Hi

My husband and i are planning a quick getaway (8 days) to Paris (3 nights) , and remaining 4 nights between Zurich, Vienna, Prague . We fly into Paris and return home from Paris.

Hopefully someone can help me with my Questions:

1. Are we trying to do too much in 8 days, does this itinerary make sense? we have had no time to research distances!!!

2. I haven´t the faintest idea whether to buy a railway pass, fly or drive. Though I understand the drop off fee if car is not returned to same spot picked up up from is very high.

3. If i must drop a city, which one should it be.

Thanks

>>1. Are we trying to do too much in 8 days, does this itinerary make sense? we have had no time to research distances!!! <<

Do you mean Zurich, Vienna, and Prague (all three) or are you asking which ONE of the three to visit?

No you simply cannot visit three cities in 4 nights. You will eat up more than one full day just in the travel between the three -- leaving you less than a day in each city. That is goofy.

>>3. If i must drop a city, which one should it be.<<

Well I'd personally spend all 8 days IN Paris - but if you MUST, pick only <u>one</u> of the other 3 and fly between. Have you looked at a map of Europe? If you were to drive you'd need three week minimum.

There is no rail pass that makes any sense in a situation like this.

Yes, too much. IMO, your best option is to stay in Paris. Next best option = 5 days in Paris, 3 days in whichever other city most interests you. Try to fly out of the other city. Get a good guide book. Good luck!

I would spend three or four nights in Paris (no, it is not THE only city worth visiting in Europe) and the remainder in another. I would FLY between the two if at all possible

www.whichbudget.com

www.skyscanner.com

However, the fact that you have to return to Paris for your departure is something to be considered.

You can get to Zurich in four hours by fast rail; Geneva even sooner; and you'd have a couple days to explore Switzerland.

In so few days you should visit Paris and one (1) other city - otherwise you will spend way too high a percentage of your very limited time just getting from one place to another.

Also, you should into Paris and out of the second city - this will not cost any more if you look into multi-destination tickets.

I would do Prague as the second city - since Zurich is primarily a business city and while Vienna has a lot to see and do - but I find it sort of triste.

Much, much too much. If you have 8 full days on the ground, not including arrival and departure days, consider Paris and one other city. If the 8 days includes travel to and from Europe, spend the whole time in Paris.

If 8 full days, consider 5 in Paris and 3 in Vienna or Prague. I don't think Zurich is a high on the list of your options as it is primarily a commercial center.

Too bad you have already booked flights. Conact your airline to see if the cost of changing to an "open jaw" itinerary (into one city and home from amother) would be reasonable. Consider that you will save the time and cost of returning from Prague (or wherever) to Paris.

Considering the distance between the cities and the very short time you have, you will want to fly to your second city from Paris unless you choose Zurich in which case the train will work.

Research is your next step.

2. I haven´t the faintest idea whether to buy a railway pass, fly or drive>

Well no to a railpass for such limited travels - best bet is to score online discounted tickets which however are sold in limited supplies and must be booked in stone weeks in advance to get and typically cannot be changed nor refunded. Check www.voyages-sncf.com for Paris to Zurich for example and www.oebb.com - the Austrian railways for Zurich to Vienna and Vienna to Prague - but you cannot easily do all those places by train or car or even plane in such a short time span.

Thanks! We´ve been to Paris a few times so will only be spending a couple of nights. That being said I think i will skip zurich and fly straight to Prague and if time permits visit Vienna Or change destination completely and maybe head to London.

You will have a hard time finding accommodations in either Vienna or London at the last minute. You really should decide ahead of time where you want to go/when.

You will have a hard time finding accommodations in Vienna>

NIME - I have on several occasions just arrived by train and went to the Hotel booking desk in the station and secured accommodations on site in the price range of my choice. London airports and train stations also have hotel booking offices that always IME can find rooms - I disagree with janis that you may be shut out and have to sleep on a park bench - that said you'll get better deals booking in advance and a better price if that is key to you.

OK -- Where in heck did I say anything about sleeping on a park bench (You take every issue to the absolute extreme - trying to make others looks foolish I suppose)

I <i>meant</i> One usually has a hard time getting the quality or price (or both) accommodations they would usually book. Desperation/necessity means one will have to take what they can get.

You will have a hard time finding accommodations in either Vienna or London at the last minute>

that may be what you meant but not what you said - quoted above - the impression that all hotels would be full and IME that is not wrong and it is right to correct that so someone does not get a false impression by what you wrote.

What you now say makes total sense - what you previously wrote was nonsense and you upbraid me for correcting that?