thoughts needed from you all please....

[sejvirgo]

when i first began planning my trip last summer i wanted to see and do it all..... but i am more of a laid back type of person and realized that i would be miserable pushing myself from country to country. i took my time, relaxed and while i didn't get to see everything, i really got to see the places i did visit. i also was flexible with my plans, and ended up cutting some stuff out and adding other places.
i think it all depends on the travelers personality. if people really want to push through 10 countries in a month, good for them. they just need to be prepared for sleeping on trains, eating on the run, and not having much time to soak up the culture. to each his own.

[LHR02]

Sounds like you and I could make good travel companions! That's me to a tee....I would rather spend 5 days simply wandering the back streets of 'pick any city' than closing up my pack and running off to catch that train to the next one day stop any time. What I didn't see....well maybe next trip...but what I did see, I saw very well indeed. And loved every minute of getting out of 'tourist land' along the way. And I have to say again...ah the joys of off season/solo travels. ;D

[Cil]

Hmm
I thought I had posted to this thread but I guess not.
Anyway, I guess I am sort of like Big Ray.
My first solo trip to Europe I was less than half the age I am now, and we crammed quite a bit into two months of travel. No regrets!
Now I am pushing 50 and have slowed things down quite a bit. I likely won't see everything I'd like to see before I die. No regrets there either.
So I can appreciate that different people have different traveling styles.

[jennifer]

I think my first solo trip was great, I crammed a lot in, but I still had a lot of time to relax and wander. I guess i'm the active type, I need to see a lot. WHen I do like a place, like Amsterdam, I stayed 8 days, I know I can manage to stay and I make do of that. I think I'm a mix between every type of traveller! hahahah

[CuriousToronto]

Ging:

My personal opinion is that you should continue to be brutally honest with people!

I came on this board more than a year ago and I had never been to Europe. I was well researched so I had an idea of where I wanted to go and where I was going to stay. But having never traveled by train and stuff I wasn't really aware of the more practical limitations.

If you remember the first time I posted an itinerary you guys straightened me out and I'm glad you did. At one point I had visions of going to Spain too.

At the end I whittled everything down and ended up with Geneva, Gimmelwald, Florence, Cinque Terre day-trip (spur of the moment), and Paris. It wasn't too hectic and I was really happy with my schedule in the end.

I think the dose of reality really really helped! Looking back on things I would have been OVERLY exhausted with my first itinerary. And the entire never spend less than 2 nights in a place thing is IMHO a fantastic piece of advice. Unless the place really sucks but for the most part it applies.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: Keep on telling it like it is!

[jennifer]

You see, it pays to be brutal...haaha!

[Numbers]

I don't perceive suggestions by the more seasonal travellers, to be negative or critical, I view their responses (and intentions behind them) to be quite the opposite. It would be easy for posters and the moderators, like Kim, to not reply and leave the newbie poster believing that they had constructed the perfect itinery (e.g. 17 countries in 1 week). But they don't. Many posters and moderators go out of their way to reply; adding doses of much needed reality to surreal itineries. If anything, these "critical posts" as you term them only suggest that the seasonal travellers and moderators care.

[Numbers]

P.S. I cannot wait until I have travelled Europe. I'd love to shoot down a few impractical itineries. Just kidding. ;D

[BARATIER]

I second C.T.: keep telling it like it is. I rather have the horrid truth than a sweet lie.

Bara

[daliwithatrolley]

Although I skipped most of the replies, I'd like to reiterate what I'm sure everyone already agrees on.

I came to this site looking for just the advice everyone has offered. I've never been, so I would assume that it would be wise to heed that advice from those who have, especially those who have ventured out several times.

The regulars have done a great job and I value what you have to say. I wouldn't feel bad guys, of course a trip like this is a big deal and it's easy for first-timers, myself included, to get swept away with money, transportation....gawd even packing! What do you mean I shouldn't bring my knee high black suede heels???!!!

Cheers,
Char

[Rich]

Looks like I'm the first rookie/firsttimer/etc to post an opinion here. With our first Europe trip approaching in 4 weeks and basically planned out already (my wife would say "to the minute"!), I can honestly say that if the trip is anything as interesting and fun as the planning, it will be amazing! The big thing about this trip will be to see the things that I've read about, and this may include landmarks, sites, or even just relating to other people's past social experiences. I'd rather have an aggressive plan that I'm excited about than walk around aimlessly wondering what to check out next.......of course, those who plan their planning will also make their plans flexible so that they can make unplanned trips (wasn't that a mouthful!). By this, I mean making plans to be able to change plans if needed!

I've always found the postings on this website informative and genuinely helpful. But I also take the info as suggestions, not instructions, from people who have walked the trail that I'd like to follow.

So with that, please continue to be opinionated......it's very helpful! When the 2nd trip is in the near horizon, I'm sure I will plan to not plan, but it will take more than a few days of that train exhaust to slow down a "type A trip planner" like me on a first trip to Europe!

Firsttimer

P.S. - 2 years ago we drove 4500km (~2800mi) of Eastern Canada within 3 weeks and the only thing I would have changed was 1 wasted day hanging around a place we'd exhausted ourselves with the day before....that was one more place we could have visited!!