Thoughts on this itinerary? 2 weeks, Amsterdam > London > Dublin > Iceland
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Thoughts on this itinerary? 2 weeks, Amsterdam > London > Dublin > Iceland
Hi there
Looking for some feedback on this European itinerary. It will be 3 people in their 40s, and 1 active senior in their 70s. For one person in their 40s, this will be their first and possibly only trip to Europe.
.
There has been a bit of discussion about this intinerary, but I want to present it without comment to get other people's input and impressions.
Nothing has been booked yet.
Thoughts?
Looking for some feedback on this European itinerary. It will be 3 people in their 40s, and 1 active senior in their 70s. For one person in their 40s, this will be their first and possibly only trip to Europe.
.
- Fly Seattle > Amsterdam
4 nights in Amsterdam, 1 day trip to Rotterdam and 1 to Haarlem
- Train from Amsterdam > London
2 nights in London
- Fly London > Dublin
2 nights in Dublin, 2 nights to somewhere in south Ireland, like Cork or Waterford
Possibly rent a car in the south
- Fly Dublin > Iceland
2-3 nights in Reykjavik
Rent a car, drive the golden circle, Vik, etc.
- Fly Reykavik > Seattle
There has been a bit of discussion about this intinerary, but I want to present it without comment to get other people's input and impressions.
Nothing has been booked yet.
Thoughts?
Last edited by kitelessPNW; Apr 12th, 2024 at 10:31 AM.
#2
Welcome to Fodors -- just some quick comments for now -- you'll get lots of help here
IMO/IME this is extremely (too) fast paced.
"Fly Seattle > Amsterdam
4 nights in Amsterdam, 1 day trip to Rotterdam and 1 to Haarlem"
This leaves you just three full days for Amsterdam and you plan on being out of the city two of those. Is one day (and maybe some jet lag) enough for Amsterdam? Probably not.You are allowing yourselves just one day for London -- that is almost 'why bother territory'
Assuming you've already booked flights in to A'dam and home from Reykjavik -- I'd do JUST Amsterdam/Haarlem/Rotterdam, London with maybe a day trip somewhere outside of the city (MANY options once we know your interests), and Iceland
OR do just the Netherland/Ireland/Iceland.
IMO/IME this is extremely (too) fast paced.
"Fly Seattle > Amsterdam
4 nights in Amsterdam, 1 day trip to Rotterdam and 1 to Haarlem"
This leaves you just three full days for Amsterdam and you plan on being out of the city two of those. Is one day (and maybe some jet lag) enough for Amsterdam? Probably not.You are allowing yourselves just one day for London -- that is almost 'why bother territory'
Assuming you've already booked flights in to A'dam and home from Reykjavik -- I'd do JUST Amsterdam/Haarlem/Rotterdam, London with maybe a day trip somewhere outside of the city (MANY options once we know your interests), and Iceland
OR do just the Netherland/Ireland/Iceland.
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When are you planning this? There are not direct trains from Amsterdam to London from June until next January at the earliest.
I hate your itinerary, too busy too many moves, and I am someone who enjoys moving on a lot. You have not allowed for jet-lag, after an overnighter from Seatte at least some of you will have have jet-lag.
Just because it may be one persons only visit to Europe doesn't mean you have to cover so much ground. Slow down, and you will have a more enjoyable time which doesn't involve endless airports, hotels and trains. It will also reduce the chance of snafus and the group getting tetchy with each other.
If the flights in and out are booked then do Amsterdam and Iceland. There is more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam.
I hate your itinerary, too busy too many moves, and I am someone who enjoys moving on a lot. You have not allowed for jet-lag, after an overnighter from Seatte at least some of you will have have jet-lag.
Just because it may be one persons only visit to Europe doesn't mean you have to cover so much ground. Slow down, and you will have a more enjoyable time which doesn't involve endless airports, hotels and trains. It will also reduce the chance of snafus and the group getting tetchy with each other.
If the flights in and out are booked then do Amsterdam and Iceland. There is more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam.
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I'm not surprised about there being a bit of discussion. For some it's too fast paced and for others it's not and for some it's too much time here and others not.
I only have one advice for you and that's use the knowledge of others as research but don't use the preferences of others and how they travel as a rule for how you travel.
I only have one advice for you and that's use the knowledge of others as research but don't use the preferences of others and how they travel as a rule for how you travel.
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* For some it's too fast paced and for others it's not and for some it's too much time here and others not.
*
Literally no one has said it's not too fast/too much time.
As people ARE saying, two nights somewhere means one day, which isn't enough for any of the destinations.
What is personal taste, is why Amsterdam for someone's only ever visit to Europe? It certainly wouldn't be my choice (which doesn't make it wrong necessarily). Why have you picked the places you want to go to?
*
Literally no one has said it's not too fast/too much time.
As people ARE saying, two nights somewhere means one day, which isn't enough for any of the destinations.
What is personal taste, is why Amsterdam for someone's only ever visit to Europe? It certainly wouldn't be my choice (which doesn't make it wrong necessarily). Why have you picked the places you want to go to?
#9
Too much moving on and not enough time anywhere. I'd suggest not visiting Ireland and Iceland. Go with the rest but extend the number of nights in each place left on the list. Four nights minimum in London.
Jetlag could mean your first day or two (depends a bit on arrival time) are spent in a fog of exhaustion. Some travellers are fine but you won't know ahead of time how each of you will feel. Also it takes longer than you think to move from place to place. A one hour flight can end up taking half a day or more.
Jetlag could mean your first day or two (depends a bit on arrival time) are spent in a fog of exhaustion. Some travellers are fine but you won't know ahead of time how each of you will feel. Also it takes longer than you think to move from place to place. A one hour flight can end up taking half a day or more.
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We fly from the western US, and the first two days in Europe are tough. We just got back from a trip and the first two nights, we were in bed by 9 pm.
We visited Amsterdam this last trip but stayed in Haarlem. Honestly, I far preferred Haarlem to Amsterdam.
We visited Amsterdam this last trip but stayed in Haarlem. Honestly, I far preferred Haarlem to Amsterdam.
#11
So far eight 'waaaaay too much - are you crazy' - and one 'Uh -- not too bad'.
OH -- Now I see nothing has been booked yet! Missed that when I first read your OP. If that means even the flights are yet to be booked -- then you can reconsider EVERYTHING
OH -- Now I see nothing has been booked yet! Missed that when I first read your OP. If that means even the flights are yet to be booked -- then you can reconsider EVERYTHING
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I agree with janisj. Since you haven't booked your flights, reconsider the entire trip. The way your trip is currently planned you are all spending a lot of time on planes, trains, and automobiles. Two nights in London and 2-3 nights in Iceland doesn't make any sense at all. I know this sounds corny, but stop and smell the roses! You want to remember what you saw and did, right??? You don't want your trip to be a blur, right?
One possibility could be 4 nights in Amsterdam, 4 or 5 nights in London, and 4 nights somewhere in the English countryside. Or as Bilbo suggests, spend the entire 2 weeks in Ireland (to include Dublin and the Irish countryside). Or two weeks in England, to include London and the English countryside.
Or combine London with Paris. So you have two great European cities, both very different from each other.
What are your interests? What month? Of the countries that are on your list, what are your top 2 favorites?
One possibility could be 4 nights in Amsterdam, 4 or 5 nights in London, and 4 nights somewhere in the English countryside. Or as Bilbo suggests, spend the entire 2 weeks in Ireland (to include Dublin and the Irish countryside). Or two weeks in England, to include London and the English countryside.
Or combine London with Paris. So you have two great European cities, both very different from each other.
What are your interests? What month? Of the countries that are on your list, what are your top 2 favorites?
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I agree that this is a lot to do but if you spend four to five nights in London as someone suggested you're going to leave broke 😆
The Netherlands is lovely but you don't need to spend the whole time in Amsterdam. It is very well connected and you can go to Rotterdam or Utrecht for a day.
London is lovely but if cost is a factor then remember they take sterling and it's generally more expensive there than Ireland however there is more to do and it's better connected to the mainland.
If you go to Ireland I suggest Galway for somewhere that feels very Irish as opposed to Dublin even though we had a lovely time there.
The Netherlands is lovely but you don't need to spend the whole time in Amsterdam. It is very well connected and you can go to Rotterdam or Utrecht for a day.
London is lovely but if cost is a factor then remember they take sterling and it's generally more expensive there than Ireland however there is more to do and it's better connected to the mainland.
If you go to Ireland I suggest Galway for somewhere that feels very Irish as opposed to Dublin even though we had a lovely time there.
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