I am in the early stages of planning my first out of U.S. trip and am seeking advice from some of you savvy travel vetrans. I am planning a budget to moderate priced European trip that will last 18 days at the first of May 2007. I am a 23 year old and am taking the trip with my significant other who is the same age. We have some ideas of places we want to visit but are feeling a bit overwhelmed. If anyone has any suggestions, tips or ideas for some first time European travelers your help will be greatly appreciated. We want to incorporate the A list tourist attractions and some off the beaten path places as well. We will be flying into Paris to start our vacation so any tips about Paris will be very helpful. Thanks!

Give us some information about what you like to do/interests (beach, museum, mountains, hiking, culture, food), the pace you like (busy or relaxed) etc.

Well you already know, you can't do it all so what countries or cities are you really keen on seeing? Do you like to just go go go all the time or do you want to spend a bit more time in each city and having more time to savor what you are seeing?

Paris goes nicely with Amsterdam or Venice, in my experience.

Do you have any particularly places that interest either of you? From a movie you've seen or book you've read? Are you attracted more to French-speaking, German-speaking, Spanish-speaking places? Any ideas?

"Most" first timer try to include some combination of London, Paris, Rome (or Venice). You can take the cunnel train between Paris and London and you can usually get a cheap flight on one of the low-cost European airlines from either Paris or London to Rome.

Amsterdam, Munich and Barcelona are also favorites, especially for young people. With 18 days (does that include flying time) to work with I would plan about 3-4 days each for London and Paris add travel time and see what else interests you and you S.O.

Planning is the fun part of the trip. Dream a little and have fun.

I totally agree with aisleseat and would suggest London, Paris, Rome - that would give you some lovely time in each and it certainly gives you a broad taste of Europe.

Get your destinations sorted and let us know and we can give you some more tips on the sites you have selected.

I would agree with the advice to do London-Paris-Rome. You will hit the three cities people regard as top priority. With 18 days, that gives you 5-6 days in each to get a "taste".

An alternative would just be to do London & Paris.

Use the cities as a base to go to the museums, theater (esp. in London) and take day trips.

What you don't want is to run around from train station to train station trying to see it all. You can't. Even those of us who have been to Europe many times have lists of places we have not seen and would like to visit.

London-Amsterdam-Paris
London-Paris-Venice

Thanks...London, Paris, Venice are all places that we have thrown around. I am very interested in historical locations and I like to see get out and enjoy nature. I want to explore cities but also more country settings. I don't want to just breeze through locations and spend all of my time at train stations, I really want to experience the places that I visit, so I think that narrowing it down is best. So now that the locations have been narrowed down any tips?? Also, would it be too much to try to include a visit to Spain in the same trip?

Hi M,

>Also, would it be too much to try to include a visit to Spain in the same trip?<

I suggest that you reread what you just posted.

You are only in your twenties, you have decades in which to visit Europe.

Focus on flying into London, Eurostar to Paris, www.myair.com from Paris ORY to Venice VCE, fly home from Venice.

I suggest 6 nights London, 7 nights Paris, 4 nights Venice.

See www.kayak.com for airfare

www.eurostar.com for train tickets (a one-day RT ticket might be the cheapest)

Enjoy your visit.