Itinerary Help
Sep 12th, 2008, 08:11 AM
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Itinerary Help
My mom and I are planning a visit to Europe next September for 14 days. We are looking to fly from San Diego or San Francisco to Barcelona. We then are considering an EasyJet flight (or other discount airline) from Barcelona to Nice. From Nice on to Italy. We will be flying out of Rome. Can anyone recommend time frames for each destination and do we have time to add a day or two somewhere for one additional destination Italy? Or do you think we would be better off skipping the south of France altogether?
Sep 12th, 2008, 08:37 AM
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It really depends on your interests and what you want to do in each destination.
Barcelona is a great city, and I would suggest the same amount of time, 4 days. If I were there, however, I would add additional time here, rent a car, and spend some time outside of Barcelona. And if you like modern art, then consider adding a day and taking a day trip (or if you're renting a car, include it in that time) and visiting the Dali Museum in Figueres. We very much enjoyed our time in that museum, as well as our afternoon in the beautiful little city of Girona.
Nice has never really interested me, so I've only driven through it. But if you like what it has to offer, then spend time there. I would skip it, though, for more time in Spain and Italy.
If you skip Nice, assuming there are good flights, you could fly from Barcelona to Florence, spend time there, then spend time in rural Tuscany, and the remainder of your time in Rome.
But again, it depends on your interests. If you really love cities and art, then skip rural Tuscany and visit only the cities, Barcelona, Florence and Rome. If you want to visit outside of the city, add that time as well.
Barcelona is a great city, and I would suggest the same amount of time, 4 days. If I were there, however, I would add additional time here, rent a car, and spend some time outside of Barcelona. And if you like modern art, then consider adding a day and taking a day trip (or if you're renting a car, include it in that time) and visiting the Dali Museum in Figueres. We very much enjoyed our time in that museum, as well as our afternoon in the beautiful little city of Girona.
Nice has never really interested me, so I've only driven through it. But if you like what it has to offer, then spend time there. I would skip it, though, for more time in Spain and Italy.
If you skip Nice, assuming there are good flights, you could fly from Barcelona to Florence, spend time there, then spend time in rural Tuscany, and the remainder of your time in Rome.
But again, it depends on your interests. If you really love cities and art, then skip rural Tuscany and visit only the cities, Barcelona, Florence and Rome. If you want to visit outside of the city, add that time as well.
Sep 12th, 2008, 09:34 AM
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For 14 days, I would not even leave Italy. IMO, Italy is the perfect local for a first timer. If you try to visit Barcelona, Nice, Tuscany, then Rome - the Barcelona/Nice trip will consume most of a day, the Nice/Tuscany trip would consume most of a day, and depending on where you are in Tuscany, getting to Rome will be anywhere from 1/2 day to 2 hours. IMO, that's wasting too much time in trvel.
I think the "perfect" itinerary would be the classic Italy jog. Fly to Venice & spent 3-4 nights there. Then take the train to Florence & spend 2 nights there. Rent a car & spend 1 night in San Gimignano and 3 nights in the wonderful Val d'Orcia near Pienza. Both San G & Pienza are in rural Tuscany. Then drive to Orvieto (1 hr from Pienza), dump the car, visit Orvieto, and take the 1 hr train ride to Rome & spend the rest of your vacation there.
See more & spend less time getting from A to B.
Stu Dudley
I think the "perfect" itinerary would be the classic Italy jog. Fly to Venice & spent 3-4 nights there. Then take the train to Florence & spend 2 nights there. Rent a car & spend 1 night in San Gimignano and 3 nights in the wonderful Val d'Orcia near Pienza. Both San G & Pienza are in rural Tuscany. Then drive to Orvieto (1 hr from Pienza), dump the car, visit Orvieto, and take the 1 hr train ride to Rome & spend the rest of your vacation there.
See more & spend less time getting from A to B.
Stu Dudley
