PalenQ

I assume a week in Europe means a week there - like leaving States on a Friday evening and returning on following Sunday - maybe 8 days on the ground?

Still pick 2 cities not far apart and yes Barcelona and Rome would work - fly into one and out of the other but then you've wasted much a day no matter how long the flight is.

Stick to Madrid and Seville

Or Barcelona and Madrid

cities only a couple of hours apart on Spain's high-speed railways where trains go nearly 200 mph between them.

suze

I think two cities in the same country would be ideal - the Venice/Florence or Rome idea or Madrid/Barcelona, because you could travel between them by train. Which is more time efficient than having to go to the airport and fly between countries.

suze

<It's bad advice given incessantly by one poster>

If you could just stick to the topic of the question at hand without always getting personal with other posters would be extremely helpful to this forum.

crefloors

The OP is flying out of New York, so really the flight is not all that long. I don't get the jet lag from the east coast.

I fly from SFO usually and my London flight is going to be 10 and a half hours. Flying home is a bit over 11 out of Paris. I envy those flying from the east coast. Piece of cake.

NewbE

I fail to see where I got personal, suze. I am discussing a factual issue. You seem to be the one following me around (again), trying to start a fight. As I said on another thread, please confine your pot stirring to the Lounge.

crefloors, I agree!

suze

Every thread you are on you are arguing with people.

I am not following anyone around.

This constant bickering scares people off.

NewbE

Well, last post addressed to you:

I am disagreeing with some advice, agreeing with other advice, same as everyone.

If you want to dispute with me, go ahead, but you'll be talking to yourself. Again, lol.

PalenQ

The OP is flying out of New York, so really the flight is not all that long. I don't get the jet lag from the east coast.>

hogwash IME - still 7 hours or more and whole night disrupted - I have always flown from Detroit just an hour from NYC and always have some jet lag. And it all depends on how well one sleeps on a plane too.

massimop

True story:

Some years ago I accompanied someone on a business trip who was going London, Paris, Berlin & Brussels in 12 days. Before I left, whenever I mentioned to anyone I was going out of town 12 days, and they responded "Oh? Where?", when I told them "London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels" , one hundred percent of the responses were smiles & eyes lighting up & expressions of "Oooooo! Great! Lucky you! Sounds wonderful."

These were people who had traveled quite a bit. Many of them proceeded to give me lots of tips on restaurants or bars, etc in each of the 4 cities

Nobody reacted like I typically see people react on Fodor's to the notion of going to 2 -- my god, TWO countries in Europe in the same trip. (Unless it's Switzerland or the Netherlands from Paris if you are staying in Paris for a week. That's a pre=approved formula.

Also, I sometimes have the feeling I talk to more toursits than most people, in real life, face to face. Most of you would die if you heard about the trips through Europe some people take. They never knew you aren't supposed to go to several big cities in a week. They did it and had a great time!

There really isn't a big problem for a lot of people taking trips where they actually travel around while --- ummm, traveling.

dwdvagamundo

Massimop, the OP asked for our recommendations. Based on my travel experience--and quite a few others on this board--I would not try to see more than one country in a week, particularly where the two countries are so far apart as to require a flight. Two countries, while obviously doable, is pushing it and, if it were my trip, I'd keep it at one.

But of course it depends on each individual and his or her travel style. I've had more rushed trips--six countries in eighteen days was the worst and we were exhausted at the end of it; and we were in our early thirties at the time.


But the OP asked for my honest opinion and I gave it.

PalenQ

Yeh it's a subjective thing - I tend to travel fast and love it -in part because I love taking trains and being on the train is pure joy - but everyone is different - who is to say who is right and wrong BUT each person should feel free to say what they think and advise especially Americans who have not been to Europe about what to expect and how in say in say janis' 4.5 days there really, which I agree with, don't overplan - and others can say you can easily see two countries in that amount of time which I don't think is realistic but others like massimop may - the OP can then consider it all and make decisions to suit there style.

Just too bad OP doesn't have more time.

suze

If you are flying between the two places it really doesn't matter if the cities are in the same country or different ones.

PalenQ

If flying and flying regardless of distance takes much of a day -now a 2-hour train trip between say Madrid and Barcelona or Seville is much quicker.

suze

Stating the obvious, PalenQ.

BUT if they WANT to see two countries on this trip, and they plan to fly between two cities anyway... at that point it doesn't matter if they are both in Spain, both in Italy, or one of each.

PalenQ

If wanting to fly yes but that would be wasting one day out of say 5 good days.

suze

Maybe it is worth it to them, in order to see two countries.

PalenQ

Well Catalonia and Spain are effetively two countries and may soon officially be so. Lanugages are even different.

Is Catalan language different from Spanish?
What is the difference between Catalan and Spanish?
In a nutshell, Catalan and Spanish are totally different languages, specially orally.
diferencias regionales - Difference between Spanish and Catalan ...
https://spanish.stackexchange.com/qu...sh-and-catalan

But yes Barcelona and Rome, etc possible - about 2 days in each!

End of discussion-I agree with you - it's very possible for doing both Spain and Italy - technically. And if it's Tuesday they could fly to Belgium!

suze

The point here is to give people suggestions and ideas to work with. Not to try to win an argument.