NEED HELP BIG TIME!!
Jul 26th, 2010, 10:35 AM
#21
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T_T okok.. THANKS ALL for your insights!! 11 negative comments on my itinery then guess i'll have to believe that it really is horrible.. oh gosh
Zepolle, Scatcat, everyone, please advice which one should i take out from my itinery??
Yes we want to get the feeling of Europe.. not just being an ordinary tourist.. thats why we plan to do this road trip in the first place rather than joining a Tour.
We love sceneriess alott (we like photograhpy), never seen snow, n just want to enjoy Europe n get to see a lot of it (thats why i came out with itinery like that). Oh n we dont want too miss the iconic places too
(like eifell, cologne cathedral, coloseum jungfrau, etc)
Please advice us where to go? thanks again all
Zepolle, Scatcat, everyone, please advice which one should i take out from my itinery??
Yes we want to get the feeling of Europe.. not just being an ordinary tourist.. thats why we plan to do this road trip in the first place rather than joining a Tour.
We love sceneriess alott (we like photograhpy), never seen snow, n just want to enjoy Europe n get to see a lot of it (thats why i came out with itinery like that). Oh n we dont want too miss the iconic places too
(like eifell, cologne cathedral, coloseum jungfrau, etc)
Please advice us where to go? thanks again all
Jul 26th, 2010, 10:49 AM
#22
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Yes we r serious n we r finalising everything n will make bookings in this week.
ive read seat61 and the all the trainschedules website and all websites about europe and based on that i made a detailed itinery on what to do each day on hourly basis (the one i posted here is only the big picture, what day where to go)
Maybe i m way too optimistic about my time calculation here..
ex : Munich - Neuschwenstein castle - Interlaken detailed would be : arrive at munich 6am then take bike city tour (approx 4 hours) then train ride to Fussen, arrive at Fussen around 3, go to Neutswnechtein castle - then castle tour approx 2 hours, then go back to Fussen to catch train or bus to interlaken (this i havent found the train / bus)
ive read seat61 and the all the trainschedules website and all websites about europe and based on that i made a detailed itinery on what to do each day on hourly basis (the one i posted here is only the big picture, what day where to go)
Maybe i m way too optimistic about my time calculation here..
ex : Munich - Neuschwenstein castle - Interlaken detailed would be : arrive at munich 6am then take bike city tour (approx 4 hours) then train ride to Fussen, arrive at Fussen around 3, go to Neutswnechtein castle - then castle tour approx 2 hours, then go back to Fussen to catch train or bus to interlaken (this i havent found the train / bus)
Jul 26th, 2010, 10:53 AM
#23
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Even the iconic places are too many to see in one trip. Again, there will be many "next times".
Where to go? It's up to you and your friends - get their input too.
One of countless possibilities that would work for a young, adventurous foursome with an interest in the scenic and photography:
Fly into Paris
Day 1 to 5 - Paris
overnight train to Munich
Day 6 to 10 Munich (w/ day trip to Neuschwenstein castle)
overnight train to Prague (a bit out of the way, but very well suited to young travelers)
Day
Day 11 to 15 Prague
overnight train to Venice
Day 16 to 20 Venice
fly home from Venice
Again, just an example of something that works. There are many other possibilities that work equally well.
Where to go? It's up to you and your friends - get their input too.
One of countless possibilities that would work for a young, adventurous foursome with an interest in the scenic and photography:
Fly into Paris
Day 1 to 5 - Paris
overnight train to Munich
Day 6 to 10 Munich (w/ day trip to Neuschwenstein castle)
overnight train to Prague (a bit out of the way, but very well suited to young travelers)
Day
Day 11 to 15 Prague
overnight train to Venice
Day 16 to 20 Venice
fly home from Venice
Again, just an example of something that works. There are many other possibilities that work equally well.
Jul 26th, 2010, 11:07 AM
#25
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meihan,
like the others I would agree you would be best served to limit your travels to 3-4 of these cities. just for simplicity, i would suggest either 1) eliminating all the Italian cities from the current plans or 2) focusing only on Italy.
Regardless, you might want to just check a map to determine the most efficient use of time. Assuming you are already commited to flying into Amsterdam and out of Paris...an itinerary like Amsterdam to Prague to Vienna to Munich to Paris seems to be a very busy but more logical approach.
But as the other posters have mentioned...each of these cities is best seen by simply walking the streets and interacting with the locals.
like the others I would agree you would be best served to limit your travels to 3-4 of these cities. just for simplicity, i would suggest either 1) eliminating all the Italian cities from the current plans or 2) focusing only on Italy.
Regardless, you might want to just check a map to determine the most efficient use of time. Assuming you are already commited to flying into Amsterdam and out of Paris...an itinerary like Amsterdam to Prague to Vienna to Munich to Paris seems to be a very busy but more logical approach.
But as the other posters have mentioned...each of these cities is best seen by simply walking the streets and interacting with the locals.
Jul 26th, 2010, 11:17 AM
#27
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this is going to be a test of a marriage if I ever saw one. It has worn me out just thinking about all that you guys are planning. It doesn't sound doable nor does it sound fun. I would cut out about three of these cities and would probably start on the tail end. I want to hear a trip report on this one. But aside from that Happy Marriage and Good Luck
Jul 26th, 2010, 11:26 AM
#29
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Too hectic? Uhhh...
What exactly do you (and your husband and friends) actually want to get out of this trip?
It looks like you mostly prefer big cities. Okay. But what part of a big city is it you like? The museums? The nightlife? People-watching? Nice restaurants?
Do you simply want to be able to brag to your other friends and family about how many places you went through? In that case, no it's not too hectic. You could probably squeeze in a few more cities, if you really wanted to. Personally, I'd go insane, but it's your trip and your life, so it's your decision.
Or do you actually want to see anything in any of the places you want to visit? In that case, drop at least half the cities and slow down.
About taking the night train, I think Scatcat asks some good questions. I will add one question to that. Are you absolutely certain you will be able to sleep on a moving train? Because if you keep waking up every time the train brakes you will be exhausted when you get to your destination. Being a group of four probably means you can avoid having to share with complete strangers, but you certainly won't have much privacy.
Have you looked on the train websites to find out if there will be trains going when you want them to? Are you going to buy train passes or point-to-point tickets? Have you researched the actual travel times, not simply physical distance, between the cities? How are you going to amuse yourselves during the time on the train? Sure, you're newlyweds and hopefully deeply in love, but if you sit in ordinary second class seats you will be sharing space with lots of people. Many of those will not appreciate seeing people "make out" in public.
On the days between two nighttrains, where are you going to put your bags? Will you carry them with you while sightseeing? Some museums and tourist sites will not let people bring large bags inside. If you plan to put them in "left luggage lockers", have you researched to make certain the stations actually have those?
And with that itinerary you will not have time to stop and do laundry. Are you going to pay someone in a hotel to do the laundry? Or are you planning to carry enough clothes for twenty days? Those bags will be big and heavy and difficult to handle on the trains. Sure, you could each take two smaller bags, but that gets difficult to keep track of after a while.
Have you talked this itinerary over with the friends you plan to travel with? Are you going to stay together all the time? What happens if you decide to split up halfway?
Are you going to book hotel rooms in advance? Or hope there will be beds available somewhere? If you book in advance and one couple decides to split off, whose name is on the room reservation?
How are you handling money issues? Will each person pay his or her own costs? Or are you dividing by couple? Will you split restaurant bills equally or do you plan to keep close control of who ordered what item? Do you have more or less the same budgets or is one couple much richer than the other? Do you all have the same ideas of what you want to spend your money on?
Do you actually want to remain happily married and close friends with the other couple at the end of the trip?
What exactly do you (and your husband and friends) actually want to get out of this trip?
It looks like you mostly prefer big cities. Okay. But what part of a big city is it you like? The museums? The nightlife? People-watching? Nice restaurants?
Do you simply want to be able to brag to your other friends and family about how many places you went through? In that case, no it's not too hectic. You could probably squeeze in a few more cities, if you really wanted to. Personally, I'd go insane, but it's your trip and your life, so it's your decision.
Or do you actually want to see anything in any of the places you want to visit? In that case, drop at least half the cities and slow down.
About taking the night train, I think Scatcat asks some good questions. I will add one question to that. Are you absolutely certain you will be able to sleep on a moving train? Because if you keep waking up every time the train brakes you will be exhausted when you get to your destination. Being a group of four probably means you can avoid having to share with complete strangers, but you certainly won't have much privacy.
Have you looked on the train websites to find out if there will be trains going when you want them to? Are you going to buy train passes or point-to-point tickets? Have you researched the actual travel times, not simply physical distance, between the cities? How are you going to amuse yourselves during the time on the train? Sure, you're newlyweds and hopefully deeply in love, but if you sit in ordinary second class seats you will be sharing space with lots of people. Many of those will not appreciate seeing people "make out" in public.
On the days between two nighttrains, where are you going to put your bags? Will you carry them with you while sightseeing? Some museums and tourist sites will not let people bring large bags inside. If you plan to put them in "left luggage lockers", have you researched to make certain the stations actually have those?
And with that itinerary you will not have time to stop and do laundry. Are you going to pay someone in a hotel to do the laundry? Or are you planning to carry enough clothes for twenty days? Those bags will be big and heavy and difficult to handle on the trains. Sure, you could each take two smaller bags, but that gets difficult to keep track of after a while.
Have you talked this itinerary over with the friends you plan to travel with? Are you going to stay together all the time? What happens if you decide to split up halfway?
Are you going to book hotel rooms in advance? Or hope there will be beds available somewhere? If you book in advance and one couple decides to split off, whose name is on the room reservation?
How are you handling money issues? Will each person pay his or her own costs? Or are you dividing by couple? Will you split restaurant bills equally or do you plan to keep close control of who ordered what item? Do you have more or less the same budgets or is one couple much richer than the other? Do you all have the same ideas of what you want to spend your money on?
Do you actually want to remain happily married and close friends with the other couple at the end of the trip?
Jul 26th, 2010, 11:36 AM
#30
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Eighteen days sounds about right for 3 places (and, if needed, could add some day trips from your bases).
Fly into Amsterdam and out of...Paris? Then add a place between Paris and Amsterdam...Or, do a Amsterdam - Paris - Munich?
As long as you know the landing and departure, that takes care of the plane ticket.
Remember...the more cities you have, the more hotels you need. The closer in you are to going, the higher the odds that you will have troubles getting the exact hotel you want on the exact night, in every city. So you start having to compromise. Winging it...maybe..but on a honeymoon..?
Fly into Amsterdam and out of...Paris? Then add a place between Paris and Amsterdam...Or, do a Amsterdam - Paris - Munich?
As long as you know the landing and departure, that takes care of the plane ticket.
Remember...the more cities you have, the more hotels you need. The closer in you are to going, the higher the odds that you will have troubles getting the exact hotel you want on the exact night, in every city. So you start having to compromise. Winging it...maybe..but on a honeymoon..?
Jul 26th, 2010, 11:41 AM
#31
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If it were me, and keep in mind this is my personal preference, I would drop Amsterdam, Cologne, Vienna, and Milan. You might can squeeze in the rest. And also I would just do a day trip from Rome to Florence. And I like overnight trains, but I get a sleeper with bathroom and shower. But you are young and with 2 other persons traveling together, you could get a 4 couchette cabin. It will save you daylight hours.
But you decide the places that you absolutely will not give up. I also love the Jungfrau area, but do not expect to see snowfall in September except on the tops of mountains. At Junfraujoch last September, it was warm but still had snow on the ground. I don't know if I would travel that far for just one night.
But you decide the places that you absolutely will not give up. I also love the Jungfrau area, but do not expect to see snowfall in September except on the tops of mountains. At Junfraujoch last September, it was warm but still had snow on the ground. I don't know if I would travel that far for just one night.
Jul 26th, 2010, 12:56 PM
#34
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I'd second CaseyMorgan's basic suggestion as a good introduction to Europe:
CaseyMorgan on Jul 26, 10 at 11:54am
Consider flying open jaw into Amsterdam and out of Rome for instance. Maybe enjoy Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, and Rome?
CaseyMorgan on Jul 26, 10 at 11:54am
Consider flying open jaw into Amsterdam and out of Rome for instance. Maybe enjoy Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, and Rome?
Jul 26th, 2010, 01:04 PM
#35
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Way to much time geting from point A to point B .Pick three places and stick to them at least when you leave you will have some idea of what you have seen.
They have been there for hundreds of years .They arent going anywhere at this point You can always go back .After you go to Europe onces you live for your next trip back.
Slow down relax and enjoy the adventure.
They have been there for hundreds of years .They arent going anywhere at this point You can always go back .After you go to Europe onces you live for your next trip back.
Slow down relax and enjoy the adventure.
Jul 26th, 2010, 01:57 PM
#36
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Other posters are more expert than me (We did one trip in 2006 and are planning our next one for 2011), but I thought I'd mention our trip, in case it provides any perspective.
Our trip was a gift and planned for us: 3 nights in Rome, 1 in Prague, 4 in Bavaria, and 3 in Paris. We would never have planned it that way ourselves. It was fabulous but exhausting!! We flew between cities.
3 nights somewhere = only 2 days, hardly time to get oriented.
Arriving in Rome, we were very jet-lagged. One day for the Colliseum and 1 day just to "experience" what it felt like to be in Rome. Game over.
Prague was so exciting!! Our 24-hours there were action-packed. We loved, loved, loved it!! But please, spend at LEAST 2 nights there, maybe 3 or 4. So much to see and do! Lots of night-life. Fabulous architecture. History. Wow!
In Bavaria we were able to wind down just a little and spend an entire day doing laundry. Even 4 nights was too short. We took daytrips into Austria as well.
By the time we hit Paris, we were fully adjusted and had learned how to maximize our short time there. The answer was no sleeping. We hit the ground running and pretended we were in our twenties, walking everywhere day and night, taking night tours and night cruises, and meeting and visiting with Parisians in their daily lives as much as time allowed.
It was a great experience, but now that we are planning our own trip, we will go to only 1 or 2 countries MAXIMUM for 2 or 3 weeks.
So please listen to everyone's advice and then do what you feel is right for YOU. And have a memorably wonderful trip!
Our trip was a gift and planned for us: 3 nights in Rome, 1 in Prague, 4 in Bavaria, and 3 in Paris. We would never have planned it that way ourselves. It was fabulous but exhausting!! We flew between cities.
3 nights somewhere = only 2 days, hardly time to get oriented.
Arriving in Rome, we were very jet-lagged. One day for the Colliseum and 1 day just to "experience" what it felt like to be in Rome. Game over.
Prague was so exciting!! Our 24-hours there were action-packed. We loved, loved, loved it!! But please, spend at LEAST 2 nights there, maybe 3 or 4. So much to see and do! Lots of night-life. Fabulous architecture. History. Wow!
In Bavaria we were able to wind down just a little and spend an entire day doing laundry. Even 4 nights was too short. We took daytrips into Austria as well.
By the time we hit Paris, we were fully adjusted and had learned how to maximize our short time there. The answer was no sleeping. We hit the ground running and pretended we were in our twenties, walking everywhere day and night, taking night tours and night cruises, and meeting and visiting with Parisians in their daily lives as much as time allowed.
It was a great experience, but now that we are planning our own trip, we will go to only 1 or 2 countries MAXIMUM for 2 or 3 weeks.
So please listen to everyone's advice and then do what you feel is right for YOU. And have a memorably wonderful trip!
Jul 26th, 2010, 02:31 PM
#38
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I am with everyone else, this is just not doable in any enjoyable fashion. Please, please reconsider, don't panic, in September it will not be that busy, well not like June July etc, and if you are moving at this pace I figure your top choice of hotel is not a priority, you wouldn't have time to enjoy them anyway!!
Take a BIG deep breath, slow down, and pick four destinations. Drop all the ones that are out of the way and focus on the places reasonably close to each other. Everyone has different favourite places, I would of course put Paris in the mix having spent a month there last month. As you can see I travel in a different way, but it is also not my first trip to Europe so I understand the want to see as much as you can. As all the others have said, if you travel at this pace you won't see anything of anywhere anyway!!!
Good luck, but please re think BIG TIME!!
Schnauzer
Take a BIG deep breath, slow down, and pick four destinations. Drop all the ones that are out of the way and focus on the places reasonably close to each other. Everyone has different favourite places, I would of course put Paris in the mix having spent a month there last month. As you can see I travel in a different way, but it is also not my first trip to Europe so I understand the want to see as much as you can. As all the others have said, if you travel at this pace you won't see anything of anywhere anyway!!!
Good luck, but please re think BIG TIME!!
Schnauzer
