would you do this itinerary?
 

This is my husbands first trip to Europe and I don't want him to miss anything. Please tell me what I am leaving out.<BR><BR>We can only take ten days off (and believe me we wish we could do so much more) so we will do much moving around.<BR><BR>We fly into Shannon in early June and will head straight for the Cliffs of Moher (not sure on the spelling). We arrive around 5 A.M. or somewhere thereabouts. From there we will drive down to Ring of Kerry and hopefully make it to Blarney by night fall.<BR><BR>Since this may become quite long I will try to leave out all the details and give you general information.<BR><BR>Day two we will begin by kissing the Blarney stone and head off to Dublin to get a taste of the city before we ferry across and hit stonehenge on our way to London before night fall.<BR><BR>The next morning we will whirl around London in the A.M. and take the late morning train to Paris.<BR><BR>The next two days we will slow down and spend that time in Paris. One of the days we will go to Disney and the other day we will go to Versailles. We will tour Paris in the early morning hours and the evenings.<BR><BR>After the two relaxing days in Paris we will need to pick up the pace again. My husband is very much an active person so I know that he wants to see all the sights I have seen. I think there is a tiny twinge of jealousy that my college boyfriend and myself backpacked through Europe twelve years ago.<BR><BR>From Paris we will go to Madrid. Anyone know of things to see and do here? Madrid is the one place I have never been. Spending the night in Madrid we will then rise early and head to Barcelona. I forgot one thing, we will take trains until we get to Barcelona and then we will rent a car and eventually drop it off in Naples.<BR><BR>We should spend the late afternoon in Barcelona and drive out and onward to Switzerland for the night. The next day we will spend in Lucerne and then the Lake region. <BR><BR>Off the next day to Venice where I think a well deserved rest is in order. Two nights will be devoted to my favorite place in the world.<BR><BR>After the two nights in Venice we will tour the Tuscany area and reach Rome by night fall. I need to find a hotel with free parking since it would be silly for us to drive around Rome. I once knew a person who tried to drive around Rome and beyond being lost for hours they were also in a fender bender. There was nothing really wounded but his pride.<BR><BR>After the night in Rome we will drive the fabulous Amalfi Coast and spend the night on Capri. After driving the Amalfi Coast we will return the car in Naples and take the ferry to Capri. In the morning we will return by ferry from Capri and take catch our late morning flight from Naples.<BR><BR>Can anyone tell me of great things I'm leaving out? I know this would be a bit of a rush to some but my husband is highstrung and I just would not feel right if he missed some of the wonderful things I have seen. I doubt we will return because it is an answer to prayer to get him to fly overseas to begin with, especially after 9/11. Any help with my plans and other must sees would be wonderful.<BR><BR>thanks bunches

Hi Cynthia,<BR><BR>Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but I think you are being way too optimistic in the distances you areplanning on doing in only ten days.<BR><BR>For example I think it is impossible to get from Blarney to Dover to Stonehenge and to London during daylight hours by train. It appears that you will be so rushed you will not be enjoying everything that Europe has to offer.<BR><BR>I personnally would narrow the choice of countries to 1 or maybe two and get to know it in more detail ( ie spend two days in London or Rome or Paris etc)

Gregory, I did forget to mention that we will drive from Shannon to London using the ferry. From London to Barcelona we would use the train and then again from Barcelona to Naples back with a car. Sorry if I misinformed you. I would completely agree with you, going from Blarney to London via the train/ferry combo would be too much in a day (too many connections to make and that would be somewhat foolish). Does it change your opinion now knowing that we will have the flexibility of using a car?

Hi there,<BR>I agree, too much, too far, too busy,<BR>in such a small time.<BR>Be a returner. Europe is so divers and has so much to offer, even if you ad 2 days more in Paris(city of love) it's still not enough. And Disney - apart from the cultural things you will see-<BR>is a secondary spot to go, while you on a european trip. Disney is at it's best in Orlando or California- believe me !<BR><BR>I suggest:<BR>2 days in ireland<BR>3-4 days in england/london<BR>3-4 days in paris<BR>2-3 days i madrid/or barcelona<BR>fly in to ireland and out from paris/barcelona or madrid<BR>Trains are running a least every hour<BR>between London and Paris (see Eurostar or Thalys trains)<BR>take a plane from Paris to Madrid/Barcelona<BR>Enjoy your trip - dont get breathless.<BR>Need more info?<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf<BR>

NO!!!!! I would limit the trip to maybe two regions of one country, or maybe the adjacent regions of two countries. For example: FRANCE--Provence and the Dordogne; ITALY--Tuscany and Umbria, and maybe a little of Emiglia-Romagna and Veneto; ITALY--Sicily and one other region that you can fly to; UK--London to northern England (including York) and then part of Scotland. When I ws around 24 or 25 I took what I consider to be a RUSHED trip around many parts of Italy (from Milan down to Sicily) that were accessible by public transportation, but we took about 5 weeks to do it. My trips in the last 5 years years have covered only selected portions of a single region of Italy, France or Greece, so may preference is to cover less ground but really get the flavor of a place.

Cynthia<BR><BR>Are you sure that's all you want to cover? Seems a bit relaxed to me.<BR><BR>I would consider throwing in Rome as well, you will be in Naples, so practically in the neighbourhood!<BR><BR>GRIN!<BR><BR>Kavey

I'm exhausted just counting the number of places you listed. Is it really 13? In 10 days? Totally crazy. You won't get the feeling (that's what travelling means to me) for any one of those places, will do nothing but drive and lug your things into the next hotel.<BR><BR>As for the competitive part re your previous trip - why not plan one that is unique and special to you and your husband. You don't want your husband to 'miss anything', but with this itinerary that's exactly what will happen - he'll miss it all.<BR><BR>Please reconsider.

Kavey, we do have Rome included in our itinerary. I would never miss Rome.

I agree with Kavey. You really should try to cover a little more since you're never returning. You can sleep when you get home. A great way to get your husband to forget your previous trip is to make sure you have great vacation sex in all those locations!<BR><BR>Have fun.

Sorry Cynthia, I agree with the other postings here. Slow down, relax and enjoy the trip! Your ambitious itinerary reminds me of "It's Tuesday, so this must be Belgium"! Pick 1 (maybe 2) countries and really tour them. And, I agree with Shain, put Paris Disney at the bottom of your "to-do list".

No troll has ever rendered me quite so effectively - - speechless.<BR><BR>Some of my detractors will thank you, cynthia.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Hi Cynthia,<BR>if you not want to miss Rome please skip ireland and concentrate on LOndon, Rome and Paris.<BR>Fly with Ryanair or Virgin Express LON-Rome.<BR>spend 3 nights there<BR>fly to Paris spend 3-4 nights there<BR>fly out of Paris<BR>And start with London 3-4 nights.<BR>Please think of time differences, jetlag, the terrain between rome and paris is very rockie so it takes a whole<BR>day or even longer (more than 12hrs)<BR>to go by train alongside the coast or through the alps. And naples is not really in the neighbourhood. You should consider to that or other cities on a second trip. Dont forget every country is completely different from the other with own language, food, castles etc.<BR>More?<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf

Shain, you are very sweet to be concerned about Cynthia's trip. But she's pulling your leg!

Cynthia<BR><BR>So pleased you have Rome.. I am sure you will enjoy it....<BR><BR>I think you could add Ischia to your tour, it's an island near Capri and would provide some contrast.<BR><BR>and what about seeing some of the Cotswolds when you drive through England to London via Stonehenge?<BR><BR>From Paris, you could detour to the Loire Valley and or Normandy.<BR><BR>I really think you should try and squeeze in some more since your husband may not be satisfied with this lacklustre itinerary.<BR><BR>(MORE GRINS)

Hi to the xx.author,<BR>sorry I thought Cynthia IS concerned about what to do or how to get there.<BR>So Im just helpful. Sorry, maybe do not understand correctly "pulling your leg"<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf

Cynthia: check into a nice hotel in your town, rent some European videos, get into bed, order room service and spend a week watching them. It'll be a lot better than this trip you're planning.

In the immortal words of Johnny Mac - "You have GOT to be kidding!" I hope this is intended to be satirical. Just in case it isn't - "late afternoon in Barcelona and drive out and onward to Switzerland for the night"??? This is a MINIMUM 8 hr. drive with no stopping. Just one of many impossibilities.

In response to your question: Would you do this itinerary? the answer is emphatically "NO"! You've omitted Helsinki on one afternoon, Bucharest on the morning of your fourth day and Cagliari between 2PM and 3PM on your fifth day. Poor, poor planning.

Cyntia , this is fine, except it seems a shame with ten whole days you don't also make a stop to see Australia. You could do a flight going east from Europe and maybe land in Perth, then drive across Australia in the morning to see Sydney in the afternoon. This might also allow you to then hop over to China the next day on your way back to the US. Just seems a waste to spend the whole 10 days in Europe when there is so much world to see. Maybe if you missed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, you could squeeze in that extra day for Australia. And if you got a faster car so you could drive the Amalfi coast at a higher speed, it would allow time for the China segment. Just a helpful suggestion.

Well I take it from the tone of these messages that most would slow down. Since we already have air tickets reserved into Shannon and out of Rome I will figure on the removal of Naples from the itinerary? Madrid was high on my list since I wanted to add one new sight that I have never been to, however, I guess I could also cut Madrid and go straight for Barcelona?

Give it up, Cynthia, you've been busted. No one is going to take your itinerary seriously. Anyone who says they will have a "relaxing" two days in Paris spending one at Disney and one at Versailles, and covering the whole city of Paris itself in the early morning hours and nights is not playing with a full deck, and has done a pretty bad job of trying to pretend they are serious about this. And you're going to tour London in an hour and a half or so before catching the late morning train to Paris?<BR>Why do you ask what there is to see in Madrid and say it is a priority, since if you are going from Paris by train you will arrive there in the middle of the night and you are leaving early the next morning? Obviously you won't see Madrid.

Oh heavens, is that what time I would arrive in Madrid, never checked the train schedule but thanks bunches!

No one has commented on the obvious flaw in logic here. If Cynthia's husband is so very, very, active, why would he want to spend 75% of his vacation with his tush parked in a train or car seat? I can't wait until the trip report where they both get sick and have to do this itinerary from hell while suffering with diarhea.<BR><BR>To Shain - pulling my (your) leg means we are kidding. Isn't there an equivalent expression in German - pulling your arm, or ear or hair or something? My memory is poor, but I remember being told this.

Please just give me your honest suggestions and leave off the cutting comments. I truly do understand if someone does not agree with the rush of my itinerary but I am unable to understand why someone would need to make vulgar comments about diarrhea and having sex in every city.<BR>I am looking at my options now in order to trim and rearrange, however, the flights are already set.<BR>thanks bunches

Okay, I'll fall for this (the very best trolls always leave us unsure - - "might this person be serious?")<BR><BR>And this is a legitimate question: I'm booked to fly into Shannon and fly back out of Rome ten days later, and I haven't though through my itinerary very well. What would make sense as an itinerary, and not spend inappropriate time nor money, getting from place to place?<BR><BR>I'd say start with three days in Ireland, then fly from Shannon or Dublin to London, Brussels or Paris on www.ryanair.com - - spend the next three-four days "there" (depnds on which "there" you choose) - - then fly to Italy - - Stansted to Treviso, Pisa, Brescia or Rome and spend three or four days in Italy.<BR><BR>Tell me what part in the middle would appeal to you most, and I'll help provide additional suggestions, at least for the second and third segments. I don't consider myself expert about Ireland.<BR>

Rex, I'm ashamed of you, my hero. How could you possibly even think for a minute that this person is serious? Especially after the Madrid comments?<BR>You are right, the best trolls leave us unsure, but this one is not a good troll, it is apparent she is pulling our collective legs as well as various other appendages.

Cynthia is so obviously a troll that it is scary she MIGHT be legit. <BR><BR>A lot of misguided people ask here about itineraries covering London, Paris, Ireland, Edinburgh - being sure to visit "the Highlands" - in a week; or have 5 days in London and wnat to know about 4 day trips out of the city; or want to drive from Paris to Munich in a day seeing everything along the way.<BR><BR>So it is possible (barely) that Cynthia is for real. <BR><BR>Cynthia - PLEASE say it isn't so, and we will all be relieved.<BR><BR>Into Shannon and out of Rome in 10 days? -- then spend the first 5 days in Ireland and then fly to Rome and spend the last 5 days there. Simple enough.

Dare Cynthia,<BR>if you have these tickets(maybe I'm the only one who believe in you), take my advice.<BR>Take your husband to Shannon,<BR>fly to London, take the Eurostar to Paris and fly to Rome -<BR>nothing less and nothing more.<BR>You may make it - and it won't be too bad.<BR>Or - better skip rome - change your tickets, accept a reasonable cancellation fee fly to London and than on to Paris - not enough for those cities but you ll find a lot of day and night activities around !!! Take my advice if you want more infoes how to arrange - mail me.<BR><BR>To xx - thanks for your hint. In german we say: "Sie h&auml;lt dich zum Narren",<BR>means - she takes you for a fool !<BR>Thanks all of you - maybe I'm too naiv, but I like people to give good sense of what europe is about if you never have been here - it is different from the US.<BR>I hope you don find it arrogant of me to say so!<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf

I'm not sure that xxx is asking me to defend myself, but I figure that (assuming this is a troll), the best counter-measure is to make up my own ANSWERable question, and provide a workable solution. "Five days Ireland, five days Rome" is also an answer - - but gives no clue how to do that affordably.<BR><BR>If cynthia IS for real, my answer is usable.<BR>

Cynthia, if you are for real, I apologize for my flip answer. I did not think this was a serious post. I can see that if you loved visiting Europe and want your husband to see it, too, that you might get kind of drunk on the idea and schedule way too much - especially if you may not make it back for a long time.<BR><BR>I am sure of one thing, however. If you do too much in too little time on a too-tight schedule with a weary, jet-lagged confused husband, he will absolutely HATE Europe and refuse to go back.

Hi, I agree with patg. ,<BR>you will def not return with yr husband.<BR>Than safe the money and stay where u are, safe holidays and return with a much bigger time to spend or just accept the fact that it is too much to see, hear and eat. Than you will love it and can nit await to return a scond or third time !!<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf

Believe me, I understand how one might consider this message insincere since many on here tend to ask ridiculous questions. But please don't lump all of us in with a select few. <BR>I do want my husband to see it all and as odd as that may sound to some it remains how we feel. My husband feels uncomfortable flying and would prefer not to cross the atlantic on an eight hour flight too many times.<BR>again, thanks bunches

Cynthia - if your husband hates flying nothing about your itinerary will convince him to try again. Ten days can be a wonderful trip - but your plan really is overly ambitious. My idea of 5 days in Ireland and 5 days in Italy is still too much, but given your tickets into Shannon and out of Rome it seems the only realistic one. Ireland to England to France to Italy in 10 days means you will be spending 5 full days of your ten in airports, in train stations and on planes/trains. You will be totally jet lagged the first day so now you are down to 9 days. With the early check-in requirements in Rome you are now down to 8+ days. take 5 travel days out of that and you actually have little more than 3 sightseeing days for four countries. This is not an exaggeration. Now, would your husband think that is worth the hassle - think not. <BR><BR>So fly into Shannon, spend 4 or 5 days touring the west and southwest. Then go ack to Shannon and fly to Italy - Milan or Florence are good choices. Spend five days between Milan or Florence and Rome and fly home from there.<BR><BR>This is still too rushed but at least you will see SOMETHING, besides the insides of terminals and stations.

Thanks bunches? Thanks bunches? Sounds like Marilyn Monroe.

To janis:<BR><BR>Perhaps I "dissed" your plan of flying from Ireland to Italy too quickly. I figured that it requires a stop or change somewhere - - might as well turn that into a third destination country.<BR><BR>But non-stop service is available cheaper than I anticipated - - DUB-MIL non-stop, for example on Aer Lingus from $168 (roundtrip - - throw away the return); to Rome from $219 (on Alitalia). In June. Note: taxes and fees add about $25 to these fares - - using Travelocity is getting to be a bigger pain all the time to find out these things.<BR><BR>I'd still do it (cheaper) - - on RyanAir, or other low-cost carriers - - but it depends on whether the intermediate destination(s) is/are considered worthwhile or not.<BR>

xxx (and Cynthia): xxx, I think your suggestion to try to fit Australia -let alone China- into Cynthia's itinery is MUCH too ambitious. Instead of "relaxing" in Venice for 2 nights, I think they would be better off staying just 1. That way the next a.m. they could catch a flight to Stockholm, and spend the day there. Fly to Oslo that evening and sleep there instead of Venice. That way they could see Oslo in the morning, catch a flight to Copenhagen for an afternoon tour, then fly to Florence/Tuscany that evening to continue on with the rest of the itinery that Cynthia has planned. What do you and Cynthia think of this suggestion? I might add that although it might be a fairly long flight to Stockholm, they wouldn't have to contend with the jet lag problem they would encounter by flying over to Perth. If they had another 3 days for vacation time, I would say,xxx, that your recommended itinery would be excellent. On second thought, if they didn't stop to kiss the Blarney stone and left out Disney, they could probably fit in Australia, but I doubt China. :-)

If you want to enjoy yourselves, pick one country and do two maybe three cities/towns.<BR>You're not seeing anything on a schedule like that.<BR>and Eurodisney? Instead of Paris?

janine: Of course you are correct. Unfortunately, they already have purchased tickets into Shannon and out of Rome. So doing one country is impossible.

ttt

i have not decided if you are just a plain troll or incapable of seeing reallity. you need to increase yoour meds dear