Torn between Trips
 

The great news is that my husband wants to take me anywhere in the world I want to go for my birthday next year. The bad news is deciding where I want to go...so I come to you for your thoughts on my ideas. I'll only have 2 weeks time and I do know that travel time has to be taken into consideration. We will be traveling from the United States. Based on these examples please let me know these are doable in 2 weeks and if you have suggestions in the areas/region. Thank you so much I appreciate any all comments.


New Zealand & Australia:
North and South Island and Australia, I don’t know much about where to go but I know that New Zealand is beautiful and I would love to visit. My husband has indicated that if we go to NZ that we’d have to go to Australia. Could you suggest specifics for NZ we’re not hikers or campers but we do love to love to see nature’s beauty.

Europe1:
Lisbon, Portugal – Salerno, Italy – Rome, Italy – Florence, Italy, Paris, France.

Europe 2:
Ireland – Scotland – Paris

I like itinerary #1, but I'd cut out either Portugal or France because I think 5 cities is too much for only 2 weeks.

Nothing wrong with #2 just I'm personally less interested in Ireland/Scotland. That's just me.

Time of year makes a big difference. For NZ and Australia, don't forget that the seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere, so that June and July are the middle of winter. In parts of Australia, for example the Great Barrier Reef, that's fine - the weather is warm, the water fine for swimming, etc. (as opposed to the southern summer, when it's very hot and humid, and the sea is full of dangerous jellyfish.) But the South Island of New Zealand in June/July/August can have cold and wet weather, or skiing in the Southern Alps.

By the same token, Portugal, Rome and most of Italy can be uncomfortably warm at the same time, while Ireland, Scotland and Paris can be very pleasant.

So in other words, it's not just how long, but <i>when.</i>

It also matters a little where in the US you're starting from. From most places, it takes pretty much a day and a night to get to New Zealand, counting plane changes etc., while from most US cities the ride to western Europe is just an overnight flight. So with just two weeks, using a chunk of that time just for sitting on planes can be a bummer.

As for "nature's beauty" as your priority, it's hard to argue with New Zealand; it's a stunning country. I wouldn't say Florence or Rome are much about natural beauty, more the man-made kind; but your choices are all lovely and worth visiting. However you'll need to do some detailed time-planning as you sort through the options.

Not Asia?

Thanks for the replies. If we go to NZ AUS we would be visiting in February and if Europe we would visit in September. So we have that covered. I'm wondering if 2 weeks is enough time for the 3 trips mentioned and if anyone has suggestions of things to do that are not geared toward hiking, camping etc. when nature comes into play we are up for a tour to take in the sites or renting a car to drive there ourselves. For example several years ago we traveled to San Francisco and drove the PCH to San Diego. There were several side trips along the way. Where some would be more interested in hiking camping in that area we chose to drive. I'm looking for ideas hints etc for my destinations especially NZ AUS as I don't know much about where to visit when I'm there I do know that I would love to see that part of the world.

Not a safari? Two weeks would be perfect for that.
I'd want more than two weeks for just New Zealand, nevermind adding Australia to the trip.

2 weeks isn't long enough for <i>any </i> of your itineraries.

Consider 2 weeks in Australia OR in New Zealand

2 weeks in Italy OR in France

2 weeks in Scotland OR in Ireland (+ possibly a few days in Paris)

We spent 5 weeks in Ireland and though it was just about the perfect amount of time.
We took Aus/NZ off the table for this year because we think 8 weeks would be necessary to do it justice and our travel buddies can't be away that long.
We did a safari in Northern Tanzania last year, and two weeks would work for that; fabulous trip.
If you want to city hop in Europe, three cities is the max I'd do in two weeks.

You have an enviable task before you, and kudos to your husband for offering such a lovely gift! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful birthday and hope that you enjoy planning your trip once you get over the hurdle of targeting your options.

I must warn you that I'm not particularly sanguine about any of the options you outline: Instead, I agree with janisj -- personally, I would NOT want just 2 weeks for any of these options! Here are my thoughts:

With New Zealand and Australia, you would lose a HUGE amount of time to your flights and then dealing with jet lag on either end, and both offer SO many options that trying to see both in 2 weeks would be frustrating to me. You might want to wait until you can give either or both more time, especially since there are so many other things you could enjoy seeing in a 2-week trip!

"Europe1:
Lisbon, Portugal – Salerno, Italy – Rome, Italy – Florence, Italy, Paris, France."

I suppose you could do this -- but I'm not sure what your rationale would be. There is more to see in Portugal than Lisbon. (I haven't been to Portugal yet, but hope to go soon, and from what I've learned so far, I think it a perfect destination for a 2-week trip!) I think Salerno vastly under-rated, but wouldn't try to visit it without spending 5 to 7 days on the Amalfi Coast (and preferably several days + in Naples, too). If visiting Rome and Florence, I would add Venice for a lovely 2-week trip. And much as I love Paris, I wouldn't tack it on to a trip that has me running all over Europe and losing all sorts of travel time to transportation rather than actually seeing things anywhere, let alone savoring some of Paris's magical moments. JMO.

"Europe 2:
Ireland – Scotland – Paris"

I'm sure you can see some highlights of each of these places in 2 weeks. Again, the question is how YOU want to spend your time.

FWIW, rather than cramming a bunch of places in and then having to only skim the surface, I prefer to maximize the time I have to actually see and do things, even if it means skipping lots of places that I'm sure I would enjoy. Just something to consider....

Hope that helps!

Hi everyone thank you for your comments. I've have finally decided on my itinerary...now the fun stuff deciding where to stay. We have points with Marriott, Sheraton or Hyatt and I have some ideas of what I want to do in each place but I could use some tips. I don't have to see EVERYTHING everywhere I go. I like to get the essence of a place.....for example we took the Eurostar from London to Paris in 2012 and spent the day in Paris...which is why I wish to return 1 day was not enough but it was enough for me to get the essence of that beautiful wonderful place and I have memories of Paris burned in my brain.....meaning that I don't have to spend 5+ days somewhere to appreciate it, nor do I have the time off work or the money to spend all that time in one go. I suppose it would like someone visiting the U.S. and going to N.Y.C. for 3 days (which I've done on a weekend trip) and then flying to L.A. for another 3 days and seeing what they wish to see and then flying off to AZ to see the Grand Canyon. It can be done.

Here is my Itinerary please let me know if you have suggestions in these locations. Thanks so much for all of your comments.

Saturday 2016

US to Paris arriving Sunday at 6:55 am

Paris 3 days flying to Florence the night of the 3rd night

Wednesday 2016

Paris to Florence Plane

Florence 2 nights leaving for Rome the morning of the 3rd day

Saturday 2016

Florence to Rome Train 1 hour 2 mins arriving at 10am

Rome 2 days leaving the night of the 2nd day
Rome to the Amalfi Coast (Salerno) Train 2 hours arriving at 9:24 pm

Monday 2016

Amalfi Coast 3 days leaving the 3rd night

Wednesday 2016

Train to Naples then plane to Prague

Prague 2 nights leaving the morning of the 3rd day

Saturday 2016

Prauge to the U.S. Plane

Sunday 2016

HOME!

Monday 2016

HOME! Day of rest and laundry

Tuesday 2016

Bummer Back to work

Now that you've decided -- you need to re-post over on the Europe Forum . . . But be prepared to have most people tell you it is waaaaaaaaaay too ambitious.

Barely 2 jet lagged days in Paris
2 nights in Florence
2 half days in Rome (not even one full day)
1.5 days in Prague

just really REALLY hectic. Not a dream trip IMO, more a nightmare.

Italy is a great choice because it offers such variety of landscape, culture, food, art, architecture, it is like visiting several different countries in one trip.

Leaving the AC at night might be problematic, especially making sure you get to Naples in time to catch the flight. That is going to eat up a lot of time by public transport, or money by private driver. Either way, at least half that day will be lost to getting to Prague.

Days you are departing late, if you are out touring, you will eat up an hour getting back to your hotel to retrieve your luggage, then get to the train station. It will be even longer if flying because of the need to be at the airport earlier.

Are you going to Paestum? If not, why stay in Salerno? Why not stay in Amalfi or Positano?
Are you planning on Capri or Pompeii? If so, why not stay in Sorrento and tour from there?
The AC is gorgeous with many very different places to see.

You are getting to Prague very late, staying one day, and departing early. Could you fly home on Sunday rather than Sat?

You are skipping Venice in favor of Prague?

Perhaps laying your plan out a little differently will let you see how much time you are spending in airports and train stations rather than really experiencing those fantastic locations. I am not sure I have your itinerary straight, but it looks somewhat like this to me.

Sat: depart US
Sun: arrive Paris, hotel by 9:00 or 10:00. Jet- lagged day
Mon: Paris, 1 whole day
Tues: Paris, 1 whole day
Wed: Paris 3/4 day, get bags, fly to Florence, arrive late, sleep in Florence
Thur: Florence, 1 whole day
Fri: Florence 3/4 day, late train to Rome, sleep in Rome
Sat: Rome, 1 whole day
Sun: Rome, 1 whole day
Mon: Rome 3/4 day, late train to Salerno? Or other place on AC
Tue: AC, whole day
Wed: AC, whole day
Thur: AC morning, afternoon train and fly to Prague
Fri: Prague, one whole day
Sat: Fly home

It is not as bad as it looked at first, but you could use that time in Prague and add a day to almost any other place and a day trip from any one would be great, saving hotel change, lots of transport time, etc. With that day, you could see Pompeii or Capri or Paestum, or Siena, Lucca or San G, Ostia Antica, Versailles, etc., etc.

If you drop Prague, you could go straight from Florence to the AC and end in Rome, flying home from there.

Sassafrass: I read the Rome bit different (but who knows, you may be right -- it is very confusling)

>><i>Florence 2 nights leaving for Rome the morning of the 3rd day

Saturday 2016

Florence to Rome Train 1 hour 2 mins arriving at 10am

Rome 2 days leaving the night of the 2nd day
Rome to the Amalfi Coast (Salerno) Train 2 hours arriving at 9:24 pm</i><<

Looks to me like they will leave Florence Saturday morning -- so by the time they get to the hotel and check in -- about half a day or so in Rome. Then leaving the evening of the second day -- so another maybe .75 day.

But who knows ? ? ? ?

Yes, Janisj, it is very confusing. I have no idea if I have it correct either. Perhaps when they post again, it will be more clearcut.

No matter how read, doesn't sound like an enjoyable trip to me. WAY too rushed. JMO.

I would do the whole thing in Italy or half in Ireland and half in Paris.