jonglee14

This community has been so helpful.

I'll take Switzerland out.
I think as of now, my top four are Paris -Venice - Florence - Rome.
In regard to airfare - We're probably gonna have enough Chase Freedom Card points to purchase one ticket which will save us a ton of money.

- How do you find hotels that are close to all the tourist sites?
- transportation via train or flight within Europe?

jonglee14

never mind with my reply. I didn't realize how quick this community is willing to respond and help. Cheers.

suze

<<Paris - Venice - Florence - Rome>>

That works for two weeks. But it's still plenty fast paced, giving you about 3 days in each city once you subtract travel time between each.

Venice/Florence/Rome you'd do by train. Paris/Venice could be either day train, night train, or a flight.

For hotels, I'd find a good street map for each city. Then I'd use Fodor's and Trip Advisor to look at hotels in central areas in my price range. Then I would book direct with the hotel.

PalenQ

Yes train in Italy for sure. Maybe fly from Paris to Italy if not into the night train (www.thello.com) as it is a long slog by day train - all day and so-so scenery.

Aramis

Thank you thursdaysd - you saved me the trouble of blowing holes in any one individuals subjective "needs" as defining those of everyone else. Aw, I'm going to anyway.....

4 times to Italy, landed twice in Rome - haven't seen it yet. I have never paid near $200 US for a hotel room and stay in 3 and 4 star locations.

PalenQ

Never had an interest in seeing Rome? Wow? That's OK of course but totally amazing - aramis - Rome is neat - check it out and I've never even paid $100 to stay in Rome.

Really Rome has some neat stuff that anyone would revel in seeing - like the Roman Forum and Colosseum - a world's heritage place for sure.

I feel sorry for you but of course again it's OK of course just totally weird!

cheers!

thursdaysd

It is not wierd that people do not all like the same things and the same places. It is completely normal - and a good thing!

@jonglee - suggest you do some research using actual books, not just the internet. Try "Europe Through the Back Door", the "Rough Guide to First Time Europe", and guidebooks from Lonely Planet, Rough Guide and Let's Go.

Mimar

In Italy convents are an inexpensive place to sleep. And, echewing nightlife, you won't be bothered by the curfew. Here's a couple links to get you started: www.monasterystays.com and www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html.

As for where to stay in a city, especially for your first trip, stay as centrally as possible. You can see so much just walking around. Once you decide what sights you want to see, you can find a place in the center near the sights. Look up the locations on Google Maps and check out the neighborhood with Streetview.

I like the books thursdaysd recommended -- if they're available where you live.

PalenQ

It is not wierd that people do not all like the same things and the same places. It is completely normal - and a good thing!>

Yes but how do you know you don't like some place if you never go there - you may not know what you're missing.

thursdaysd

@PalenQ - the same way I know I may like somewhere. I read about it and I look at photos. I am not a big fan of art or of baroque and Florence seems to be mostly about art. I would rather spend my time elsewhere (for instance, right now I am enjoying some excellent scenery and a fair amount of peace and quiet in the Italian Lakes). Besides, even though I have now visited over seventy countries, the world is still overfull of places I will never get to.

PalenQ

I've visited well over 80 countries and I'm glad I went to them all - some I would never go back to but I'm glad i saw them and did not let some guidebooks dictate where I should go.

I love Florence and hate museums yet always manage to have a great time just walking around and watching the human carnival - one of my nicest Florentine memories is walking around town - literally - around the periphery of the town center on boulevards that circle it - I saw so many interesting ordinary places and surprisingly folks were smoking pot openly everywhere - gave me a whole different view of Florentines - not just the pot smoking in several parks but watching locals play soccer, etc.

thursdaysd

Oh for heaven's sake. I am not letting a guidebook "dictate" where I do or don't go. I am using them as what they are: GUIDES.

I have no great interest in visiting Florence. You do. Fine. Get over it.

thursdaysd

Actually, if I WERE being dictated to by guidebooks, I would have gone to Florence. Duh.

And how do you decide where to go? Throw darts at a map?

ssander

I think limiting the trip to Italy does make sense, but IMHO Paris is a magical city that -- if possible -- I would not rule out. If you really have two weeks (12 full days in Europe), it is doable. Here is an Italy-strong itinerary that includes Paris:

Arrive Paris - get through control and to hotel 0.5 days
Paris 3.5 days
Fly to Venice 0.75 days (or overnight train is possible)
Venice 2.25 days
Train to Florence 0.5 days
Florence 2.5 days
Train to Rome 0.25 days
Rome 3.75 days

This is somewhat rushed for my taste, but you're young, and I'm sure you'll have a great time.

The trains in Italy are fast and very cheap if you buy your tickets well in advance.

SS

Aramis

Pal;

Do you have any concept of how condescending this sort of reply is;

>>>Never had an interest in seeing Rome? Wow? That's OK of course but totally >>>amazing - aramis - Rome is neat - check it out and I've never even paid $100 >>>to stay in Rome.

>>>Really Rome has some neat stuff that anyone would revel in seeing - like the >>>Roman Forum and Colosseum - a world's heritage place for sure.

>>>I feel sorry for you but of course again it's OK of course just totally weird!

My personal choices are; "wow", "amazing" (both intended in the negative sense) "totally weird" and, best of all; "you feel sorry for me". Of course, you did hedge the whole matter by throwing in the disingenuous "it's OK, of course" (twice) to thwart any criticism coming back at you.

I'm not offended. The phrase "I feel sorry for you" and it's somewhat softer cousin "I'm sorry, but...." really only serve to reveal the attitude of those making them. I am fascinated at how many people go through life stunned that others do not see it the way they do, and convinced of the fact that if they only tried they would be able to correct themselves of that flaw.

manouche

I would stick with Paris/Florence/Rome/Venice. You can get very cheap flights from Paris to Italy on EasyJet. Keep checking their website for internet specials. We paid roundtrip 28 EU each to go from Paris to Venice two years ago - flight took 90 mins. You can use Kayak to check fares for all the airlines. Any train tickets are a lot cheaper when you buy in advance but when you figure in the time factor flying is almost always the best option. Local trains can be interesting but going long distances is not always comfortable or a pretty ride. Just fly and get to where you're going as fast as you can because you don't have much time. Inexpensive clean chain hotels are always right near major train stations - in Paris look for Ibis and Accor. You need to figure in a lot of waiting around time since it always takes a lot longer than you think to get from one place to another.