First Time Backpacker :)

[jt426]

Hi Everyone!

So I am the type who always overplans everything!! Not so this time. I am going to try to wing most of it I bought two one way tickets about two months ago so that I wouldn't be able to change my mind and say "oh it's too expensive, I"ll wait another year". So the arrival and departure cities are set, everything else is up on the air.

My basic skeleton sketch is as follows, and I would greatly welcome any thoughts or suggestions:

Oct. 14 Arrive in Dublin
2-3 days later off to Paris
3 days later off to Venice
2-3 Days later off to Florence
2-3 days later off to Rome

I fly home to Boston from Rome on October 28th.

Again any tips for other cities I should see along the way, or if this is way off-base in the amount of time I have, I would appreciate your help!

Thanks everyone, I hope you are all having fun planning for your trips too

Jane

[rchua]

you're plan seems to be good route. how are you going to get around? are you using a eurorail or plane? if you're taking the train you probably go through switzerland. i'd suggest stopping in one of their small towns and enjoy the outdoors. on my trip i was glad to stop at interlaken on my way to rome from paris. it was a great change from an urban environment to small town/village and seeing open space.

[jt426]

I didn't even think about that! I just assumed the train would take me to south of france, then directly east to Venice. This is going to sound a bit lame, but my mom suggested that i go to Switzerland because she went there on her honeymoon and fell in LOVE with the place. I was hoping to go there sometime, but didn't think I could squeeze it in. Sounds like a day or two in Switzerland would fit right in as I look at the map now.

Now all I need to do is figure out how the heck to get from Paris to Switzerland to Venice to Florence to Rome via train. I dont' know the exact dates or times I"m leaving each city so the online eurorail locaiton finder isn't much help

Thank you for your advice rchua, MUCH appreciated!!

[Eagle]

Jane, a few comments on your travel plans. First of all, I assume you're flying (budget airline?) from Dublin to Paris? Not sure if you've booked your flight yet, but usually those booking early get the best prices.

As far as getting from Paris to Switzerland, you might check www.bahn.de for the travel times to Interlaken. Even using the TGV, it's still a fairly lengthy trip so you might consider air travel to Bern or Zurich instead. You didn't say where in Switzerland you wanted to visit, but you might have time for a quick look around Gimmelwald (a favourite on these Boards!).

It appears that you only have about two weeks for your trip. That is a VERY short time for travelling in Europe, especially considering the distances you'll be covering.

I dont' know the exact dates or times I"m leaving each city

Given the short duration of your trip, I'd strongly suggest that precise planning on your travel times will be essential, if you want to cover the destinations you've chosen! Again, the bahn.de site is a good reference for rail travel. Were you planning on buying a railpass, or just using point-to-point tickets? Also, and possibly MOST important, it doesn't look like you've allowed for travel time between cities.

Is there any way you could add a bit of time to the trip? For such a short trip and given the distances, my preference would be to drop Dublin and concentrate on the European sites, especially as you want to add Switzerland. Keep in mind that if you're travelling from North American, you will often lose the first day due to flight times and the time difference. And of course, there's jet lag to consider.

Hope this has been some help. Good luck with your trip planning and happy travels!!!

[jt426]

I am actually very happy that I was able to take such a long time off from work. You've sort of made me feel bad that I don't have longer, which is silly. I think a great trip can come out of any length of time spent in Europe. Unfortunatley not all of us can just take off work and other responsibilities for a month, so I will be enjoying my two week vacation to its fullest, and am very much so looking forward to it!

Thank you for your suggestions. I will consider not traveling to Switzerland, but I haven't fully decided yet. I won't plan my trip down to the minute though as you suggested with "precise travel times" because it is all bound to change while I"m there. I have purchased airfare from Dublin to Paris already, and will be buying the Eurorail Saver 3 country pass for France, Switzerland and Italy. From there I will most likely play it by ear. If I am running short on time, I will scrap Switzerland and head right to Italy.

Thank you again for your post.

[Eagle]

Jane, I most certainly was not trying to make you "feel bad"! I always try to avoid criticism in my Posts, but perhaps sometimes I don't always succeed? I was simply trying to stress that given the time you have available, the number of cities you want to visit and the distance between these, you realistically could have difficulty making this all work.

Like you, I have responsibilities and can't normally take extended time off work for travelling. The trip that I'll be embarking on this fall has taken five years of planning and work, and I was fortunate that I was able to arrange extended vacation time. This is probably not something I'll be able to repeat easily.

I only suggested "precise travel times" as I felt that would give you the best chance to see all of the cities you wanted to visit. I wasn't sure if this would be possible if you were just "winging it"?

I intended my comments to be helpful, and certainly wasn't trying to put a damper on your plans. I DO sincerely hope you have a great holiday, and that it's everything you anticipated! Hopefully my trip will be the same.

Happy travels!!!

[herrbert]

If I were you I would consider if you would like to spend 2 or 3 days in Venice. In my opinion 1 or maybe 2 at the most would do. the one day that you save, you could add to visit Rome (Where you would really need 4 or even better 5 days to see, all there is to see)

[jt426]

Great tip!! Someone else had actually mentioned the same thing to me. I think I will be taking that day off of Venice and tacking it on to Rome. But if I am having an amazing time in Venice, then I'll keep the day there... ahhh the wonders of a flexible train pass, and the reminders that Rome isn't going anywhere Thanks for your pointers!!!

[grwillian]

11 posts, 11 ads. Nice one.
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