Input on April 2016 Europe trip
 

My husband and I are planning a 10-day trip for our 10-year anniversary. We are planning to go at the end of April, which is the best time of year based on our work schedules (though I'd ideally like to go in May for slightly warmer weather). This is the outline we have so far:

1. London - 1 night - main thing he wants to see is Harry Potter stuff, pubs and maybe a soccer game. I've been there a few times and seen the major sites.
2. Paris - 2 nights - mostly for the food!! (I have been there a few times also)
3. Nice and surrounding area - 2 nights
4. Genoa (maybe - have a colleague there)/Cinque Terre/and/or Tuscany - 3-4 nights
5. Venice - 1-2 nights

This might seem like a lot of hopping but we went to four places on our honeymoon (same length trip) and it was fine for us. London and Paris are definites and I'm very interested in Nice (never been). It's the Italy parts I'm less certain about. We don't like museums (or religious history) that much, more walking around, beautiful/unique scenery, eating, drinking and relaxing! I realize CT is a lot about hiking and that is OK for 1 or 2 days (2-3 hrs/day). I have been reading how crowded/touristy it can be, and I'm also wondering about the weather in April. I'm wondering if it would be better to limit the time there and focus on Tuscany instead? I have always wanted to stay in a castle. We're not opposed to renting a car but I think training would be better.

Any input is welcome.

end of april should be ok
I'm often in southern France and weather is usually quite good.
would expect the same for 5T (on my to-do list).
I didn't like Genoa. Since you have been already to Paris and London, why there again ? go to Nice and then Italy.
ps : for your 25 years you'll stay 25 days ?

The thing I can see about your proposed itinerary is that transportation is going to eat up a significant portion of those days. Figure 1/2 minimum every time you change locations, by the time you add in getting to/from the train station or airport. I make it 1/2 day in London (no idea how you will fit in all the activities you list), 1-1/2 days in Paris, 1-1/2 days in Nice, 2-1/4 to 3-1/4 days Genoa or CT, 1 day in Venice. I can understand wanting to move at a fast pace, but it seems to me that you won't have much time anywhere - how will you be able to say you've seen anything? Suggest you cut two stops from this to get to something in the realm of doability, where you won't be spending 1/4 to 1/3 of your trip in transit. Is that really a good use of your precious vacation time?

Trains would be much better for those far-removed places and cars and large cities like Paris just are not a good fit - wide areas of cities off limits to private vehicles now - parking can cost an arm and two legs if found - many hotels won't offer parking on site, etc

Trains go up to nearly 200 mph now on main routes - ultra modern and city center to city center - anyway for getting a fix on the European rail system I always highlight these info-laden sites: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

Agree that the London and Paris stops make little sense - do one of them at most. You are spending so little time there -esp London - can;t imagine how you will see anything.

I would lay out your trip by nights - not days - listing where you will sleep and the time you will have spent traveling that day from one place to another - assuming train - unless you decide to do Tuscany instead of genoa and CT - then I would do that by car.

Harry Potter and foie gras are my husband's top 2 priorities. I have seen these cities but he has not and I want to do together. He also loves travel itself - train rides, even planes- so it is not "lost" time but part the experience. Most of my travel to Europe is for business where I only have dinner/evenings free and I still manage to enjoy my time, so even if I do spend 1/4 of the time en route it will be a big improvement :).

25 days @ 25 yrs sounds good and then we can be more leisurely!

You can get foie gras in London; there are some excellent authentic French restaurants there. I wouldn't spend a whole day getting to and from Paris just to eat some foie gras.

Hi Coleen
I understand you quite well, I'm also quite often on business trips and would love to spend some time in cities I've to to show my wife.
London - P

London - Paris is quite quick via Eurostar and is center to center. book 90 some days in advance to get food prices.
Paris - Nice would be 5 hours by TGV (it is 4 hours to Marseilles, so 5- 5h 30 to Nice). It is about 1 hour of flying time, but you need to go to airport, be one hour before (at least) check luggage (can impact price of flight) and then bus or taxi from Nice airport to center.
I suppose there are trains to Venice too.
Inbetween I'd definitely recommend Cinque Terre - read a lot about it and a friend of mine comes from there - says in all honesty it is really breathtaking.

I would stop there. London - Paris -Nice - 5T - Venice.
5 cities/places, 10 days, sounds good to me :-)

Keep something to see for your 15, 20 and 25 !!

Thank you pariswat! I also forgot to add France is a favorite because I studied french in college and spent a semester there - want to show my husband a hint of that.

I think your outline sounds good, I'm just still torn over CT vs. Tuscany. I've been reading about agriturismo and am intrigued.

We were in London 2 weeks ago and it was cold and wet most days. Then to Paris which had rain and was slightly warmer and rained but still needed a light coat - high of 15. It's like spring everywhere - unpredictable

I suspected from the OP that <i>you</i> had been to London and Paris but your husband hasn't (you used "I" and not "we") and your later post confirms that.

What do you expect you DH to get out of half a jet lagged day in London and 1 full day in Paris? Then you have 1 full day in/near Nice, and half or 1.5 day for Venice. . .

The whole itinerary just seems like a mad dash/waste of time and money.

I agree with Janis:
In 10 days I feel 3 destinations are max. Drop Italy.

Well I have done a lot of business travel in europe as well. When it was just a client meeting - and 2 days total - then all you really get is dinner (with the clients).

But when the trip has been longer - market research, attending a congress, or holding educational or sales meetings I usually add on 2 or 3 days for myself in what ever city it is - to at least get a flavor of it - or revisit some favorites if it's a place I've seen multiple times before.

But if I had to have a vacation that was like the 2 day turnaround meeting trips (which is what you a re planning) i would much rather stay home. Just too many airports, planes, trains, etc.

Caveat: i have a strong biological clock and get totally jetlagged - so the meeting trips are sort of like all nighters in college - really no sleep at all.

Way too many places and way too geographically spread out for a ten day trip.

I guess London is a given.

How about London for one day, then Paris and Nice (or maybe east of Nice to Monaco), plus Provence maybe? That would make a pretty good anniversary trip. We stayed at the Hotel Welcome in Villefranche-sur-mer some years ago )just east of Nice) and loved it. That would be a good honeymoon spot.

Given what you have said I would ignore all the advice and just do it EXACTLY as you have planned since you know the travelers better than we do. I can guarantee you it will be a fantastic trip you will never forget AND you will learn things which NONE of can teach you.

Thank you Dukey1! Maybe I did not frame my request right or ask specific enough questions...other threads on CT and Tuscany (which I am actually most excited about, since it will be new to both of us) were much more helpful than this one :).