Need advice
 

Hi,
I'm taking my first trip to Europe with my family (my husband, 14yo girl,12yo girl)this summer and want to know if the itinerary that I'm planning is realistic Imean doable or not.
Augusr 3rd USA to Iceland(3 1/2 days)
August 7th Iceland to Paris(41/2 days)
August 12th Paris to London (2 1/2 days)
August 15th London to Venice(10 days)
August 15th to August 23rd Grrek isles Cruise
August 23rd to August 24th Venice
August 25 Pisa
August 26 Florence
August 27 to August 30 Rome and Vatican
August 30 Rome to Copenhaguen
September 3rd Copenhaguen to USA(Visiting Relatives)
I would like to hear advice in terms of the time in each city.If is the right itinerary or i could save money changing the order. If a car rental is necessary in italy and any extra tips you could give me.

Something's confused in your list...
"10 days" London to Venice & you have two different things listed for one date, August 15th

Venice seems to be a weird choice for a cruise to the Greek Islands even if it's just the Ionian Islands. I certainly wouldn't want to fly in from somewhere 700 miles away and in a different country on the day I'm due to board

For your Italy portion DON'T consider a car, train will be far easier.

I presume you can't see your relatives at the start of the trip then make your way southwards before returning home from Rome or travel to Rome then head northwards

You would not want to have a car for any of those places or to get between them - cars are awful in large cities - especially in Italy where they are banned from wide swaths of city centres - trains are great and a few cheap flights mixed in for long trips like you have several of.

For lots of great info on trains check www.seat61.com- great info on discounted tickets for say Italy and Eurostar trains Paris to London, etc and general info - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. for Eurostar fares check the official site and print your own ticket - early bird gets a big fat worm in cheaper fares - www.eurostar.com.

Your itinerary is very confusing. Could you redo it showing the number of nights in each place. I simply don't understand the 10 days London to Venice part.

We also can't really advise as to where you might save money without knowing where you're coming from. And where you're leaving from. Copenhagen back to the USA?

I think she means that the cruise to Greece takes off from Venice on the 15th and returns on the 23rd, after which she plans an extra day in Venice.

It depends entirely on what the young ones enjoy, but they might go stir crazy in Venice that long, I fear. Venice really bakes in the hot sun, and the tourist hordes are extreme.

In August there are three different sides to Venice: 1) jammed central lanes - - absolutely packed - - cool shops, but thousands and thousands of people every day, which they will certainly tire of after a couple days; 2) more desolate out-of-the-way areas that will be baking in the hot August sun and could seem like a respite, but could quickly seem like barren, hot, tedium; 3) boat rides on the lagoon, with visits to the glass-blowing on Murano, the pretty facades on Burano, and the beach on Lido - - but you could easily do the three in one day.

There are some really good daytrips - - Padua - - and even taking the train up toward the Alps to Bassano del Grappa for a different flavor.

Still, I would try to plan the Venice time to see if you don't have too much there - - you might also enjoy Sorrento & Capri, riding bikes around the city wall in Lucca, and a less touristed town like Turin, just to mix things up a bit more. Or even some walking in the Italian Alps.

I suspect "10 days" is really "1 day" and they will be flying into Venice the day the ship sails

Jeez, it's not that hard to figure out, lol.

I also thought it is more likely a typo and Venice is only for 1 day.

Where are people getting a 10 day cruise from this post?

Uh:
<August 15th to August 23rd Grrek isles Cruise>

I wouldn't recommend arriving in Venice the same day as the cruise leaves. What if your transportation doesn't work out as planned? Stay overnight and you will be sure to make the cruise.

I would also leave out London - you are backtracking quite a bit - or at the very least, start there, then go to Paris, then to Venice. Those are very general recommendations given the large number of questions about this itinerary.

Uh:
<August 15th to August 23rd Grrek isles Cruise>


Uh, well that's 8 days not 10, but whatever.

I thought it was clear until the Venice bit. I did realize the 10 days meant the cruise, not time in Venice, but that isn't correct either because 15-23 is only 9 days and the 15th is a travel day.

I have done a Greek Island cruise from Venice, so not unusual, but must agree with Dotheboyshall about being in port the night before. I know it will mess up your current itinerary, but cruises are expensive, and a delayed or cancelled flight the day of the cruise means you could miss it. Not Good!

If the cruise is already booked, so that time frame is set, then work around that. Post the dates and precise times of departure and return date to get the best advice.

Either list each day separately, no two places on same day, or list nights in each place.

If you have not purchased tickets already, you could put Venice after Paris and London after Rome. I know, it is great to take the train from Paris to London, but it doesn't give time to be in Venice before the cruise.

It is a long trip. You can go at a fast pace for a few days, but not over such a long trip. At the end, by which time you will be tired, it is really rushed. Include two kids in the middle of Summer heat, and it won't be fun! Cut something - anything. Choose the one place you want most, the second, etc. when you have one left, cut it and add that time to the other places.

It may be your only vacation time, but keep in mind, August will be super hot in most of Italy, especially Rome, and also in the Greek Islands. Not saying don't go. I have visited much of Italy in July. You have to slow down a bit, limit outdoor sightseeing to mornings and allow plenty of gelato time. Get a place with a pool in Rome, also Florence if you can.

Don't have two stops (Pisa and Florence) that are so close together. Just do an early morning day trip to Pisa from Florence.

You might be able to save some money flying Transavia from Pisa to Copenhagen instead of Rome to Copenhagen (unless Transavia or some other budget airlines also flies from Rome).

Much as I hate to say it (since I do adore London) I too think you should drop it.

You really need to arrive in Venice the day before the cruise leaves to be sure there are no transit problems - so you would only have 1.5 days there - which makes no sense. In the limited time you have I would do London OR Paris - not both. You are really giving them short shift - considering how much time you are spending in Greece.

Thanks to everyone for your advise
How about this one with the changes suggested

July 3rd USA to Iceland(3 1/2 days)
July 7th Iceland to Paris(41/2 days)
July 12th Paris to Rome (2 days)
July 14th Pisa/Florence ( 1 day)
Evening train to Venice
July 15th to July 23rd Greek isles Cruise round trip from Venice
July 23rd & July 24th Venice
July 25th Venice-Budapest (Visit Relatives)
July 27th Budapest- Berlin (Visit Relatives)
July 30th Berlin- Copenhaguen (Visit Relatives)
August 4th Copenhaguen to USA

That's a long way to go for basically 1 day in Rome. Assuming you will be flying, it will take a good part of the day to get out of Paris to CDG Airport, then to Rome FCO, then into Rome.

I would skip Rome/Pisa/Florence and just go to Venice from Paris.

Or, if you absolutely have to squeeze in another city, leave Paris on the 11th to go to Rome, then go directly to Venice on the 14th by train. Find a hotel with easy access to the dock.

Ok, a much better Itin. but I still think you need to cut a bit, Pisa and Florence is just run-by. I'd take it out. You are trying to eat and enormous meal in a moment, "will sir have just a wafer thin mint".

I'd like to say stick it in Venice or Budapest but I guess that is impossible, so stick it in Rome.

Iceland is a wonderful layover when flying from the US to Europe with Icelandair, and with 3½ days you could have a real adventure. If you want to save some time for other destinations, though, you could still have a great time with a shorter layover. Here is a company that specialises in short tours from Reykjavik: https://www.re.is

It looks to me like your plans for Italy are a bit rushed, particularly Pisa and Florence in one day. If you can't devote more time for Florence, perhaps it would be better to skip it and add time to Rome or Venice. Maybe it's just me, but I was underwhelmed with Pisa.