How can we add Heidelberg Germany to our trip of London, Paris and Rome?
Nov 17th, 2015, 08:23 AM
#41
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I want to respond to kja concerning being able to get a good feel for a city in a single day.
Let's take Paris, arriving late afternoon, spending two nights, leaving noon. So one full day of sightseeing, two nights.
1. Arrive mid to late afternoon after a relaxing train ride, perhaps having napped on the way.
2. Check into hotel, preferably one northwest part of the Latin Quarter, since that is easily reachable by RER.
3. If checked in by 5:30 p.m., walk to the Ile and see Notre Dame Cathedral. Walk over to Ile St. Louis and get an ice cream cone. Just enjoy Paris and have a nice, inexpensive dinner somewhere.
4. Breakfast at the hotel if included, otherwise at a cafe. Then on to Musée d'Orsay.
5. Go to Monoprix to assemble a picnic lunch, then on to Luxembourg Gardens or Champ de Mars. Enjoy your inexpensive wine out of the sturdy plastic wine glasses that you always take on European vacations.
6. Anyone tired can go to the hotel for a quick nap. Everone else can go back to the Ile and see Sainte-Chapelle, then on to the hotel to dress for dinner.
7. Dinner can be in the Latin Quarter, or if time and energy permit, perhaps take a metro ride to Sacre Coeur for a quick visit, followed by dinner at Chartier, Willy's Wine Bar, or another area restaurant.
8. Time to take a quick metro ride to Gare d'Est and on to Heidelberg, but fist, a quick stroll down to the St. Germain church, one of the oldest in Paris. Look at the inscriptions of war dead, and the huge number of names from World War I. It leaves one with a better perspective of history.
Okay, this has been lengthy, but that's because there is just a tremendous amount that one can see in a very unrushed full day of sightseeing in Paris. Two nights and one full day will give one a really good taste of ANY city. No, it's not in depth, but it can be quite enjoyable. As I said before, I would never recommend doing this for city after city, but it's just great to throw in sometimes.
Let's take Paris, arriving late afternoon, spending two nights, leaving noon. So one full day of sightseeing, two nights.
1. Arrive mid to late afternoon after a relaxing train ride, perhaps having napped on the way.
2. Check into hotel, preferably one northwest part of the Latin Quarter, since that is easily reachable by RER.
3. If checked in by 5:30 p.m., walk to the Ile and see Notre Dame Cathedral. Walk over to Ile St. Louis and get an ice cream cone. Just enjoy Paris and have a nice, inexpensive dinner somewhere.
4. Breakfast at the hotel if included, otherwise at a cafe. Then on to Musée d'Orsay.
5. Go to Monoprix to assemble a picnic lunch, then on to Luxembourg Gardens or Champ de Mars. Enjoy your inexpensive wine out of the sturdy plastic wine glasses that you always take on European vacations.
6. Anyone tired can go to the hotel for a quick nap. Everone else can go back to the Ile and see Sainte-Chapelle, then on to the hotel to dress for dinner.
7. Dinner can be in the Latin Quarter, or if time and energy permit, perhaps take a metro ride to Sacre Coeur for a quick visit, followed by dinner at Chartier, Willy's Wine Bar, or another area restaurant.
8. Time to take a quick metro ride to Gare d'Est and on to Heidelberg, but fist, a quick stroll down to the St. Germain church, one of the oldest in Paris. Look at the inscriptions of war dead, and the huge number of names from World War I. It leaves one with a better perspective of history.
Okay, this has been lengthy, but that's because there is just a tremendous amount that one can see in a very unrushed full day of sightseeing in Paris. Two nights and one full day will give one a really good taste of ANY city. No, it's not in depth, but it can be quite enjoyable. As I said before, I would never recommend doing this for city after city, but it's just great to throw in sometimes.
Nov 17th, 2015, 08:43 AM
#42
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! I added up roughly 10-11 hours of sightseeing, museums, churches, time on the metro, walking time, eating.
Could be done, and young adults might like it just fine.
A whole group, especially a mixed generation group, no way.
Teens would surely rebel.
Anyone with younger kids wouldn't make it at all.
I might make it, but would not enjoy it and would be so completely done in, the next day or two would be impossible to do anything.
Could be done, and young adults might like it just fine.
A whole group, especially a mixed generation group, no way.
Teens would surely rebel.
Anyone with younger kids wouldn't make it at all.
I might make it, but would not enjoy it and would be so completely done in, the next day or two would be impossible to do anything.
Nov 17th, 2015, 10:26 AM
#43
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sassafrass, I don't see nearly that much time.
Two hours for the Orsay. A shopping excursion on the way to the park. I hardly call sitting in a scenic park eating a picnic lunch something to wear one out. Then to Saint Chapelle, hotel to change and perhaps rest, then to dinner, Sacre Coeur optional. That is not at all a tiring pace, and if you scratch Sacre Coeur then everything is really quite close.
Two hours for the Orsay. A shopping excursion on the way to the park. I hardly call sitting in a scenic park eating a picnic lunch something to wear one out. Then to Saint Chapelle, hotel to change and perhaps rest, then to dinner, Sacre Coeur optional. That is not at all a tiring pace, and if you scratch Sacre Coeur then everything is really quite close.
Nov 17th, 2015, 01:30 PM
#45
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On our crazy two week trip we spent one full day in Paris. We stayed out by the airport and took the RER in an back out. This was 25 years ago so I can't remember everything we did and in what order. I had spent the previous 6 weeks living/studying in Paris so knew my way around. The only museum we did was the Musée de l'Orangerie. We saw Notre Dame and St. Chapelle. We went to the Eiffel Tower, but maybe not up it? I have some memory of my dad climbing the stairs. I am sure we went to the Arc de Triomphe. We ate sandwiches sitting along the Seine for lunch and I think we had a later picnic under the Eiffel tower.
At the time, I was 20, my brother 15 and my sister 24. My grandparents were 68 and 70. I can't remember anyone being too out of sorts about the day. Maybe it was easier to do this back in 1990?
It is true that most of our trip was stopping at smaller places. The only other real cities we visited were Berlin and Salzburg.
I don't think this is how I would want to spend a day in Paris now, but it can work for other people.
This summer we were spending a week at an agriturismo in Tuscany and there were Europeans there that thought one week wasn't nearly enough time in that one spot, while another North American couple came through for only a night on a whirlwind trip across Italy. I was thinking how sad for them, while I am sure the two-three week stayers were thinking the same of me!
At the time, I was 20, my brother 15 and my sister 24. My grandparents were 68 and 70. I can't remember anyone being too out of sorts about the day. Maybe it was easier to do this back in 1990?
It is true that most of our trip was stopping at smaller places. The only other real cities we visited were Berlin and Salzburg.
I don't think this is how I would want to spend a day in Paris now, but it can work for other people.
This summer we were spending a week at an agriturismo in Tuscany and there were Europeans there that thought one week wasn't nearly enough time in that one spot, while another North American couple came through for only a night on a whirlwind trip across Italy. I was thinking how sad for them, while I am sure the two-three week stayers were thinking the same of me!
Nov 17th, 2015, 01:37 PM
#46
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would be annoyed if my parent decided to disarrange my carefully planned itinerary. He probably doesn't realize the complexities of trip planning, especially for 6.
But, assuming that your dad is older and unlikely to do much more foreign travel, you will really regret it if you don't go with him to Heidelberg. And it will be a priceless experience for your children.
Agree that if London and Rome are priorities -- and now Heidelberg -- just go to those three places. Lots of time to go to Paris in the future.
But, assuming that your dad is older and unlikely to do much more foreign travel, you will really regret it if you don't go with him to Heidelberg. And it will be a priceless experience for your children.
Agree that if London and Rome are priorities -- and now Heidelberg -- just go to those three places. Lots of time to go to Paris in the future.
Nov 17th, 2015, 02:39 PM
#47
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While we now slow our travels down (we may be getting close to your dad's age) and probably would not want four different far-flung places in two weeks, my suggestion is that you go for it if you think this is an itinerary your family will truly enjoy. This will not be a relaxing vacation in any way since you are wasting at least a half a day (or more) every time you need to transit, but it will give you a good taste of four very different places.
Other than the fatigue factor, IMO it is a win-win keeping all four of the places. If this is a once in a lifetime trip, you will be able to remember all four places. If you or family members have the opportunity to travel to Europe again, you will have had a taste of these four places and can choose to re-visit some of them.
Other than the fatigue factor, IMO it is a win-win keeping all four of the places. If this is a once in a lifetime trip, you will be able to remember all four places. If you or family members have the opportunity to travel to Europe again, you will have had a taste of these four places and can choose to re-visit some of them.
Nov 17th, 2015, 03:32 PM
#48
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<Drop something if you're going to add in Heidelberg.....Remember that you can only move from one place to the next at the speed of the slowest person in your group.>>
Before you purchase those airline tickets, make a list of what you plan to see and do in each of those cities. Three or three and a half days is really not enough time to even rush all around the "highlights" or "major sights and attractions" in any of those major cities. You'll surely find that you'll have a much longer list of places than you'll have time for them. And, then, you'll be wanting to know how to "maximize our time".
You might also want to check accommodations forthwith, as a family of five or six is a challenge and may be far more costly for your group and your dates than you would presume.
Those cities do not have gigantic rooms with two queen beds that sleep five with a rollaway where "kids stay free" - rather very "cozy" rooms with limited storage and small bathrooms.
And, when shopping air fares, be sure you're using a reliable resource and that you change the number of passengers. If you shop for fares with the default of one person, you may receive a huge surprise when it's time to book and you change to the actual number of passengers in your group.
Before you purchase those airline tickets, make a list of what you plan to see and do in each of those cities. Three or three and a half days is really not enough time to even rush all around the "highlights" or "major sights and attractions" in any of those major cities. You'll surely find that you'll have a much longer list of places than you'll have time for them. And, then, you'll be wanting to know how to "maximize our time".
You might also want to check accommodations forthwith, as a family of five or six is a challenge and may be far more costly for your group and your dates than you would presume.
Those cities do not have gigantic rooms with two queen beds that sleep five with a rollaway where "kids stay free" - rather very "cozy" rooms with limited storage and small bathrooms.
And, when shopping air fares, be sure you're using a reliable resource and that you change the number of passengers. If you shop for fares with the default of one person, you may receive a huge surprise when it's time to book and you change to the actual number of passengers in your group.
Nov 17th, 2015, 04:49 PM
#49
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@ FHurdle – I don’t dispute that one can do a lot in a single day, nor do I dispute that some travelers would fine doing so enjoyable. What I dispute is the idea that it would give one a “feel for a city.”
Nov 17th, 2015, 04:52 PM
#50
Hi; I too have taken groups to Europe 18 times, from 4 to 25.
You have received a lot of suggestion. I think you suggested you had not talked to your father.
What I do is get everyone together and find out likes and dislikes.
Talk to the suggestions you have received on this thread.
But not just one GTG, but multi times.
You can print out this whole thread for everyone to absorb and then come to a final conclusion.
You have received a lot of suggestion. I think you suggested you had not talked to your father.
What I do is get everyone together and find out likes and dislikes.
Talk to the suggestions you have received on this thread.
But not just one GTG, but multi times.
You can print out this whole thread for everyone to absorb and then come to a final conclusion.
Nov 17th, 2015, 07:59 PM
#51
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I/we have done one day stops several times in the past in such places as Florence,Oslo and Stockholm and a few years later no one could remember much about those places and we have had to go back. I takes more than passing through and "looking" but not seeing to get a grip on a destination. Different places require more or less time. I agree with those who would advise 3 of your four possible destinations. Do look at a calendar and pencil in all you want to do to see actually how much time you have for each location.
Nov 18th, 2015, 02:27 AM
#52
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DJK has a couple of nuggets--there is now a need for probably 3 hotel rooms--or a larger apartment.
And the air fare advice, although she has already priced out 5.
As for being out of sorts with a dad wanting to come along (in another post)--Puhleeeze. That would be music to a family's ears, for these older grandchildren, IMO.
I will also point out our prior conversation of "since we are so close, I'd like to go to Rome". The three that are close--in the neighborhood--do not include Rome at this point, air flights aside. Airports and train stations are apples and oranges--one in the town center, the other shuttle distance, coming and going.
And the air fare advice, although she has already priced out 5.
As for being out of sorts with a dad wanting to come along (in another post)--Puhleeeze. That would be music to a family's ears, for these older grandchildren, IMO.
I will also point out our prior conversation of "since we are so close, I'd like to go to Rome". The three that are close--in the neighborhood--do not include Rome at this point, air flights aside. Airports and train stations are apples and oranges--one in the town center, the other shuttle distance, coming and going.
