Should i cut Paris to make Octoberfest?
 

Hi folks,
I'm planning my first trip to Europe.
I'm going to spend a great deal of time in England, 24th to the 28th.
On the 29th- the 2nd of October, i was going to visit Paris BUT i'm hearing mixed
reviews about the city.
I'm seriously thinking of checking off a bucket list item and taking a 5 hour train from London
to Munich to catch a glimpse of Octoberfest and maybe visit Paris on the way back.
I wouldn't mind stopping at a nice village on the way to Munich and spending a very short time at Octoberfest.
Basically giving me only a day in both.
I'm sure the Paris forum would be all over me on this plan so i thought i would love to hear from the Germany
forum to see what your thoughts would be.

Thanks

>>> taking a 5 hour train from London to Munich. I wouldn't mind stopping at a nice village on the way to Munich
Where did you get this idea? If you looked at www.bahn.com, a few fast options via Paris or Brussels via Eurostar followed by ICE/TGV combo take more than 8 hours and most take more than 9 hours. Nice villages are not located along the fast train lines, and you don't have time even if they were.
>>> spending a very short time at Octoberfest
Where are you thinking of staying if you visit Oktoberfest? Have you found a suitable accommodation with availability at a price acceptable to you?

Good god, you're right. I guess i was looking at Paris to Munich.
Yeah, that's a long haul. Maybe a flight would make more sense. Again,
i do NOT want to be anywhere near Octoberfest for lodging, everything is probably
booked anyway. Just want to spend a few hours there and get out.

Skipping Paris and travelling so far for only a couple of hours at Oktoberfest is nonsense.

Do Oktoberfest properly next time and do Paris this time as you originally planned. It's much closer to London and you don't waste much time travelling.

Paris is visited by millions of different people every year it's normal that so many different people will result in mixed reviews. The question is whether YOU want to see Paris?

>>I'm going to spend a great deal of time in England, 24th to the 28th.<<

You think 3.5 days is a 'Great deal of time'??? Where all are you going in England?

It is sorta late to start planning for Oktoberfest and Munich is nowhere near either England or Paris.

Where are you flying in to and where are you flying home from? And the dates? Is your entire trip Sept 24 - Oct 2nd -- and are you flying home from England? If so that makes a huge difference what you can manage and where you have to be when . . .

Four nights in England is certainly not a great deal of time! Are you spending all that time in London? Sure hope so. Only three additional nights, again not much time, but at least Paris is easy to get to. The time needed to get to Germany is obviously longer. Two completely different choices. I would choose Paris, but only you can decide which you want.

I'm sorry (and unfortunately you can't reply again until tomorrow to clear things up -- Welcome to Fodors BTW) . . . But >> was going to visit Paris BUT i'm hearing mixed reviews about the city.<<. Is just plain silly. There are mixed reviews about EVERYPLACE, but Paris is one of the most popular cities in the World and gets more visitors than some whole countries.

If you don't want to visit Paris -- that is perfectly fine. Not everyone loves it. But to cite 'mixed reviews' about an iconic city like Paris means you are 'hearing' from some pretty weird people.

Janis and I were posting at the same time. Of course, she's made a good point - where do you fly home from?

...BUT i'm hearing mixed
reviews about the city..... Just what are you hearing??? None of you plans make any sense. In other words, you want to catch the train to Munich, hit a beer tent for couple of hours, and head back. You can do that that is a lot of time and expense for one beer.

"Hearing mixed reviews" means absolutely nothing. Of course some people won't love Paris. None of us loves every place we visit. Don't you want to make up your own mind?

Your plan to race to Oktoberfest for a beer is so ridiculous I have to chuckle. Bothering to take a flight to Munich for a few hours is beyond absurd. Even if you hate Paris, stay there and have a beer and call it a day.

Your "great deal of time" in England is absolutely paltry.

Maybe those "mixed reviews" about Paris came from people such as yourself who don't seem to have much appreciation for how much time it takes to appreciate a place and who think they can magic-carpet around Europe.

Oktoberfest and Germany should be a different trip. I would stay in England if your flight home is from there. So much to see. There are many day tours to see like Stonehenge or Bath if you want to get out of the city for the day. You could take a day trip to Paris.

I love the "do Oktoberfest properly" what exactly is that? getting bombed out of your mind at one of those beer tents? Staggering around town with your trousers falling down? I've seen both and it doesn't look "proper" it looks STUPID

"getting bombed out of your mind at one of those beer tents? Staggering around town with your trousers falling down? I've seen both and it doesn't look "proper" it looks STUPID"

Stupid indeed, and that's not what I meant.

"do Oktoberfest properly" what exactly is that?"

Take your time, try out different food and beer, do the funfair rides(the Teufelsrad=Devils's wheel is tons of fun even just watching), check out the locals in their traditional clothes, and listen to the traditional Bavarian music, relax and have fun. At least for 1 day, perhaps even 2 different days(watching the opening if you can or the street parade through Munich on the 1st Sunday).

https://www.annees-de-pelerinage.com...erfest-munich/

https://wiesnkini.de/en/magazine/okt...u-should-know/

Hi,
In my opinion, you should spend all your time in England. Many things to do and see. But I do understand that when this is the first trip to Europe, you want to see as much as possible. If you only like to have a little taste of Paris, it is a few hours from London. But stay at least 1 night. You cannot do Paris justice with only 1 day. Skip Oktober fest, I have been there and found it very overrated.
Is there no way to add a few days to your trip?

Decided to do just England and Paris.

Good decision!!
at least you can see some more of England and Paris and you are not spending so much time travelling to Germany!
Enjoy to the fullest! you can always go back...

The ONLY reason why i'm skipping Munich is because of my day heading up to Liverpool and Manchester.
It's easy and maybe a bit ignorant to assume that anyone going to Octoberfest is going to get smashed. This was
never my intention from day one. I want to show and go. But, i also wanted to see the outskirts of Germany, perhaps on the train ride back to Paris.
Maybe stop at a small town along the way.
My wife doesn't drink and i'm not much of a "Pub" guy (we have enough of those in the U.S.) I can also say the same about Octoberfest here.
You normally couldn't drag me to one of those here but, Munich is the original and i'm sure there's some neat and fun festival type stuff that i would
have enjoyed seeing aside, plus, this is a ultimate bucket list item so..
But, we can save it for next time i guess. We hope to do Venice, Rome and Germany in the future and maybe Greece.
My wife speaks spanish and i know she would love those areas as well as I.
Hopefully, England and Paris will wow me. I'm not much of a history buff but i'm hoping to check out a few castles and museums.
I'll be very surprised if i don't enjoy myself i'm certain of that.

I usually travel like a non-tourist, i've seen Chicago so many times but when i go, i don't follow any checklist, I know what i'm there for
and do it. I'm sure there will be things i'll miss in both cities and that's ok with me. But these unrealistic comments of people saying you have to spend
two or three weeks AT LEAST in each of these places are downright ridiculous and borderline hilarious imo.

I went ahead and purchased a refundable hotel for my time in Paris just in case i feel i've seen what i need in one day and decide to take a day trip outside of Paris.
Any recommendations on what would be a nice town?

Thanks

Hi,
You mention you like to check out some castles. Maybe the Versailles Palace would be nice. It is about 30 minutes from Paris. Or if you like gardens, the Monet gardens is a beautiful place to go. I believe that is about 1 hour away.
Any places you have in mind already that you like to visit during your trip?

>> day heading up to Liverpool and Manchester. <<

Okaaaaay?! You want to do a 'day trip' to Manchester and Liverpool? That is a tall order. London to Liverpool is about 2.5 hours on the train, Liverpool > Manchester a little over 30 minutes, and Manchester back to London is another 2+ hours so you are talking 5+ hours JUST in transit, not counting ANY travel in either city or visiting any sites. Just what all do you expect to see/do in Liverpool and Manchester??

From your various posts I think you may have some odd ideas about transport in the UK/on the Continent. Public transport is great -- but it is not instantaneous. It takes time and planning.

Yes, as Janis said, what do you think you will have time to see in Liverpool and Manchester?

I also wonder about your comment about seeing Venice, Rome and Germany in the future and that your wife will like that because she speaks Spanish. How will speaking Spanish in those locations help? I'm pretty sure they speak Italian and German respectively.

NOBODY mentioned that you need to spend at least 2-3 weeks anywhere. LOTS of people have rightly noted that you want to dart all over the place without realizing what's actually involved - like this "day trip" to Manchester and Liverpool, which is frankly absurd.

I'm also very curious how your wife's ability to speak Spanish is going to be of any help anywhere you're going. It would be more useful in a California supermarket.

A "nice" town outside Paris? Well, there are dozens. Chantilly, Senlis, Auvers-sur-Oise, Giverny, Fontainebleau, Marly-le-Roi, Provins, Bougival, Montfort l'Amaury, Chevreuse, Chartres, Pierrefonds......

Jeff,

Please know that the people here are truly trying to help you. You already mentioned this is your FIRST trip to Europe. Many who have provided advice on this thread either go to Europe multiple times a year or live in Europe.

With that having been said, as you are still in the midst of planning your itinerary is that you do take into consideration of travel times between each destination and day trip. REALLY decide what is actually drawing you there. Liverpool? Because of the Beatles? Perfect. I am not a fan personally and have not found a reason to travel there outside of that. But if it is something you or your wife have an interest in and will regret not visiting, go right ahead. It is your trip. That does NOT negate needing to factor in transit times and other considerations (crowds, schedules).

Paris and its environs have their own gems, too; and again - what draws you there? Those truly are what you need to ask yourselves. Typically for each city due to crowds, plan only 3 sights per day that you're there on the ground (i.e. days not in transit like arrival or departure days) and pick the attractions that are most important to you from there.

You may be able to travel as a "non-tourist" in Chicago and I applaud that. However, because of the nature of cities like London and Paris, you do have to plan carefully. Without planning (like advance tickets to say the Louvre or Eiffel Tower), you can and will expect to spend many hours in line - even in October.

Oh - I totally missed this paragraph: >>But these unrealistic comments of people saying you have to spend
two or three weeks AT LEAST in each of these places are downright ridiculous and borderline hilarious imo.<<

I am a bit concerned with your reading comprehension -- who said you need to spend 2 or 3 weeks anywhere??

You have received a lot of good advice/suggestions/info -- and none of it is unrealistic, ridiculous, nor hilarious.

. . . do remember -- this is your fist trip and those responding either live IN Europe or travel there often and are very experienced. Perhaps -- just maybe -- they know a little more about what is doable/practical. They are actually (honestly) trying to help you -- so you might not want to call them ridiculous . . .

Versailles is definitely on my list. Also, the Catacombs. Ill be there on a Monday and Tuesday so, have to keep my eye out on hours of operation. Most seem to be closed on Monday so..

Your "experience" as a non-tourist in Chicago is so irrelevant as to be ridiculous. Sure, indulge yourself in a trip to Versailles with thousands of other tourists, and the Catacombs, which apparently appeal to a lot of people but left me cold. If this is your ideal visit to Paris, that's all good and well. But please stop short of pretending this is some sort of non-tourist visit.

I agree, which is exactly my point. Chicago is a lot smaller, yet I still feel no need to see everything. And..I'm fine with that😁