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-   -   Tour of Paris, Switzerland and Spain (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/tour-of-paris-switzerland-and-spain-1135285/)

shakilhyd Oct 8th, 2016 08:18 PM

Tour of Paris, Switzerland and Spain
 
Hi, I have a question for the travel Paris, Switzerland and Spain. I want to travel from Toronto to Paris, SL and Spain but not sure how to manage and where should I go first and then how should I go another country. Please also do some help to choose best city of these countries. This is my first visit in Europe that's why I am unable to manage the sequence of tour from Toronto --> Paris, Switzerland and Spain and then return from Europe to Toronto. I will much thankful if someone could help about this tour (flight/hotel/train etc). Please also provide the help for train from one country to another Europe country. I want to go Europe for 9-12 days with my wife and 2 kids (7 and 9 yrs). Thanks.

WoinParis Oct 8th, 2016 09:58 PM

Welcome to Fodors
You do realize that your question is very vague... You realize you basically ask to arrange for a full trip, as if we were travel agents, which we are not ?
You also realize that Spain is a very big country in itself, that Paris deserves five days to visit and that Switzerland (we abbreviate in CH, not SL) is also a country by itself ?
Please read a guide book or two, get some ideas and come back with more focused questions, I don't see how we can be of help if you throw only bones to us.
Have a good day.

michelhuebeli Oct 8th, 2016 10:20 PM

Sorry, your plan is flawed. 9-12 days will not suffice for what you indicate. Not even really for Paris and Spain.

Here's what I suggest:

Count your days, from the moment you leave home to the moment you get back home. You travel overnight to Europe, so Day Two, the arrival day, is not worth much since you have to get settled, deal with folks in your family group who may have needs like sleep or food at "strange" times (strange for you with your time-shift) etc.

Now look at the train schedules -
www.sncf.com/en/passengersfor France (in English),
www.sbb.ch/en/home.html for Switzerland (in English), www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html for Spain (in English)

I'd say leave Spain for another time. Switzerland is closer to Paris, is smaller, has better public transportation systems, and if you choose your airline tickets wisely - flying into Paris and flying home from Zürich or Geneva - you can just about make it.

justineparis Oct 8th, 2016 10:28 PM

9 days.. forget it.. every time you move from a place to another place you lose at minimum a half day of sightseeing time.. but really with kids it works out to more.. Getting to train station or airport.. then getting to hotel .. checking in etc.

Also. .what time of year are you planning this trip..

neckervd Oct 9th, 2016 01:59 AM

Spain has more than 30 airports with direct flights to either Paris or airports in Switzerland or along the Swiss border (or both).
So, tell us where you really want to go.

RonZ Oct 9th, 2016 06:33 AM

Paris and Spain, you go to skyscanner.com. and search direct flights ES [Spain] to Toronto. The one result is Madrid on Air Canada. Then Toronto to Paris for Air Canada re an open jaw flight. Madrid I would do a day trip, maybe Toledo or Avila. If you had more time, you could fly to Madrid, head somewhere else immediately, do Madrid last. But you don't. There are no direct flights from Switzerland to Toronto on skyscanner.

RonZ Oct 9th, 2016 09:12 AM

Did further checking and skyscanner is wrong.

RonZ Oct 9th, 2016 09:14 AM

On Air Canada you could fly open jaw, into Paris and non stop out of Zurich. The train to Zurich takes about 4 hours.

shakilhyd Oct 9th, 2016 01:58 PM

Hi, I am planning to visit from June 2-16, 2017. Can I plan to go from Toronto -> Paris from Non stop night flight then stay 4-5 days (Which city should I visit and how I can manage day to day tour. Is there any day to day tour bus or another arrangement will be better to see many and good sighting things in 4-5 days) then go to Switzerland by train for 4-5 days (Which city should I visit and how I can manage day to day tour. Is there any day to day tour bus or another arrangement will be better to see many and good sighting things in 4-5 days). Should I use hotel near to downtown area? Then I will return from Switzerland --> Toronto from Non Stop flight. Please help and advise. Thanks,

michelhuebeli Oct 9th, 2016 09:07 PM

Switzerland is chockfull of attractive places, some more overrun, others less so. Get a few DVDs and guidebooks from your local library, a good map, and start doing your homework.
www.myswitzerland.com is a good starting point.
www.sbb.ch is the train website.
Airports for flights from Paris (all three airports if you count the outlying Beauvais) are Basel (BSL) Geneva GVA and Zürich (ZRH)

StCirq Oct 10th, 2016 02:16 AM

You need to plan at least the outline of this trip on your own. There are thousands of resources out there. Start with guidebooks. Check out the official websites of all the places you wish to visit. Study maps. Study train routes. Every guidebook and official website will explain in detail how to get around and what tours are available. If you do enough research you may not even need tours.


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