Europe Advice -- First Time There, Traveling Mid-April to Early May 2011
 

Hi! My husband and I will be traveling to Europe for the first time and would love any advice you may offer. We're flying in and out of Barcelona and will be in Europe for about 15-16 days incluidng over Easter. Places we'd love to see include London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence and possibly others -- depending on what great suggestions we receive :) We have no idea what to do, the best way to get around, or what would be a good deal vs. a bad deal. If possible, we would like to spend no more than a few thousand dollars for the entire trip. We just really want to see these places while we're young and can do it. If you would be so kind as to help answer any of the following questions, we'd really appreciate it.

Where should we go and when?
What's the best way to do everyting on a moderate budget?
What are sites we definitely shouldn't miss?
What cool things are there to do besides visit sites in the various places?
Where should we stay?
What is the best way to get around?
Should we do the Eurail thing?
What should we bring / not bring?
What should we wear / not wear?
What are the best souvenirs?

Any other insider information would be great! Thanks so much in advance for helping us plan a wonderful vacation :)

As I am suffering from insomnia at the moment I will tackle this, a little bit anyway!

First, get some good guide books and read, read, read.

Second of all, I hope you don't plan to visit ALL the places you listed. Just way too many for 15-16 days. Plus, probably not in your budget.

Does your few thousand budget include airfare? I truly hope not, because that alone will eat up at least two thousand right now.

In general, the more cities, the more cost both in dollars and time. If you're set on flying in and out of Barcelona, then you are limited to flying/rail to places and returning to BCN to fly home. That will add a bit to your cost, again in time and dollars, as you will be backtracking. If you haven't bought air tix yet, consider open jaw - in one city and home from another with travel leading up to your final city.

Maybe you can give a more precise budget and narrow down your places to 3-4 max. Is that 15-16 days on the ground or does that include overseas travel?

I've only touched on recommendations here. It might be better to post this question on the Europe forum as you will get a wider exposure. Also, give a few more details of $$$, flights, etc.

Wow congrats you have picked a great time to go

good air deals less heat crowds in summer am headed

over there my self to Italy/France in April all booked.

www.ricksteves.com

www.eurocheapo.com

2 good sites for you.

cheapest flights into LON BA.com for me this time

usually then fly skyscanner.net

econo to save time or train seat61.com

for me for a first timer pick 4 places spend 4 days in each

Paris train Geneva alps Venice/Florence Rome would be plenty

Barcelona ok not as pretty might be too crammed to do...

Anyway happy planning buy/download Fodors Gold Guides

for all your areas... get my best lodging deals always

bidding Priceline Betterbidding.com or Otel.com

if you do not want to bid.

insuremytrip.com always wise these days.

Have fun,

onebag.com best packing site I always carry on to decrease

cost hassle theft lost bag risk and time works great for me.

In the past have done the sleeper from Barcelona to Paris

seat61.com then the TGV to Geneva Alps down to Venice via

Milan Florence Rome fly econo ROM BCN skyscanner.net

Did this in 2 weeks was pretty easy hopping on and off

did not feel too rushed.

So I might consider a route like that.

Welcome to Fodors Raquelanna: Yes, you'll get more help if you re-post this over on the Europe forum (See the "Change Forum" pull down menu? ) This travel tips board is more for general travel discussions -- not destination-specific topics.

Or --you can clock the triangle w/ the <B>!</B> and ask the moderators to move this thread over to Europe for you.

One thing you will definitely hear when you do re-post is that w/ just 2+ weeks and flying in/out of Barcelona -- you will have a hard time seeing >>London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence<< and no time for 'possibly others'.

6 cities in 15 days is VERY aggressive and you will really have about 1.5 - 2 days free in each one since you will lose 1/2 to 1 full day every time you move from city to city. You need to think about cutting your list in about half (remember - you will lose a day returning to Barcelona before flying home)

But do get this thread over to the Europe board and folks can help you w/ the details . . .

Wow! Thanks for all of the quick responses. We really appreciate them :) We already bought our plane tickets, so the few thousand dollars for our budget to spend doesn't include airfare. To do the things we are currently wanting to do, we figure we possibly will only need maybe 2 days in London, 2 in Paris, 2 in Rome and 2 in Barcelona. Florence and Venice are just places to see for us and we won't really mind if we're only there for one day each. That leaves us about 5-6 days not including traveling to and from Europe.

I'll also post this in the Europe forum as mentioned to receive a broader response. Thank you again, we really appreciate your help.

<will only need maybe 2 days in London, 2 in Paris, 2 in Rome and 2 in Barcelona. Florence and Venice are just places to see for us and we won't really mind if we're only there for one day each. That leaves us about 5-6 days not including traveling to and from Europe.>

You are missing an important piece of the puzzle. You aren't factoring in the time it takes to move from one city to the next. You need to allow at least 1/2 day each time you move... check out of hotel, walk or taxi to train station or airport, wait for flight or train, make journey, walk or taxi to your next hotel, check in. You have mentioned 6 cities so far, so you need to deduct approx. 3 days from your travel time to allow for these relocations.

<2 days in London, 2 in Paris, 2 in Rome and 2 in Barcelona>

if you really want to spend two days in each of those locations you're remaining 7-8 days are likely to be spent travelling only, train from paris to london doesn't take so long but i would imagine the easiest (and quickest) way from barcelona to paris is by plane, the same if you went from London to Rome for example or Barcelona to London (plane), train from London-Paris, plane from Paris to Rome and then back to Barcelona