We are thinking of going to Europe next summer, 2004 for approximately 14 days. Is it feasible and reasonable to do a roundtrip out of, let's say London, and still visit the mainland, i.e. France, the low countries or Germany and still go back to London to fly home?

It is not necessary for us to visit more than two or three countries, just wanting an idea if we are being reasonable or prudent with costs of transportation from England to the mainland?

Hi I believe that most people is this forum will advise you that less in more. Choose carefully, may be
London, Paris ( not France) and one or two more places max.
Good luck

I for one would not advise that "less is generally more". Since you indicate it is your first trip to Europe I think it would be fine to visit London, some of France, presumably Paris, and some of Germany.
But my first suggestion would be to get an open jaw flight. Fly into London and home from maybe Frankfurt. These can be no more expensive and saves you the time and cost of returning to London to fly home. Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris is an experience in itself, and then a few trains from there working towards Frankfurt (or maybe to Brugge and Amsterdam for your return if you want instead of Germany).
Four or five days in London, four days in Paris, two days in Brugge, and three or four days in Amsterdam and venturing out to other towns in Holland would make a great trip for two weeks. Or London, Paris, then some time on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers before flying home from Frankfurt would also be nice.

I agree with the "open jaws" idea since it is foolish to return a long distance to a city just to fly home from there UNLESS the cost of an open jaws vs. non-open jaws is out of sight (which it shouldn't be). A lot can depend on mode of travel. Unfortunately, many folks in the US who are not used to good, reliable, and fast public transport wouldn't think of using it in Europe where trains, particularly, are an easy way to get around to most spots. Driving, of course, provides "ultimate" flexibility for some but driving takes work.
Then there is the whole notion of WHERE to go and you're already experiencing that with this post and the one just above. Everyone has their favorite place and thinks that it is THE BEST. All I will say here is that despite a lot of posts decrying locations as being "too touristy" and "tourist traps" and "too crowded" you must keep in mind one thing: there is a REASON (and usually a very GOOD one)why people flock to places like the Leaning Tower, the Eiffel, etc., etc.
I'd say go see the biggies first and then return on other trips for more "in depth" exploration.
And finally, with reference to some of the more frequent questions seen on this board, in my opinion:
Yes, you can eat at MacDonald's if you want to
Yes, you can stay at a Best Western property if you want to
Yes, you can wear what is comfortable and you know looks good on you including (gasp!) jeans!!!
Yes, you can stay in an expensive hotel and still soak up "local culture"
Yes, you can ride in First Class on trains and still meet the "locals"
Yes, you can tip someone ebven if all the other people didn't
And NO, the Europeans aren't going to attack you with guns and knives, even in France because the current political administration went to war
And on and on....
I hope you enjoy your trip wherever you decide to go. Cheers!

I agree w/Patrick on this. I remember my first trip to Europe -- anxious to get a taste of several countries, knowing that this would be just the first of many trips. The open jaw combo of London and Frankfurt is great. Friends and I did it in the opposite direction many years ago, and toodled by car down the Romantic Road w/an overnight in Harburg, revisited Munich, then down to St. Gilgen, Austria (do I recall that village name right?), visiting Salzburg and Halstatt, then across to Fussen for a couple of nights, then a couple of nights in France's Alsace, then Brugge, and across to England w/stay-overs in Seven Oaks and Devizes. And that hop, skip, and a jump wasn't even our first trip. (The first was a Eurrail Pass 5-dollar-a-day spectacular in 1970 that included Munich, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Rome, Lausanne(my very first lakeboat on Lac Leman to Chillon), Paris (where we missed seeing the finish of the Tour de France because we didn't know what the little streetside signs proclaiming 'le tour' indicated!), and Amsterdam. (open jaw Frankfurt/Amsterdam.) My point is that even though I'm now a devoted stay-in-one-or-two-place person, I enjoyed the heck out of those two trips.

4khansen, you will have a wonderful time and I hope you return over and over again to your favorite locales. J.

Hi
I have files on Paris and London; if you decide you'd like to see them, email me at
[email protected]

Two weeks is a great amount of time for a trip. I don't know Germany at all and don't know which cities you have in mind there, but you can do this--

From London (I recommend at least 5 days, including, perhaps one day trip)
you can take the Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) to Brussels. Check fares at the website. I haven't used the Eurostar yet, but I know there are various fare deals depending on what sort of advance purchase requirements you meet. Tickets can be purchased in London. From Brussels you can explore that city, and/or move on to Bruges, and A'dam. 3-5 days, that's up to you.

Then you have a train ride to Paris (or look into flying, might not be significantly more expensive) where I'd say allow another 5 days at least.

Remainder of time would be Germany.
For more "mainland" in France, you can train to Strasbourg, for example, and Germany is practically next door.
You could also TGV to Geneva and go on from there. Fly home from Frankfurt (or Zurich) as advised.
Lots of options.