W. Europe - First Trip - Multi-Month - 2ND DRAFT

[codemonkeyken]

Hello everyone,

Well, when I posted my first draft I didn't think it would take me 5 weeks to get the 2nd draft posted. I hate it when work, school and life get in the way of my trip planning. All these distractions are why I am planning this trip in the first place. ;D

I have taken the comments of madamtrashheap, herrbert and pointofnoreturn and rejigged my schedule.

To explain things a little further, my wife and I are giving up our jobs and apartment to go on this trip. So, the exact length is open. We figure we will be gone for 3-4 months. But, if we like a place we may stay there longer, or if we really like an earlier place on this itinerary we may return to it. Basically, we want to see as much of Europe before the money runs out.

Also, to explain some of the quizzical choices in Italy, I am a soccer nut so I really want to spend 2 nights in Milan so I can see one (or two) games. We also have family in the country and thus the side trips to Pesaro and Bari.

As well, madamtrashheap asked if I was going to Oktoberfest in Munich. As I hail from Kitchener (we have the largest Oktoberfest outside Munich) I can say with conviction that I do not need more Oktoberfest in my life.

Anywho, here's the revised itinerary. I haven't included the travel plans between cities yet but we hope to take the train in most cases.

Thanks for looking and for your comments.

Ken


Toronto to London

London (5)
- daytrip (DT) to Bath
- DT to Salisbury/Stonehenge
York (1)
Liverpool (2)
Back to London/London to Brussels by Eurostar (1)
Brussels (1)
Bruges (3)
- DT to Ypres
Antwerp (1)
Amsterdam (2)
Hamburg (1)
Berlin (5)
- DT to Sachenhausen
Dresden (1)
Prague (5)
- DT to Kutna Hora
- DT to Cesky Krumlov
Vienna (4)
- DT to Bratislava
Innsbruck (2)
Munich (3)
- DT to Dachau
Luzern (1)
Gimmelwald (2)
Paris (5)
- DT to Versailles
Barcelona (3)
Valencia (2)
Alicante (2)
Granada (2)
Seville (2)
Lagos (3)
Lisbon (3)
Porto (3)
Madrid (4)
- DT to Toledo
ONE WEEK DOING VAUGHAN VILLAGE
Nice (3)
- DT to Cannes
- DT to Monaco
Turin (2)
Milan (2)
Venice (2)
Cinque Terre (3)
Florence (3)
- DT to Pisa
Pesaro (4)
Siena (2)
Rome (5)
Sorrento (3)
- one day Pompeii/Sorrento
- DT Naples
- DT to Positano
Bari (2)
Athens (3)
Sicily (5)

Back to Toronto (Cheaper to get open jaw vs. making way back to London?)

[madamtrashheap]

Welcome back codemonkeyken!

codemonkeyken said:

As well, madamtrashheap asked if I was going to Oktoberfest in Munich. As I hail from Kitchener (we have the largest Oktoberfest outside Munich) I can say with conviction that I do not need more Oktoberfest in my life.

This was more of a "if you need accommodation during this period then book it now" question. Even I've heard of the Kitchener Oktoberfest (huge!) so understand the need for no more beer!

As for your revised itinerary, here are my thoughts:

London (5)
- daytrip (DT) to Bath
- DT to Salisbury/Stonehenge
These could both be done in the same day as they aren't too far apart. Alternatively, you could spend the night in Bath and make your way back to London via Stonehenge
York (1) - great town, and whilst you can take an early train from London and be there in 2hrs, thus have most of the day sightseeing, you might want an extra night

Can I suggest going up to Scotland at some stage.
Back to London/London to Brussels by Eurostar (1)
you could always fly from Glasgow or Manchester (not far from Liverpool) to Brussels instead of returning to London if there's no need (ie you've done all you wanted in London)
Vienna (4)
- DT to Bratislava
would you also consider a night in Salzburg in here?
Innsbruck (2)
Munich (3)
- DT to Dachau
Luzern (1)
Gimmelwald (2) - you may end up wanting more time here, it's stunning.
Paris (5)
- DT to Versailles
There are plenty of places on the way down to Spain that you could stop off at if you were planning on taking the train otherwise I'd suggest flying Paris-Barcelona.
Barcelona (3)
suggest flying from Madrid to Marseille then catch the train on to Nice (about 2hrs30)
Nice (3)
- DT to Cannes
- DT to Monaco - do an afternoon/evening trip up for a bit of glam
Cinque Terre (3) - you may find you want to spend one more day here.
Florence (3)
- DT to Pisa - you really only need half a day for this.
Sorrento (3)
- one day Pompeii/Sorrento
- DT Naples
- DT to Positano
Can I suggest doing Naples on the way from Rome to Sorrento (you have to change trains there anyway) and going to Capri instead on the free day. Or you could do Naples and Pompei together in one day from Sorrento. Depending on how much time you want to spend there, a free baggage check (if you have packs) is available near the ticket office at Pompei so you could go on your way from Naples to Sorrento.
Bari (2)
Athens (3) - no trips to the Greek Islands (Santorini at least) planned?
Sicily (5) - to get to Sicily from Athens you'll have to go back through Rome (flights) so maybe look at taking the overnight ferry from Naples to Catania and then you could either fly back to Rome then on to Bari then Athens. You could take the (long) ferry if you felt like something different and still had time up your sleeves. This way you could stop in Corfu on your way to Athens (even fly Corfu-Athens).

Hope this helps a little. Happy (further) planning!

[herrbert]

Just add on the Madams advice, I would suggest skipping Alicante in favor of Cordoba. Or maybe to spend the two days in Coimbra (Portugal), or Salamanca. (between Porto and Madrid)

I don't know how much of a 'must-see' Bari is for you, but you might want to consider, sticking in Athens on a different moment of your itinerary.

Between Prague and Vienna would be a possibility. (fly Prague - Athens with SkyEurope, and Athens-Vienna with SkyEurope or AirBerlin. Looks stupid on the map, but it's quite pratical. (providing, you can get a good deal at SkyEurope). Another option is a flight from Berlin (Air Berlin or Easyjet) and return to Prague (SkyEurope), or if you don't want to miss Dresden, you could return to Dresden (Air Berlin), but maybe a returnflight to Berlin, could also be a possibility. (as Dresden is not that far).

I am not that sure about Milan and Turin, maybe spending those days on the shores of Lake Como, would be a better option. (unless there are things you need to see in both places)

[crystal]

I agree with madamtrashheap about travelling back to London from Liverpool just to fly to Brussels.

Have a look at these instead flying to Brussels International Airport

www.flybe.com - Manchester airport ( 40 miles from Liverpool)
www.flybmi.com - Leeds Bradford airport ( 75 Miles)
- Manchester airport ( 40 miles)
- East Midlands ( 100 Miles)

[herrbert]

VLM Airlines fly direct from Liverpool to Brussels Airport:
www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp, They also fly from Manchester to Brussels.