alex

This is my first time posting on the Europe board so I apologize if I sound somewhat confused! I have not been to Europe in many years (and my husband has never been!) and am trying to plan our 2 week trip.

We are taking an October 10 Mediterranean cruise on the Wind Surf, starting in Malta and ending in Venice, visiting

Taormina, Sicily
Cephalonia, Greece
Corfu, Greece
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Hvar, Croatia

We arrive in Venice on Saturday, overnight on the ship and disembark Sunday morning. We are trying to plan the next week of our trip. Our travel agent has suggested staying in Venice a few days, then driving to Brescia, overnight there, driving to Stresa, staying there a few nights until driving to Milan for our return flight. We fly from Milan to Paris to connect to our return flight to Chicago. We thought that sounded great.

Then a very good friend of ours who has traveled extensively in Italy, suggested that after Venice, we take the train to Florence instead and spend the rest of our time there.

Then my husband and I were also thinking that we could spend a few days in Venice, train to Milan, overnight in Milan, fly to Paris and spend a few days there.

We love to travel and are really trying to make this a special trip. The problem is that everything sounds good to us and we are having trouble deciding!

Can anyone offer any advice on any of the above itineraries or any alternative itineraries? The only things set in stone at this time are the cruise and the timeframe (October 8 - 23). While money is not unlimited, this is a splurge trip. To give you some idea about us, if that will influence your advice, we are both 31, professionals, live in Chicago (in the city, not the suburbs), work downtown, and have no kids. I can provide any other information needed.

Thanks in advance!

ira

Hi alex,

A few days in Venice, followed by a few days in Paris ounds like heaven.

www.volareweb has cheap flights from Venice to Paris, Orly.

alex

Thank you ira! And thanks also for the website!

Steve_James

Alex - You have several great options IMO. (But staying in Brescia is NOT one of them, I think ...)

Besides Paris or Florence a few others would be:

- Venice + Lake Garda/Verona
- Venice + Lake Como
- Venice + The Dolomites

You're spoilt for choice really

Steve

alex

Steve,

Thank you! I agree about Brescia - not that I know much about it but my research did not turn up very much for a tourist to do there.

You are very right - we are spoilt for choice.

Thanks again!

Alex

bobthenavigator

What a wonderful trip and a well written post. Alex, as usual, I agree with Steve that you have some great options nearby. I would spend 3 more nites in Venice and then get a car and drive to either Castelrotto in the Dolomites or to Bellagio on Lago Como. If the latter, you would need to fly home from Milan. If you decide to train to Lago Como then make Varenna your destination. You have all good options--I am jealous.

alex

bob,

Thank you for both the recommendations and the compliment. I am going to do some more research on the suggestions that have been offered here. They all sound wonderful!

Thanks again,
Alex

mamc

As I so often do, I must agree with Ira on this one - Venice and Paris would be my choice.