Will you critique my 36 day itinerary?
Jun 2nd, 2016, 04:31 PM
#1
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Will you critique my 36 day itinerary?
I've never been to Europe or planned a trip by myself but we are planning a 36 day trip for our honeymoon and I would love to hear your feedback on this itinerary! Too ambitious? Too much or too little time in each place? We are flying in and out of Paris.
We would love suggestions on things to add or remove! In Switzerland and Germany we were going to do a lot of hiking.
July 20-21 (Paris - > Barcelona) We'll spend the day there and then take the overnight train at 9pm.
July 21-26 (Barcelona) Arrive at 11am.
July 26: Barcelona -> Montpelier
July 26 – August 3 (Southern France Road Trip, we are renting a one-way car)
August 3 – August 8 (Switzerland: Bern, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Interlaken)
August 8 – August 15 (Freiburg, Black Forest Area)
August 15 – August 21 (London - either by train or by plane I guess?)
August 21 – August 26 (Paris, Fly Out on the 26th)
We would love suggestions on things to add or remove! In Switzerland and Germany we were going to do a lot of hiking.
July 20-21 (Paris - > Barcelona) We'll spend the day there and then take the overnight train at 9pm.
July 21-26 (Barcelona) Arrive at 11am.
July 26: Barcelona -> Montpelier
July 26 – August 3 (Southern France Road Trip, we are renting a one-way car)
August 3 – August 8 (Switzerland: Bern, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Interlaken)
August 8 – August 15 (Freiburg, Black Forest Area)
August 15 – August 21 (London - either by train or by plane I guess?)
August 21 – August 26 (Paris, Fly Out on the 26th)
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:03 PM
#2
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Southern France is huge. We've spent 60 weeks vacationing there & we're going back for 5 more this year. You might give us some ideas about where you plan to go - especially in late July & Aug when it will seem like "everyone else" is there too.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:04 PM
#3
Just a quick note for now . . . the Warrior game is just staring 
>>July 20-21 (Paris - > Barcelona) We'll spend the day there and then take the overnight train at 9pm.<<
I wouldn't. You might have a sleepless night on the flight over -- and you are following it w/ a night train that also might be sleepless. I'd fly to Barcelona instead (Or take a daytime train so at least you'll be sleeping in a hotel)
>>July 20-21 (Paris - > Barcelona) We'll spend the day there and then take the overnight train at 9pm.<<
I wouldn't. You might have a sleepless night on the flight over -- and you are following it w/ a night train that also might be sleepless. I'd fly to Barcelona instead (Or take a daytime train so at least you'll be sleeping in a hotel)
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:20 PM
#6
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Whatever itinerary you decide on definitely go with open jaws flights (multi-destination on web sites) into the first city and out of the last. It will save you a lot of time and not cost any more.
As for your overall itinerary there are some things I don;t understand - why so long in the black forest and so little time in Switz. I have nothing against the BF - but I would give it 3 days and return the rest to Switz - and focus on mountains and not cities.
And for southern France I would pick 2 places - one provence and one cote d'azure and if you want do a couple of day trips. You cannot see the whole area unless your hinies never leave the seats of the car.
As for your overall itinerary there are some things I don;t understand - why so long in the black forest and so little time in Switz. I have nothing against the BF - but I would give it 3 days and return the rest to Switz - and focus on mountains and not cities.
And for southern France I would pick 2 places - one provence and one cote d'azure and if you want do a couple of day trips. You cannot see the whole area unless your hinies never leave the seats of the car.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:23 PM
#7
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Haha enjoy the game!!
We were thinking about driving along the coast of Southern France, visiting places like Provence, Marseille and Nice not Cannes, St. Tropez or Monaco.
I'm thinking about cutting Barcelona down by a day and adding that to Southern France instead since it seems like there is a ton to do there.
We were thinking about driving along the coast of Southern France, visiting places like Provence, Marseille and Nice not Cannes, St. Tropez or Monaco.
I'm thinking about cutting Barcelona down by a day and adding that to Southern France instead since it seems like there is a ton to do there.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:29 PM
#8
The pace sounds nice, but for your own planning you might want to highlight the transit days and include how much time you'll spend moving from place to place. The way you've shown the dates and places, you've mentioned the transit days but also included them in the destinations on either side of the date which tends to show more time than you'd have.
I would look for a low-cost flight from Paris to Barcelona and not go into the city at the start of the trip. I'm not sure what you could do with your luggage if you went sightseeing until the evening train. Alternatively, if you could catch a train at CDG at 11:58a, you could be in Barcelona in time for dinner.
Where are you returning the car on August 3rd?
Are you renting a car for the Black Forest?
I would look for a low-cost flight to London from Frankfurt or Stuttgart or Munich, depending on where you're going in Germany.
Re London-Paris, Eurostar had a 2-for-1 summer promotion going on, but it may be over by now. You should look ASAP to see if there are any other deals that might disappear.
I would look for a low-cost flight from Paris to Barcelona and not go into the city at the start of the trip. I'm not sure what you could do with your luggage if you went sightseeing until the evening train. Alternatively, if you could catch a train at CDG at 11:58a, you could be in Barcelona in time for dinner.
Where are you returning the car on August 3rd?
Are you renting a car for the Black Forest?
I would look for a low-cost flight to London from Frankfurt or Stuttgart or Munich, depending on where you're going in Germany.
Re London-Paris, Eurostar had a 2-for-1 summer promotion going on, but it may be over by now. You should look ASAP to see if there are any other deals that might disappear.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 05:35 PM
#9
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This information is all so useful, thank you!!
**Jean
*
I think we're just going to get on the train that afternoon instead of taking the night train based on your and others advice.
We are leaving the car in Nice on August 3rd.
We weren't planning on renting a car for the Black Forest, we probably should though?
I think a flight from Frankfurt is a great idea! We know London is a little out of the way but if we had to book it back to Paris anyway we figured why not.
**NYTraveler*
I think I agree. It seems like there are a ton of things to do in Switzerland, we'll just have to be careful not to go broke with such a long stay!
**Jean
*I think we're just going to get on the train that afternoon instead of taking the night train based on your and others advice.
We are leaving the car in Nice on August 3rd.
We weren't planning on renting a car for the Black Forest, we probably should though?
I think a flight from Frankfurt is a great idea! We know London is a little out of the way but if we had to book it back to Paris anyway we figured why not.
**NYTraveler
*I think I agree. It seems like there are a ton of things to do in Switzerland, we'll just have to be careful not to go broke with such a long stay!
Jun 2nd, 2016, 06:28 PM
#11
Re Aug. 3rd, Nice to Bern by train will take 8-9 hours and obviously hours longer to reach Lauterbrunnen and/or Grindelwald. It will take another half day to train from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen to Freiburg. I know you want to see what you want to see, but if it was my trip I'd consider skipping Switzerland and adding more time to France.
I also know you're trying to maintain some budget sanity, but I'd look for a low cost flight from Barcelona to Nice. Drive the coast and perhaps turn in the car in Lyon. With more time you could visit Aix, Arles, Avignon, perhaps Carpentras or Gap. Lyon to Freiburg by train is about 5 hours.
I would want a car for southern Germany.
I also know you're trying to maintain some budget sanity, but I'd look for a low cost flight from Barcelona to Nice. Drive the coast and perhaps turn in the car in Lyon. With more time you could visit Aix, Arles, Avignon, perhaps Carpentras or Gap. Lyon to Freiburg by train is about 5 hours.
I would want a car for southern Germany.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 11:55 PM
#12
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You'll be in Barcelona during the Teatre Grec festival, great concerts and artists on stage every night throughout July in the so called Theater city at the foot of landmark Montjuic: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...l-teatre.html?
The Grec Summer festival: http://lameva.barcelona.cat/grec/en/
I could go here for the only purpose of the barcelonesa Mayte Martín's concert in the open air Teatre Grec on july 22: http://lameva.barcelona.cat/grec/en/...a/mayte-martin
Mayte Martín in concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGc98BfCoYA
Last year in Nimes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWDYK-Wlq0M
The Grec Summer festival: http://lameva.barcelona.cat/grec/en/
I could go here for the only purpose of the barcelonesa Mayte Martín's concert in the open air Teatre Grec on july 22: http://lameva.barcelona.cat/grec/en/...a/mayte-martin
Mayte Martín in concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGc98BfCoYA
Last year in Nimes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWDYK-Wlq0M
