abbynicole27

Wondering how many stops are realistic: This is our tentative itinerary for 2 weeks next June - fly into Paris, stay with friends for couple of days; then, fly to Milan on Ryan Air, use our point to point ticket (from Milan to Vienna) - stop at Verona, spend night there; take train to Venice next day, come back and spend night in Verona; get back on point-to-point, maybe stop in Innsbruck for a day, then spend a few days in Vienna; take train to Salzburg, spend a few days there, then fly back to Paris via London.
Is it too much? Any advice?

bobthenavigator

Do you live in Paris? Why are you stopping there at the end? With 13 nites in Europe I would plan 4 destinations. I would fly directly from Paris to Venice on Volareweb, then train to Vienna, and end in Salzburg before flying home. Plan at least 3 nites in each. Your route is backtracking and makes no sense.

abbynicole27

I'm spending a month in Paris after my travelling, working with a missions team who I will be flying home to canada with.

suze

Paris
Milan
Vienna
Verona
Venice
Verona
Innsbruck
Vienna
Salzburg
London
Paris

That's 11 stops in 14 days if I understand your itinerary? With two weeks I would not do more than three cities myself. For instance, Venice, Vienna, Salzburg (4 days each). Delete Milan, Verona, Innsbruck, London and alot of extra travel time, expense and backtracking.

abbynicole27

actually its Paris, Milan, Verona, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Salzburg and back to Paris, and we are really only 'touristing' in Paris, Venice, Vienna, and Salzburg (maybe Innsbruck).
We just thought it would be cheaper to stay in Verona, and take a day to explore Venice.

suze

Hmmm... If you are adding Verona only as a base to day-trip to and from Venice, I don't see how that would save money. Why not just go to Venice but find a less expensive place to stay? Milan to Venice is a very straight-forward 3 to 3-1/2 hour train ride. Couldn't be easier.

RufusTFirefly

Venice is one of the worst cities in Europe for a daytrip. Especially in the high season. The geographic layout funnels the hordes of daytrippers into a relatively small part of the city. It can be quite unpleasant. Either stay a few days, or wait for another trip when you can do so.

MWM1

I would recommend staying in Venice instead of Verona then taking the night train to Vienna - saves on a hotel room and you need to get there somehow. The surcharge for a sleeper or couchette would much less expensive than another night in a hotel.

suze

Great comments above (not meaning myself-haha). I just don't see Venice as a day trip city. It's not Disneyland. I would either allow a couple days, or skip it. Overnight train Venice to Vienna is a wonderful idea, or at least I have always enjoyed that mode of tranportation especially if you can afford a private sleeper cabin.

These suggestions are making a much smoother trip than the itinerary described in the first post. Hopefully Abby will agree.

abbynicole27

Those are some good suggestions - thanks guys. I was told that the train ride through the alps is awesome - would going overnight be a mistake? I'm from Western Canada, so I've seen lots of mountains. Is the trip through the Alps spectacular enough to consider a day train, or is overnight my best option?

Melissajoy

I agree that a day-trip to Venice isn't the best way to see Venice. Venice is worth a 3-night stay, and I like staying in the dorsoduro area, which is near to the busier San Marco area and yet quieter.

bobthenavigator

Fly to Venice--do not waste the time. The volareweb cost is less than the overnite ticket by train.

suze

Which part is a train ride through the Alps?

MWM1

Abby-
the Alps are spectacular and being a midwest girl it was wonderful to see them but with you being from W. Canada, I don't think you'll miss much. Besides, the overnight train is a fun and unique experience in its own right. Couchettes are the least expensive options - 6 to a car/ 3 on each side like bunk beds, however you may be sharing with others if you do not use all 6 beds.