This is my first time to Europe and to this site! I need help with my itinerary before I book my flights to Europe (will be using frequent flier miles). My boyfriend and I need to be in London for a wedding on July 4, but are thinking of flying into Dublin and then to London. We would also like to go to Paris and Rome, but don't know if we are cramning too much into two weeks. So this is our tentative itinerary:

June 30 arrive in Dublin from Phx
July 1-2 Dublin
July 2 - fly from Dublin to London
July 2-5 - London (need to be here July 4 for a wedding)
July 6 - take train to Paris
July 6-9 - Paris
July 9 - fly to Rome
July 9-12 - Rome
July 13 - fly from Rome to Phx leaving at 8:45 a.m.

Any help is appreciated. Not sure if we are trying to do much or too little. Thanks.

I have not done the Dublin part of your trip, but I've done the London, Paris, Rome part of your trip and I think that you have a very reasonable itinerary going spending ~3 days in the major cities.

Paris is my favorite city in Europe so for me I'd spend an extra day in Paris and take away one day from Rome. I'd minimize the impact of this by taking a night flight (or at least one that arrives in the early morning) going into Rome. I'd use the same tactic in going from London to Paris and take the Eurostar that would get me into Paris in the early morning.

Have a great time in Europe,
gatorbill
http://gatorbill.zenfolio.com/
http://www.gatortravels.com/index.html

okay thanks. We would only only have about two days in London because the wedding on July 4 will take a day. We just want to be sure that flying into Dublin and flying out of Rome is the smart way to go.

Too many locations in that amount of time. I would eliminate at least one.

Naturally, I agree that removing one location (e.g. Dublin) would make this a slower paced trip and you could devote more time to London/Paris/Rome. But perhaps there is something or someone in that location that they really, really want to see.

There are different traveling styles and what may appear to be too many locations to one person, may be too few to others. IMHO spending 3-days per major location is fine and I've done this quite a few times myself. On my last trip I had the choice of just spending one vs zero days in Venice while traveling between Florence and Paris with my family. I had already been to Venice but not with my family and so I chose to spend the one day in Venice and take a night train to Paris, and our one day in Venice was magical. Who knows if I would ever get the chance to get back to Venice with my family. So as long as it's within reason I say go for it today !!!

"<i>spending 3-days per major location is fine </i>" Ah, but there's the rub. They are not spending 3 days anywhere except for Rome.

Dublin = 2 jet lagged days then fly to London

London = 2.5 days plus the wedding

Paris = 2.5 days then fly to Rome

Rome = 3.5 days then fly home

So I too, would eliminate one city. If it was me. I'd drop Dublin -- but whichever one you least want to visit - I'd drop.

However - since you haven't yet booked your ff tix, you may not have total choice where/when you can fly.

Everyone has their opinion, but 2.75 vs 3, or 2.5 vs 3, or 2.25 vs 3, and in the example I gave even 1 vs 3 is not that big a deal considering this may be your once in a lifetime trip. If you have infinite resources and can take a 2-week trip to Europe every year then by all means spend 4-5 days per city. However, remember that we're all mortal so what you don't do today you may not have a chance to do tomorrow. Regardless of anyone's opinion, how much time is too much or too little can only be determined by the person making the trip.

I am thinking that we have one too many places also - maybe eliminate Dublin. My boyfriend didn't want to spend a lot of time in London, so maybe I can see if there is a flight later in the week. I really don't want to be on the run the whole time and would like to enjoy our trip, especially since I have never been there. Thanks.

Okay change in plans. I have decided to not go to Dublin - will do Ireland another trip when we can spend more time. I have a flight reservation (business class) on hold until Mon night flying into Paris. This is what my itinerary would be now:

June 30 fly into Paris (from Phx) at 8 a.m.
July 13 - fly out of Rome back to Phx at 8:45 a.m.

We need to be in London for a wedding July 4. We would like to have the trip be Paris, London and Italy (we do not need to stay in Rome the whole time). What do you suggest for an itinerary? Thanks for all of your help.

Just my opinion here but going into Paris seems strange to me. If your dates are set I understand but flying into London, the down to Paris then down to Rome seems more logical. I have been to Paris and Rome, not London. What is most important to you (besides the wedding)in general? Fitting a city in for 2-3 days works for me but what is your real passion here?

I'd fly into London on the 2nd, rest from jet lag on the 3d, do the wedding on the 4th, then train to Paris for 4 days and plane or overnight train to Rome for remaining days.

okay thanks for your advice. We are using frequent flier miles and I originally was trying to get into London but they had nothing and had us flying into Paris instead. I will have to call back and see if there is anything into London.

Okay, your BF doesn't want to spend a lot of time in London, but you have never been there. You are already using your miles to get there. There is lots to do there, plus you will be jet lagged the first day, so perhaps he can bend a little on this one. You have to go to London anyway, so why not see something while you are there? Doesn't that make sense? Read up a bit on London and you will find all kinds of things you might like to do. My suggestion:
June 30, arrive London
July 1, rest, walk a bit, see one sight or museum
July 2 & 3 sightseeing and a concert or play in the evenings. This will really not be as much time as you think for London.
July 4 The wedding
July 5 as early as possible, leave London and go to Paris.
July 6,7,8,9 Paris (possibly with one of the middle days at Versailles)
July 9 late evening, fly to Rome or overnight train to Rome
July 10,11,12 Rome
July 13 Depart for home.
If Rome appeals to you more than Paris, then leave Paris the evening of the 8th.

BTW, it will most likely be very hot & humid in both Paris & Rome. Just be prepared. You may want to do outside sight-seeing in the mornings and save museums, etc. for afternoons.

Just my opinion...

I have been to Paris many times and think it is the greatest city in the world.

I've been to Rome and actually had 3 days planned there and got out after 2. I wasn't very impressed with Rome! (once again..just my opinion).

Personally, I would keep Dublin, London and Paris and save Italy for a future trip! There is so much more to Italy than Rome! It is worth a trip all by itself. Dublin, London and Paris makes much more sense (this coming from a guy who has done many vacations staying in lots of places for 1-2 days just to get a taste).

I think sitting in a pub and drinking some real Guinness and listening to some good Irish music with the locals is just magical.

Versailles is too big! So much more to do in Paris than visit Versailles. Obviously, different strokes for different folks.

All the best!

Thank you for the replies. I'm still not sure about Dublin. If we go to Rome, I would like to take the train for Florence or fly into Florence and spend a few days there and then train to Rome. One thing I need to see is if there are any frequent flier flights to London in business class. We are using US Airways miles but going on Star Alliance airlines (less miles used that way).