First Timer Here - ~30 days, May/June 2007

[cherish]

Thanks for all of the great advice in my previous posts here! This site has been a real lifesaver Anway, I've begun to plan out where exactly I want to go. I'd like to know if this itinerary is at all possible. Is it too fast paced? Does the route make sense? Should I skip somewhere in favor of a better place? Advice from those who are experienced would be great! By the way, I will be a first timer, solo, 18 year old female, if that makes at all a difference lol.

May 22 Fly to London
May 23-26 London
May 26-28 Edinburgh
May 28-30 Northern Ireland Any city suggestions?
May 30-June 1 Dublin
June 1-2 Wales (may be staying with family friend, and could be extended to longer)
June 2-5 Bath (as a home base to explore the surrounding sites such as Stonehenge, Cotswolds etc.
June 5-7 Brussels / Bruges (not sure where to stay, are there hostels in Bruges?)
June 7-9 Rothenburg, Germany (Romantic Road)
June 9-11 Austria (unsure about what city. Perhaps Innsbruck?)
June 11-13 Venice
June 13-16 Rome (any day trip suggestions?)
June 16-18 Interlaken/Gimmelwald
June 18-20 Paris
June 20 Fly home from Paris

[pointofnoreturn]

I think the # of days in Rome and Paris is really minimum. Rome takes 4-5 nights and Paris is 4-5 nights as well. You could consider cutting out Brussels/Bruges or Germany (I've heard a lot of people were disappointed with the Romantic Road unless you're a Germany freak) and taking these days and applying them to the larger cities.

[madamtrashheap]

Good to see you've started your itinerary cherish! It is a little fast paced, do you only have a month to travel or can you slot in more time?

A few points for you:
Northern Ireland - Belfast is interesting, as is There's a great place called the Giant's Causeway, on the north east coast, that's well worth a visit too. Are you just doing Dublin in Ireland? I'd suggest perhaps having only 2 days in Northern Ireland (you can still fit a trip to the causeway in) and give the other day to Dublin.
Belgium - as this is your first trip, choose Brugges over Brussels. Prettier adn you'll love it. And yes there are hostels, have a look on the GFE site www.guideforeurope.com/belgiumhostels.html
Bath - 2 full days will be plenty, so if you do end up staying in Wales longer then don't fret.
Germany - whilst Rothenburg (ob der Tauber to give it it's full name as there's another Rothenburg in the north east of Germany) is very pretty, it might warrant a day trip from Munich only. If you stay in Munich you could also do day trips south to Neuschwanstein castle (the other end of the Romantic Road) and it is only a quick train ride to Innsbruck (or Salzburg).
Rome - as PONR wrote, you might like to have 3-4 full days of sightseeing in Rome (no time for day trips unless you allocate more time there) as there is lots to take in.
Paris - same as PONR, you'll need at least 3-4 full days here, without day trips (except Versailles). If you can add more time then you'll be greatful for it.

Some other things:
* If you have only 1 month, then look at perhaps removing Belgium and, as much as I hate to say it, Ireland or Switzerland. You could still plan a good itinerary if these were out (eg London -Edinburgh - Wales - Bath - London - fly Munich - train Austria- train Venice - train Rome - fly Paris - fly home.), but it's up to you.
* Don't forget that travel time between some cities will eat into your free time so look at things like night trains or flights for some routes.
* If you did have/find the time, and wanted to break up your journey, you could add a few days in Florence so you travel Rome-Florence - Switzerland. Just a thought.

Keep at it, it's taking shape already! ;D

[herrbert]

Flying to Munich from London (after visiting Bath), would be a good way to save time. There are a couple of daytrips you can make from Munich, so you have to see how many days you want to stay there. (btw. Rotherburg is 2 1/2 hrs by train, and the same to get back).

From Munich you could also decide to fly to Venice (hlx.com), thus skipping Austria, and maybe putting more days to Switzerland, or somewhere else.

If you would decide to go Austria anyway, than Innsbruck is a good choice. It is on route to Venice, and it has some good scenery, and things to do. (for a good view, take the cablecar to the Hafelekar. You can do some hiking there aswell).