mansi1612

Hi Everyone,
My family is planning a 10 day family trip to Paris – Brussels & Amsterdam in July. As of now, we have already booked our flights to and from India. India to Paris on 20th July and Amsterdam to Paris on 29th July. However, we would need your help in planning a detailed itinerary. As of now, the plan looks like this:

Day 1 - 21 July – 1 full day in day in Paris
Just roam around. Adjust the body clock.
Day 2 - 22 July – Day trip to Versalies and ½ day in Paris
See Lido show
Day 3 - 23 July – 1 full day in Paris
Visit tourist attractions
Day 4 - 24 July – leave early for Brussels - spend night in Brussels
See mini Europe museum
Day 5 - 25 July – Day Trip to Bruges – leave early and back to Brussels – spend night in Brussels
Day 6 - 26 July – Day trip to Delft/Antwerp/Ghent – leave early and back to Brussels – spend night in Brussels - which place to visit?
Day 7 - 27 July – leave early for Amsterdam – spend night in Amsterdam
Canal cruise
Day 8 - 28 July – Day trip to cheese factory – spend night in Amsterdam
Day 9 - 29 July – ½ day in Amsterdam – leave for India

nytraveler

I think you need to do some work in guide books for each city since you seem to have picked out very few places to see - and those certainly not the best.

For instance, from Amsterdam a tour of a cheeserie is about the least interesting thing you can do. This is a gorgeous city for walking, has a plethora of great museums as well as the Anne Frank house and several house museums of 17th century merchants that are fascinating.

Also you need to check your train times. You have the day rips from Brussels listed as if they are lengthy - when in fact they are about 30 minutes - just quick hop - so you can spend a whole day each in Brugge and Ghent, IMHO which are both much more interesting than Brussels.

And you do;t appear to have picked out any of the dozens of major sight in paris. I can;t pick them for you - but a couple of hours with a guide book will helps a lot.

menachem

skip versailles, skip brussels, especially mini europe, skip the cheese factory thing

doing a daytrip to Delft from Brussels and back to Brussels is insane. You could do Delft on your way to Amsterdam, take Thalys to Rotterdam, change to a train to Delft, at night, take train from Delft to Amsterdam

PalenQ

Skip the cheesy Cheese Factory tour - so much more better to do. For train info in Benelux check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You need to pare down your wish list - unrealistic and little time in cities like Paris or Amsterdam.

Sassafrass

In Paris, I would not skip Versailles. It is such a major sight and so near Paris. Plan times as best to avoid crowds as much as possible.
Skip the Lido show!
See the Musee d'Orsay. Get tickets ahead.

Rather than staying in Brussels, stay in Ghent for 2 nights. Lovely, waterfront restaurants for evening enjoyment.
Do a day trip to Bruges from Ghent. Stay late as possible for dinner and a walk in the evening when the square is lighted.
That gives you two lovely places to visit in Belgium.

Forget the cheese factory tour from Amsterdam!

Visit charming Harlem instead! Or Delft, or Leiden or Utrecht.
Delft is too far from Brussels for a day trip.
Visit Delft from Amsterdam or on the way to Amsterdam, depending on train routes.
Do not miss the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
More interest in art? See the Rijksmuseum.

PalenQ

A resounding YES to Versailles - to me a must sight in Paris - some will say a 30-minute RER train ride is too far away but that takes you right to near the entrance to the chateau - you could commute taking longer from your hotel to some sights right in Paris!

and spend some time in the vast park and gardens - make a half day or more of it.

And yes Gent will be much more romantic than staying in Brussels, a modern city with its pluses but an old-world look and feeling is not among them.