First time to Europe - suggestions on 2 week Itinerary
Dec 30th, 2013, 09:05 PM
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First time to Europe - suggestions on 2 week Itinerary
This is our first time to Europe. We will be traveling with kids (ages 6 and 10). In 2 weeks trying to cover Paris, Italy and Switzerland - is that too much to accomplish in a not too fast paced trip. Any Itinerary suggestions appreciated. Debating between independent travel versus a tour. Thank you for your time.
Dec 30th, 2013, 09:23 PM
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Remember you will lose between 1/2 day to full day every time you change a town. And you have two kids in tow for every change.
Decide what is important to see. Give the kids maps, pictures, and some simple decisions about the trip to get them invovled.
Decide what is important to see. Give the kids maps, pictures, and some simple decisions about the trip to get them invovled.
Dec 30th, 2013, 10:48 PM
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I think a tour with children that age might be a nightmare. There would be a lot of time sitting on a a bus.
We can help with an independent trip and most of the people on these threads will be happy to offer assistance.
Italy and Switzerland, as you know, are countries, not cities. So perhaps do a little more research and when you can be a bit more specific, draft up a rough itinerary and we can help tweak it. Imdonehere, is correct that you'll lose a minimum of half a day each time you move towns etc.
If you are based in the US you'll be jetlagged for the first few days and the kids might be out of sorts.
We can help with an independent trip and most of the people on these threads will be happy to offer assistance.
Italy and Switzerland, as you know, are countries, not cities. So perhaps do a little more research and when you can be a bit more specific, draft up a rough itinerary and we can help tweak it. Imdonehere, is correct that you'll lose a minimum of half a day each time you move towns etc.
If you are based in the US you'll be jetlagged for the first few days and the kids might be out of sorts.
Dec 30th, 2013, 11:13 PM
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Even though Paris, Italy and Switzerland were on my list, after reading several posts I am starting to believe I should stick to just 2 countries for a 2 week period. (was not interested anything else other than Paris, in France for now)
I guess I need to do more research to come up with a priority list of cities we would want to visit during the 2 weeks time.
Scenery , mountains and lakes , learning various cultures would be of interest to us. Would love the train rides. Looked at untours.com too but not sure if we can stay in one accommodation for the entire week and still be able to see places near by.
Please suggest based on your expertise which cities/towns would be most recommended for what we are looking for.Thank you again.
I guess I need to do more research to come up with a priority list of cities we would want to visit during the 2 weeks time.
Scenery , mountains and lakes , learning various cultures would be of interest to us. Would love the train rides. Looked at untours.com too but not sure if we can stay in one accommodation for the entire week and still be able to see places near by.
Please suggest based on your expertise which cities/towns would be most recommended for what we are looking for.Thank you again.
Dec 30th, 2013, 11:46 PM
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I think you (and a few others on this forum) automatically belive that the number of destinations is proportional to the pace of the trip. Here is a counter example. Which one of these trips do you think is fast paced, one with one destination - Paris, or one with three destinations Paris, Rome, and Wengen?
<b>Itinerary 1</b>. Stay in Paris for 2 weeks and visit: Versailles, Chartres, Giverny, Fontainebleau, Vaux le Vicomte, Mont St. Michel, Louvre, Orangerie, Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise, Canal St. Martin Cruise
Rodin Museum, Marmottan Museum, Promenade Plantée, Luxembourg Garden, Notre Dame, St. Chapelle, St. Sulpice, Pantheon, Catacombs, Arc de Triomphe, La Defense, Pompidou Center, Carnavalet, Picasso Museum, Place de Vosges, Pere Lachaise, Sacre-Coeur.
<b>Itinerary 2</b>: Visit Paris - 5 days. Sit at cafe and walk around. Visit Wengen - 5 days, watch the scenary. Visit Rome - 5 days, each pizza and walk around.
Now, one might say this is a silly comparison, but it demonstrates that it is how one packs days that determines whether a trip is fast paced or not.
Whether do it independently or use a tour depends on what you plan to do. Do you automatically hire a contractor for any home repairs? Would you not first assess what needs to be done to see if it is within your capabilities or you need a professional?
Until the internet, it was not easy to find out what is available or how things worked or how to put travel resources together in other continent. But that was more than twenty years ago!!! For resources in Europe, you can now find out most things from your computer. You are not planning an expedition trip to a primitive place.
As others indicated, the first order of business is what are you doing specifically? Guide books exist to show you what the editors think most people are interested. The tours might seem a easy and a cheap way to have someone decide these for you. But their motivation is not necessarily congruent with yours. Getting a bargain on something you don't care for is probably not a bargain at all. Check out Fodors, Rick Steves, etc. For these countries. Look at pages showing top attractions.
<b>Itinerary 1</b>. Stay in Paris for 2 weeks and visit: Versailles, Chartres, Giverny, Fontainebleau, Vaux le Vicomte, Mont St. Michel, Louvre, Orangerie, Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise, Canal St. Martin Cruise
Rodin Museum, Marmottan Museum, Promenade Plantée, Luxembourg Garden, Notre Dame, St. Chapelle, St. Sulpice, Pantheon, Catacombs, Arc de Triomphe, La Defense, Pompidou Center, Carnavalet, Picasso Museum, Place de Vosges, Pere Lachaise, Sacre-Coeur.
<b>Itinerary 2</b>: Visit Paris - 5 days. Sit at cafe and walk around. Visit Wengen - 5 days, watch the scenary. Visit Rome - 5 days, each pizza and walk around.
Now, one might say this is a silly comparison, but it demonstrates that it is how one packs days that determines whether a trip is fast paced or not.
Whether do it independently or use a tour depends on what you plan to do. Do you automatically hire a contractor for any home repairs? Would you not first assess what needs to be done to see if it is within your capabilities or you need a professional?
Until the internet, it was not easy to find out what is available or how things worked or how to put travel resources together in other continent. But that was more than twenty years ago!!! For resources in Europe, you can now find out most things from your computer. You are not planning an expedition trip to a primitive place.
As others indicated, the first order of business is what are you doing specifically? Guide books exist to show you what the editors think most people are interested. The tours might seem a easy and a cheap way to have someone decide these for you. But their motivation is not necessarily congruent with yours. Getting a bargain on something you don't care for is probably not a bargain at all. Check out Fodors, Rick Steves, etc. For these countries. Look at pages showing top attractions.
Dec 31st, 2013, 03:23 AM
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You could always get the train from Paris to Geneva, Switzerland! It takes about 4 hours http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...e/paris-geneva but when you are in Geneva you could get the train to Milan, Italy. Its another 4 hour journey but the views from the train are just stunning and the time flies and the kids would love it too http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...e/geneva-milan. I think you can do all three countries if you plan well and the train is just such a relaxing and easy way to travel! And you get to visit three of the most breath taking cities in Europe. Hope this helps 
Dec 31st, 2013, 04:26 AM
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I agree you could easily see some of France, Switzerland and Italy in two weeks as long as you know you can't see "ALL" of those countries.
Do four days Paris (no day trips). Don't do time consuming things like wait in line to go up the Eiffel Tower (it's more impressive from the ground anyway) or into the Louvre (walk around the outside of the building - the building itself is as much a piece of art as anything inside it). Take a boat ride on the Seine, spend half a day up on Montmartre, walk around Ile de la Cite and Ile St Louis and the fifth, go to the Eiffel Tower at dusk as it is lighting up. You get the idea, plenty to do without spending half the time to wait in lines.
Then train to Switzerland. But I wouldn't pick Geneva, a nice enough but really pretty boring city that is not at all what you think of when you think of Switzerland. Either go on up to the Bernese Oberland (Interlaken can be a base) or at least go to the other end of Lake Geneva to Montreux or around there (closer to Italy anyway) from where you can do day trips to Sion, Gruyeres, Zermatt, etc. Three or four days will give you a little taste of Switzerland.
Then train to Italy but I wouldn't pick Milan. The lakes region is beautiful and right there on the Swiss border. But it's not that much further to the coast (Cinque Terre or towns around there) or to Venice. If you don't mind moving you could even do two areas. That would still only be four 'bases' in two weeks which is not unreasonable. Actually Verona might be a good base. It's a wonderful city itself and you can do day trips to Lake Garda and to Venice.
Do four days Paris (no day trips). Don't do time consuming things like wait in line to go up the Eiffel Tower (it's more impressive from the ground anyway) or into the Louvre (walk around the outside of the building - the building itself is as much a piece of art as anything inside it). Take a boat ride on the Seine, spend half a day up on Montmartre, walk around Ile de la Cite and Ile St Louis and the fifth, go to the Eiffel Tower at dusk as it is lighting up. You get the idea, plenty to do without spending half the time to wait in lines.
Then train to Switzerland. But I wouldn't pick Geneva, a nice enough but really pretty boring city that is not at all what you think of when you think of Switzerland. Either go on up to the Bernese Oberland (Interlaken can be a base) or at least go to the other end of Lake Geneva to Montreux or around there (closer to Italy anyway) from where you can do day trips to Sion, Gruyeres, Zermatt, etc. Three or four days will give you a little taste of Switzerland.
Then train to Italy but I wouldn't pick Milan. The lakes region is beautiful and right there on the Swiss border. But it's not that much further to the coast (Cinque Terre or towns around there) or to Venice. If you don't mind moving you could even do two areas. That would still only be four 'bases' in two weeks which is not unreasonable. Actually Verona might be a good base. It's a wonderful city itself and you can do day trips to Lake Garda and to Venice.
Dec 31st, 2013, 05:18 AM
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With kids that age - who will want time to run around, e kids, have access to playgrounds etc - in 2 weeks I would pick no more than 3 cities (NOT countries) so you can settle into each.
Even if you have a full 14 days on the ground (not counting days you arrive and depart) when you deduct 2 days for travel (from A to B and b to C) that gives you only 12 days - or 4 days each in 3 places.
See if you can get an apt in each in a central location but with access to a park for the kids - and plan sightseeing to a leisurely schedule - so you don't end up with the two grumpiest kids on record.
If it were me I would do one week each in Paris and Rome, flying in between - there are tons of kid friendly activities in each. If the trip is in high summer I would do one week in Paris (but make sure lodging has AC - many don;t) and one week in Switz (perhaps Lucerne) with a car to do several day trips - as well as lake steamers and cable cars or trams up nerby mountains. (IMHO Rome is just TOO hot for summer touring).
Even if you have a full 14 days on the ground (not counting days you arrive and depart) when you deduct 2 days for travel (from A to B and b to C) that gives you only 12 days - or 4 days each in 3 places.
See if you can get an apt in each in a central location but with access to a park for the kids - and plan sightseeing to a leisurely schedule - so you don't end up with the two grumpiest kids on record.
If it were me I would do one week each in Paris and Rome, flying in between - there are tons of kid friendly activities in each. If the trip is in high summer I would do one week in Paris (but make sure lodging has AC - many don;t) and one week in Switz (perhaps Lucerne) with a car to do several day trips - as well as lake steamers and cable cars or trams up nerby mountains. (IMHO Rome is just TOO hot for summer touring).
Dec 31st, 2013, 02:52 PM
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I think you could manage to see Paris, one destination in Switzerland, and one destination in Italy. Given your interests, I think that in Italy, your destination should be on one of the great lakes. And since you're traveling with young children, maybe the lake should be Garda, which is right on the border between Switzerland and Italy. At the lower end of the lake, you could take the kids to Gardaland, one of the best amusement parks in Italy. Garda would also be close enough for a quick day trip to Venice. Lake Como would also be a good destination, instead of Lake Garda, and would be close enough for a day trip to Milan.
I would suggest four nights in Paris, three nights in your Swiss destination, and five nights in Italy.
What time of year will you be traveling?
I would suggest four nights in Paris, three nights in your Swiss destination, and five nights in Italy.
What time of year will you be traveling?
