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-   -   Uk and Europe trip (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/uk-and-europe-trip-1110608/)

simavj Jun 1st, 2016 08:20 PM

Uk and Europe trip
 
Hi All,
My first trip to Uk and Europe,planned as follows:
London-20-22
London to Paris-23rd July
Paris-23rd
Palace of versile -24th July
Rome -25th by flight from Paris
Vatican City-26Th July
Pisa/Florance -27th July
Florance to Interlaken by Train-28th
29-30-31-1Switzerland
2nd and 3rd Aug -Amsterdam
We are four Adults and on budget travel.We are Vegetarian.
Is the above itinerary good or need to amend?
Can I go to Paris by Train?
Should I keep 4 days for switzerland or visit pisa/Florance instead?
My departure is from Amsterdam so cant change.
Please Guide
Thanks
simavj

thursdaysd Jun 1st, 2016 08:39 PM

Too many places, too little time. You need to cut back. Especially if you are on a budget, moving isn't free.

Trains: see seat61.com.

Budget flights: see skyscanner.net

Get some guidebooks and figure out what you want to see instead of just ticking off towns.

janisj Jun 1st, 2016 08:39 PM

>>Is the above itinerary good<<

No -- it is not good. Not to be snarky but the fact you are vegetarians is not a problem at all. Your itinerary on the other hand is a HUGE problem.

You have 11.5 days (not counting the 3rd which I assume is the day you fly out) and want to visit five countries and at least 7 cities.

You will spend almost 5 full days of your 11.5 days on trains/in transit

2.5 days in London
half a day in Paris
most of a day at Versailles
1.5 days for Rome and the Vatican
half a day in Pisa and a few hours in Florence
4 days in Switzerland
half a day in Amsterdam

Have you already booked flights in to London and home from A'dam? If so - London, Paris and Amsterdam would fill your time nicely.

sparkchaser Jun 1st, 2016 10:25 PM

Holy crap. Are you even going to have time to see anything other than the security line at the airport?

menachem Jun 1st, 2016 10:52 PM

london: 4 nights (1st day doesn't count because of jetlag)

eurostar to Paris

Paris: 3 nights, 4 if you want to do a day trip

thalys to Amsterdam

Amsterdam: 2 nights, 3 if you want to do a day trip

and there's a little bit of wiggle room.

fly home.

the whole italy/switzerland excursion is impossible. you haven't enough time.

StCirq Jun 1st, 2016 11:50 PM

It looks as though you have modeled this "itinerary" based on those fly-by-night bus tours sold by travel agents all over Asia. But you're not going to be on a bus with someone else handling all the logistics.

Scrap this, read some guidebooks, study maps, and come up with something sensible and affordable (the trip you've planned will cost a LOT, as you are constantly moving and paying for transportation). menachem has you off to a good start.

bilboburgler Jun 2nd, 2016 12:24 AM

It does depend on how much you are vegetarian. So any problem with root vegtables, milk, butter, cheese, eggs will be an issue or if will not eat food in a kitchen that also prepares meat.

To be safe as possible use https://www.happycow.net/

For many people from the Indian sub-continent this rushed holiday seems to be the norm. For me it would be spending too much money with transport companies.

Look at London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam and maybe a special trip to Switzerland.

Whathello Jun 2nd, 2016 01:26 AM

Same.
Your itinerary is one for ticking boxes. However I do appreciate that Indians don't have much holiday.
I'd at least scrap Switzerland (that is a whole country) and put the saved days in all of your other stops.
Namaste.

simavj Jun 6th, 2016 01:22 PM

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for your guidance.
so how about this plan?
17- Malaysia to Manchester
18-19 -Manchester
20-23 London
24-27 Switzerland
28 night train to Rome
29-1st Rome
2 morning flight to Amsterdam
3rd Night Flight to Malaysia

PalenQ Jun 6th, 2016 02:04 PM

there is no overnight train from Switzerland to Italy - there used to be years ago but not now so either do a long day on a train or fly Zurich or wherever in Switzerland to Rome.

for lots about trains check www.seat61.com- lots of good info about discounted tickets say in Italy and the U.K. - huge savings for really early booking (but non-changeable non-refundable I think!)- you are not nearly traveling enough on trains to even think about railpasses except a Swiss Pass - for lots of general info on trains check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

for Switzerland if you are going to more than one place look at 4-day straight Swiss Pass or Swiss Transfer Ticket if going to just one place.

nytraveler Jun 6th, 2016 05:23 PM

That is better but still very rushed. Manchester? Is that to see relatives? If not, head directly to London - the biggest city in europe and with way more to see and do than any of the others.

sparkchaser Jun 6th, 2016 10:20 PM

Maybe he just wants to see Trafford Center?

simavj Jun 8th, 2016 05:47 AM

Thanks for your help.

Is it safe to travel from Rome airport FCO ,I will land at 10.30 pm .Then go to hotel after immigration n all so probably 11.30-12 .Is it safe to travel at night?

PalenQ Jun 8th, 2016 10:23 AM

Is the hotel in the airport area - and yes IME it is save - never heard of many problems.

How will you go to the hotel - train or taxi or private driver? All should be safe.

simavj Jun 9th, 2016 05:00 PM

Hello sparkchaser ,nytraveler

I am visiting Manchester for my daughter's graduation on 19th July.
The whole trip is arranged for this.

sparkchaser Jun 9th, 2016 11:05 PM

Congratulations to her.

PalenQ Jun 11th, 2016 10:10 AM

And you'll see why Manchester is not as bad as many portray it as - a vibrant clean city.

simavj Jun 13th, 2016 02:25 AM

Thank You sparkchaser.
Indeed PalenQ
So far planning ....
17‐07‐2016 Kuala Lumpur to Manchester
18‐07‐2016‐Manchester
19‐07‐2016‐Manchester
20‐07‐2016 till 24‐07‐2016‐London
24‐07‐2016‐ London LTN‐Zurich‐Flight
24‐07‐2016 till 29‐07‐2016‐Switzerland
29‐07‐2016 Zurich ZRH –Rome FCO-Train-evening
30‐07‐2016 till 02‐08‐2016‐Italy
02‐08‐2016‐Rome (Flumincio)‐Amsterdam (AMS)‐Flight
02‐08‐2016 till 03‐08‐2016‐ Amsterdam
03‐08‐2016‐Amsterdam to Malaysia

PalenQ Jun 13th, 2016 09:27 AM

Nice - but too bad you could not put one more day into Amsterdam.

simavj Jun 17th, 2016 06:40 AM

Hi PalenQ
Kindly guide me where should i cut one day and adjust in Amsterdam?
And what are the places of main interest for which I want one more day?
Thanks


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