TRIP ITINERARY: FRANCE, ITALY, SPAIN

[KAT2000]

MY FIANCEE AND I ARE PLANNING A TWO MONTH TRIP TO FRANCE ITALY AND SPAIN STARTING IN SEPTEMBER. ANY ADVICE ON ITINERARY, TRAVEL, CLOTHES WE'LL NEED TO BRING, ETC?

RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT PARIS, NORMANDY, BORDEAUX, VERSAILLES, NICE; MADRID, CORDOBA, GRANADA, DAY TRIP TO MOROCCO, BARCELONA; FLORENCE, VENICE, ROME, NAPLES, POMPEII. WE'LL BE GETTING AN OPEN-JAW INTO PARIS AND OUT OF ROME.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP!!

[Eagle]

KAT2000, a few comments on your post....

With two months and only three countries to visit, you should have lots of time to explore each location. It's also great that you've planned "open jaw" flights (you've done your homework!).

It would help to know a few more details on your particular situation though -- where you're travelling from, whether you've been to Europe before, whether the countries & cities you've listed are "written in stone" or whether you might add a few more stops, how you plan to get from place to place, etc. You also might want to consider registering on the Board?

As far as "clothes to bring", you're travelling in the "shoulder season" which is a great, but getting into the fall you might have to pack a few more clothes ("layering" is a good idea).

Hope this will provide a few ideas to think about. Good luck with your trip planning!

[stanncie]

errrr......

[LHR02]

BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!

I did not respond for just that reason....I hate it when people shout at me!

[KAT2000]

Sorry about the CAPS LOCK. I work with computers and the system requires CAPS so after looking at that all day, I rarely notice when I still leave it on.

The cities we want to see are pretty definite, but we are also thinking to leave leeway and see where we end up. We'll be buying Rail passes and are coming from Washington D.C. and neither of us has been to Europe before. Thanks and I'll definitely register.

[LHR02]

Welcome! And thanks for turning off your locks.

I second Eagles comment that with two months and three countries you are setting yourselves up for one fine and memorable trip indeed. And going in September-November time frame is an excellent chice. Prices and crowds will be way down and the weather should still be pretty darn fine indeed. Especially ending in Italy as you are. I'd say plan on late summer/early fall wardrobe.....shorts to a sweater or light jacket for occasional cooler weather. I've never needed more than a tee and down vest or lightweight raincoat in Rome in December/january, although southern France was fairly chilly....in February though.

There are of course oodles of additonal cities I/we can suggest for the countries you are going to...and we will...but first, have you given any thought yet to how long you would like to plan to stay in the ones you already have? A random look at what amount of time I would assign to each city you list gets me to 41 days. Even allowing a generous full 10 days for travel that still gives you a week-10 days for other things. (By my very generous timetable!)

What sort of things are you hoping to see and do? What led you to the choices of these cities? Museums, history, nightlife, architecture? Again, it will help us to advise you if we have some idea what you are going there to see and do.

Welcome again......sorry for being 'tart' about the caps! ;D

ging

Oh...and don't even consider giving up the open-jaw plan! It's the best way to go without a doubt!

[KAT2000]

Well, I'm into art, architecture, ancient things/archaeology. My boyfriend is into historical things especially things dealing with military, WWII, things like that. And would like to go to a few beaches, but don't know how the weather will be then? Also very big into literature, if that makes a difference.

We're planning this with the thought that we will be back at some point. (Have to see Ireland, Germany, Prague and Vienna!) Basically, just a nice break from college life before becoming serious and being in the real world.

Thanks for everyone's comments, I'm so excited!!

[Guest]

Glad you're so excited!! Fall is the greatest season for travel in my opinion!! Hopefully someone can give you some more advice.

[KAT2000]

OK everyone, I've got a better sketched out itinerary now. Please let me know any tips, advice or suggestions.

Day 1: Arrive in Paris
Day 2-5: Paris
Day 6 & 7: Normandy
Day 8: Mt. Saint Michel
Day 9: Chartres Cathedral & Night Train to Spain
Day 10-15: Madrid
Day 16-17: Cordoba
Day 17-18: Granada
Night Train to Barcelona
Day 19-24: Barcelona
Night Train to Nice
Day 25-28: Nice
Evening 28: On to Venice
Day 29-32: Venice
Morning 33: Venice to Florence
Day 34-35: Florence
Day 36: Pisa
Day 37-40: Naples
Day 41: Pompeii
Day 42-44: Somewhere in South South Italy
Night Train to Rome
Day 45-50: Rome
Day 51: Fly home from Rome


Thanks for all your help! I love this site.

[JoshTre]

The Itinerary looks similar to what we tried last year, should go fine. Try Reggio Calabria for a southern destination. It is good for a day or two to relax. I wonder if doing the trip in the reverse order is better, to take advantage of weather.

[Eagle]

From a quick glance, your revised itinerary looks quite good. However there were a few points that I wondered about:

-- will there be enough in Nice to keep you occupied for four days? Hopefully you'll get a few more suggestions on this.
-- is 4-5 days too long in Venice? Would it be better to deduct two days and add those days to Florence? (hopefully Dustoffmom will comment, as she's the resident expert on those areas).
-- Four days in Naples? I haven't been there yet, but from what I've heard you might be better to shorten that and add a few days somewhere else, perhaps the Cinque Terre or Lago di Como (must be a good spot - George Clooney has a house there)?
-- with regard to touring the beaches of Normandy, you might have a look at www.battlebus.fr as they offer tours (a bit on the expensive side, but apparently awesome tours). Might be an idea to stay in Bayeux as they will pick visitors up there for the tours.
-- another posibility for the south of Italy would be the Amalfi coast (Sorrento, Positano, etc.). It's a beautiful area! There's also the Isle of Capri which Kim mentioned in another post recently - apparently a bit expensive but definitely a good stop (especially the Blue Grotto).

With some "juggling" you might be able to fit a few other very interesting stops in to your itinerary. I just had a quick look at it but hopefully these comments will be of help.

Cheers!!!

[me]

with so much time, you might want to look into other places, as well. with some knowledge, deciding to take side trips would be easier.

some of the places to look at might be, in Spain: Seville! wonderful old capitol!

also Algeciras, if you're still interested in a day trip to Tagier. Marbela is interesting, but a real gem is Arcos de la Frontera! Arcos is a delight, we stayed at the Parador there (high $ digs) but the town was really lovely!

also, the Algarve isn't too far out of the way.

in Italy: i'd suggest Sienna, and more time in Rome. for South Italy, i've heard that Taromina, Sicily, is nice.

- d

[CowTown19]

KAT2000 said:

Day 19-24: Barcelona
Night Train to Nice
Day 25-28: Nice
Evening 28: On to Venice
Day 29-32: Venice

I'm not positive on this, but while researching my trip I thought there was no train that linked Barcelona-Nice, or Nice-Venice. I used www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm, is this the case or do you know something I don't. Because I'd like to get on that train too!

[KAT2000]

Check www.bahn.de. It seems like rail europe isn't an entire list of all the trains, just most major ones. Also, the timetable you get with a rail pass should list it.