May7-31

[ettelson]

Okay so here is my newest itinerary. We really need some suggestions of the attractions we don't want to miss in the cities we will be in. Any suggestions would be great. We bought a 6 trip 5 country europass ( france, benelux, switzerland, italy and germany) and also purchased 2 plane tickets. One from rome to barcelona ryanair on the 23, and then a flight from barcelona to dublin aerlingus.

Heres the plan:

Fly into Paris am the 8th and spend 4 nights there
May 12 train to Amsterdam - 2-3 nights, don't know what we want to do?
May 14 or 15 nighttrain to Munich - 2-3 nights, agian don't know what to do there need suggestions.
may 16 17 or 18 nighttrain to Milan

Now we have these days in Italy, but we need to be in Rome for a flight to Barcelona on the 23

Need suggestions for an itinerary for Italy and what to see and do here

May 23- 28 Barcelona again need suggestions to fill these days. Doesn't have to be all in Barcelona

May 28 Dublin flight

May 31 fly home at Noon from Dublin

Another thing that we would really like to do is see a great beach. Probably around Barca because thats when we have most dispensable time.

Thanks-
CJ

[madamtrashheap]

Welcome back ettelson!

As for attractions in each place - where to start?!!! There have been a lot of posts about all of these places, so perhaps look through the different threads for some ideas as it will depend on your interests (and day of the week if some places are closed). Here's a sample post on Amsterdam (there are plenty more) pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?board=CCadvice&action=display&n=1&thread=3835 to get you started.

Here are a few notes about your new itinerary:

Paris - if you arrive in Paris from your home country, you may find that jetlag knocks you around a bit, so perhaps take the extra day (to make it 5 nights) from Amsterdam, although 2 full days in Amsterdam would be the perfect amount of time. At least you can be a little flexible there.

Amsterdam - the train (Thalys) from Paris to AMS is around 4hours so you will have time that afternoon to start the sightseeing.

Munich - 3 nights would be best as you can spend a day in the city and also find time to go out to Dachau (you'll need at least half a day allotted for this) then the next day you could go to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof (and any other castles in the area that interest you!) on a day trip (guided or solo, whatever suits). To get around Munich centre, you could also take a bike tour if that interests you, and you have the nightlife as well. May is "Starkbierzeit" or Strong Beer Time when the double amlt beer that was developed by monks for the vitamin/mineral intake needed to sustain them during Lent is available. I think the Paulanerkeller (beer hall) holds the city festival when this beer is released.

Italy - I don't know that Milan is the best place to be spending the small amount of time you have for Italy. Depending on how long you give to Munich, let's say you have 4 full days in Italy. You need to look at which city interests you most and spend the time there. The obvious choice is Rome and 4 full days is a good amount of time in Rome. So with that in mind, I'd suggest flying Munich-Rome - not only will you gain a day (no night train) but you'll be able to see the city well and, if you end up with 5 days, go down to Pompei for a day trip. If you still prefer to utilise your -train pass, then the night train Munich - Rome takes around 11 hours (get the one with no changes at around 21h00).

Barcelona - this is your best bet for a beach section of your holiday (Paris has a "beach" but it doesn't get set up until June/July. Munich has the Englischegarten, but let's face it neither of these places are beach-weather places in May!). However, as you have around 6 days, would you consider spending 3 in Barca and 3 in Madrid? Shame you've already booked the Barca-Dublin ticket as a Madrid-Dublin ticket would have been great too. Either way, where ever you go you'll have to come back to Barcelona to fly out so look at places like Valencia, maybe a day trip to Figueres if you're into Dali, Zaragoza or you could even go to Ibiza for a few nights (fly to/from Barca) but things are only just opening up in May on the island. I'm sure the others will have further suggestions for this seciton.

Dublin - as you have 2 full days, keep them in Dublin and use them to perhaps do a hop-on-hop-off bus city tour and use this as a way of visiting places like the Guinness Storehouse (old brewery) and Kilmainham Gaol which are futher out of town. Also visit Trinity College, the Book of Kells, walk over the Pennyfarthing Bridge, explore both sides of the river in the city and of course spend time in Temple Bar.

Happy planning - let us know the next stage! It's not long now!

[pointofnoreturn]

Why are you taking a night train to Milan? You could easily fly to whatever Italian city you're planning to stay in (i.e. Rome?)

[herrbert]

pointofnoreturn said:

Why are you taking a night train to Milan? You could easily fly to whatever Italian city you're planning to stay in (i.e. Rome?)

Or if you take a train to Milan, I would take a normal train during the day, and look at the scenery outside (you passing through the Alps, that should give you some great views)

[ettelson]

okay i have gotten a couple new ideas. The help has been great so far, but let me know how this sounds. i will break it down how i did for myself the, and in response to the jet lag thing we really have no solid sleep schedule as is i am sure we will be able to tough it out . N's Are nights

Paris - Arrive 7 am ( go to hostel get settled a bit and go out)- 8 N 9 N 10 N 11 N
Amsterdam - Arrive via train Noonish - 12 N 13
Munich - Arrive via night train 8 am - 14 N 15 N 16
Milan - Arrive via night train 8 am
Florence - Get on 9 am train from Milan Arrive around Noonish - 17 N 18 N
Rome - Arrive via train around 11 am - 19 N 20 N 21 N 22 N (possibly a day trip to Pompei in there)
Barcelona - Fly in around 1030 pm (don't know what i was thinking when i did that) 23 N 24 N 25 N 26 N 27 N
Dublin - fly in around 1 pm - 28 N 29 N 30 N
Fly home 31

On the Barcelona trip we were really interested in going to the FC Barcelona match the 27. What are the chances of that happening?

[ettelson]

Paris - Arrive 7 am ( go to hostel get settled a bit and go out)- 8 N 9 N 10 N 11 N
Amsterdam - Arrive via train Noonish - 12 N 13 N 14
Munich - Arrive via night train 8 am - 15 N 16 N 17
Milan - Arrive via night train 8 am
Florence - Get on 9 am train from Milan Arrive around Noonish - 18 N 19 N
Rome - Arrive via train around 11 am - 20 N 21 N 22 N (possibly a day trip to Pompei in there)
Barcelona - Fly in around 1030 pm (don't know what i was thinking when i did that) 23 N 24 N 25 N 26 N 27 N
Dublin - fly in around 1 pm - 28 N 29 N 30 N
Fly home 31

This ones with an extra night in Amsterdam and one less in Rome

[Eagle]

ettelson, I gather your plans are just about finalized, but my preference would be a slightly different arrangement:

> Paris (5 nights)
> Amsterdam (2 nights)
> Munich (2 nights?)
> Milan (I'd drop Milan for such a short trip, and add the time to...)
> Florence (at least 3 nights)
> Rome (if you can manage, AT LEAST 4 nights - with such a short time, I doubt that a day trip to Pompeii will be possible, as that is a LONG day - there's plenty to see around Rome!!!)
> Barcelona (I would have deducted at least one day here, and added that to Rome or Florence, but if you've already bought your ticket, that part of your trip is "written in stone").
> Dublin (3 nights is good)

As usual MTH has some great tips for sightseeing. You might find it worthwhile to read a couple of guide books, to see which attractions in each city interest you the most. Try to get a list of ideas before you go, so that you won't waste any of your valuable travel time or money when you arrive there!

Good luck and happy travels!!!

[herrbert]

(don't know what i was thinking when i did that)

If you are flying with RyanAir it might be worth to take a look, if you don't get stuck in Girona, for that night. (There is nothing wrong with Girona, it's beautiful, but it might be bad, if you can't reach your hostel, you reserved in Barcelona). If so see if Vueling doesn't have a better deal.

As time looks important I would also drop Milan. (Air Dolimiti, not the cheapest of the budget airlines, have flights from Munich to Florence)

I think the chances of seeing FC Barcelona are pretty slim, It could well be that they can become champion of Spain on the day you want to see them, so there will be an extra demand of tickets. Looking football in a bar, can be just as much fun (if you pick the right bar). And if they do become champion that night be sure to have a long, long ... very long night of celibrations

[ettelson]

Paris - Arrive 7 am ( go to hostel get settled a bit and go out)- 8 N 9 N 10 N 11 N
Amsterdam - Arrive via train Noonish - 12 N 13 N 14
Munich - Arrive via night train 8 am - 15 N 16 N 17
Milan - Arrive via night train 8 am
Florence - Get on 9 am train from Milan Arrive around Noonish - 18 N 19 N
Rome - Arrive via train around 11 am - 20 N 21 N 22 N (possibly a day trip to Pompei in there)
Barcelona - Fly in around 1030 pm (don't know what i was thinking when i did that) 23 N 24 N 25 N 26 N 27 N
Dublin - fly in around 1 pm - 28 N 29 N 30 N
Fly home 31

I think this is pretty much as good as we are gonna get it. In response to the Milan part of the trip, we don't plan to stay in Milan at all. We just want to take a night train into Italy and that seems the easiest route in, then get on a train to Florence. We want to stay 2 nights in Amsterdam. The only problem is we don't have a hostel booked. We are traveling in a group of three. Would it be a big problem to just show up at one of the hostels at noon or so and be able to get beds? We really aren't that picky. Another thing I think we will just stay in Girona on the flight from Rome. What would be the best for that stay?

[ettelson]

How important is travelers insurance? Do we need to buy this?

[WillTravel]

The most important thing is to have travel insurance that will cover you for a medical evacuation home, and will cover you for catastrophic health costs while on your trip. The costs for this could be enormous, even if it's something so trivial as breaking your leg (because you wouldn't be able to sit in a regular airline seat).

Other types of insurance, like for trip cancellation and trip interruption, have to be considered depending on your circumstances and how much you have prepaid for the trip.

Are you in the US or Canada?

[ettelson]

I'm from the US