Nice France, Italy and Norway?
Oct 11th, 2013, 05:27 PM
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Nice France, Italy and Norway?
Hi everyone,
My daughters and I are planning a trip to Europe in May or June 2014. We had been to Paris, London, Florence and the Black Forest in Germany on our 1st trip to Europe 4 years ago. We would like to see the South of France and the Mediterranean as well as maybe Northern Italy (Como or Milan or even Amalfi Coast) this time around. However we also wanted to do a country that we had never been to before. I love the sound of Norway and the Fjords or even Vienna for a couple of days. We would be able to do approximately 4 days in each of 3 countries. If we fly from Florida to Norway, is it possible to find a cheap flight within Europe to fly from Norway to either France or Italy and then take the train the rest of the trip or are these places too far from one another? We actually took the train on our first trip between 4 countries. True, we didn't have a lot of time in each country, but we were able to get a taste of each place and what with airfare being so high we wanted to get the most for our money as its already taken us four years of saving to go back. Any suggestions for the third country beside the South of France and Italy? Is Vienna a better idea? Would appreciate help as we need to start planning and booking things soon. Thank you!
My daughters and I are planning a trip to Europe in May or June 2014. We had been to Paris, London, Florence and the Black Forest in Germany on our 1st trip to Europe 4 years ago. We would like to see the South of France and the Mediterranean as well as maybe Northern Italy (Como or Milan or even Amalfi Coast) this time around. However we also wanted to do a country that we had never been to before. I love the sound of Norway and the Fjords or even Vienna for a couple of days. We would be able to do approximately 4 days in each of 3 countries. If we fly from Florida to Norway, is it possible to find a cheap flight within Europe to fly from Norway to either France or Italy and then take the train the rest of the trip or are these places too far from one another? We actually took the train on our first trip between 4 countries. True, we didn't have a lot of time in each country, but we were able to get a taste of each place and what with airfare being so high we wanted to get the most for our money as its already taken us four years of saving to go back. Any suggestions for the third country beside the South of France and Italy? Is Vienna a better idea? Would appreciate help as we need to start planning and booking things soon. Thank you!
Oct 11th, 2013, 05:36 PM
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Check out http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp for cheap flights.
Be aware that Norway is very expensive. You might want to take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it.
Be aware that Norway is very expensive. You might want to take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it.
Oct 11th, 2013, 06:46 PM
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Norway is beautiful -- I did a 3-day trip there (from London) in June 2011. Some may protest that it is too short but I felt it was a good balance between cost and sightseeing. As Michael mentioned above, Norway is crazy expensive. I paid the equivalent of $13 USD for a McDonald's meal (I know, but was desperately hungry at the train station!) And that's one of the cheapest meals you can find.
But nothing beats the natural beauty of Norway's mountains and fjords -- rugged and pristine in turns.
We flew into Oslo on Friday, did a quick trot around and visited a museum, then hopped the train from Oslo to Myrdal, planning to take the funicular to Flam. As it so happened there was a fire the night before and a section of the tracks to Myrdal was closed! So they dropped us at an earlier stop and took us by bus to Flam, where we were to spend the night. This unexpected diversion turned out to be a blessing because the bus ride took us on a meandering road at the foot of majestic mountains, even through a mountain tunnel and right alongside glaciers. Would've never got this close to beauty from the train. Arrived in Flam on Friday at nearly midnight but the sky was still twilight -- the great part of being in Norway in summer, you get longer days to explore!
Flam is a gorgeous little town on the shore of the fjord. We did the funicular up and down on Saturday morning -- it's nice, but not as memorable as our bus ride the night before. Do buy tickets early as they often sell out real quick. Then we did the cruise from Flam to Gudvangen (also highly recommended), did the bus from Gudvangen to Voss (take the one that goes via Stalheim hotel for AMAZING views from a steep descent down the mountain!), then went from Voss to Bergen. Sounds hectic but it was enjoyable, always on the move but not rushed. We arrived in the evening.
Bergen is a lovely city. We chilled out there on our last day in Norway, just sitting on the park bench in the fountain square and visiting the fish market by the docks. Then caught our evening flight out of Bergen back to London.
As I said, some would frown at such a short, whirlwind blitz through Norway, but that was all my traveling partner could spare and it was still a blast, a really memorable trip. Definitely go there in summer if you can!
But nothing beats the natural beauty of Norway's mountains and fjords -- rugged and pristine in turns.
We flew into Oslo on Friday, did a quick trot around and visited a museum, then hopped the train from Oslo to Myrdal, planning to take the funicular to Flam. As it so happened there was a fire the night before and a section of the tracks to Myrdal was closed! So they dropped us at an earlier stop and took us by bus to Flam, where we were to spend the night. This unexpected diversion turned out to be a blessing because the bus ride took us on a meandering road at the foot of majestic mountains, even through a mountain tunnel and right alongside glaciers. Would've never got this close to beauty from the train. Arrived in Flam on Friday at nearly midnight but the sky was still twilight -- the great part of being in Norway in summer, you get longer days to explore!
Flam is a gorgeous little town on the shore of the fjord. We did the funicular up and down on Saturday morning -- it's nice, but not as memorable as our bus ride the night before. Do buy tickets early as they often sell out real quick. Then we did the cruise from Flam to Gudvangen (also highly recommended), did the bus from Gudvangen to Voss (take the one that goes via Stalheim hotel for AMAZING views from a steep descent down the mountain!), then went from Voss to Bergen. Sounds hectic but it was enjoyable, always on the move but not rushed. We arrived in the evening.
Bergen is a lovely city. We chilled out there on our last day in Norway, just sitting on the park bench in the fountain square and visiting the fish market by the docks. Then caught our evening flight out of Bergen back to London.
As I said, some would frown at such a short, whirlwind blitz through Norway, but that was all my traveling partner could spare and it was still a blast, a really memorable trip. Definitely go there in summer if you can!
Oct 11th, 2013, 07:04 PM
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We are planning a trip to France and Italy in May. I discovered that the Cannes Film Festival starts on May 14th in the South of France. This is the day we are arriving in Nice! Lots of hotels are already sold out and most affordable oven views are gone. Just an FYI-happy planning.
Oct 12th, 2013, 04:16 AM
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I am also planning to combine Norway and Italy next June/July. My initial quick search turned up several airlines that fly between the two countries, some requiring a change, most pretty inexpensively - airBaltic, norwegian, etc. Check skyscanner.com
I have done many trips where I combine a Northern European destination with a southern one (Sicily/Switzerland, Portugal/Denmark & Sweden, etc.). Although my trips are considerably longer than 12 days. It does seem like 4 days is about right for a quick Norway trip but if the whole trip is only 12 days then after one intra-Europe flight I would try to spend the other 8 days in only a couple of fairly close regions. In other words, doable by train in half a day. I have done trips where I took two intra-Europe flights in 12 days or so but then it starts to feel like more transit than sightseeing.
You could do 4 days in the Nice region then train (about 4-5 hours) to Milan and do the rest of the time in the lakes region (Como is less than a hour from Milan. Or substitute the Italian Riviera for the south of France (Cinque Terre, Rapallo, Portovenere, Portofino, etc.).
I have done many trips where I combine a Northern European destination with a southern one (Sicily/Switzerland, Portugal/Denmark & Sweden, etc.). Although my trips are considerably longer than 12 days. It does seem like 4 days is about right for a quick Norway trip but if the whole trip is only 12 days then after one intra-Europe flight I would try to spend the other 8 days in only a couple of fairly close regions. In other words, doable by train in half a day. I have done trips where I took two intra-Europe flights in 12 days or so but then it starts to feel like more transit than sightseeing.
You could do 4 days in the Nice region then train (about 4-5 hours) to Milan and do the rest of the time in the lakes region (Como is less than a hour from Milan. Or substitute the Italian Riviera for the south of France (Cinque Terre, Rapallo, Portovenere, Portofino, etc.).
Oct 12th, 2013, 08:00 AM
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Count at least a full week for a somewhat decent visit of one part of the South of France (may be Avignon - Orange - Pont du Gard - St. Rhémy/Glanum - Les Baux - Nimes - Montpellier/Grottes des Demoiselles - Arles - Ste. Marie - Marseille - Cassis) and another week for 1 region of Norway.
Oct 12th, 2013, 09:12 AM
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If we fly from Florida to Norway, is it possible to find a cheap flight within Europe to fly from Norway to either France or Italy and then take the train the rest of the trip or are these places too far from one another? We actually took the train on our first trip between 4 countries>
Try to get a cheap flight or consider taking an overnight train from Copenhagen - a neat city to spend a few days in - to Germany - save money on a hotel and you could book a private compartment for all of you in a sleeping car - by train in daytime it would take all day and more from Oslo to mainstream Europe.
Once there of course as you know trains are great - if traveling enough look at a Eurail Select Saverpass - valid in 3, 4 or 5 countries of your choice - for lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sources - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - be sure to download the latter's free and superb IMO online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of suggested rail itineraries in each area.
In Norway do not miss the Oslo to Bergen dramatically scenic rail line and the fantastic Norway in a Nutshell excursion that you can do on your own - includes a boat trip on Norway's largest fjord!
Try to get a cheap flight or consider taking an overnight train from Copenhagen - a neat city to spend a few days in - to Germany - save money on a hotel and you could book a private compartment for all of you in a sleeping car - by train in daytime it would take all day and more from Oslo to mainstream Europe.
Once there of course as you know trains are great - if traveling enough look at a Eurail Select Saverpass - valid in 3, 4 or 5 countries of your choice - for lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sources - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - be sure to download the latter's free and superb IMO online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of suggested rail itineraries in each area.
In Norway do not miss the Oslo to Bergen dramatically scenic rail line and the fantastic Norway in a Nutshell excursion that you can do on your own - includes a boat trip on Norway's largest fjord!
