Trip to Vienna, Italy and Greece! What would u do?
 

DEAR EXPERT EUROPE TRAVEL FODORITES -

I have booked my flight from Chicago to London Heathrow. I will be leaving on April 23rd and return back on May 12th. I have not booked the remaining flights to Europe. This is where I need your guidance.

I have a friend in Vienna so I was thinking of visiting him for 2 or 3 days, a friend in Amalfi Coast I can stay and then a friend in Greece (Mykonos island and planning to stay there from Thursday to Sunday – May 8 to 11th). I do want to go to Milan, Florence, and Rome also. How would you plan you trip within 18 days? Would you fly to Vienna and then take train to Venice, Milan, Florence, Amalfi Cost, Rome, Mykonos, and then fly out of Athens? How many days would you stay at each places? Also – recommendation if I should take train or flights from Vienna to Venice or Milan, and from Rome to Athens?

Hope I did not confuse you, because I am pulling my hair here… trying to make it one of my best vacations in 2008!

BTW – I will be traveling solo and am open to staying from hostels to affordable but nicer places.

APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERT GUIDANCE.

Grazie,

Mil

I think, you want to pack too many destinations in the 18 days.

Skip either Milan or Venice.

I would fly from Vienna to Napoli, spend some days in Amalfi, then take the train to Florence, from there to Rome and fly from Rome to Mykonos. Would be tight enough.

I am guessing by your name you are from the Milwaukee/Chicago area, as I am also in Milwaukee and going to Europe in May (but you come back on my birthday!)! LOL

I have been planning a similiar trip and I have had to change it A LOT when I started looking for flights within Europe. Being that you are 2 months away, many of the large routes may be booked.

You will find right away that everyone's comments will discourage you from packing in so many places (I speak from experience!). I would aim for 2-3 days in each place, and account for traveling times too.

My recommedations, skip Milan. It is completely out of the way and you would enjoy Venice. The train from Salzburg to Venice takes almost a complete day because remember, the area is mountainous (spelling?) which you have to weave through, and it is not as short as it looks.

I am wondering how much adding Greece will cost and would almost recommend having your friend join you somewhere in Italy (Rome or Venice perhaps). If the cost is not a factor, you could fly there from Rome or Venice for a few days and fly back. I also recommend Bologna as a "hub" in Italy, since it's in the middle and there are many flights going through there as well that many people forget about/are unaware of.

You could do train route from Rome, to Florence, to Venice, to Salzburg, to Vienna (or vice versa and then take a flight from Rome to Athens).

A few warnings: so many flights within Europe may be more expensive than you think. Also, start experimenting with various train schedules to get an idea of how long it takes between places, and you'll see how long you really have. Also review your desired routes on maps to see how doable it is, I recommend trying to have your travels in a "circle" so you aren't going back and forth between places. Keep in mind the geography of areas and match it up with train routes.

Hope this helps!
Carrie

Based on all your comments, this is my plan what do you guys think?

4/24 & 4/25: Venice
4/26 to 4/29: Florence
4/30 to 5/2: Amalfi
5/3 to 5/6: Rome
5/7: Athens
5/8 to 5/10: Mykonos
5/11: Athens

If I add 2 days to Vienna, then will have to cut a day off in Florence & Rome.

Thanks.

Eveyone has their own way of traveling, but for me personally, no way would I go to Venice for only 2 days, Florence and Rome for only 3 days each, etc.

Is visiting these three friends important, or you are just going to have a free place to stay? I'm asking to see if you should possibly skip going to see them, or skip some of the other places you've added on.

mil_chicago would you like to visit London as well? Or from London you want to fly directly to vienna?

I will think of an itinerary but right now i can tell you that from Rome or Naples you can fly to Athens with Aegean Airlines and from Milan with Aegean and Easyjet.

Also i've just checked and there is a direct flight from Mykonos on the 11th of May to London Gatwick which seems great for you!

(You want to see so many great places, i would skip Milan too!)

I am not staying in London - wish I had more time to include that as well!

I am debating whether to skip Vienna on this trip or not! It would be a hassle to go from Vienna to Venice!

I looked up flights from Heathrow to Venice - very expensive. I cannot do Gatwick, last time I tried to connect from LFR to GTW it was a nightmare because of flight times. From LHR the reasonable flight I found is to Milan.

I think it makes sense to start from North and continue South.

I know there is no easy answer, I just have to make up my mind :)

Ciao,

Mil

Ok so if i understand correctly you want to fly only from Heathrow right?
My suggestion is to fly
London-Vienna(4 days)
Vienna-Venice Treviso (3days) (with skyeurope you can find prices at 40€
Venice-Rome(4days)(by train)
Rome-Amalfi Coast(2-3days)
Napoli or Rome(with a cheaper airfare with Aegean) to Athens(2days)
Athens-Mykonos (4days)
Mykonos-London GAtwick (non stop with Easyjet)

Or since you find good airfare to Milan, skip Vienna in this trip and focus on Italy and Greece. Just don't spend too much time in Milan and spend more days in Florence and Rome!

IMHO, I have to concur with Christine's suggestion!

Thanks Christine for the detailed plan. I will be skipping Vienna and fly to Milan and might stay overnight and then head to Venice. and contine with the journey as you suggested.

Should I book hotels now or would it be ok to just show up? Isnt April to May low season? Any suggestions on reasonable hotels or hostels?

Ciao and Grazie,

Mil

Book your hotels NOW-there is no low season anymore in April and May as you will get the late spring breakers and then the seniors really travel April-May before the school season lets out. Italy especially is getting very popular all year long so don't procrastinate!

Yes i agree that you should definitely book your hotels for Italy as early as you can!! I think that for Florence and Venice April & May is high season!

I just finished booking hotels for my May trip to Italy and they were going FAST so book now! I used www.booking.com since I like the detailed information on each hotel, and compared to other sites I was using, I found the best rates on this site. You may luck out and find some great deals if the hotel has 1 or 2 rooms left, but you need to book now because it will fill up!