Hello,

I have been going through the posts and am a little confused as to what I should do.

I am going to Europe in October. I will be spending two weeks in France - one week in Provence (I wont be hiring a car - I planned to base myself in one or two places, then have to check out other towns on day trips using general transport), one week in Paris (with a couple of day trips planned) and one week in Italy (doing Venice, Bolonga and Rome).

Do I get a Eurail Pass, or would I be better off purchasing train tickets as I go? Or does my entire plan sound rather impractical?!

This is my first time to Europe and I have no idea as to what I should do ...

It sounds like you are flying from Paris to Venice. Or were you thinking of a long train trip?

Trying to "do" Venice, Bologna and Rome in a week is tough. What do you want to get out of Italy? Will you be satified with so little time in each place?

No, I had been thinking I would catch a train from Paris to Venice - is this not such a good idea? Originally I had thought I would spend half the week in Venice, then the remainder in Rome, however I was told that Venice actually isn't that good, and that if I am determined to see it, one day would be more than enough, so I had planned for a day in Venice, two days in Bolonga and three in Rome - but I am very open to comments and suggestions!

The notion that Venice isn't "that good" will bring a howl of protests from Venice lovers. Many people do not have a good experience of Venice, maybe especially those who spend the least amount of time there. So the solution is to add more time, not spend less.

However, if you really have not been dreaming all your life of going to Venice, and don't have a list of particular treasures to see there, or could care less about seeing those canals filled with tourists (seriously!), then skip Venice entirely until you do develop a real interest (if ever).

Geographically, it would make more sense if you started your trip in Paris and then took a train to Provence. From the South of France, you would have a shorter train trip to Italy.

If you really have no particular agenda for Italy, you might consider taking a train down the Italian coast to Pisa, maybe stopping for a night in a pretty coastal towns, then visiting Firenze and the medieval walled city of Siena before taking a train to Milan to fly back to the US.

Or you could skip Firenze and travel from Pisa to Rome.

Or you might stick to northern Italy and consider the town of Torino, then Milan, then an Italian lake. (Fly home from Milan).

Don't skip your heart's desire if you have one (like seeing the Vatican or the Colisseum). But if you just want to dip into Italy, there's nothing wrong with that and you don't have to go to famous sites.

If you've picked Bologna for a reason, don't give it up! You could begin your Italian trip in Milan, visit Bologna and include a day trip to Ravenna, then back to Milan -- maybe via Verona or a lake.

Are you flying into Paris and out of Rome? I suggest you check the budget airlines and see which cities you plan to visit have the best connections.
www.whichbudget.com

France has definitely been my dream, however I had thought that I would really like to see Venice - which was originally my plan, until the piece of advice stating I should give Venice less than a day. The reason I hadn't given it up entirely is because despite all she said, I couldn't get the beautiful images from TV, movies and magazines from my mind! What I particularly want to see in Italy are the old tapestries, the art and the architecture. As well as the roads that are built on the side of mountains held up by what look like arches made of bricks - I'm not sure if I've described it very well - and I wouldn't know where to go to see these things - can you recommend places at all?

I realise going to Provence second would be best, however I'm meeting a friend in Paris in my second week, thus the odd plans.

I am flying into Paris and out of Rome (Rome to Morocco) and will check out that site now.

So its sounding like Eurail isn't the way to go?

I appreciate the help - and if you have any suggestions on my trip or plans, I would love to hear more!

Hi B,

>I had thought I would spend half the week in Venice, then the remainder in Rome, however I was told that Venice actually isn't that good, and that if I am determined to see it, one day would be more than enough, ....<

You have been egregiously misinformed. Your original plan was very good.

Look for open-jaw airfares into Paris and out of Rome.

www.myair.com flies from Paris Orly to Venice VCE at low rates.

Train schedules, prices and tickets in France are at www.voyages-sncf.com. In Italy at www.trenitalia.com.

Bfore buying any railpass, enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "Only if it saves money".

Have a lovely visit, especially Venice.

You would not need a Eurail pass but the France and Italy railpass could well save you money - especially if you go from Paris to Venice and then to Rome, but perhaps not - to check current France and Italy pass prices go to: www.budgeteuropetravel.com or ricksteves.com and check www.railsaver.com as Ira suggests. Remember with railpass you still have to pay supplements to ride the fastest trains in Italy.

there are overnight Artesia Night Trains between Paris and Venice so you can save time and hotel costs.