Where to stay in London, Amsterdam and Paris?
#21
For ages 72, 8 and 11, this sounds like an awful itinerary. You arrive at 9 a.m. and will need to store your luggage, probably at the hotel. Waste of time to have to do that. And leaving a 6 a.m.?? Crazy.
You only have 6 nights. I suggest London and Paris.
You only have 6 nights. I suggest London and Paris.
#23
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6am departures from each city>
means have to get up about 4am? I know OP asked only about logistics and not advice but this sounds simply awful at least for old and young. Take this kindly but think about doing just London and Paris. So so many neat things for kids that ages to do in those towns along with any ages. As it is they will see only fleeting images of those towns from buses - get better views at home online!
means have to get up about 4am? I know OP asked only about logistics and not advice but this sounds simply awful at least for old and young. Take this kindly but think about doing just London and Paris. So so many neat things for kids that ages to do in those towns along with any ages. As it is they will see only fleeting images of those towns from buses - get better views at home online!
#26
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Thank you everyone. Unfortunately, I should have asked for your advice before booking our trains and airlines. I'm stuck at this point and will have to make the best of our trip. Thanks again.
#27
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For clarity, we have 9 days there. We leave the US on 9/21 and arrive back to the US on 9/30.
9/21 - Leave US
9/22 & 9/23 in London
9/24 - Brussels
9/25 & 9/26 - Amsterdam (I decided to spend 2 nights here.)
9/27 & 9/28 - Paris
9/29 - London
9/30 - Arrive back in US
9/21 - Leave US
9/22 & 9/23 in London
9/24 - Brussels
9/25 & 9/26 - Amsterdam (I decided to spend 2 nights here.)
9/27 & 9/28 - Paris
9/29 - London
9/30 - Arrive back in US
#30
If none of that is changeable -- I honestly wouldn't try to fit in a lot of 'big deal' sightseeing. You have almost no time in any of the cities so trying to tick major sites off a list will leave everyone exhausted and probably frustrated. I'd just pick a couple of neighborhoods/areas and walk around soaking up the atmosphere. Maybe pick one 'must do' site in each city.
Your schedule will look something like this:
9/21 - Leave US
9/22 - 9/23 in London. 1.5 days and at least some of you will be jet lagged.
9/24 - Brussels less than half a day
9/25 - 9/26 Amsterdam. 1.5 days
9/27 - 9/28 - Paris. 1.5 days
9/29 - London. About half a day
9/30 - Arrive back in US
You will be packing/checking out/checking in/unpacking SIX different times. And spending 5 days of your 10 days in transit.
Your schedule will look something like this:
9/21 - Leave US
9/22 - 9/23 in London. 1.5 days and at least some of you will be jet lagged.
9/24 - Brussels less than half a day
9/25 - 9/26 Amsterdam. 1.5 days
9/27 - 9/28 - Paris. 1.5 days
9/29 - London. About half a day
9/30 - Arrive back in US
You will be packing/checking out/checking in/unpacking SIX different times. And spending 5 days of your 10 days in transit.
#31
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Hi Ravella, I was just in Amsterdam, been there several times, here are a few suggestions. Amsterdam has trams that go all over town, get a two day tram card from most hotels, and you can get off and on with this card. You can check cost on Internet, not bad. A nice hotel in Amsterdam is the Delphi Hotel on Apollinaire check spelling) about 5 minutes from Rijks and Van Gogh museums, and tram stop is 1/2 blk from hotel. This is a quiet and nicer neighborhood. Hotel has a nice breakfast, under $200. travel light. You are spread very thin in each place, so if you can cut out Brussels you won't regret it, especially with children and older mom. Your schedule seems to be much too tight, and fatigue can create cranky children and misery. travel often takes longer than one would think. In 9 days I would do 2 or 3 maximum cities to be able to enjoy them. Sue travel very light
#33
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With no more than half a day in Brussels I would focus on the area in and around Grand' Place (main focus), Galeries St Hubert (you can just walk through, no major sightseeing), Manneken Pis (underwhelmingly small but there is a costume museum for him there as well), maybe a waffle in Maison Dandoy on Rue Charles Buls or from a street vendor, or some window shopping in Rue Neuve. Do try to fit in a nice meal and a Belgian beer in Brussels in the evening, as Belgian food is pretty good. If you post where you are staying you might get a food or restaurant recommendation or at least a restaurant district close by. It needn't be a long night and indeed you probably have to maximise your night rest. If you are staying near Midi don't fret:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...eat-drink-stay
Yes, it will be a whizz through, but if you miss out on any of those sights except for the Grand' Place, don't worry. I agree that you just need to soak up the atmosphere rather than tick boxes, and so if you are frazzled, take time out to enjoy a café and people-watch.
Lavandula
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...eat-drink-stay
Yes, it will be a whizz through, but if you miss out on any of those sights except for the Grand' Place, don't worry. I agree that you just need to soak up the atmosphere rather than tick boxes, and so if you are frazzled, take time out to enjoy a café and people-watch.
Lavandula
#35
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sue81 is it so hard to spell it Apollolaan? Your hotel can't be found otherwise.
also, I'd skip Amsterdam and throw in 3 nights in Brussels. And get to know the city a little better. Brussels much nicer than Amsterdam too, tourist-crowd wise.
also, I'd skip Amsterdam and throw in 3 nights in Brussels. And get to know the city a little better. Brussels much nicer than Amsterdam too, tourist-crowd wise.
#36
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OR:
take the stenaline nightboat from harwich to hook of holland, and kick back. You'll have a night on board, in relative calm, and will arrive early morning in Hook: this gets you to Amsterdam by mid-morning. You can leave London at end of day. In that case: skip Brussels. Otherwise, it's madness to take the train to Amsterdam and backtrack through Brussels.
take the stenaline nightboat from harwich to hook of holland, and kick back. You'll have a night on board, in relative calm, and will arrive early morning in Hook: this gets you to Amsterdam by mid-morning. You can leave London at end of day. In that case: skip Brussels. Otherwise, it's madness to take the train to Amsterdam and backtrack through Brussels.