flygirl

With only 19 days, you could probably go back to your original plan of just London, Paris, Rome. Or if Paris leaves you indifferent, now, split your time London/Rome/Amalfi Coast region. 6 days each and allow a day travel time b/w London and Rome.

Gretchen

the energy of a big city is exciting for a day or a few

Ah, see, there's the rub--and you haven't BEEN to Paris to pin that on it!! LOL It's what I love about Paris--a "big city" that doesn't seem big--doesn't have the drive/vibe/hustle of NY, Rome, or even London. Has the ambience of a nice stroll. Different parts have different charm.

Try it, you might like it.

Tabernash2

Moving around that much gets expensive, time-consuming and exhausting. I prefer to stay a minimum of 3 nights in a place.

I'd do London-Paris-Rome-Cinque Terre/Florence/Venice, and take day-trips from the cities, if you must.

You have 17 days? It makes more sense to count the nights, because you'll buy hotels based on that number.

It's interesting to read different comments on places. For instance, I visited Rome the first time in early May, and I loved it. I was concerned about Rome, because I'd read that it's frantic, but that was not my experience. Maybe because it was May 5 and the tourists hadn't arrived yet. And it wasn't hot.

justineparis

chicken piri piri.. tikki masala chicken.. daal, and samosas.. I like some spice and heat.. but its all "basic" no chicken toenails.. just meats cooked in various spices,, and samoas are just basically meat or veggies in a pizza pocket.. lol ( over simplfying but you get what I mean I hope)

lelee092

Everybody seems to be shoving Paris down your throat...Its YOUR trip. You've gotten plenty of opinion on Paris. Take it all in, do your research and come back to us. If you end up not wanting to go to Paris feel free to let us know and some people will just have to deal with it.
I personally like the idea of going to England, flying to Naples and leaving from Rome as someone had mentioned before.

toupary6

I haven't read all the responses, but this was my experience.

A number of years ago, my daughter suggested we spend New Year's Eve in Paris. I agreed, but I wasn't excited. I had been there many years before, as a child. I would have preferred Venice -- or anywhere I hadn't been before.

We went. On the second day, I was out by myself. I stopped in a street (I have no idea where I was), looked up and said, "My God, I'm home. This is where I'm supposed to be." I spent the afternoon in a café, eating lunch and planning my next trip.

We stayed eight days. I returned home, signed up for French classes and, eight months later, returned to Paris on my own. For the next seven years, I traveled there at least twice a year. It was my obsession.

Not quite seven years after that trip, I moved to Paris. I studied French art and decorative arts at Christie's Education. I lived in Paris for five years, some of the best years of my life.

I am back in the States now, for a number of reasons. However, Paris is my life. I write about it, and I lead tours that have a focus on French arts and culture.

So be careful. I didn't want to go to Paris, and it changed my life. By the way, I still haven't made it to Venice. Why would I want to leave Paris when everything I need to make me happy is there?

nmweaver

Yes

fables

Thanks everyone for the replies this past week. Busy at work lately so haven't had a chance to respond to each reply.

kerouac you have defintely shattered one myth for me. thanks.

How could I skip the Amalfi Coast after reading your amazing trip report flygirl

Thank you for your support lelee092.

That was quite the epiphany toupary6. I can only hope some destination will reach out and grab me like that. Thanks for sharing.

Whoa. A comment was removed by the moderator. Wondered what they called me

janisj

Not to worry -- it was probably an advertiser.

Only a tiny fraction of nuked posts are name callers (and the worst offender currently on the boards hasn't posted to your thread )

twoflower

What an interesting thread. The first time I went to Paris, it didn't grab me much. People looked dowdy (but maybe they were other tourists?), and of course most of the time was spent doing all the touristy stuff. Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triumphe, ... All impressive, but not capturing the real ambience of the city. And the Latin Quarter at night was just endless hordes of gawkers shuffling past and ogling the menu boards.

Now, 5 trips later, I love the place. Understandable really, because now we need only spend a little time on the touristy stuff (there's always a few more of them to see), and have time to walk and explore other stuff. Luxembourg Gardens, the Marais (where we now stay in preference to the Latin Quarter), Belleville, and all the different markets. The real Paris. The Paris of ethnic neighbourhoods and peaceful parks. And it's wonderful.

twoflower

...But I agree with other posters. The itinerary is all over the place. With only 18 days, I'd skip Kent & the Cotswolds (both of which are best done by car anyway), and make it a 3-city trip: London, Paris & Rome.

For out-of-town experiences, take a day trip from these centres by train or bus. London to Brighton or Cambridge or Bath or Tunbridge Wells, for example. And Paris to Auvers-sur-Oise or Chantilly or Provins or Les Angelys. And Rome to Orvieto or Sorrento or Amalfi or Tivoli.

ira

Hi F,

> my first thought was duh... London, Paris, Rome.

You have indicated that you have 17 days.

May I suggest
Fly into London, 5 nights - Daytrips to Oxford and one other city.
train to Paris, 6 nights
take the 19:59 train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Venice Sta Lucia
www.voyages-sncf.com

2 nights in Venice

train to Rome (OR Florence) before flying directly home.
www.trenitalia.com

Enjoy your visit.

cilburke

Last year my husband and i couldn't decide whether to go to the Italian Alps (my pick) or southern Spain (his pick). So we "settled" on Paris. It was the best trip we've ever taken. We're not museum people either, we walked all over the city, beautiful architecture everywhere, gorgeous gardens and parks, bateau mouche on the Seine and hop on hop off bus rides on the open air buses. And the bread ... loved it so much we're going back this year. My favorite city.

gruezi

Well, if you love bread then you must go to Paris.

But I also agree that you can always go there another time if it isn't calling to you.

It's my favorite place on the planet, but everyone is different. That's okay.

justineparis

The bread in France,, seriously.. I look forward to the first few hunks brought to me at some cafe.. I have never found any bread here close.. some say its the water others the harder flour.. I don't know , but the baguette in France is in my top 5 food lists..Only 5 more months!!

Gretchen

And yes yes. And before I know it, the skin behind my front teeth is bruised from biting that wonderful crustiness!! It is the flour, I think. And when you buy it at the bakery you have to nip off the top right away!! I have LOVED seeing that happen as people leave the bakery.

fables

I enjoy this thread more and more as I distance myself from that buffoon fables. oh wait

I'm hesitant to admit it, but I have heard the " Field of Dreams" voice in my sleep lately saying come to Edinburgh... come to Edinburgh... Was Sean Connery in Field of Dreams

sartoric

I'm not sure whether you'll regret missing Paris, but I bet you don't regret starting this post !

Whatever you do, enjoy !

Iwan2go

Hi fables, and like someone else said, kudos for sticking with it. I like your spirit. Lots of people have bailed when taken to task but you've responded graciously (and apologetically). Hope you stick with it here.

I love Paris. The first time my husband and I went, the Metro was on strike, the museums were on strike, and it was raining. It was wonderful. All we did was walk, poke our heads into interesting corners, eat pastries, shop at the street food markets…it was heaven. We went into Notre Dame and lit candles for our moms, chatted with people, enjoyed the gardens. We've been many times since and still love it.

We do like London too, Rome not as much, haven't been to Positano/Capri but loved other parts of Italy.

All that said, I agree with lots of the others that you're trying to "see" too much, and when you do that, you miss just "being". So much of experiencing a place is taking it easy, and with all the traveling time leaving one place, getting to the airport/train, getting to the new place, unpacking…it's just not as nice as limiting your cities and relaxing a bit more.

Whatever you decide i hope you have a great time.

fables

I have learned a lot from this thread sartoric, so in that respect I don't regret posting it.

I obviously regret the line " is there more to Paris than museums and fine dining ? " which offended many here. We all have preconceived notions about things of which we know not... and having one person bring that to your attention is helpful but dozens bringing it to your attention can be a tough pill to swallow.

Thank you Iwan2go for the kind words and advice. I am sensible enough to know that proud and ignorant is no way to go through life and definitely no way to travel to an unknown continent.