23 Days in Europe - What do you think?

[fsuhsl]

Hello All,

My girlfriend and I will be taking a 23 day (wish it was a full month, but the g/f can't do it )trip to Europe beginning on March 8, 2009. We are planning on purchasing open jaw tickets from Miami to London, London to Amsterdam and then Paris to MIA. We will also be purchasing the 15 day Eurail pass which will allow us unlimited rail travel within those 15 days. Below is what I have put together so far, using the main cities as jumping points to any other trips we can do while there.

3/8 - Leave MIA
3/9 - Arrive in London 7am
London - 3/9, 3/10, 3/11, 3/12. Fly from London to Amsterdam on 3/13
Amsterdam - 3/13, 3/14, 3/15, 3/16. Begin 15 day train passes and travel to Munich 3/17.
Munich - Arrive late 3/17. 3/18, 3/19, 3/20, 3/21. Train to Switzerland 3/22.
Switzerland - 3/22, 3/23, 3/24, 3/25. Train to France 3/26.
France - 3/26, 3/27, 3/28, 3/29, 3/30. Fly Paris to MIA 3/31.

For Switzerland we will most likely be meeting a friend and she will be showing us around.

For Paris, my plans were to spend 3/26, 3/27 in a recommended city (Lyon, Orleans etc.) and the remainder of the days in Paris.

Does this sound like a decent itinerary given the time frame? If you are able to suggest any other cities, say outside of Munich or Amsterdam, where we can spend a couple days that would be great too.

Thanks for the help!

[Eagle]

fsuhsl, Welcome! A few initial thoughts on your Itinerary.....

Your proposed route looks fairly well organized. It's great that you're using open-jaw flights! I also have a few comments on each of the cities you've chosen:

> London - you'll probably be a bit "jet lagged" on March 9th, so may not get a lot of touring done. If you're relatively young, you may be able to get through this a bit easier than us "older travellers". Which London airport will you be arriving at? Which part of London will you be staying? Finally, which London sights are you most interested in seeing?

> Amsterdam - I assume you'll be flying from Stanstead or Luton to Amsterdam? I would probably shorten your time here by at least one day and use the time elsewhere (unless you have a specific reason for that length of time?). I'm sure herrbert and some of the others will have a few comments to add as well.

> Munich - the time frame for Munich looks good, as it will allow some time for day trips. In addition to the "usual" Munich trips (Neuschwanstein Castle, Dachau), you could also have a look at Salzburg or other nearby locations. It's a beautiful part of Germany!

> Switzerland - you didn't indicate which cities you would be visiting here, so it's difficult to offer specific advice. It sounds like you'll be getting a "personal tour" for that portion of your trip.

> France - instead of Lyon / Orleans, you could also consider a day or two in Normandy. However, Paris really needs at least five days, as there is SO MUCH to see and do. What sights are you most interested in? If you're planning to visit any of the Museums or other major sights, a Paris Museum Pass (perhaps the two-day version?) would be a really good idea! Another possibility would be a day trip to Versailles.

I'm wondering if a 15-day Eurail "unlimited" Pass is the best option? Based on the information you've posted, you only have about three or four rail trips. One thing to keep in mind is that even with a rail pass, you'll have to pay reservation fees separately on trains where these are compulsory, which will increase your costs. I'd have to look at this in more detail, but I would probably look at the Flex Passes also, as they may be more cost effective.

Were you planning on pre-booking your lodgings in each city? Generally speaking, there probably won't be huge numbers of tourists in Europe in March, but of course there are always exceptions.

In planning your trip, have you checked any Guidebooks to get details on sights that you want to see in each city? It's a good idea to get some specifics, as some sights are closed on certain days.

I'm sure the others will have some comments as well.

Good luck with your planning!

[herrbert]

Dec 23, 2008 18:45:59 GMT -5 Eagle said:

> Amsterdam - I assume you'll be flying from Stanstead or Luton to Amsterdam? I would probably shorten your time here by at least one day and use the time elsewhere (unless you have a specific reason for that length of time?). I'm sure herrbert and some of the others will have a few comments to add as well.

As a matter of fact, I would suggest to take a look at VLM Airlines, they fly from London City Airport to Amsterdam, which could save some time. Their cheapest tickets are a bit more expensive, but for Luton or Stansted you also need to count in an extra amount for the transfer to the airport. For City Airport you can take the tube.

I would shorten your Amsterdam visit with a day as well. 2 full days will do the trick, unless you are planning a daytrip to The Hague or Haarlem.