Too Rushed or Just Right
 

We are now at odds over our trip.

One wants to hang in Amsterdam for 7 days with day trip to Germany...

One wants to spend 3 1/2 days in Amsterdam and 3 1/2 days in Paris.

Is 3 days in Paris just way too quick?

Would you rather see alot of one or a bit of two?

thanks...

There are many people who spend just a long weekend in Paris. It will give you a taste, and if you like it, you'll go back.

I have been to Paris for one week back in 2001.

The person that doesnt want to go has never been...

The person that wants to go for 3 1/2 days was there in 2001 also.

I am on the fence on this one and want all your opinions...

Who are the travelers? Possible that they could each have their own way and meet up afterwards? I love Amsterdam, by the way, but don't see a need to stay there for 7 days, unless you're planning several daytrips to other Dutch towns. What's in Germany that's worth only a day-trip - seems like you're not giving Germany a fair shake.

This is a silly question. There is no right answer or wrong answer. Three days is a good time in any city and a week is even better for most cities. Three days in more than a bit. If the question had been one day London, one day Amsterdam, one day Paris, etc., then the answer would be very different.

The travelers are DH, myself, best friend and her DH.

We will be on a canal boat in Holland for the first week of the vacation.

After that we have 7 days.

DH doesnt want to go to 2 places thinking he wont get to know either that way. He thought a day trip to Germany would be fun to break up the time in AMS.

BF wants to go back to Paris because when we were there in 2001 d'Orsay, St. Chappelle were closed and we didnt get to Sacre Couer or Rodin Garden.

I agree that 7 days are too much for Amsterdam.

I want to make both happy...

Do you think 3 days in Paris is just too overwhelming for a first timer?

<i>Do you think 3 days in Paris is just too overwhelming for a first timer?</i>

I'm not sure what you mean by &quot;overwhelming.&quot; I think 3 days in Paris would be great for a first-timer or a tenth-timer.

Sure, it would be great to have more time but you can see an lot in 3 days. The first time I visited Paris, I had only two days to see the highlights and I packed a lot in.

Any reason the couples can't split up after the barge? Then the discussion is just between you and your DH. Taking responsibility for making everyone happy is likely to drive you nuts. Personally, I think 7 days is too long for AMS, and if you've just spent 7 days in Holland I'd go for 2 days in AMS and the rest in Paris.

Hi dandj2,

A side trip to Germany will take you quite a few hours to get there - for instance, a trip by fast train to Cologne (Koeln) will take 4 - 5 hrs, Aachen 5 - 6 hrs and Emden 4 - 4.5 hrs. I don't know where else you might want to go to, but all you would have time to do with those 3 destinations is eat lunch and turn around and come home again. If you want to go to Germany, consider spending at least an overnight, or leave it out of the itinerary altogether. Of the three I mentioned, Cologne would have the most to offer tourists - Cologne Cathedral, some Roman ruins and quite a good shopping precinct.

Lavandula

I vote for Paris whether it is 3 days or 10 days.

Simple answer to your question is - only you can tell.

Lavandula has answered the physical limitation of limiting Germany as a day trip. No amount of enthusiasm or stamina changes the actual time it takes to get into Germany and back.

However, other aspect of your trip is subjective. I know many friends who plan trips using a simple formula, e.g. so many days, so many cities. For me, such process is too simplistic.

I create several different options with corresponding benefits and costs. I also consider if I don't choose an option, what is the likelihood that I can visit some of the cities in the future.

I wouldn't do a daytrip to Cologne from Amsterdam, but it does only take 2.5 hours on the fast train.

If it's really 3.5 days in each place, I think that would be fine. I wouldn't do it, though, unless I had an open-jaw flight, but that's just my preference. Seven days in either place would be great.

I agee with the poster who suggests splitting up- after a week together on the barge, it may be nice to have some &quot;alone&quot; time.

Let your friends go to Paris and you and your husband can do your own thing in Amsterdam. That way everyone is happy.

3 nights each in Amsterdam and Paris isn't unreasonable, but everyone is different. Personally I would prefer to spend one week in only one city but that's just me.

I haven't been to Amsterdam but I can guarantee you I'd be able to find plenty to keep me occupied for seven days, especially with all the daytrip options.

A big no to the day trip to Germany. It just isn't enough time for sightseeing and experiencing Germany for the travel time used to get there, IMHO.

I would do 3 days Amsterdam and 4 days Paris. More time in a city like Paris is not as overwhelming as less time, because a person starts to feel more familiar, so more at home and comfortable. If you take 4 days for Paris, you could also take a day trip to Versailles.

Hi da,


Tell the person who wants to hang out in Amsterdam and get stoned for seven days that you will meet him/her at the hotel when you get back from Paris.

A day-trip to Germany?

((I))

I'd spend one day in A'dam a day in Brugges and the rest in Paris.

Three days in Paris may be too overwhelming for someone who wants to spend a week in A'dam :)

The split 3 days/city is a good compromise. Seven days in AMS witha daytrip to Germany is a ridiculous trip.

Letting the ridiculous wishes of someone you're traveling with drive your decisions is bound to make for an unpleasant trip, and that's all I have to say about it. You're spending hard-earned money to travel abroad - use it the way YOU want to use it.

AMEN to that!!

Fast reading through this thread it occurred to me:

This is what Belgium is made for!

Why don't you stay in Antwerpen or Brugge, and let your BF day trip to Paris?

You can also day trip to some lovely other Belgian spots and Amsterdam.