Nikki

Best topic heading prize goes to Marija.

I was nodding my head at the Scotland suggestions until I came to the part where they want to practice their French. I would go to London and then spend the rest of the time in France, split between Paris and another destination, a smaller city or French countryside, perhaps a day or two on the beach in Brittany or Normandy with all the vacationing French families and their teenage kids.

Christina

Do the girls want to go to Venice or is that just your idea? It is your miles so if you really want to spend all the extra money going to/from there to see it in July, your call.

It would be a lot easier to go to Switzerland instead of you want another point and in fact, they speak French in the western part of Switzerland, I spoke French there in Montreux and Vevey. The weather would be a lot nicer in July than Italy.

YOu can get a train from Paris to Lausanne in less than 4 hrs, Montreux is just a bit farther.

You can get from Lausanne back to Dijon France by train in only 2 hrs. You only hvae two weeks so it's hard to add in a lot in Switzerland and France outside Paris, but it's better than Italy IMO

Marija

Again, thanks. The French and Venice eliminate many good possibilities. As it stands I have booked flights into Paris and then a return from Venice to London. We have five nights to play with before we arrive in Venice. Just staying in Paris is certainly possible. We've been to Montreux and found it uninspiring. Getting from Montreux to Venice is also a long haul (speaking from experience!)

Any other suggestions for the five nights? It has to be easily reachable by train from Paris and then an easy hop to Venice by plane or train.

kawh

they are now calling for an air france strike june 24-27 which is not so far off from your dates. i really would think twice about any plan that strictly relies on air travel into or out of france ??? (but i'm super conservative about my transportation ... especially since our train into cdg was striking last month... it was a huge mess for us.)

ssander

With 12.5 days on the ground (assuming morning flight since posted in Europe):

Jul 9 - fly to London - half day London
Jul 10-14 - five full days London
Jul 15 - Eurostar to Paris - half-day in Paris
Jul 16-20 - nearly five days Paris; evening Eurostar back to London
Jul 21 - Full day in London
Jul 22 - Fly home

ssander

ticino

I love Venice in the summer. True, during the day there will be lots of tourists in the main streets but most don't spend the night, and walking around almost empty streets after dinner is wonderful, and a lot more enjoyable in the summer. It won't get terribly hot unless there is a heatwave and then you'd rather be in Venice where you can at least go to the beach.

I'd stay in Paris and do the castles+André Le Nôtre gardens around Paris. Nothing is Switzerland will be as nice unless you go to a ski resort and enjoy hiking.

If you have Air France tickets, don't worry. Unlike many other airlines Air France will inform you a few days before any strike and will give you a chance to fly before or after. Negotiations are still ongoing so at this point nothing is certain. I'm keeping an eye because I am flying in those dates. Download the app and check regularly.

traveller1959

>> Any other suggestions for the five nights? It has to be easily reachable by train from Paris and then an easy hop to Venice by plane or train. <<

Côte d'Azur
Alsace/Switzerland