panyta

Hello,
My husband and plan to attend a wedding in France (near Strasbourg) in May 2014 and also visit family in South of France. Can you please comment on my plan?
Day 1 - fly in Amsterdam
Day 2 & 3 - Amsterdam
Day 4 - Brussel
Day 5 - Luxemberg
Day 6 & 7 - Paris
All these days, we will rent a car for travelling. Then train
Day 8 - 18 - South of France (stay with our family there)
Day 19-20 Dijon
Day 21-24 Wedding near Strasbourg (this is fixed dates)
Day 25-27 Frankfurt and fly home from here.

PS: we have been to France many times but not the cities in other countries mentioned in this schedule. Do you think it's a good plan?

tuscanlifeedit

I'm sorry; I don't understand which of these days you will use a car, and which you will take the train.

As I see it, you don't really need a car until Day 8 or so. Is that what you meant?

panyta

I mean from day 1-7, we plan to drive a car. Then from Paris to South of France, we will stay with our family so either family's car or train for our mode of transport.

mamcalice

You definitely do not need a car for the first 7 days of your trip. In fact, a car would be a hindrance. Use trains - no need for a car where you plan to travel.

adrienne

Since you're only visiting cities during the first part of your trip a car will be a handicap. You'll probably have to pay for parking and also pay for the car rental while it sits idle all day when you're sightseeing. You'll only use the car to get from one city to the next. Trains will most likely be cheaper and will definitely be more efficient and take less time.

You have less than 2 days in Paris, a city which deserves much more time. Take Brussels and Luxembourg out of your itinerary and add the time to Paris.

Pegontheroad

I agree with Adrienne. I'd take out Brussels and Luxembourg.

valtor

As everybody said here, no need at all for a car, especially for for days 1-8.
I understand that you visited France before, so I suppose that you was also in Paris and now you want only to stop there on your way to South, just to say hello. In this case, 2 days there is OK for me.
I would take out Luxembourg and add this day to Amsterdam.

panyta

Thanks everyone. I will take train in the first few days instead then. We have been to Paris more than ten times so I only plan 2-3 days there as I'm always in love with the city. Are there any other places I should visit along that area? Is Cologne worth visiting?

adrienne

I only see 1.5 days in Paris - not 2 to 3 days (according to the itinerary you've posted).

If you add Cologne to the mix then you will need to readjust and leave for southern France on day 10 (or day 11 if you stay in Paris for 2-3 days).

I thought Cologne was as interesting as Brussels or Luxembourg which is to say not terribly interesting but good for a day. It's up to you if you think adding another city is worth taking a couple of days away from the family time you've planned.

adrienne

It's actually only a half day in Brussels and a half day some place in Luxembourg.

bilboburgler

I'd take Brussels out but keep Luxembourg in and even extend it as you have been to Paris so often, Luxembourg can be a good centre and allows to visit Charleville or Trier easily.

Actually if I had the time I would hire a car here and visit the vinyards around Rheims but hey.

milly_blue

I wouldn't bother with Brussels. If you were going anywhere in Belgium I'd recommend Ghent or Bruges.

panyta

Thanks for the comments about Brussel as I've never been there so I thought it might be good to visit though doesn't sound interesting from your opinions.

I am kind of in two minds where I should fly in and out. Amsterdam and Frankfurt seems Ok to me. I also think of whether I should fly in and out at the same city (Frankfurt).