My husband and I are going to Europe for the first time. We are thinking of going from mid July for about 6 weeks. Is this a bad time to go? We are thinking of going to London, Spain, France, and Italy. Any suggestions. Should we wait and start our trip in September?

A lot depends on where you actually end up going - right now it sort of sounds more like a wish list rather then any sort of plan.

But in general -- the end of July/and all of August is much hotter, more humid, MUCH more crowded, w/ more expensive airfares than any other time of year.

Of course - if one is limited to those dates one can have a great trip. But If one has flexibility, almost any other time would be better. Either May/early June or mid-Sept/Oct would be better for most destinations . . . . .

I have never traveled then as I have heard from friends that many Europeans go on vacation then and it is hot and very crowded. We have traveled in Sept and Oct lovely time to go. Fall is gorgeous anywhere is Europe, nice weather and not so crowded.

Have fun!

Yes, I would wait until Sep. We will ge going back then for our 25th trip to Europe. Congrats on 6 weeks--we did 8 weeks once--it does call for good planning. Look at the French buy/back car plan at Kemwel.com--may be a good deal. I see France, Italy, and the Alps as a good 6 week plan. Good lick !

Another vote for delaying your trip to the begining of September. All of Europe is on vacation for six weeks starting in mid-July. Roads, trains, and hotels are full.

Southern Europe is often hot in summer; fall is generally better. If you need to go in summer, you might do better by sticking to the Alps and north. It can get hot at times in Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany as well, but not as hot and not as often, and Switzerland is just about perfect in summer.

Additionally, as first-time visitors, you must realize that there is a certain travel-learning curve that you need to experience. For many north Americans, it's easier to travel in and adapt to the cultures of northern Europe, and you're less likely to be victimized by subway thieves, taxi drivers, etc. (although you should be heads-up in Paris.)

If you're dead-set on southern Europe, I'd travel there at another time of year - we spent some time in Italy recently in January, and it was lovely.

I would wait till September. I have only been to Europe during the summer months when on business, on somebody else' tab. Way too crowded, more expensive. I would pick the end of April-late May or September thru Mid-November.

Hi am,

I would reconsider spending 6 weeks on a 1st-time visit.

You could easily ending up being stressed and unhappy by the end of the 4th week - especially in the Summer.

I suggest 10 days in London and the UK, followed by 10 days in Paris and France as a start.

After you know what to expect, you can work up to 6 weeks on the road.

Ok, I'll be the contrarian. If you go in early July to southern France, you can see the lavender.

Yes, it will be more crowded and more expensive. Start in the south and work your way north as the weather gets warmer. End up in London for a few days before your last trip back home (US??).

See if you can find some semi-guided tours for this first time.

I like to travel in the spring. The countryside is beautiful and the days are longer. The long days mean more hours to sightsee. But if your choice is between July and September, I'd pick September.

amin - are you driving or going by plane or taking the train - if train i'll give you some great resources. And i am big on trains - hourly departures everywhere it seems - some go up to 200 mph - cars are great for rural areas but if going to big cities like most first-timers naturally want to do then cars are becoming liabilities - parking can be hard to find and cost $30/day or more - hotels do not nearly always offer parking and if they do they usually charge too. Things left in parked cars in some cities are rife to be stolen. Most cities these days are off-limits to private vehicles and are more and more pedestrian areas. Driving into and out of cities can be tough, etc. But for meandering thru the hill towns of Italy or Provence or along the Mosel Valley, etc. cars are of course better. You could mix in car rentals with a train trip as well as you can rent cars at many stations, drive them to another and return them there and hop back on the train.

There are two problems with travleing in July/August

All th elocals are on vacation - so everything will be mobbed, with long waits at sights, and prices sky high

Many things in europe (including more modest hotels and restaurants ) do NOT have A/C - even in areas that are very hot (upper 90's and humid) - so traveling then can be brutal - unless you love heat.

For choice we travel in May/early June to get smaller mobs, better weather and more chances at bargains - esp hotel deals. Late Sept/Oct will give you the same but days will be mush shorter. I would change to one of these times if at all possible. the trip will be more pleasant and less expensive.

Every time that I have gone to Europe has been in July, and I have never had any problems. Italy was warm and southern France was hot. Britain was cold.

Have a great trip. Europe is a truly magical place!

I've gone to several European countries in July or even August, and enjoyed it a lot. It really depends where, though, as I enjoyed Scotland and London in August (and London was specifically planned for the BBC Proms), but I certainly would not plan a trip to Italy or Spain in August. I'm not that fond of France in August, but I like July fine. Pricees are not sky high in July/AUgust (except air fare), I don't know what that is referring to. In fact, one reason I like to go at that time is hotels are often cheaper -- they are in Paris, and I've also gotten cheaper hotel rates in Prague and Poland in August. Admission fees and transportation fees are not higher, nor are food costs. So I don't agree with that at all. The only place I've seen accommodations more expensive would be resort areas, like the Riviera, in the summer. Now Provence is more expensive, but it probably will be in September, also, if I recall the high season rate period.

If the option in July/August or September, I probably would choose September with that itinerary. It wouldn't be so bad if it were starting in June and ending in July, I think that could be fine.

I also agree that I probably would not plan a 6 week trip to Europe when I'd never been there before. Just seems a pretty major investment about things without any experience or knowledge of such trip or what that will be line (such as the weather problems, why plan a trip to Spain and Italy in August?).

We have fond that in May/early June it's often possible to get major discounts (sometimes 50%) off hotel prices - since the hotels aren;t full at that point. It's true that cities with a lot of business people in hotels may offer better prices in August - but typically resorts or places where europeans will vacation don;t offer lots of discounts then.

No, restaurants or sights don;t charge more in August - but usually air fare (from the US) and hotels - the biggest parts of your expenditure - will be higher then.

I think six weeks is way too long for a first trip to Europe.

I'd go in July because I enjoy summer weather.

The tourist crush in Europe is really IME limited to six weeks in summer - from mid-July to last of August and the week before and after Easter.

And the locals that get mobbed are relatively few but clustered in the warmer south of France, Italy and coastal Spain.

Cities like Paris and London also will be more crowded than usual but many other places like Germany not that much - many Germans flock south as well to escape their dicey summer weather.

Avoid Provence, Riviera, Rome, Florence and esp Venice since that city just cannot absorb the mobs of northern Barbarians like Rome and Florence, with much more real estate can.

I have been in Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva in July. Twice to Venice in August. I had a great time. I did not notice "mobs".

I'll be contrary about the length of the trip. My then-husband and I spent four months in Europe on our first trip, and frankly we didn't want to come home. We moved every three or four days and still didn't get tired of it. As soon as we got home, we started planning the next trip!

I have been to Venice also a few times in August and how can you help about noticing the mobs

the gauntlet from the train station/car and bus dropping off point was elbow to elbow - people where all over the tourist points (yet a few blocks away it was relatively empty)

Venice is about one of the biggest mob scenes in August anyway IMO