is a a pretty low season, you can probably still find some good deals on apartments for 5 days each. This will allow you to get a comfortable and inexpensive place to stay, normally in a great location.

Since you are less than 2 weeks away from your trip you do need to get moving on your plans.

dave

First of all - you are going to Europe in midwinter. It may be chilly or it may be cold. Rain is likely and sleet and/or snow is possible. so - you really need to be sure you have appropriate clothes so you don;t freeze.

Also, the countryside will be brown and dreay (unless covered by snow) and won;t look like much.

Day will be short and many sights - esp in italy will be on shorter off-season hours (some places may be open only from 10 am to 1 or 2 pm) sos be sure to check out opening times for any place you want to visit. (That includes Disney.)

It is certainly possible to have a wonderful trip that time of year - but I would plan on mostly indoor sights in case the weather doesn;t cooperate.

I think what makes most sense is to head from Florence to Venic, train to Rome and then fy to Paris. In 2 weeks you have enough time to see the basics - but the short days and weather may limit your sightseeing.

Agree that you need to get your hotels organized quickly. At this time of year I think very central locations are most important so you don;t have to do too much traveling from hotel to all of the sights.

Thanks nytraveler.
I am certainly taking extreme cold into account. Thanks for brief itinerary.
I have come up with some plan as follows,

- Take a day and a half stop at Venice while flying from Asia.(28-29 Jan)
- Take train from Venice to Florence (2hrs). Stays there till Conference ends i-e 2 days. (30-31 Jan)
- Take Train to Pisa (1hr). Stays there for 1 night.(1-2 Feb)
- Take Train to Rome (3hrs). Stays there for 2 nights.(3-4 Feb)
- Fly to Paris on 5 Feb. Stays there till 10th Feb.
- Fly back to Asia on 11th

Please suggest any improvement or better idea. Also help me find some nice places to visit at each destination.
If possible should i also include Switzerland during last 2 days.

thanks in advance.

Please don't attempt to add Switzerland into the mix. Your schedule is already rushed.

You don't need to spend a night in Pisa. Save yourself the hassle of changing hotels and just do it as a daytrip from Florence.

A day and a half in Venice after a flight from Asia is hardly worth the trouble. It will take you most or all of that day and a half just to get over jetlag and get your bearings.

seat61.com/italy
seat61.com/france
My wife and I do this route a lot
we like train from Florence to
venice-tourism.com
sirmione.com
Stresa
Interlaken
Geneva
Paris
eurocheapo.com booking.com
Nice hotels and budget tips

Good luck!

StCirq : Thanks for nice tip for Pisa tour. Yes you are right as it can be covered within 01 day from Florence.

Still searching for Budget hotels, especially for Family. Please suggest some nice hotels. I would not like to indulge myself in to hundreds of hotel searching on sites.

Please assist.

Thanks

Faisal, it would be helpful to know what your definition of "budget" is, as in what's your euro limit for hotel accommodations per night?

Definitely need to know a specific budget. Also - in first post you ention wife and later on you mention family. In europe hotel rooms are typically one double bed for 2 people. If there is anyone else with you, you will need to look at hotels that have family rooms available and let them know exactly how many people and what bed configuration you need.

Sorry to confuse you there guys. Only my wife is going with me.
I would prefer Hotel room by Euro 60~70, but should have good surrounding and close to station and if possible, close to main Tourism points. :)
Am I asking too much there....

Please suggest some good hotels to help me finalize as only few days remaining there.....

Thanking in advance.

That is an extremely low budget for a double room in a central location in a major city. It might get you something a little better in far distant suburbs - but in the center this would be a VERY modes place (shared bath, no elevator etc). And the cities you are talking about are not cheap.

You might look into bidding Priceline - but I'm not sure how good they are in the cities you're looking at. Sorry I can't help with reco but this is not our price point.

OK there so i think i have to re-think. i will increase my budget to 90~100 Euro.
After so much thoughts i have finalized my Itinerary as follows;

29 ~ 31 Jan - Florence
01 Feb - Day tour of Pisa and return to Florence
02 ~ 03 Feb - Train travel to Venice (02 nights stay)
04 ~ 06 Feb - Train travel to Rome (03 nights stay)
07 ~ 08 Feb - Flight to Switzerland (2 nights stay)
09 ~ 12 Feb - Flight to Paris (03 nights + 01 day stay)

Please give your valuable inputs on this. Also suggest good hotels and places to visit there.

Thanks.

Why backtrack from Florence to Venice - why not start in Venice and work way south via Florence to Rome - will save on rail fare too.

what do you want to see in Switzerland for 2 days? and you won't actually HAVE 2 days as you will only have 2 nights, and one day.

really I agree with St. Cirq that you should drop Switzerland for this trip.

that would enable you to do this:


29 ~ 31 Jan - Florence
01 Feb - Day tour of Pisa and return to Florence
02 ~ 04 Feb - Train travel to Venice - 3 nights stay
05 ~ 08 Feb - Train travel to Rome - 4 night stay
09 ~ 12 Feb - Flight to Paris (03 nights + 01 day stay)

that gives you 2 full days in Venice [no point in going for less IMHO] and 3 in Rome - not enough to see everything [you'd need a lifetime for that] but a decent taster.

Thanks Annhig for suggestion.

@PalenQ : Actually my first 02 days are business conference in Florence, thats why starting from Florence.

Please suggest good Family hotels in Venice, Rome and Paris near Tourist locations.

Thanks

I think a separate post about the good Family hotels in those cities would yield a lot of response rather than here deep in this thread.