Trying to plan trip to Europe

#16
Norway or Spain. The north islands of Norway are supposed to be AMAZING. All day sunlight in the summer. Stores never close, bars open all the time.
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Well, that's partially right, it really is an amazing sight and beautiful but it's really far off from any major cities, so it takes a long time getting there. However you must have been talking about spain when it comes to the stores and the bars, because our socialist-christian government *cough*regime*cough* has so many weird rules, so even in the big cities only a few grocery stores are open 24hrs, the grocery stores only sell beer and such and the sale of alcohol is phorbihibited in stores after 20 o'clock (18 on saturdays). Bars tend to close around 02 or 03 in the night and it is really expensive there (alcohol here is generally very expensive). So as a conclution - don't come to norway if you're planning on drinking much, because that will be REALLY expensive.:P
 
#17
If you only have two weeks, I'd recommend you do five days in each:

Fly into London, spend five days there
Take eurostar to Paris (super fun experience for kids) and spend five days there.

Then fly to Rome for another five days. Depart from Rome

You are going to be getting a LOT of stuff covered in a short amount of time. What I would recommend you do is take a half day tour of each city the first day you arrive. These tours are great because you see the highlights and then can go back to the places that interest you after. That also saves time which for you will be valuable. I know a lot about travel particularly to Paris so if you need help, PM me.
 
#18
Roo said:
If you only have two weeks, I'd recommend you do five days in each:

Fly into London, spend five days there
Take eurostar to Paris (super fun experience for kids) and spend five days there.

Then fly to Rome for another five days. Depart from Rome
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This actually sounds like a really excellent plan. I know that Roo has a lot more travel experience than I do...but the one thing I might suggest is spending at least a little time outside of big cities. For example, in Italy, you might stay in Florence instead (a MUCH smaller and more intimate environment than Rome), then do a side trip to Rome. Of course you could also just stay in the cities and do sidetrips out.

My main point is just that I get really tired of always being in huge cities and taking metros (tubes!) all the time. I've always enjoyed spending a day or two in smaller, "walking" towns in Europe:smile:
 
#19
I agree MandM! The great thing about Paris in particular, is you can easily take day trips outside the city to places like Chartres, to see the town and cathedral. Sort of gets you away from the rat race of the cities.
 
#20
I love Paris!! U must go and visit it...U dont have to speak french, but I think French Ppl appreciate ppl who at least try to speak it....even if its little words such as thank u or good morning etc...
 
#21
MandM said:
Bath, Cambridge, Salisbury, Stratford, etc. It's also a nice "language break."
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I can highly recommend any of these, i live within very easy reach of many of these gorgeous cities, Bath and Salisbury are particularly picturesque IMO. There is plenty of stunning rural countryside in between too, it's truly lovely.

London is fab, (it's 125 miles from me) i'd say definitely go there - but try and get more than one or two days as there's so much to see and do (and handbags to look at:graucho:) The London Eye is great for a birds eye view!

As for Paris/Rome etc, i've never been but i will be going soon and i've heard nothing but nice things!:smile:
 
#22
Roo said:
I agree MandM! The great thing about Paris in particular, is you can easily take day trips outside the city to places like Chartres, to see the town and cathedral. Sort of gets you away from the rat race of the cities.
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I love Chartres!:love: :love: Also all the Loire Valley Chateaux. Chambord, Chenenceau, Azay de Rideau, Cheverny -- all awesome. Versailles is neat too. I loved mt. st. michel (posted pics in another post). It's up past normandy, tho, so sort of a far trip, 4-5 hours. But if you have extra time it is truly amazing.

I think you can do day trips from Rome to Florence and Venice. Also to adorable tuscany villages like Sienna and Assisi.

I'm sooo obsessed with this thread!! I think it is clearly time for me to plan my own trip back to Europe:biggrin:
 
#23
I just came back from Europe and it wasn't difficult for me at all in France without speaking the language (my French is limited to excuse me, thank you, and hello :sad: ). Paris was amazing but I LOVED the French Riviera (Nice and Monaco)... I also absolutely fell in LOVE with the Swiss Alps -- I went to Jungfrau and the little villages around that area were definately a sight to see!!!

Wherever you decide to go the ladies here will be able to help a lot (they gave me some really good advice!), and if you decide to include any of the places that I mentioned feel free to PM me for more tips. :smile:
 
#24
There are sooo many great cities. But the ones I DID NOT like very much where:

Barcelona- horribly poluted!!! But, I loved the Doli museum which was in a suburb

Florence- Touristy touristy touristy!!! There are sooo many lines. I was going to see David but the line was supposed to be about 5 hrs long. Even the people with reservations had to wait a long time. But it is a great city if you are not really there for museums. If you walk down some of the side streets you can look into workshops. My cousin was in college there and one of her friends metal workshop was there and people just walked in and looked around. There is a great monestary/leather school which I loved. I you can watch the students make the leather products, than you can buy them!! Bought bookmarks for every one in my family!!!

Some good/great cities:
Some that I havnt really seen mentioned:

Belguim: Antwerp- love it, the culture it is just a beautiful relaxing cute city. Wonderful to walk around on a sunny day.
Bruxles- Love it! It is pretty easy to do as a day trip. The square is great! It is so picturestique if you see a weding coming out. Don't forget to visit the maniquine-piss!!!

If you are going this summer- the tour-de france is going to Luxembourg (i guess this is only the second or maybe third time it happened.) Luxembourg is great! If the weather is good it is worth at least a nights stay. There are not really any wonderful museums, but there is always english theatre going on. And if you are oudoorsy it has some of the most beautiful biking/hiking trails.

Umm...thats all for now..i might add more later..
 
#25
germany: Hidelburg!!! Wonderful wonderful. It is a beautful town! The castle is great! beautiful views. And the somewhat famous transportation museum is just about 30 min from there. Kids would love it because you get to slide down on carpets form old jets about 200+ feet. A great way to entirtain. But maybe not too much for adult...men might like all the old cars, there are sooo many of them. Great stories the the door guide tells (e.i elvis prestly's mercades that was white and had to be painted pinky red because a female fan signed it with her lipstick :biggrin: :biggrin:)
 
#26
Don't forget scotland!! Beautful we drove from coast to coast and it was worth it. the land is pretty. (but for this GPS neccessary :biggrin:) St. Andrew's is beautiful beautiful. Perhaps a funture college for the little man?
 
#27
Oxford!!! Love it love it! Pretty city that esstablishs the combination of a small english town plus the feel of a college town. Be sure to visit the natural something museum. In the back there is a connected museum that is full of random artifacts. (be sure to ask the guards what the top items to see are. It hold the famous actor Mr. Jamica man the shrunken hand form Harry Potter II or III (dont remember) on the knight bus, dangling from the mirror)
 
#28
Finland- although i've never been there (hope to soon) I've herd about renting these summer cabins/houses on the lakes. Great for just relaxing a bit. It is somewhat like camping because most of them are solarpowered and have no refridgerator except a cemante hole in the ground. Fun experience i bet for father and sun. If you do go try to find one with a small island in the middle of the lake so you can swim/ paddle there for picnics fishing etc.
 
#30
Hi, Well I'm European and I always think it's funny how American tourists can do the whole of Europe in a few weeks:biggrin: There's so much to see and there are so many different cultures, like the Italians are completely different from the English etc... When I would visit Europe, I would do try to limit the amount of countries (I know it's nice to say 'I've been there and there...' but I think you can only 'experience' a culture when you're really there for a certain period and look further than the Eiffel tower or David), like in your case maybe I would visit France and Italy, there's PLENTY to see there! And come back for northern/central/eastern Europe. As for the languages: They do know their english in Amsterdam, it will not be the same in Italy or France...unless you'll only going to visit touristic areas. But that's part of the experience! Good luck planning your trip:flowers:
 
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