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Who's done a one-week stay in Europe from the U.S.?

Who's done a one-week stay in Europe from the U.S.?

Old Feb 6th, 2002, 02:38 PM
  #1  
Vita
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Who's done a one-week stay in Europe from the U.S.?

For a variety of reasons, I'm considering shortening my trip in May to a one-week stay. This is partially out of necessity and partially because I thought it might be interesting to try. In one week (six full days), I'd like to stay in one city. I was considering London since that's where I was initially planning on going, but I'd like to hear the stories of people in the U.S. who have tried this, where they went and how it turned out.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 02:52 PM
  #2  
c
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Hi,Vita..the first time I ever went to Europe,we went to London for 6 days.We stayed at the St James Court on Buckingham Gate,which was a good location, the bus stopped right at the corner that took us to the Covent Garden areas, the Tube station was a block away and Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey were about 2 blocks away~The first day we got our travel cards and took off on a double decker bus, sitting upstairs, getting off and on when we wanted.This way we got to really look at London from that viewpoint, and I was so anxious to see everything at once! WE went to Harrods,Harvey Nichols and walked around the edges of Hyde Park there in the neighborhood of Kensington High St..We visited Sloan St and Kings Rd, went to a building that contains many antiques dealers, the name is I think,Antiquarius..We spent a lot of time in Covent Garden, went to Trafalgar Sq..National Gallery,Natl Portrait Gallery and St Martins in th Fields, they are all there together.We saw a movie there also,which is quite different from watching films in the US..they have bars where they serve drinks.and everybody is quiet We ate at Indian restaurants,pubs,went to the Tate,saw the Turner rooms,checked out Selfridges and around the corner,sort of behind Selfridges is the Wallace Collection, this lovely museum in a home that is never crowded and always a treat! We saw 2 plays, one concert and bought lots of souvenirs.And on the plane home(we always fly Virgin to the UK) we planned the next trip back the following fall...ph-we also went to Kew Gardens..we went in late OCtober that year..the weather was perfect.Hope this is some help~candice
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 03:06 PM
  #3  
Rex
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Webt for just eight days last May - - seemed like the right length of time for my mother-in-law and father-in-law. We even moved around - - 2 days Rome, 2 nights Assisi, 2 nights Venice, and back to Rome for a final 2 days.

A great case could also be made for Rome the entire time.

I wouldn't be surprised if more Americans go on a trip like you're decribing (1 week, 1 city only - - especially London) than you think.

Best wishes,

Rex
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 03:08 PM
  #4  
Capo
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Vita, my girlfriend & I went to Barcelona for six full days two years ago in March. (We would've stayed longer but wanted to get back to Seattle for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band; coincidentally, they had opened the earlier, European leg of their tour in Barcelona. We went on a a fantastic "FF miles + cash" promotion through Northwest so it made going for only six days worth it.)

Anyway, we sure could've used more time -- especially to see some places outside of Barcelona -- but we managed to see everything we really wanted to see in Barcelona during that relatively short time. London might be more frustrating, since there's probably far more to see there than in Barcelona, but I'm sure you'd still have a wonderful visit.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 03:12 PM
  #5  
Renee
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Hi Vita

We took a great 1 week getaway to London 2 years ago. We made good use of a hop-on/hop-off bus pass (good for 24 hours) and found the underground to be a very convenient way to explore the city, enabling us to cover a lot of ground in a short time. During our time there, we saw all the major sights in town (including a very special Changing of the Guards ceremony, attended by the Queen herself!) and still had time to linger over high tea at Harrods, and and sun ourselves on the lawns at Kensington Park one lovely afternoon. We also ventured out for a day trip to Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath. While I'm sure there was plenty more to see, we felt we used out time wisely and got a good overview of London. Can't wait for the next time...
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 03:47 PM
  #6  
Mel
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I think you do a good check of any of the major cities in a week. If you've been to none, I'd pick London so that you don't have the language barrier to deal with (unless you speak another language, of course). London's extremely easy to navigate and can certainly keep you busy for six days!
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 04:27 PM
  #7  
Bob Brown
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I stayed in London for 8 days once. Ran myself silly. Left the hotel before 7:30 every morning and did not return until after 11 PM several times.
After a go-go pace for 8 days, I still left a lot on the plate.

I guess you cannot see all, no matter what you do!!

A week, however, strikes me this way.
First, it is not enough, any way you slice it. Secondly, after I make the effort and pay the price to get to Europe, I want to get more pay off by staying longer. Even 2 weeks is not enough. After about 19 days, I am ready for home. Last year, however, after 18 days we were still going strong because we were seeing friends along the way. This made me realize that places sometimes become secondary to good friends who live in Europe.

 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 04:54 PM
  #8  
Lisa
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I've taken two long (4 and 5 day) weekend trips to Paris during the winter. My brother lived there and I wanted the kids to see him and Paris, but didn't want them to miss a lot of school. I waited for great discounts to be announced, planned for a two day school holiday, took the kids one at a time, and voila. We had wonderful trips, focusing on Paris, with a day trip out. A sleeping pill for the plane trip helps.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 05:16 PM
  #9  
Trixi
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A one week stay in one city is great. You only have to unpack once, you always know where you are going to sleep that night and you really start to know the city.

My husband and I have stayed one week in London and then went to Paris for one week. We loved it. We did a couple of day trips out to other sites. There are still many sites we would like to return to see.

Last summer it was one week in an apartment in Rome. We really enjoyed the apartment stay over the hotels in London and Paris. We then rented a car and explored the Tuscany area for a week. Definately a more adventurous week, since we had no reservations for that week.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 05:19 PM
  #10  
Sue
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I've done a week trip to French Alps and a 4 nights-in-London trip recently, and am going to Paris for 5 nites end of Feb. I'd rather have a short trip than no trip at all! I hit the ground running when we went to London, both going and returning, and feel that the slightly shorter trip, 5 hr (rather than 6 for continent) time difference made it easier than going to France, for example, for a short time. I can't leave work for several days except in summer, and when there's a good air fare in fall or spring, I want to take advantage of it!
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 05:21 PM
  #11  
Joanne
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My first trip to London was one week; my second was 3 weeks! London is a great place for either duration, because it offers so much variety of things to do and easy access on public transit. And you don't have to deal with jet lag and a foreign language at the same time, which is more important for a short stay, I guess.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 05:43 PM
  #12  
Maira
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Last April I took a last-minute week long trip to Madrid by myself and it turned out well. The key is to pick one home base with excellent transportation connections to other cities. From Madrid, you can day trip fairly easy to great destinations such as Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Aranjuez, even Seville (although I would spend more than one day!). It worked out well because you get to become familiar with the neighborhood, restaurants, the hotel staff gets familiar with you and there is more relaxation with familiarity. As a matter of fact that trip was actually the lead for my upcoming trip. I am leaving Saturday for a week in London and some days in Paris. While prior trips I used to go all over the place, I can definitely see the trend that Rex mentioned and see myself doing more weeklong trips to one home base.

Where are you going?
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 07:24 PM
  #13  
Diane
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My first trip to Paris was for 8days 7nights. We loved it. This Spring we're going to do a week in London, then another week in Paris.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 08:23 PM
  #14  
r
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Why not. We went to Paris on Christmas Eve 2001,and left on New Year's Day 2002--one week. It was glorious. My only recommendation for a short trip is to have it well planned out-- of course, with some room for spontanaity. That way you can just flow from one thing to the next without wasting time making decisions and fretting. You might even want to make some dinner reservations at choice places and purchase theatre tickets,in advance. Have a wonderful trip-- short and sweet! P.S. London sounds perfect.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 11:04 PM
  #15  
Howard
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A one week trip is not at all unusual..in fact, many people go on trip sfor shorter duration..look at at the 3 and 4 night packages there are out there. In a one week stay in any European city, I would sugest that at least one and perhaps two be spend on a day trip outside the main city. Its not that there is not enough to see in say London or Paris, but smaller places give you a different feel, and will give you a chance to see something toally new for a day. Every city has wothwhile day trip opportunities.
 

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