Itinerary - 30 Days, please help

[mwarren20]

Hello All, here is my proposed Itinerary for 30 days in Europe. I would like any feedback, particularly any information about travel from city to city.

Aug12 – Arrive in London 3 Days
Aug15 – Flight to Marrakesh, 5 days in Morocco (Marrakesh, Rabad, Fes)
Aug 20 – Ferry from Tanger to Algeciras and Train to Granada.
Aug 22 – Train Granada to Madrid, Madrid for 2 days
Aug 24 – Train Madrid to Valencia for 1 day
Aug 25 – Train Valencia to Barcelona for 2 days
Aug 27 – Night train Barcelona to Paris, arrive next morning
Aug 28 – In Paris for 3 days
Aug 31 – Train Paris to Amsterdam 2 days there
Sep 3 – Travel from Amsterdam to Dublin (I’m not sure on the best way to do this. I know that according to Eurail they are connected, so I can take a ferry). I could also fly. 4 Days
Sep 7 – Travel from Dublin to Bordeaux. Again, unsure on best way to do this. I am going to Bordeaux to the see a World Cup Rugby game.

I have been looking into a Eurail pass. I am a youth under 26. A 4 country 10 trip pass costs $452. Additionally, I will have to pay for reservation fees on the trains I am taking. For the train routes that I currently know, the reservation fees add up to $138. If I were to book the tickets without the Eurorail pass, it would only cost me a total of $379 (which would save me $172). I have not yet factored in the costs for traveling to Amsterdam-Dublin or Dublin-Bordeaux because I’m not exactly sure what the best way to get there would be.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Particularly, I am unsure why I would save $172 by NOT using the Eurail pass, that seems strange to me.

Thank you.

[herrbert]

Hi Mwarren20,

To have an enjoyable trip, you have to know that both inlnad -Morocco and inland-Spain, have temperatures, that are not really ejoyable in August.

Also if you want to do this trip, the way you write here, you will have to make some sacrifices to some of the cities, and you have to look into taking some flights instead of trains.

5 days in Morocco seeing 3 cities, travel between them, and ending up in Tanger (so basicly 4 cieies for 6 days), makes that you are traveling more then actualy seeing something.

The same is true for Spain. On all the cities you will be short of time, to actualy see something. The train from Madrid to Valencia will take most of the day, as does the train from Granada to Madrid. I would suggest to avoid central Spain in August, and stick to (if possible) flying into Granada from Morocco, or when it's not possible to only visit Barcelona. I know some people like Valencia, but I think your time will be better spend in Paris or Amsterdam for that matter.

Amsterdam - Dublin, a flight for sure, you want to see a lot in a limited amount of time, so travel fast.

I would suggest re-thinking, this trip, as it takes you to really hot places, without the time, to really enjoy the places you visit. Madrid, Barcelona, are places were two days are just not enough, Paris in 3 days can be enough, but depends a little bit of your interests. (If you skip the museums, it might be doable).

Also hold your horses on the EUrail pass. Traintravel in Spain (with the exception of the AVE) is pretty cheap, and for a connection between Barcelona and Paris, I would suggest taking a look at Vueling. I presume the ticketprice, would be lower than what you pay as a reservation fee for the nighttrain. (avoid Ryanair on this one!!)

If you could add days, (or skip a couple of cities, by making this an either Northern trip, or a combined Morocco/Spain trip). I would be much better.

[pointofnoreturn]

Definitely look into a cheap flight from Amsterdam to Dublin. You wouldn't be wasting any time that way.

Wow... Morocco in August... I couldn't survive that hehehe!