Planning a trip to Paris and Venice (never been to Venice). We'll have about 13 days. How many days would you allocate to Venice? We could spend forever in Paris. Thanks to those who have helped us plan this trip so far. For economy we will just fly back to Paris and return. Any other suggestions?

Venice is SO far from Paris! Are you flying there? <BR><BR>The train is a LONG ride (even the overnight train), are you stopping along the way? SNCF does give discounts for two train tickets (25%), and the cost of the two return train tickets may cover the extra plane fare to fly home from Venice. <BR><BR>I think 3 days in Venice would be enough.

Harvey<BR>everyone will have a different suggestion, but my first visit to Venice was four days and a bit, and aside from wanting to stay forever, I wished I'd had 5 days and a bit. Allow at least one day out in one or two of the lagoon islands, or a cruise on the Brenta canal, or both.

I'd fly between the two hands down. The Deutschebahn website shows a minumum of one change for that trip and travel times of 10 plus to 16 hours. So flap those wings<BR><BR>Can you do an open-jaw fare -- into Paris and out of Venice? I haven't checked the possibilities, but it's a thought

Okay -- checked on Yahoo travel -- an "open jaw" ticket on Delta for NYC/Paris -- Venice/NYC runs just under $900 for August using a midweek departure. Not sure where you are leaving FROM -- but that's a start at any rate

I also vote for 5 days in Venice. If you feel that is too much time, you can take a day trip to Verona or Padua on the last day. Having said that, I think you will fall in love with Venice and not want to leave at all.

I did exactly this trip over the Christmas/New Years holiday - we divided the time equally. We flew into Paris and out of Venice, and took the overnight train from Paris through Switzerland to Venice and arrived at dawn. The open jaw ticket cost about $150 more than a round trip from either destination, the first class sleeper tickets cost about the same as a pricey hotel room, and we enjoyed the train trip enormously. I'm the president of the cheerleaders of Venice, so I'm going to tell you to stay there at least 5 or 6 days, but it depends on what sort of things you enjoy in travelling. Read a little bit about Venice, and try to see a couple of movies set there (seriously, it gives you a great feel for what the city is like) and then decide. If you're happy to just wander around, get lost, and absorb atmosphere, you may never come back from Venice!

i'd spend twelve days in venice.

Flights between Paris and Venice can be expensive; europebyair.com offers a $99 fare between Paris and Naples (not Venice), so you'd have to take the train Naples&lt;&gt;Venice.<BR>You can do an overnight train, which would not cut into any sightseeing time (you're sleeping anyway, so cover ground while you're in the arms of Morpheus) or leave early in the morning, go through Switzerland and arrive in Venice at night. I did the reverse trip last fall (through Lausanne) and the scenery is spectacular. I love trains, so a 13 hour trip was totally enjoyable.<BR><BR>One caveat re night trains: some people don't sleep well on trains, so plan a light first day in Venice, just in case you're feeling groggy.<BR><BR>8 days Paris, 5 days Venice; if you take the day train, make that 7 days Paris, 5 days Venice.

Thank you all for so many great suggestions! We plan to go late Sept and eary Oct. We enjoy just wondering around great cities and don't have to see everything. My ititial thought was to fly roundtrip Paris-Venice as there are some good prices on flights rt Columbus-Paris at that time. Any other suggestions greatly apprceicated.

Harvey, if you don't have transportation between Paris and Venice, Ryanair offers reasonable fares between Brussels and Venice-Treviso. It may pay to check into that option, if you don't mind the extra train rides. A few weeks ago, I flew Treviso to Brussels for US$109+tax.<BR><BR>With the amount of time that it will take to get to/from Venice, even with four nights you will only have two full days and bits of one or two others. Personally, I would do five nights in Venice and eight in Paris. It sounds like a wonderful trip.

Our trip is Paris - Venice - Rome.<BR><BR>We are flying from Paris to Venice on Air France - I don;t remember the cost but it was not much more than the train at the time I booked it.<BR><BR>We fly into Paris and home from Rome.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful trip.<BR><BR>Donna

How long a layover do I need flying from Venice to CDG on Air France and then home (IAD/CMH). I will have to change terminals. Is arriving at 3:10 and departing for USA at 5:20 enough time. I think thats cuttng it too close. Thanks for all the good advice so far. More ideas appreciated.

I would do 8 days in Paris &amp; 5 in Venice, or 9 in Paris &amp; 4 in Venice.

We did Paris and Venice for our honeymoon (May-June 1999). We spent 7 days in Paris, then took the overnight train to Venice, for 3 days.<BR>NWA-KLM had a deal, book by Feb 19th that year and it cost $698. Flew into CDG Paris and out of Venice (Both ways via Schipol Amsterdam to New York).<BR>The train was 2nd class overnight 700 ff or so. (People under 26 get a discount). many parts of Paris were on strike - the luggae handlers when we arrived, the train crew when we left. We had to listen to all the 1st class passengers complaining about their missing cars. Management put together a 2nd-class only train, with few amenities; it left 2 hours late because the track was being blocked ahead (so we were told) by picketers. It was an experience! Lots to see, if the museum workers in Paris aren't on strike...<BR>The best cold soda in Paris is 10ff cans from the metro (subway) vending machines...<BR>GOOD LUCK!