34 days in Europe, Need Advice!

[brightlightbigcity]

Hi All!

My brother and I (and possibly a few others) are planning a 34 day trip to Western Europe approximately May 17, 2011 - June 20, 2011. Below is our tentative itinerary. We are also open to reversing the route but we figured going south to north would be more favorable with the weather. We would love some feedback about the route, suggestions on the number of days to spend in each city and any helpful hints!

US -> Madrid

Madrid (possible day trips to Segovia, Toledo, Salamanca)
-->Night train to Lisbon
Lisbon (day trips to to Sintra and Porto) - 3 days
-->Night train to Seville
Seville
-->Flight to Barcelona
Barcelona
-->Flight to Milan
Milan - 1 day (really just using this city as a travel point to fly)
-->Train to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre - 2 days (1 day for hiking, one day at the beach)
-->Train to Rome
Rome - 3 days
-->Train to Florence
Florence - 3 days (day trip to Siena)
-->Train to Venice
Venice - 2 days
-->Flight to Paris
Paris - 3 days (day trip to Versailles)
-->Train to Brussels
Brussels and Bruges
-->Train to Amsterdam
Amsterdam (day trip to Rotterdam)

Amsterdam --> US

Any feedback at all would be extremely helpful! Thank you so much for your input!

Danielle

[Eagle]

Danielle,

First of all, welcome to the Boards!

Your Itinerary looks reasonably well organized. I'll have a closer look at it tomorrow, and add a few comments.

Cheers!

[Eagle]

Danielle,

To begin with, it would help to know whether any of your group have travelled in Europe previously? If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend pre-reading Europe Through The Back Door before you get too far in your planning (especially the "Rail skills" chapter).

I couldn't tell from your Itinerary whether you had allowed for travel days at the beginning and end of your trip? You'll arrive in Europe the day after you depart the U.S., and the last day of your trip will be spent on the flight home.

Another point to clarify is whether you've allowed for travel times between each city? In some cases this will just be a few hours, but in other cases it will be a half day or more.

I'm not sure that flying from Seville to Barcelona will be the quickest method. There's at least one direct AVE train on that route every day, with a travel time of 5H:25M. I suspect travel by air will be at least six hours (and possibly more) when all factors are considered (travel to and from airports, check-in, security and the other usual hassles). Travel by air may not save much money either, as if the airline uses an airport that is some distance from the city, you'll have to include costs to get to and from the airports.

A few points to note regarding European budget airlines:

> Flights are usually non-changeable and non-refundable once booked.

> Luggage limits are in some cases considerably lower than on this side of the Atlantic. Those who travel with lots of luggage will PAY!

> Seat selection is usually not offered (or costs extra), so your group may end up sitting in seats that are far apart.

> Usually only ONE carry-on item is allowed. That doesn't mean one item plus a "personal item" such as a Purse or Laptop case, it means ONE ITEM ONLY of the approved size and weight (and they'll probably check that).

Regarding the flight to Milan, you didn't specify which airline you were planning to use? If an early morning flight is available, you'd be able to get to the Cinque Terre the same day, and avoid wasting a day in Milan.

For the day trip from Florence to Siena, you might consider travel by Bus, as you'll be dropped in the centre of town rather than the bottom of the hill where the rail station is located. The travel time is about the same as by train, especially if using the Corse Rapide Buses. Be sure to verify the time for the Bus returning to Florence.

If you're planning to visit any of the Museums in Paris, the two-day version of the Paris Museum Pass may be a good idea (depending on what you're planning to visit?). Check their website for details and prices. DON'T try to see all of the Louvre, as it's huge! You might focus on the Denon Wing, which is where the Mona Lisa is located.

It's a good idea to wear a Money Belt, especially in Paris, Rome and other large cities, to avoid pickpockets. Barcelona has quite a reputation for that sort of activity.

Are you still planning to travel with a budget of about US$5000? How much will remain once the air fare is paid? Assuming you spend ~$1000 on air fare, US$4000 is about €2945 or €86 per day. That's amount is a bit "low" but may be possible if you're very frugal with expenses.

It's great that you're using open-jaw flights, as that's the most efficient method, especially with destinations so far apart.

Happy travels!

[cristin]

On Spain:
2 nights in each Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona would be good, but 3 in Madrid and Barcelona would be better. Of everywhere I've visited in Spain, though, Granada is by far my favorite. I would take Granada over Barcelona or Seville in a heartbeat.

And about daytrips from Madrid, Salamanca is my favorite of the three but I feel like it's a bit far for a daytrip. It's a really lovely town though and if you have time to spend a night, I'd recommend it. I think you'd be missing out if you were only there for a few hours, though you could see all the main sights in that time. I also thought Segovia was more interesting than Toledo since there was a bit more to see so that would be my choice if I were doing just one day trip from Madrid. Try not to go on a Monday though, all the shops are closed (though the attractions are still open).


And on Belgium:
Both Brussels and Bruges can be done in a day, but, if you have more time, Brussels is a nice place to spend a few days. I was there for five days and did a couple of daytrips. There aren't a ton of sights but it has a nice feeling to it and there are a lot of good bars. Probably by this point in your trip you'll be ready for a lazy day or two (I definitely was!) and this was a great place to spend them.
Personally, I think Bruges is pretty overrated, but I've met plenty of people who absolutely love it so it's probably something you'll have to go and decide for yourself. If you get bored after an hour, like I did, Ghent is only about 30min (if I remember correctly) away and is a great place to spend a day. Make sure you eat a ton of fries while in Belgium, they're amazing!