I think I almost have it!

[greeneyes]

Hey everyone,

I posted an itinerary awhile back for a three month trip around Europe next summer and got some really great advice from everyone. Of course being as indecisive as I am, it still hasn't been finalized and is completely different from where I first started but I think I almost have it and I'd love some advice if anyone has any to share.

Friday April 25th - Fly from Vancouver, BC to London, England
Saturday April 26th - Arrive in London
~ Spend 5 nights/4 days in London
Thursday June 1st - Fly from London to Edinburgh, Scotland
~ Spend 8 nights/7 days in Scotland (1 day in Edinburgh and 6 days on tour)
Friday May 9th - Fly from Edinburgh to Dublin, Ireland
~ Spend 10 nights/9 days in Ireland (1 day in Dublin and 8 days on tour)
Monday May 19th - Fly from Dublin to Lisbon, Portugal
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Lisbon (Day trip to Sintra by train)
Friday May 23rd - Bus from Lisbon to Lagos, Portugal
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Lagos
Monday May 26th - Bus from Lagos to Lisbon/Fly from Lisbon to Madrid, Spain
~ Spend 3 nights/3 days in Madrid (Day trip to Toledo by bus)
Thursday May 29th - Night train (1) from Madrid to San Sebastian, Spain
~ Spend 3 nights/3 days in San Sebastian
Sunday June 1st - Night train (2) from San Sebastian to Barcelona, Spain
~ Spend 3 nights/3 days in Barcelona
Thursday June 5th - Train (3) from Barcelona to Avignon, France
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Avignon
Sunday June 8th - Train (4) from Avignon to Nice, France
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Nice
Wednesday June 11th - Train (5) from Nice to Venice, Italy
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Venice
Saturday June 14th - Train (6) from Venice to La Spezia, Italy
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Cinque Terre
Wednesday June 18th - Train (7) from La Spezia to Florence, Italy (Stopover in Pisa)
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Florence
Sunday June 22nd - Train (8) from Florence to Rome, Italy (Stopover in Siena)
~ Spend 5 nights/4 days in Rome
Friday June 27th - Train (9) from Rome to Naples, Italy/Ferry to Positano, Italy
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Positano (Day trip to Capri by ferry)
Monday June 30th - Bus from Positano to Sorrento, Italy
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Sorrento (Day trip to Pompeii by train)
Thursday July 3rd - Train from Sorrento to Naples/Fly from Naples to Munich, Germany
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Munich
Monday July 7th - Train (10) from Munich to Salzburg, Austria
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Salzburg
Thursday July 10th - Train (11) from Salzburg to Vienna, Austria
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Vienna
Monday July 14th - Train from Vienna to Prague, Czech Republic
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Prague (Day trip to Kutna Hora by bus)
Friday July 18th - Train from Prague to Berlin, Germany
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Berlin
Monday July 21st - Train (12) from Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands
~ Spend 4 nights/3 days in Amsterdam
Friday July 25th - Train (13) from Amsterdam to Bruges, Belgium
~ Spend 3 nights/2 days in Bruges
Monday July 28th - Train (14) from Bruges to Paris, France
~ Spend 6 nights/5 days in Paris (Day trip to Versailles by train)
Sunday August 3rd - Fly from London to Vancouver
Monday August 4th - Arrive in Vancouver

* We decided to do tours in both Scotland and Ireland as a way to see more of the countryside and learn more about the history and stories of each place. We're looking at Haggis for Scotland and Shamrocker for Ireland.
* With this itinerary we figured that the 15 day/2 month railpass would be best (refering to the #'s listed to certain train rides) .. we would have 1 day on the pass left over which means we can add days to a few places or take a day trip somewhere - any suggestions?)

Thanks in advance!

[herrbert]

Monday May 26th - Bus from Lagos to Lisbon/Fly from Lisbon to Madrid, Spain
~ Spend 3 nights/3 days in Madrid (Day trip to Toledo by bus)

Did you check on a Ryanair flight from Faro to Madrid?
Toledo by train is easier, and faster, but also a little more expensive. (but with the possibility to return later, the last bus in Toledo leave at 21.00 or 21.30 if I remember correctly). To get to the busstation in Madrid take the metro to Mendez Alvaro (on line 6: Circular. If you are in the center, take line 1 to Pacifico, and change there to line 6).

The nighttrain to San Sebastian, makes a lot of stops, during the night. I don't know how go you can sleep under these conditions.

Monday July 21st - Train (12) from Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands

This is a long stretch, there is also the possibility to get a nighttrain, that goes via Brussels. Another option would be a flight (transavia).

Friday July 18th - Train from Prague to Berlin, Germany

You can consider a stopover in Dresden.

On the pass: do a check at www.railsaver.com, to be sure. also note that if you take a nighttrain that leaves before 19.00, you will have to credit 2 days, instead of one.

If you leave it like this, I would use the pass on the stretch between the Czech Republic border, and Munich. (get a ticket from Prague to the border, and credit the rest on your pass).