KTtravel

If Italy is your priority, I think you could easily spend your two weeks there and find plenty to do. I would suggest Rome, Florence and Venice and you could possibly add one more place. Why not pick up a guidebook about Italy and see what appeals most?

kybourbon

I like to get the longest flight out of the way on the way over so I would fly into Rome. Four nights in Rome will let you hit a few highlights. You could take the train (about 4 hours) to Venice for a few nights and then fly Easy Jet from Venice to Paris Orly airport. Spend a few nights in Paris before flying home. Depending on the number of nights you really have, you might be able to add a couple of nights in Florence on the way to Venice (it's about halfway between Rome/Venice).

It's very easy to transport between these cities on your own. You can book a few guided tours in each city if you feel you prefer that. People here can point you to hotels in each city that are central if you state a per night budget.

mntraveler_12

kybourbon - I think your suggestion sounds really good. Aka... fly into Rome, stay 3 or 4 nights, take the train to Florence (3 nights), and then Venice (3 nights). Does anyone think that Amalfi is worth a visit?!

I could end the trip in Paris via train or plane, and stay there 3 or 4 nights before going home.

Can anyone give me a rough idea of what train tickets cost between Rome to Venice? What about Venice to Paris? I'm guessing we should expect to spend a few hundred US dollars per person each time we take the train.

Likewise... how much does is an average flight from Venice to Paris? I checked online prices, but it's all over the board.

Sorry, maybe these questions should be in a separate post! But all of you seem to be so knowledgeable, I'd like to keep the convo going! Thanks

latebloomer

"you'd like to keep the convo going "

The conversation is all over the map. So let me go back to what one of the very first posters asked you: Have you purchased any guidebooks? It doesn't appear so and it's important. A lot of people here dislike Rick Steves, but for a first time traveler, he provides very basic, detailed information about getting to and from places, website links to train stations, ticket prices, etc. That's one idea to start with.

People are very helpful here - sometimes their patience astonishes me - but this is your trip and owning it by doing at least a minimal amount of research first and then coming here for tweaks and ideas is the optimal way to go.

mntraveler_12

I'm actually reading the rough guide to first time Europe right now (I'm about half way through it).

I realize my questions are all over the map - sorry! If anyone wants to respond to my question about train / plane tickets, please feel free. Otherwise, I'll start a new post with more specific questions.

Thanks everyone!!

Travel_Nerd

"I'm guessing we should expect to spend a few hundred US dollars per person each time we take the train. "

Not usually. If you buy advanced tickets for longer trips it won't be that costly. Shorter destinations don't necessarily need to be purchased in advance and should be much more reasonable.

It sometimes does depend on the time of day of the train, what class, etc. For example, I've looked into train tickets (five months out) for Venice to Trieste--it ranges from about 23Euro to 60Euro depending on time of day. It is also about a 90 minute train ride, too.

Paris to Venice will be more expensive--you'll be traveling a greater distance. There are night trains from Paris to Venice, and if you were to get a sleeper that will save you cost of the hotel--but you will be spending the cost for the train ticket and the compartment, in a sense.

You have a year and many train tickets aren't available until 6 months or less in advance. Honestly, these details can get worked out later. I think you need to get a firm grasp on exactly what you are going to see and do rather than the minute details...those come later.

ellenem

You can get an idea of Italian train prices and schedules at Trenitalia.com, the national train system of Italy.

English homepage:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD

isabel

Train ticket prices in Italy depend on several factors. For one thing there are slow (regional) and fast (intercity, eurostar, etc.) trains. They often are on the same route. The slow ones may take up to twice as long but cost much less. Most people feel time is money and opt for the fastest unless it's a very short journey. Second is how far in advance you buy your tickets. If you look on trenitalia site you can see how much a trip will cost if you book it just a few days in advance vs 3 months in advance. Rome to Venice ranges from about €25-80 per person, depending on how far in advance.

This site has lots of info on Euro train travel - http://www.seat61.com/

Very easy to book train tickets in Italy, and if once you start to do so you run into a snag people here will talk you through the specifics.

I second the idea of getting a Rick Steves Italy guide. He specializes in first timer trips and has lots of practical advice.

You could easily fill up your time all in Italy, but it would not be unreasonable in that amount of time to also go to Paris or London. Look at easyjet.com for prices of flights. It's cheaper than trains for long distances. Probably less than €50 from Rome or Venice to France or England, depending on time of day, how far in advance you book, etc.

dugi_otok

If you want a guided tour I would recommend Rick Steves Best of Europe in 14 Days (13 nights)Tour with the addition of 1 night on the front end and 1 night on the back end. Then your trip would be 15 nights:

Paris-3 nights
Burgundy(Beaune), France-1 night
Bernese Oberland Alps (Lauterbrunnin), Switzerland-2 nights
Baveria (Munich}, Germany-2 nights
Venice-2 nights
Tuscany (farm stay)with a day trip to Florence-2 nights
Rome-3 nights

Summary:France-4 nights, Switzerland-2 nights,Germany-2 nights, Italy-7 nights.

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/europe-14-days

needmorevacation

If you look at the itinerary- while it covers a lot, that comes at a cost- 6 days where you spend 4-8 hours on a bus, and another 2 where you spend under 4 hours on a bus. So on 8 of the 12 'full' days, you're on a bus.
OP, I think you're on the right track picking 2 countries and doing trains/planes

raincitygirl

It is great that you are now thinking of planning this yourself rather than doing a tour.

My only comment at the moment would be: don't take the overnight train from Venice to Paris, we did it in 2008 and it wasn't that great. You don't see anything, the cabin is very small,no shower, and shared toilet down the hall.
Flying is faster and maybe cheaper. Just be aware that luggage restrictions on flights within Europe will be tighter than within North America. (mostly to do with carry-on, smaller and less weight)