What to Cut
 

These are the places I want to visit...but I don't have enough time! What would you cut? Manchester is a non-negotiable at the end of the trip.

Crete
Athens
Rome/Vatican City, Florence, Milan
Paris, Normandy
Cardiff
Dublin
London
Manchester

How much time do you have?

How were you planning on getting from one place to the next?

Time is kind of up in the air, but was thinking 2-3 weeks. I have not even looked into travel yet.

Forget 2-3 weeks or cut one hell of a lot. I'd cut Greece out entirely.

Have you been to any of these places in the past?

I've been to London, but nobody else in my family has. I know I have a lot to cut, I just can't decide what! It's painful.

Without more information, I'd cut out Greece and France, but that's just me.

I am pretty sure Greece is out. I think Ireland will be as well.

How feasible is it to rent a car and drive your way up?

It's hard to say without knowing the time limits and what is most special to you. I would have knocked off Greece or Ireland, also, but just because they are the end points and don't really fit easily.

I suggest that you determine how much time you have, then decide what to keep. Since Manchester must stay, I think...

2 weeks:

Paris/Normandy
London/Manchester


3 weeks:

Add Rome at the beginning.

Agree with MmePerdu. Absurd question to ask without knowing how many full days in Europe

Greece and Ireland and Wales. What are you thinking.
the rest "can" be done, but.....
Oh, and Milan. Not much there there.

>>How feasible is it to rent a car and drive your way up?<<

You've listed a bunch of cities (and I know you realize it is too many - what you cut is up to you depending on what you like) . . . driving makes no sense at all for any of them.

Very important:
How many in your group? Ages? Kids? Seniors? Where have they been before?

Exactly how many days on the ground in Europe?
Where are you coming from?
Exactly when will the trip be?

Major interests of people in the group?
Art, architecture, food, history, iconic sights, nature?
Do they like museums, walking, people watching, amusements, theater, etc?
Most important - travel for sightseeing or relaxing vacation together eating,
biking, swimming, boating, etc?

Does anyone in the group have one or more places on their "must see" list?

Are you responsible for all the planning or will others have imput?

With so many choices, and the need to cut down, way, way down, the more detailed and specific you can be, the more help and advice you can get.

Only you can decide! You might want to check some good guidebooks to identify your highest priorities and try marking up a calendar, including travel time.

There is a huge difference between 2 weeks and 3 weeks. And how will you calculate the weeks? If you do this over a holiday period 2 weeks can be 17 days. Or if you leave on a Sat and want to return on a Sun then you actually have only 12 nights on the ground.

Also the time of year makes a big difference.

As does the number and members of the party - if you have more than 4 people or little kids or seniors you will have to travel at a slower rate.

For people to give you really useful info you need to provide this info - and info on your interests/what you want to do matter a lot.

In any case you need to cut way back. If you have 12 nights on the ground I would limit yourself to 3 cities. If you have 19 nights (or 21) on the ground you can get to 5 cities (NOT countries comfortably)

And of course another question is what time of year?

so basically when, and for how long?

If July or August cut Crete and Athens.
If any time other than summer cut Cardiff

Why Cardiff of all places - relatives, historic ties?

Thanks for all of the responses. Sometimes you just need an outside voice to help organize the thoughts you're throwing around.

We will be traveling in July, my husband and two young boys. Have to be in Manchester by July 30, so all travel would be before then.

I'm interested in all the ancient Greek and Roman art, which is why Greece and Florence were on the list. However, with having to be in England at the end, I was trying to figure out a way to marry the two together.

Cardiff was just to see some of the castles. :)

If you want to see ancient Roman art and artifacts, Rome is a better option than Florence. Some of the very best Greek art/artifacts can be found in the British museum.

With 3 weeks, I would start in Rome, travel to Florence, Paris, Normandy and London before ending in Manchester.