Hi
I'm a newbie. Stumbled onto this forum while looking at websites re: Europe.
We're going to London, Paris, Nice, Florence, Venice and Rome. 3 days each. This will be our first trip to Europe...any assistance you can offer will be greatly appreciated!
Major concerns:
1) Are pickpockets as prevelant and ghastly as described on most websites/forums?
2) Told to leave good jewelry at home, really necessary?
3) I've been told to expect temperatures anywhere from 50F to 70F. You all seem very well informed...which is closer to reality for end of Sept/beginning of Oct?
4) Read MANY different opinions re: cash, ATM's, travelers checks, and that US credit cards don't always "work" in various European cities? Are ATM machines the same...meaning you can use your ATM card to withdraw from checking/savings at home, or can ATM's only be used for cash advances on credit cards? Your experience and suggestions, please!
5) Read much regarding train theft. Does that refer to just "metro" type trains, or the Eurostar and hi-speed trains which we will be taking?
6) Anything in these cities that you think we absolutely should not miss? Plan to do the tourist "highlights" in each area. My husband really wants to see Versailles, good idea?
7) Re: luggage - many posts stating use a 22" suitcase. Are 28"-30" not allowed? According to BA, they appear to be.
FYI: I did look through a lot of posts, tried not to ask silly questions.
My sincere appreciation to those of you who take the time to respond!
Happy Traveling
DeeDee (couldn't register under this name, already taken)

1) No. Safeguard your valuables.
2) No. Use good sense.
3) 50F-70F is a good average for your destinations. Carry an umbrella and wear layers.
4) Use debit cards with ATMs, credit cards for purchases.
5) Secure your luggage with cable locks.
6) See Fodor's "Destinations" at the top of the page.
7) Large suitcases slow you down. Pack lighter and smaller.

Go to London, Paris, and Rome for 6 days each.

Welcome to Fodors, Maxzine. Many of us visited here just like you and became addicted, so watch out!

Robespierre gave you great advice. Skip Nice and probably Venice this trip, or you will likely be ragged with exhaustion on your return. If you factor in the time you will be spending unpacking, repacking, and relocating, you'll find that you only have two days at each destination. Consider savoring rather than dashing from city to city. Check out the www.slowtrav.com site.

1) Are pickpockets as prevelant and ghastly as described on most websites/forums?

Prevalent? No doubt that there are several dozen working in any of these cities on any given day. Versus a population of a million or more on the subways, and tens of thousands at various tourist sites. Probably true in NYC, Wash DC, SF also. Don't display a full wallet at a major attraction, then get distracted reading brochures, just to use one example.

2) Told to leave good jewelry at home, really necessary?

Not in my opinion.

3) I've been told to expect temperatures anywhere from 50F to 70F. You all seem very well informed...which is closer to reality for end of Sept/beginning of Oct?

Highs or lows? in all those cities? What is the weather forecast in Boston, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach and Cleveland in that time period?

4) Read MANY different opinions re: cash, ATM's, travelers checks, and that US credit cards don't always "work" in various European cities? Are ATM machines the same...meaning you can use your ATM card to withdraw from checking/savings at home, or can ATM's only be used for cash advances on credit cards? Your experience and suggestions, please!

ATM - - the only way to go.

5) Read much regarding train theft. Does that refer to just "metro" type trains, or the Eurostar and hi-speed trains which we will be taking?

Never heard of it.

6) Anything in these cities that you think we absolutely should not miss? Plan to do the tourist "highlights" in each area.

You need a major guide book, and read at least a hundred pages about each of these places. Is this by tour group?

My husband really wants to see Versailles, good idea?

Certainly could be. I don't know you.

7) Re: luggage - many posts stating use a 22" suitcase. Are 28"-30" not allowed? According to BA, they appear to be.

See my replies on http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34602372

Best wishes,

Rex

Generally agree with the preceding answers. ATMs take ATM/debit cards as in the US. Don't get cash from a credit card except in an emergency. Interest charges start immediately.

21" (for international travel) is the maximum allowed for a carry-on. You can check larger bags. There are also limits on the weight of a carry-on. However, if you're traveling by train, you must be able to lift your bags on board and then lift them overhead to a shelf above your seat. Alternatively, leave them at the end of the car, attached by a cable lock.

I wouldn't wear good jewelry to Europe. And get moneybelts. Keep your passports, plane tickets, credit and ATM cards in the moneybelt. Only have enough cash for a day or so, using credit cards mostly. Then you won't need to worry about pickpockets or train theft--which isn't all that prevalent anyway.

It does seem like you're making very short stops in a lot of places. Have you allowed for jet lag? And travel days?

On the jewelry. I would not walk down the streets of ANY city wearing a $10,000 diamond necklace. Would you?

I don't think it is a good idea anywhere to have an ostentacious display of wealth. Why do crooks rob banks? Because that is where the money is? Banks are hard targets; individuals are much easier if they have equivalent wealth.

Pickpockets are out there. More so in some places than others.

Three days each in London, Paris, and
Rome? Not my cup of tea. You can spend a week in each and have a lot left over to see the next time. My Paris and London dance cards are still full after several visits.

Use your ATM card for cash, but know which banks are the affiliate banks of your own bank. That saves off net charges. For example, in the UK, use Barclays if you have Bank of America.

Train theft? I try to be careful. Some countries are worse than others. I have heard of more friends being robbed in Italy than in Switzerland.

Versailles a good idea? How would someone answer that? I think you answer it for yourself because I haven't a clue.

I took a course in French history as a student. Hence Versailles was almost a must.

If I had a choice, I would take a day tour to Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau. Versailles is a mob scene; getting there before the doors opened was fruitless. The mob caught us before we got to the Hall of Mirrors.

My own view is that if you do the schedule you outlined, you will remember little of it and run yourself ragged.
But that is my own opiniion. I think you have not taken into account the amount of time you will spend traveling, finding places, and recuperating.

Travel can be stressful, and you are going into a stressful environment. And the more luggage you have the more stresful it gets. How are your traveling? By train? Who hoists your luggage about when you have a 2 minutes connection? Who hauls it to the taxi rank at a big train station?

Also, remember, once you leave London, you don't speak the language. (Or do you??)

Last, but not least, I am curious about something. What is the merit and the value derived by seeing a lot superficially?

1) I have not had a problem with pickpockets in 5 trips to Europe. I believe tourist sites, train stations, crowded public transportation are where these reports usually come from. You can research various methods people use to be safe (money belts, etc.).

2) I would never travel with anything you would be upset to lose. Yes I would leave good jewelry at home. Not that they would be snatched off your fingers, but could be misplaced, or attract unwanted attention.

4) Yes ATM's are the same. 4 digit pin attached to your checking account is most common. Do not use these for cash advances on credit cards except in emergency because the costs are much higher than a simple withdrawl. Credit cards work fine in major cities and large businesses. Possibly small local cafes or tiny shops might not be set up to accept them.

7) Airlines allow quite generous weight limit in checked baggage. The reason people mention 22" is that once you arrive and are carrying your own belonging in/out of hotels, in/out taxis or public transporation, on/off trains, a 30" is a bit large and heavy for many people to manage on their own.

Hope that helps a little, and welcome to Fodors.

DeeDee, I'm not sure if you are going with an organized packaged tour or traveling independently. Some (but not all) answers might be a bit different depending on that situation.

For instance in a tour group you might not have to handle your own baggage.

I was with Bob (and generally am on most points) until his last sentence.

For a lot of people, the one trip will be their only trip. Everyone has a different reason for going on a trip. In the states, I have spent many two or three days in one place, either for a get-away weekend or a quick tour of a State or Province. It's my form of escape. For a lot of first timers, they want to see the sites that they've only heard of and move on. I think you can get a feel of a place in a few days, which gives you the time, later on, to go back to those places where you have the desire to return. Many people, especially after high school or college who have never been outside their home town, want to see as much as they can because they don't know when they'll be able to return, or even if they will want to return. They're getting out of their comfort zone and are trying to spread their wings.

For some people, you can spend a month or even longer in one city and not get to know it or the people who live there. Indeed, unless you live in a city, you really don't get to know it other than superficially, unless you meet someone or know someone who lives there.

There's a lot of intrigue in the If Its Tuesday This Must be Belgium type of tour, whether it be with a group or independently. You learn a lot about yourself. Maybe not so much about a city or town, but there certainly is merit to it, don't you think?

Surfergirl, you have a legitimate point of view that is not often heard (written?) on his forum. A one-week European trip of the "survey" variety may be much more fun for some than renting an apartment in one city for two weeks. If someone enjoys it, what's wrong with a different city every day?

Maxzine, you may come home saying, "How I wish we'd had more time in Paris!", or, "Next time I'll skip Venice." But if for some reason you never travel to Europe again you've at least had this one wonderful tour.

(sorry for the ps, having trouble posting the entire message at one go)

Maxzine: You have received some good info so far. But is this an organized tour hitting all those places? Or are you going on your own -- and just decided that 3 days in each city is what you want to do?

It sort of sounds like you are doing this independently because you ask about the trains. If so - this is very ambitions because the travel between each place will REALLY eat in to your time. Plus it will add a fair amount to your costs.

Places like London, Paris and Rome are so large, it takes most people a day or two the first time just to get familiar w/ the metro/tube etc.

You can still see a LOT but I'd definitely think about 4 or 5 days in London, 4 or 5 days in Paris, 4 days in Rome, 2 days/nights in Venice and 2 nights in Florence (I'd personally drop Nice - but maybe you have a reason for wanting to go there.)

You've received lots of good advice here. I would just add that, from what I've read, most ATM's in Europe will not work with a US savings account, so make sure your money is in a checking account.

Also, with only 3 days in Paris (actually only 2 to 2-1/2 days after travelling there), you really don't have time to go to Versailles. You will barely have time to see the "must-see" things (or what most consider the must-see things) in Paris. However, if Versailles is an absolute must-see for you, and only you can decide that, of course you could do it.

>>>>>
If someone enjoys it, what's wrong with a different city every day?
<<<<<

nothing at all. however, the point is that this poster has never been to europe and therefore does not know what she enjoys.

if someone is aware of what it's really like to travel around europe and they still prefer this type of schedule then of course they should go for it. however, many americans have a very unrealistic view of what it's like to travel around like this.

they grossly underestimate the time and distances involved and the hassle of constantly moving hotels. nevermind that when you start to have some small successes with the language, it's time to move to another country.

it is not uncommon to hear crazy itineraries like london, paris, scotland, bath in 5 days. i sometimes wonder if we are talking about the same europe.

i think there often is just some idea to want to "do" europe without really knowing what it all means. i think the fear that one might never return leads to the overwhelming need to make sure that you really "did" europe whilst you had the chance.

it would be interesting to hear from others who have done this (i'm sure there are many) and if they, in the end, felt that they would have been better off with less cities packed within their trip.

Hi M,

My first suggestion is to rethink your itinerary.

You will lose 1/2 day between London and Paris, 1 day between Paris and Nice and another between Nice and Florence, 1/2 day between Florence and Venice and Venice and Rome. 20% of your trip is spent on trains.

With only 3 days in Paris - a daytrip is not recommended.

May I suggest the following?

A. A week in London and a week in Paris.

B. 5 nights in Rome, 5 nights in Florence with daytrips to Siena and Bologna, 4 nights in Venice. Fly home from Venice.

C. A week in Paris. Fly Paris Orly to Pisa, train Pisa airport to Florence. 4 nights in Florence 3 nights in Venice. Fly home from Venice.

Have a nice trip.

<We're going to London, Paris, Nice, Florence, Venice and Rome. 3 days each>

For this itinerary I'd say you need at least 23 days (not 18). That includes 3 days each city, 1/2 day each time you change cities, and not counting day 1 arrival and day 23 departure which there's not time to do much other than get yourself from/to the airport.

Moving about takes time and money. Wake up, have breakfast, check out of hotel, take taxi to train station, ride on the train ~4 hours, take taxi to new hotel, check in. You can't just get from "London to Paris" in an instant.

Personally for a first trip I'd suggest London, Paris, Venice only and stay 5-6 days each place.

DeeDee I hope this is not too forward but I saw this over on the "eating on the train thread" but am guessing you wanted to posted here?

Maxzine posted:

THANK YOU all so much!

I realized, rather belatedly, that I failed to mention this is a Trafalgar tour. We were told that each of our hi-speed train rides from city to city would be no longer than 3 hours, which sounded much better than the bus tours...or the cruise my husband had suggested. I hope that info is accurate. And, we've also been told they handle the luggage transfers.

As some of you so kindly pointed out, with this trip we're just attempting to see some of the wonderful sights etc we've read about all our lives. (Funny, but this is considered a leisurely tour by Trafalgar. Judging by your comments, that's not the case!) If we were to have to choose one or two places in Europe to spend 17 days, we'd have NO idea where to start. We definitely hope to return and spend a week or so in each of 2 or 3 cities the next time around.
Hopefully, some day I'll be as well informed as all of you regarding this topic.

If you know any reason why I shouldn't believe what I'm being told by Trafalgar, or have comments on Trafalgar, please let me know.

Thanks Again
DeeDee/Maxzine

I see you mention British Airways. One thing unusual to them is that carry-on luggage can not exceed 13 pounds - that is really not a lot of weight, so be careful. We are flying them in AM Boston-London and have all weighed out carry-ons. I'll let you know if they actually weight them.

I think that IS leisurely for a Trafalgar Tour! My sister-in-law went on one of those tours a few years back and had a great time. I guess I could say it changed her life, because after that, she couldn't stop traveling. Saved all her money, and every vacation was another trip back to Europe, either to one of the places she visited (for a longer period, of course) or a new adventure. She has planned each trip on her own ever since, but that gave her the backbone, so to speak.

Suze - Thanks for putting my reply in the right place. Newbie's, huh?
Surfergirl - Thanks for the kind posting about first timers, pretty much sums up our feelings. Thanks also for the positive comments about Trafalgar, that helps! We might just end up like your sister-in-law!
kswl, susan, ira - I appreciate your comments as well...and all the info EVERYONE has provided.
gail-Thanks for the heads up on carryon's on BA, good grief, 13 lbs! I better take paperback books.
Happy Traveling - DeeDee / Maxzine