itinerary advice for first time trip
 

My husband and I are planning our 25th anniversary trip to Italy and France. We have never been to Europe so any advice is appreciated. Here is our plan so far (after hours spent reading quide books and searching the web). Fly to London(it's cheaper) 2 nights London, fly ryanair or easyjet to Venice. 2 nights venice, 3 nights Tuscany (thinking Siena or a small town. 2 nights CT - Monterosso? 2 nights Provence - Avignon? one night Beaune 2 or 3 nights Paris and then either fly from Paris or return to London and fly from there. Does this sound doable? We plan on a combination of train and car. Any hotel recommendations would also be appreciated. So far, just have La Calcina in Venice (I think). Looking at Villa Stena or La Spiaggia in CT. Thanks in advance for any info.

I would go to Paris from London instead of backtracking. Fly from Paris Orly to Venice or Pisa. Return flight home from Venice or Milan. www.whichbudget.com for flights within Europe.

The way you list the nights makes me think that you're not having enough time in the various places once you take into account the travel time from one to the next.

For example, with London, you have a day and a half there, assuming that you get in early.

Ditto in Venice - a day and a half with what's left of the day you come in from London, again assuming it's an early flight (and by the way, also look at flights into Venice-Treviso for added options, it's not far), and if you get in late, that leaves you exactly one day there! Hardly worth the flight for such a quick look - you won't have time to walk off the beaten track, get lost (great fun!), take vaporetti just for the heck of it, go see Burano and Murano - all that is the minimum for Venice and takes at least two full days from dawn to dusk!

And so on - too many places where, between travel time to get you there, and departure time, you have hardly time to get around and see the place!

I'd say leave the south of France and Beaune for another trip when you'll catch a discounted flight into Paris, and fly from Pisa to Paris-Orly with Easyjet.

Add a night to Venice, another to Tuscany (or two - what about Florence?), and another to Paris.

Now you can breathe - it's still one heck of a rushed trip, packing and unpacking every few days and hustling to a new place, but if you're robust and gung-ho, I think you can make this work.

Happy trails

WK

Your itinerary isn't impossible - but it sure wouldn't be fun for me personally.

Since you don't have your tickets yet, I'd reconsider going into/out of London. It is often a false economy to save a bit, but then have to ads one or two extra nights someplace you really don't want to visit (2 jet lagged days in London will not be much fun) and additional flights to get to Italy.

Hotels in London are very expensive so you are spending a lot more than you would just flying directly to Paris or Venice.

London is my absolute favorite city anywhere - but it really doesn't fit w/ the rest of your itinerary (I wouldn't plan on going there unless you had at least 4 or 5 days)

Since it is your 25th anniversary you aren't 20 year old back packers. Your current plan is just too frantic for to be very enjoyable.

You apparently want to concentrate on Venice, Provence and Paris, so that is what I'd do. I would fly into Venice and out of Paris (or the reverse) Less running from place to place, less packing and unpacking, and more time at each stop.

I don't think hotels in London are that expensive if you use Priceline. But I do agree with the idea of cutting several places out. I've found it works out pretty well to have one night in London at the beginning of the trip, and one or two nights at the end. If you are flying into Heathrow, I'd use BMI for Venice. On my Italy trip, I'd stayed at a Heathrow airport hotel the first night and commuted into London for a half-day, before taking the flight to Venice the next morning. (Another time I did the same, but going to Paris.) If this is your first trip to London, having only a couple nights there is likely to be frustrating, given how much there is to see. So I'd even reconsider if you want to include more London in your trip.

with 2 weeks I would think that 4 towns/cities would be MAX (though each can be used as a base for day trips). I am not sure from your post when you are planning to go..If you would like to tell us the time of year and your interests, I think I might have specific suggestions.

I agree that your trip is too rushed and has too many stops to allow you to really enjoy any one place. Most of the places on your itinerary are well worth visiting and are most enjoyable when you have enough time not only to see the major sights but to soak up the atmosphere.
We have been to all of the places on your list at least once and, based on the time you have available, would recommend the itinerary that janisj has suggested.
Do an open jaw into Venice, stay 4 days. Go to Tuscany, stay 5 days, spending a day or two in Florence. Then go to Paris for 5 days. This itinerary will allow you to hit the high spots with a little time for discovering the charms of the places you visit. Your itinerary will not allow for even the must-sees at each location. Fly home from Paris. The flights to London may be cheaper but the high prices in London will make up for what you save.

I agree with mamc. Your other plan is far too much travel time---drop London.

Thanks for all the great advice. It looks like we will drop London and do justice to that city another time. We are going the last week of June and first week of July with flexibility on the number of days we have. We are late 40's/early 50's - physically fit and like to walk/hike. While we do want to see museums, architecture, art and churches, etc., I am trying to be realistic with how much 'city' I can do and actually enjoy. I was trying to make sure we had enough slower paced, 'soak up the ambience and just be in Europe' time. But from the sounds of it my itinerary didn't cut it! What about the CT and Tuscany? Do both, or leave one out? Skip southern France altogether or add another day or two to make it work? Thanks for all your help!

Hi Wishing!

I completely agree with Mamc and Bob. You'll have other trips to visit your other destinations. Do Venice, Tuscany, Paris - or Venice, Tuscany, CT, no more!

Buon viaggio!

If you can start your vacation in France, car rentals will be less expensive. The basic rental rate is cheaper, and you are not required to buy CDW like you must do in Italy.

There are lots of similarities between Provence & Tuscany. Perhaps do one but not both. We spend most of our time in Provence (16 weeks in last 6 years - vs. 6 weeks in Tuscany), but I think Tuscany is a better choice for a short visit.

I have a 20+ page itinerary for Italy with a heavy dose of Tuscany, and another 20+ page itinerary for the Cote d'Azur & Provence. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want a copy.

Stu Dudley

Hi W,

I also think that you are doing too much moving around.

May I suggest that with two weeks you fly into Pisa, train to Florence (4 nights with a daytrip to Siena and, perhaps one other daytrip), train to Venice (3 nights), fly www.myair.com to Paris Orly (6 nights), fly home from Paris?

You could save some money flying into Rome, but not so much as to make up for the inconvenience.

OR

Visit only Italy or only France.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Thanks again for all the help. My head hurts from all the arranging and rearranging. Here's what I am now considering: fly into venice, 3 nights, Tuscany (or Siena) 4 nights with day trip to Florence, CT for 2 nights (I'm still trying to squeeze that in) fly from Pisa to Paris, 3 nights, fly home. We were planning to spend 14 to 17 nights so I still have a few days to play with. Also, the reason we are starting in Venice is because I booked the hotel there first because of limited availability. (From my research it sounded like a great place - La Calcina) Does that make the trip awkward to plan around and should I scrap it? The earliest we can arrive in Europe is June 24th and my reservation is for the 27 in Venice. Would it make more sense to spend 3 nights in Paris first and then fly to Venice? Thanks again for all the advice - and the patience with a first time Europe traveller!

That seems better to me. I'd put Paris last to make your travel time back home (the US I'm assuming) shorter. You will be really tired of travelling, and going west takes longer anyway because of the wind.

Now you have a good plan - makes for a great trip!

WK