I'm flying into Paris (Orly) on 4/9. My plans are to stay a night in Paris, rent a car and drive to Brussels for a day, then to Rotterdam for a day, to Frankfort or Munich for a day, to Zurich for two days, and back to Paris for four days. Is this too ambitious? Would I be better off stopping at other cities? (I originally wanted to go to Ireland but got a great fare to Paris - so I'm just beginning my research on the above cities.) <BR> <BR>Any help is MUCH appreciated. Thanks!!

Is this a troll?

Joann, <BR>You are definitely planning to do too much. You won't gain an accurate impression or appreciation for any of the places you visit. You will, however, gain a valid experience of the European highway system. Nothing that I would recommend you do. <BR>Why not, spend four or five days in Paris, which is a FANTASTIC city (you could spend the entire time there and never get bored)! Then travel to Brussels by train and stay there a few days. Or better yet, explore France by car or by train. Stop and smell the roses, rub elbows with the locals, eat the local bread, drink the local wine, etc. <BR>You say that you originally wanted to go to Ireland. I hope you weren't planning to race around Ireland too. As one who has travelled a great deal (and MANY times to Ireland), the best thing you can do is slow down and savor the culture. By the way, why would you let a cheap airfare sway your choice of vacation destinations? Ireland is worth whatever it costs to get there.

No, not a troll - just overly ambitious, I guess. I'll get to Ireland next year. I haven't been to anything in Europe outside of Spain - and I've made several trips there, the last exploring Sitges, Barcelona, and the Costa Brava up to Cadaques. <BR> <BR>Since I speak Spanish and not French, I'm a little leary of exploring the smaller cities. Is the best choice to limit to two cities - Paris and Brussels? or do you have other suggestions? <BR> <BR>Thank you so much for any additional info.

It's salvageable. <BR> <BR>Bruges or Ghent are more interesting than Brussels. <BR> <BR>Rotterdam I don't know. Might be alright. So is Maastricht, or Edam or Haarlem. <BR> <BR>Frankfurt is boring, Munich too far. Consider Aachen and/or Cologne instead. <BR> <BR>Zurich (all of Switzerland?) not my (anybody's?) cup of tea, and very expensive. Consider Lausanne (which IS Switzerland) or Strasbourg/Alsace (France, with a German flavor) instead. <BR> <BR>Or, if you wanted Ireland, just skip all those other places, fly into Paris - - give yourself a few days - - now fly to Dublin for $42 each way on www.ryanair.com - - then fly back to Paris for a few more days. Great trip. You might never need a car (or get one for any or all of the three segments). <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

I second Rex's suggestion about spending a few days in Paris and then flying to Dublin. And, he's absolutely right about not needing a car. You will save money doing it that way. <BR> <BR>Why do you want to do Brussels? Is there something special there that you feel you must see? I agree that Bruges or Ghent are much more interesting than Brussels.

Rex, thank you! thank you! thank you! I'm now booked for four of those days in Dublin and I'm limiting it to Paris and Dublin. Really appreciate the input.

Just look at a map of Europe and you'll see those stretches from Paris/Brussels to the German cities you want to go are way ambitious.