I'm thinking ahead for 2010...two weeks...Paris, Venice, Florence & Cinque Terre. My first thoughts are October 2010 but with it only being June 2009 it feels like so long to wait!

What month would YOU take this trip?

Thanks in advance!

Well, I would definately avoid the summer crowds during June, July, and August. The best time is usually Sept. or October, but if you don't want to wait that long, maybe April or May.

I went twice in October and once in March... both times it was a bit rainy, but I still had a wonderful time. My preference for my 4th trip there would be anywhere between mid-September to November 15th.

well, I would go to Paris any month of the year. But for Venice and Florence you might want to avoid summer because of the heat (hot).

I also think the Italy segment is really the key thing in determining this trip. I'd go to Paris almost any month, in theory, but other things affect my scheduling. I would not choose as the top of my list November, Jan, Feb, March or August. I guess May through July and Sept-Oct would be my best choices for Paris, but I wouldn't choose July for Italy. I've been in Paris June through August and actually like it in summer up until August, and then it gets rather dull for me. It's not the summer crowds or heat particularly, though.

September would be the perfect time but Paris in May can be nice and the crowds don't start until usually after the 1st week in June. If I were going to Paris in 2010, it would be in the second half of May and then I would plan to be in Italy for the last part of May to first week in June. You may encounter a bit of rain. That would certainly not be uncommon but it will be green and pretty. We rented a farmhouse in Umbria last summer at the end of August after we had to cancel our original May plans and we just about had the hill towns to ourselves since the Italians had all gone to the seaside for August. It was hot but not hot enough to prevent us from having a great time.
Paris and northern Italy are not unlike our East Coast in that you can get just about anything weather-wise. Bring layers and an umbrella so you're prepared for whatever you get.
Europe in winter is anything but balmy! (I lived there for 4 years).

April. Happy Travels!

I defintely vote Sept. We always do most of our travel in Sept and usually have lovely weather in Paris and Italy.

Any month will do for me! I've been on Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, March, April - a wonderful time each time! Next time, I would like to go in May when all the flowers are in bloom! You know..."I love Paris in the springtime..."!

Don't worry about it being so long to wait - planning is almost as much fun as going - and once you go, it's over!

I love Paris in May, June, September, but would definitely plan for the best weather, lesser crowds, in Italy.

Hi LT,

>two weeks...Paris, Venice, Florence & Cinque Terre.<

I think that your visit would be enhanced if you substituted Rome for Paris and visited Paris and France another time.

May to mid-June and Sept to mid-Oct are, IMO, the best times of year.

Well, I've been May, June, July and October. June or October I would say. Pleasant weather. Less crowds. May.... a bit cool. AND it's not the far away. It will be here before you know it!