Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   London, Brussels, Barcelona, & Paris in 10 days, too much? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/london-brussels-barcelona-and-paris-in-10-days-too-much-880124/)

nomikal Mar 1st, 2011 10:11 PM

London, Brussels, Barcelona, & Paris in 10 days, too much?
 
Me and a friend will be doing London-->(train) Brussels ->(fly) Barcelona - >(fly) Paris in 10 days. All trains, flights, and hotel accomodations are booked. So perhaps I am asking this question too late, but is this ridiculous for a 10 day trip from mid march to the end of march? I've already been to London & Paris so that is something to consider. The friend hasn't been to Europe, period.

London: 3 days
Brussels: 1 day
Barcelona: 2 days
Paris: 4 days

jamikins Mar 1st, 2011 10:45 PM

I hate to say it as its already booked, but its not ideal. You are going to be spending an awful lot of time in transit - expect to lose 1/2 a day each time you move so that is going to take a big chunk out of your sightseeing. In 10 days I would have picked two places. I hope the 10 days dont include your travel to and from Europe.

Is there anyway to change it?

janisj Mar 1st, 2011 10:46 PM

Your friend hasn't been to Europe and you are doing this to him/her? .

Your 10 days actually looks like this:

arrive London: 1/2 a jet lagged day
London: 2 more days
Brussels: .5 day
Barcelona: 1.5 days
Paris: 2.5 days (or 3.5 days if you are actually flying home on day 11.)

janisj Mar 1st, 2011 10:49 PM

once again we were posting at the same time (wee need to quit meeting like this :) )

jamikins Mar 2nd, 2011 01:20 AM

Great minds think alike janisj!

nomikal Mar 2nd, 2011 09:05 AM

Hey, it was her Idea to go to 4 different cities in 4 different countries. lol. Last trip I did was 3 weeks between London, Nice, and Paris. I should of known it was too much.I could possibly change everything except for Brussels, but I'd lose some deposits possibly, no biggie, though. If not I'll have to plan out our days meticulously and hope everything goes accordingly.

Trip is more like

London: 3 days
Brussels: 1 day, we get there early in the morning
Barcelona:2 days, get there early in the morning also
Paris: 3.0 days

In 11 days...

JoyC Mar 2nd, 2011 10:02 AM

Taking the train from London - Brussels, with an early arrival, yes, Brussels can be seen in 1 day (9am-5pm;~8-9 hrs), so long as you concentrate or limit yourselves along the Grand Place area (including Ilot Sacre, Bourse etc.), Sablon and Marolles districts and even Louis area.

But Barcelona? even with an early arrival, you need to get from airport to hotel and check-in, so roughly you only have 1.5 days. Barcelona is a much bigger city than Brussels and has more places of interest to cover, so you might need to rethink your itinerary.

StCirq Mar 2nd, 2011 10:15 AM

Yes, too much.

Sassafrass Mar 2nd, 2011 11:45 AM

Sadly, you are spending so much time and money traveling that could have been spent actually sightseeing or sitting at a cafe and enjoying being in Europe. I would certainly skip Brussels, and either Paris or Barcelona. Can you change any of the flights?

blu_mountain Mar 2nd, 2011 04:29 PM

I agree, too much. I have been to London 4 times and still think of things I missed. In Paris, we spent so much time going up and down subway stairs we were too tired to enjoy the evenings. Barcelona should be quietly absorbed.

If your reservations are firm, once you are there just limit yourselves in each city. Don't try to hit every site and leave it all a blur.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:10 AM.