Hey everyone, my first message on Fodors... looking forward to taking part in some discussion before I make my first Europe trip in April.

I am heading over with a buddy from where we live in Toronto. I would love some feedback or suggestions should you have any:

Fly from Toronto to Paris - 3 nights in Paris
Fly from Paris to Prague - 5 nights in Prague
Fly from Prague to Amsterdam - 5 nights in/around Amsterdam

We have decided to fly between the different countries because it seems to be just as cheap, or cheaper than taking the train. Plenty of flights on skyeurope.com that go for about 50 euros.

Now my question is this, we can be no longer than two weeks and are trying to be as cheap as possible while still maintaing a certain level of comfort. Any suggestions how we might be able to improve our trip? Travel? Sights? Events? etc.

Hi; I would suggest five nights in Paris and four in the other two cities. Both Prague and Amsterdam have tours out of the city that that would be a good use of time. All three are great venues to visit. It's a tough decision, because for Paris you could spend months and not have seen everything. ENJOY iris1745/dick

I'm wondering why you're only spending 3 nights in Paris but 5 nights in Prague. while I have never been to Prague, based on what I've read, there is much more to see/do in Paris compared to Prague. In addition, since you're flying from N Am to Paris, you will be somewhat tired and jet-lagged on your arrival day in Paris. So, in summary, I think you're shortchanging Paris, unless you've been there before.

I've been to Paris and Prague (not Amsterdam although I have done quite a bit of research into things to see there) and think you might be better served by at least spending 4 nights in each city, or 5 in Paris, 4 in Prague & 4 in Amsterdam. These suggestions presuppose that you have not been to Prague or Paris yet.

I was in Prague last October, and there is quite a lot to see. It is an amazing city. I would also highly recommend a day trip to Cesky Krumlov, a magnificent medieval village almost surrounded by the Vltava river and overlooked by an imposing castle complex; Cesky Krumlov was one of the highlights of my trip.

My reason for staying a shorter time in Paris is simple... I have a few friends that did a Europe trip and found Paris to be very expensive and somewhat boring/repetative. What kind of things are there to do in Paris? What do you suggest if I was going to add another day and make it four nights in Paris?Thanks for the suggestion in Prague... I actually had a friend suggest the same Medieval place.

A freind told me about a Castle just outside of Prague somewhere that is made up of Human Bones and Skulls and said it was pretty cool, anyone know about this? Name? location?

<i>I have a few friends that did a Europe trip and found Paris to be very expensive and somewhat boring/repetitive. What kind of things are there to do in Paris?</i>

Paris boring????? There are lots of posters here who spend 1 month in Paris each year, or have returned to Paris dozens of times, and they still find NEW things to see/do!

Have you looked at a guidebook on Paris to see what's there to do???

If you think museums are expensive, there's a list of municipal museums in Paris that offer free admission, including the catacombes.
http://www.paris.fr/portail/english/...t?page_id=8229

There are lots of cheap cafes and restaurants in Paris as well. Or, you can even go to a local supermarket and buy some cheese/baguette and do picnic lunches to save $.

Hi DG,

>I have a few friends that did a Europe trip and found Paris to be very expensive and somewhat boring/repetative.<

You need a better class of friends. Some who are more interested in things other than pot and booze.

See
Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...=2&tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34712768

Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=35095155

I also suggest 5 nights in Paris.

Have been to all 3 cities several times - Paris probably a dozenn - and agree that you need more time there and less time in the others (unless you've alrady seen a lot of Paris). I would put 6 days at a minimum for a first visit to Paris. You can see most of either Prague or Amsterdam in 3 days - add another if yuo wnt to do a day trip.

Separately, if you haven;t already bought tickets I would do paris or Amsterdam first, train to the other (faster then flying) then fly to Prague and return from there. A better use of limited time.

I also wonder what you friends meant when they said Paris was "repetitive"?

I mean, the biggie sites such as Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Lourvre, River Seine, Notre Dame, Jardin des Tuileries, Versailles; each one is so drastically different than the other!

nytravler as a very good point about rearranging your cities, and also fly in/out of different cities.

Completely agree with those who think you should add a day or two to Paris and cut a day or two from Prague and Amsterdam. You can see all of Prague well in 4 days. We only had two days in Amsterdam, and although we loved it, it was enough. Paris, what can I say -- the longest I've spent there in one trip was 9 days, and every day was wonderful. But we took our kids there on their first Europe trip and stayed 4 days and that was great, too. Keep in mind, you'll have some jet-lag at least on arrival day. Bottom line: I would do 5/4/4, or more likely 6/4/3.

Having been to Paris and Amsterdam, I would do

Paris 6
Amsterdam 4
Prague 3