Spain, Italy and ? France
 

So much good advice on here, but now I'm confused. Iwe are flying in and out of madrid (have to and already booked). i know that my son wants to see Italy (venice, rome..) and Barcelona. I've been told that I would have time to see certain parts of France (riveria....).; Or another part of another country. Can people please give me sample itineraries, trains included or plane, from madrid back to madrid from July 20 to aug 11 ( just need to be back in madrid by aug 8 or 9 to meet my daughter). Don't want to spend a fortune, please. Thanks all!! My daughter will be in area near murcia, and Im aware that we may not get to her until she is brought to us in Madrid. Thoughts? Thanks.

Your previous thread gave you many suggestions, some of which I thought were extremely helpful. Now it is up to you to analyze them yourself, conduct additional research, and come up with what you want to do--and can realistically do. This forum is just regular people offering their opinions, not paid travel consultants. Your request is wide open and even if you get some suggestions, there can be a million alternatives! You have the option of hiring a travel agent if this is not a fun task for you. A good guide book would get you going in the right direction--good luck!

Train

Madrid to Paris overnight train

Paris to Switzerland

Switzerland to Rome via Venice and Florence.

All easily done by trains. In Switzerland I would spend a few days in the fantastic Jungfrau Region around Interlaken - about half way by rail from Paris to Venice - then go by train to Florence and Rome.

fly back to Madrid or take overnight ferry from Italy to Barcelona.

for lots on European trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

ttt

Look for a cheap flight from Madrid to Rome or Venice. Travel between Rome and Venice by train and include Florence. Look for a cheap flight from Italy to Barcelona. Train from Barcelona to Madrid. If three Italian cities are too much for the time given, do only two.

http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp