How's this itinerary?
 

I'm new to this Fodor's thing, but it looks like there are some other people who've posted tentative itineraries here... so here's mine:

Day 1: Depart Los Angeles for Rome
Day 2: Fly into Rome, arrive in the a.m.
Day 3: Train to Bologna to meet family
Day 4-5: Bologna
Day 6: Train to Monte Carlo
Day 7: Day spent in Monte Carlo, p.m. train to Marseilles
Day 8: Day spent in Marseilles
Day 9: Train to Paris
Day 10-11: Paris
Day 12: Fly to Dublin
Day 13-14: Dublin
Day 15: Depart Dublin for Los Angeles

I know it's a whirlwind trip, but are there any glaringly awful plans in there?

Thanks!

It sounds positively insane to me. One day in Rome (jet lagged); Monte Carlo, Paris, Dublin? Please tell me you're a troll.

Monte is really not worth your time IMO. Your trip is also too fast for my liking.I would say choose Rome, Paris, and MAYBE one other place like Nice or Bologna. Drop Dublin.

Check whichbudget.com, as there might be flights that could save you time.

First of all, if you haven't bought your plane tickets, fly into Bologna (via Dublin?). If you can't get Bologna, try Pisa or Milan.

Secondly, look for a way to fly to Marseilles from Italy. Flying out of Pisa or Milan might work. Skip Montecarlo.

But if it were me, I'd substitute Venice for the south of France and fly to Paris from Venice.

Another possibility would be to take a train to Torino from Bologna, and from Torino into France. But a train from Bologna to Monte Carlo is going to take you forever, with many switches of trains.

While you are visiting your family in Bologna, be sure to visit Ravenna. You might also enjoy a day trip to Verona.

It sounds like the "Amazing Race"

Why Marseille instead of Nice? For that matter, why Monte Carlo? Neither would be high on my list.

Thanks for your input. My boyfriend and I haven't really ever traveled around Europe (nor have seen much of it), so I guess it was a bit ambitious to try to see so much. Here's a revised itinerary keeping us in Italy for a longer time... I figure that's less traveling and a little (slightly) slower pace.

So what do you think of this itinerary?

Day 1: Depart Los Angeles for Rome
Day 2: Fly into Rome, arrive in the a.m.
Day 3: Train to Bologna to meet family
Day 4-5: Bologna - day trips to Ravenna, Modena, Ferrara, Rimini, or wherever my grandmother decides!
Day 6: Train to Florence
Day 7: Day spent in Florence, p.m. train to Venice
Day 8: Day spent in Venice
Day 9: Fly to Paris
Day 10-11: Paris
Day 12: Fly to Dublin
Day 13-14: Dublin
Day 15: Depart Dublin for Los Angeles

Hi SN,

It's getting better.

You have to go to Bologna. If you can't fly to BLQ, I suggest not staying overnight in Rome, but just keep going.

It's about 3hr. See www.trenitalia.com

You are spending too little time in both Florence and Venice.

I suggest skipping Florence and going straight to Venice.

I wouldn't give up 3 days in Paris to visit Dublin. Is there a compelling reason to go there?

Keep in mind that each time you change hotels, you lose at least 1/2 day.

www.myair.com flies Venice VCE to Paris ORY - more convenient than Ryanair's Treviso/Beauvais flight.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

PS,

Welcome to the Board.

((I))

I would elminate either Venezia or Firenze from this trip. Look at several guidebooks in the library or the bookstore and decide which city you would rather see.

Another possibility is to spend some time in Roma upon arrival, and travel to Bologna a few days later, and then fly to Paris from there.

I would say dump Florence and Dublin, add a day to Rome and Paris and Venice. If you are stuck with Dublin because of tickets, drop Florence and Paris.

My guess is you already have your flights into Rome and out of Dublin - otherwise the whole itienerary makes no sense.

If we are stuck w/ the flights and the Bologna visit, I agree w/ ira. Don't overnight in Rome. You won't have any time to see anything anyway. So just press on to Bologna.

Now, you really only have 13 days "on the ground" and the first day will be a fog. So here is what I'd do:
Bologna,
EITHER Florence or Venice (not both) for at least 2 nights,
Paris,
Dublin.

Forget everything else. You will still only have a few days in each place but it is at least a bit better.

Day 1: Depart Los Angeles for Rome
Day 2: Arrive Rome in the a.m.
Day 3-5: Train to Bologna w/family
Day 6-11: Go to Paris
Day 12: Fly to Dublin
Day 13-14: Dublin
Day 15: Depart Dublin for Los Angeles

My reasoning is that it's crazy -even with your revised itinerary- to travel all over the place just to spend one day(!) in places. 1 or 2 days is simply not worth it (just my opinion).