mark_f3rd1nand

Hi guys.

I got my pre-approved vacation from work: 09/08/13 to 09/21/13 (maybe streched it from 09/05 to 09/24/13) i just bunched up my days to work straight days before and after this vacation. I was planning on going to Florida for 6 days trip to Disneyworld, but a friend of mine says "Why limit yourself to US trip, you can do that anytime, if you have that week, go somewhere far like somewhere in Europe?" I asked myself, why not? I decided with the dates I have I could hit up, London, Paris, and Venice. I've been looking for "open jaw" tickets and the cheapest price i saw was about $1400. Is this good? Is this too expensive? Also, what document do I need to travel? I am from Hawaii btw.

I will be traveling alone and staying to hotels in those cities. Any ideas? Tips? Advice?

Tulips

Hi Mark, you will just need a US passport (I assume you are American?)

If you come up with a rough plan; what are your interests, what's your budget, then people on this forum can help you with hotel recommendations. 3 cities in 2 weeks is totally feasible.

Kate

Your plan sounds great fun although I think your question is still a bit broad for people to give advice. Perhaps get some guidebooks for these places and come back with some specific questions about each place.

I can't comment on the price of the flight, but as far as what documents you need, just a passport (as long as you are a US citizen). Citizens of certain countries require a visa to visit these countries, but not US citizens.

Ackislander

Get the passport.
The price is good-excellent for that time of year, possibly fantastic from Hawaii.

You are going to lose the best part of a day every time you change cities, so each change costs you time away from the cities themselves. If your price quote does not include the intercity flights, I would take Eurostar train from London to Paris. It leaves the center of one city and lands in the center of the other.

I personally would cut back to two cities, doesn't matter too much which ones because they are all three fantastic. Well, maybe skip Venice until you can go in October or May, since it will be hot and packed with people -- not at its best.

One of the great things about spending a week each in London and Paris is that you will feel like you really know the cities, especially if you are reasonably laid back and allow yourself time to hang out instead of just running from one place to another. You could go back to each fifty times, but being there for a period of time is a great wy to make it your city, so you will always have a bar and a restaurant and a park that you want to go back to.

One great way to know each city is to take a bus from place to place rather than the subway, or when you get tired, just get on a bus and ride it to the end of the line or some bus hub. You can do this if you get a transportation pass, and there are lots of posts on here about how to do this.

mark_f3rd1nand

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, I am not US citizen, although I am a legal resident of United States.

As far as interests, i like art, history, food, and great time. I was thinking fly in to London, stay may for 3 nights and explore London. Take the latest train to Paris then check in and get some shut eye, then explore Paris for maybe 4 nights? Then head to Venice, stay for 3-4 nights, fly out from Venice.

And of course budget, well my parents works at the hotel and I can get some discounts also I have and executive discounts through my work. Would this be possible?

Ackislander

Do you need a visa to enter any of these countries with a non-
US passport? The UK can be sticky with people from India and Pakistan.

Your pace would be too fast for me, but sure, you could do it, though depending on the train you take, you may well get to Paris with plenty of time to go out in the evening. A night cruise with Vedettes de Pont Neuf would be a great thing to do, followed by a walk around Notre Dame (lighted at night) and through the Ile de la Cite or Latin Quarter. Stop for a drink.

Four nights in Venice would be out of proportion in my estimation unless, given your interest, you took a day trip to Vicenza (Palladian architecture) and Padova (Giotto paintings in Scrovegni Chapel, Basilica). There are lots of other places with great art but these are on the same railway line so you could do them both in the same day.

Mimar

Easyjet flies from Paris Orly to Venice for only about $60.

Yes, you can do this. However, with such a long flight, you will arrive jet-lagged and sleepy. Allow an extra day or so at your first stop.

mark_f3rd1nand

Thanks guys. I believe I will need a Visa coming in to the UK. but i was wondering do i need Visa going to Paris and Italy if i take the train to go from one country to the next?

@Ackislander: thank a lot for your input. I know i am worried that i will rush things, so i may have to reconsider my itinerary. I love to eat and just stroll around town and sight see. I still having second thought about Venice, should i do Venice or Rome?

@Mimar: thank you. As i was browsing for flights, i see there were 2 stops and additional 2 days to travel alone. Geeebus! You are right, i may be too tired to start my day with a banging headache! :]

jent103

Venice and Rome are totally different, so it depends on what most interests you and what sort of trip you want. Rome is tons to see and will probably feel similar in pace to your London and Paris sections. Venice, to me, is more relaxing (once you get out of Piazza San Marco, which is extremely crowded); there are of course things to see, but the best part is wandering around and experiencing a totally different vibe. After two big cities, I'd be tempted to do Venice, but either works as a flight from Paris.

You should talk to the consulate of wherever your passport would be from to see what documents you need to go where.

mark_f3rd1nand

Thanks @jent103. I bought a gently used Venice travel guide and it does seemed more relax compare to both. God knows I need to relax I would like to see the Colesseum [sp?] and cathedrals but it feels like 3 days wouldn't be enough.. do you think flight to rome is better than train? I mean I know it would be faster but I wonder if train would be feasible? I am extremely excited. It would be my 3rd time traveling alone but first time out of the US..


Thanks again guys! All you awesome people. God bless. Smiles

jent103

Do you mean the train from Paris to Rome? It's feasible, but a very long trip. If you'd only have three days anyway, I'd save the time and fly. (If you mean the train from Venice to Rome, that's about a three-hour journey - I'd definitely take the train there.)

mark_f3rd1nand

Cool. Thanks a lot

carolyn

I would add at least a day to London. You will be so jetlagged your first day that you won't enjoy doing much except maybe walking around to get your bearings and having an early dinner.

mark_f3rd1nand

@carolyn thanks. I know right? I am from hawaii so I have almost 2 stop overs. if I leave here on the 8th, I'll arrive to london on the 10th. So its basically 2 days worth of travelling. Ohh boy. I may have to increase maybe 2 days before to have rest and pacemaker.

raincitygirl

mark, where are your stop-overs? It might be worth your while to see if those airports have a place to take a shower and have a nap. (for a fee). Then you won't be quite so wiped out when you hit London.

I suggest this because in Sept. I did a trip to Italy with a friend who had to come from Maui, she had the same loonnngg trip as you so her first stop was New York and she had such a long lay-over there she had enough time to cab it over to a nearby motel and have a shower and a rest.
Then in Frankfurt she had quite a long wait as well and was able to nap and freshen up, she hit the ground running as she only had 8 days vacation. She had a little jet lag the first day or so but really was pretty good considering.

Just a thought.

PeaceOut

Definitely do not do 6 days at Disneyworld, if you are an adult.

What if you visit London and Paris, with day-trips from each?
Both are wonderful cities and make a good contrast.
Or London-Paris-Nice? Lots of daytrips to do.

Then do Italy another time?

kelbo

I just did this exact itinerary with my neice last summer and had a fabulous time. We started out in Paris for 6 nights, then took Easyjet to Venice and stayed 4 nights and then Easyjet again to London where we spent our last 3 nights and then flew home. I think all of these cities are different and unique and you would enjoy them all. I really think Paris warrants more time than Venice and London...just my opinion. Plus you get the extra day or two to recover from jetlag which was horrible for me coming from the West Coast.

mark_f3rd1nand

@raincitygirl it would have to be LAX/SFO - JFK - Heathrow. I think stopover from SFO to JFk is like 6 hours. and JFK to heathrow is like 2-5 hours. I definitely know what you mean. Its going to be crazy. i have dipenhydramine ready for some shut eye! hehe

@peaceout i am thinking that too. maybe just do 2 cities for now and continue with Italy next. That is not a bad idea. hey, thanks.

i am working on my documentations before i even finalized my itinerary. I have to apply for Visa to the UK and maybe all three countries. But i am calling immigration services to see what else i need.

mark_f3rd1nand

@Kelbo Nice. Nice to know. I am going to try to start at London and and work my way down to italy. Thanks so much. As far as documentation, did u need anything else, i'm guessing you are american citizen? sorry i am so worried that this trip is not gonna go through because of these documents.

flanneruk

"I believe I will need a Visa coming in to the UK. but i was wondering do i need Visa going to Paris and Italy if i take the train to go from one country to the next? "

It's virtually certain that if you need a visa to enter Britain, you'll need a SEPARATE visa to enter the Schengen group of countries (which include Italy, France and Switzerland).

Self-evidently, it's utterly irrelevant whether you travel to these countries by train, plane or on the back of a donkey. You need one visa from the British, and a separate visa from the French or Italians.

You don't need to telephone "immigration services", whatever that is, to determine what you need.
For France, go to http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/fra...etting-a-visa/ In virtually all cases, a tourist visa for France allows you to travel to Italy and Switzerland.
For the UK http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

You MIGHT need to go to an embassy or consulate for these visas, but start by checking your status.