I was wondering if anyone has used European DEstinations.com to book and plan a vacation? Is it cheaper to just buy ala cart (plane tickets, hotel stay, and buy a train pass)? We will be staying 2 weeks flying into paris train to venice than off to rome. Any tips for booking would be appreciated.

You will find that most people here are do-it-yourselfers, so you will find great advice for that.

Part of the decision of whether to use an agency or not is how comfortable are you to do the research yourself and organize everything. What value do you place on your time? Would you rather pay someone else to do it for you?

I've used Travelocity and Expedia to do a couple of trips, where I used them for flight/hotel combos.

The other argument is that when you do it yourself, you can get exactly what you want, not necessarily what any agency has in their portfolio.

Destinations seems to be an Amex division (?). Will the book you into that small hotel in Paris with a view, or ones that have relationship with them?

Not to discourage you, just some questions to think about. Follow through with them, then compare with info from here.

Comfort level, that's what is boils down to. My first trip to Europe was an organized tour, because I knew nothing. It was my last guides tour, since I found my 'travel feet'.

Thanks for the insight as I am new here. I was thinking about buying the flight,hotels and train pass as a package deal and then finding some tips here as far as the "must sees" and braving those on my own.
I have already read some great ideas on here and I have until April to plan so I'm sure I'' have tons of questions... thanks so much

Book your plane tickets into Paris, and out of Rome.

Paris, Venice, Rome in two weeks is a pretty straight forward trip to self-plan imo.

Nothing against vacation packages, because I've never used them & don't know a thing about them. I've always wanted to and successfully planned my own trips.

Likely you don't need a "train pass" for the three cities you describe. Just buy point-to-point tickets.

Great advice guys i will fly into Paris and out of Rome. I'm thinking
Fly into Paris on April 15th check into hotel and just roam around the city the first day and go to the Eiffel Tower in the evening and have dinner.
Day 2 Louvre and Notre Dame
Day 3 Catacombs and a ride out to Pere Lachaise(just have to go by Morrison's final resting place) Evening dinner and Arc De Triomphe
Day 4 not sure yet any ideas?
Night train to Venice
Day 5 arrive in the morning/check in
Day 6
Day 7 Train to Rome for 5 days

As you all can I see I'm just getting started on my plans there are just so many choices its hard to know where to start but very exciting!
While in Rome I for sure want to see the Colosseum, Forum, and the Pantheon and i know i will need a whole day for the Vatican. Thanks for any advice on a place to stay or anything else for that matter.

The are some good starter Destination guides here that can get you started. You might want to get a guide for Paris and Rome, just to see what there is, in total. Then pick out your top picks, a rough itinerary posted here...and you'll get lots of help.

An open jaw is what you want, into Paris, out of Rome/Venice.

Hi J,

Paris, Venice and Rome is a lovely itinerary.

You might find it more convenient, and cheaper, to fly from Paris Orly to Venice VCE on www.myair.com than to take the train.

Especially arriving by night train (which I loved doing, but did not exactly get a great night's sleep!)... I would want to add a couple more days to Venice. It's a favorite place of mine & allowing barely 1-2 days when you have 2 weeks total, seems well... just too short. I'd shave a day off
Rome and add it to Venice.

Besides that I think this looks like a beautiful trip!

I will give all of these great tips a thouht and let you all know what I decide. I see most people advise renting an apartment in the Navone area. Any advice on an apartment for around 100-150 dollars a night?

to fly "open jaw" would I buy a one way into Paris and then a one way out of Rome? Or is there a way of buying a round trip this way?

No(!) open jaws is not two one-way tickets (that would be horribly expensive).

It is a round-trip ticket (similarly priced to going in and out of the same city) only you fly into one city and out of another. It is still a RT ticket, NOT two 1-ways!!!

(sorry, didn't mean to sound so excited above, but it's a huge distinction as far as pricing!)

buena suerte, suze

yea I just figured that out I guess I need to speak with someone on the phone at expedia; cause It won't let me change the city on the return flight on a rt. Is 880 a good price from Nola to Paris?