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Recommendations for European Trip Locations
Posted on 1/20/17 at 10:08 am
Posted on 1/20/17 at 10:08 am
Ok so planning a trip to Europe with me lady around June. First time going so really have no idea what Im getting into. Looking at going for about 2 weeks so trying to narrow it down to 3 locations so we can spend enough time at each one to enjoy it and not be traveling too much.
Rome is the one that we know we want to go to and spend a good bit of time there. Would like to get to Naples/Almafi Coast if we could from there but its not top priority.
Venice is another that seems to be a place that is unique and we would like to see. Ive heard that it is a place you dont need to spend too much time at as well.
The other locations under consideration are Barcelona and Croatia. Croatia, have been hearing about the Plitvice National Park and would definitely like to try that if we pick that location. Really dont know much about Barcelona other than it being recommended by friends, etc.
Any advice is much appreciated but trying to narrow this list down and could even be influenced by which places are cheaper/easier to fly into and out of.
Rome is the one that we know we want to go to and spend a good bit of time there. Would like to get to Naples/Almafi Coast if we could from there but its not top priority.
Venice is another that seems to be a place that is unique and we would like to see. Ive heard that it is a place you dont need to spend too much time at as well.
The other locations under consideration are Barcelona and Croatia. Croatia, have been hearing about the Plitvice National Park and would definitely like to try that if we pick that location. Really dont know much about Barcelona other than it being recommended by friends, etc.
Any advice is much appreciated but trying to narrow this list down and could even be influenced by which places are cheaper/easier to fly into and out of.
11
Posted on 1/20/17 at 11:10 am to YankeeDoodle
The best bet would be to do Rome for 4-6 days, then Naples, then do a cheap flight to Barcelona for the remainder of your trip. Then fly home from Barcelona. If that's what you are thinking to do.
There's plenty to do in Italy for 2 weeks, plenty. But since its your first European trip I personally would recommend a couple days outside of Italy so you get a taste of different cultures. Otherwise you simply just won't know.
You could do a direct flight to Rome from the states, I'm not sure if you can to Naples? Your best bet is generally either work in a circle to fly in and out of the same city and rent a car (which generally doesn't make sense in Italy) or to fly into one city and out of another and train it or fly.
There's plenty to do in Italy for 2 weeks, plenty. But since its your first European trip I personally would recommend a couple days outside of Italy so you get a taste of different cultures. Otherwise you simply just won't know.
You could do a direct flight to Rome from the states, I'm not sure if you can to Naples? Your best bet is generally either work in a circle to fly in and out of the same city and rent a car (which generally doesn't make sense in Italy) or to fly into one city and out of another and train it or fly.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 11:58 am to baldona
quote:
The best bet would be to do Rome for 4-6 days, then Naples, then do a cheap flight to Barcelona for the remainder of your trip. Then fly home from Barcelona. If that's what you are thinking to do.
That sounds like a good plan. I think it would be cool to go to both Italy and Spain as you were saying instead of staying in just one of them the entire time.
Would you say Naples is probably a better trip than Venice? If Im doing 2 locations in Italy, those are probably the 2 that I would be deciding in between other than Rome. Ive heard Venice is a must see but also that it can be boring.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 12:59 pm to YankeeDoodle
Venice is a good 2 day one night trip take your time and get lost in the alleys and find hidden restaurants. It will get boring after a while and i suggest eating and drinking far from The main square, a coffee was 12 euro in the square but only 3 a block away
This post was edited on 1/20/17 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 1/20/17 at 1:58 pm to YankeeDoodle
Stick with Italy, IMO. I would fly into Rome, do as much as you can for 3 full days, then head NORTH by train. Rome is already crowded and confusing, and the chaos (poverty, crime, crowds, heat, beggars, loud people, immigrants) only gets worse as you head south. Doing Rome then Naples for your first Europe trip is a good way to cure you of in interest in European travel. Almafi coast is amazing but is insanely crowded in June.
Consider a smaller location like Siena to explore on foot at your own pace after the chaos of Rome. Siena is 3 hours north by train.
After Siena I would do Florence or Cinque Terre. Florence if youre a fan or Renaissance art. Cinque Terre if you prefer hiking on seaside cliffs vs. more museums.
Next I would head northeast by rail to Parma or Bologna for some great food, people watching, getting lost in maze of medieval buildings.
Then you definitely have to go to Venice, especially since youre going with wife/SO. Its an amazing unique place that everyone should see at least once. It is fashionable to hate on Venice but don't listen to those bitter people.
Fly home from Venice and consider getting an unlimited rail pass for the time you are in Italy. Do AirBNB everywhere focusing only on listings with MANY reviews. Save Barcalona, Almafi and Croatia for a future trip. Sticking with Italy by rail reduces travel time / stress / cost, and the locations all have something unique to offer.
Consider a smaller location like Siena to explore on foot at your own pace after the chaos of Rome. Siena is 3 hours north by train.
After Siena I would do Florence or Cinque Terre. Florence if youre a fan or Renaissance art. Cinque Terre if you prefer hiking on seaside cliffs vs. more museums.
Next I would head northeast by rail to Parma or Bologna for some great food, people watching, getting lost in maze of medieval buildings.
Then you definitely have to go to Venice, especially since youre going with wife/SO. Its an amazing unique place that everyone should see at least once. It is fashionable to hate on Venice but don't listen to those bitter people.
Fly home from Venice and consider getting an unlimited rail pass for the time you are in Italy. Do AirBNB everywhere focusing only on listings with MANY reviews. Save Barcalona, Almafi and Croatia for a future trip. Sticking with Italy by rail reduces travel time / stress / cost, and the locations all have something unique to offer.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 2:23 pm to all_over_it
quote:
a coffee was 12 euro in the square but only 3 a block away
Cafe Florian? Been there...
Posted on 1/20/17 at 6:46 pm to YankeeDoodle
We just spent a week in Barcelona and loved it, but since you are going to Rome and Venice, I would spend the rest of the time in Tuscany. We took a similar trip a few years ago. We were gone for 16 days counting the two travel days. We flew in to Rome, stayed there for a few days, got a rental car and drove to Tuscany where we stayed at a villa south of Florence for a week, drove to Venice where we turned in the rental car, stayed there for a couple of days and flew home from Venice. It was a spectacular trip. If not Tuscany, my 2nd choice would be the Amalfi Coast.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:20 pm to geauxpurple
Yea I'm guessing renting a car or taking trains (which I hear is expensive) is our best bet. We were considering flying into Rome and then either going to Almafi or Venice, then flying to Barcelona and flying home from there. Not sure if that's too much travel or not.
If it's too expensive or travel takes too much time, staying in Italy for the entire trip may be a good idea. Either way I don't think we can make a bad decision as these areas are all bucket list for me. Thanks for all the advice.
If it's too expensive or travel takes too much time, staying in Italy for the entire trip may be a good idea. Either way I don't think we can make a bad decision as these areas are all bucket list for me. Thanks for all the advice.
Posted on 1/20/17 at 8:52 pm to YankeeDoodle
I don't remember the trains being that expensive. We took the train from the Amalfi Coast (Naples)to Rome. It was fast and easy. Last April we spent a week in Paris and a week in Barcelona. The reason we chose those two cities is because they are an easy and direct train ride away from each other.
Posted on 1/21/17 at 9:09 am to YankeeDoodle
If you like to ski, you could always take the train into the Alps for a few days and do that
Posted on 1/21/17 at 5:35 pm to YankeeDoodle
Go here:
Eurail Italy Pass
A pass covering 5 days of unlimited rail travel in Italy is $242 per person. Five travel days should be all you need for a 2 week interary.
The rail system in Europe is awesome. Cheap, fast and taking you from city-center to city-center. Renting a car is a bad idea and should be done only if you're visiting multiple small towns that aren't accessible by rail.
Eurail Italy Pass
A pass covering 5 days of unlimited rail travel in Italy is $242 per person. Five travel days should be all you need for a 2 week interary.
The rail system in Europe is awesome. Cheap, fast and taking you from city-center to city-center. Renting a car is a bad idea and should be done only if you're visiting multiple small towns that aren't accessible by rail.
Posted on 1/21/17 at 7:13 pm to YankeeDoodle
Did Venice wouldn't spend more than 3 days in the city....
Posted on 1/21/17 at 7:45 pm to tduecen
On another note ... Pisa is a day trip at best maybe a couple of hours
Posted on 1/21/17 at 10:38 pm to YankeeDoodle
.
This post was edited on 1/21/17 at 10:39 pm
Posted on 1/22/17 at 7:01 pm to YankeeDoodle
If feasible do paris, take train to amsterdam', fly to venice then train to rome. We did that itinerary over 2 weeks and it was great. 3 days in venice at most. Side trip couple days west to amalfi pompeii from rome. Naples not worth the stop. Amalfi is crowded but the coast is beautiful. European trains are efficient. Be mindful that the track locations can and do change in the stations and watch your luggage and wallet. Gypsys pose as stewards and will run with ur bags. Cant go to Europe imo without seeing paris. Best city. Best country for sights is italy.
Posted on 1/23/17 at 11:47 am to YankeeDoodle
quote:Amalfi Coast is way better than Naples. I would fly into Naples and stay in either Sorrento or Positano. Get a driver to take you from Naples. It's not that expensive, and the roads are super small and stressful to drive. Sit back and enjoy the view. Sorrento is on the North side. Positano is on the South side. Both are some of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I prefer Positano. From there, you can spend a day in Capri as well and get some lemoncello.
Looking at going for about 2 weeks so trying to narrow it down to 3 locations so we can spend enough time at each one to enjoy it and not be traveling too much.
Rome is the one that we know we want to go to and spend a good bit of time there.
Would like to get to Naples/Almafi Coast if we could from there but its not top priority.
Venice is another that seems to be a place that is unique and we would like to see. Ive heard that it is a place you dont need to spend too much time at as well.
Then, you can drive up to Rome. See and do all of the cool stuff that it has to offer. Trevi fountain, Vatican, Pantheon, Coliseum, Spanish steps, etc. If you get tired of the museums and sight seeing, Rome has some of the best opera and restaurants in the world.
I would always HIGHLY recommend spending some time in Florence. It is my personal favorite Italian city. You can take the train from Rome. It is super convenient.
While in Florence, I would spend at least one day taking a wine country tour. The Tuscany region is under development restriction. They aren't allowed to build new structures or change the way the outside looks on old buildings. So, it's really cool that you'll see that picture perfect view almost everywhere you go.
Venice is cool to visit once, but you won't have to go back. Doge's Palace and St Mark's are must-see's. but it's really neat to wonder all of the back alley streets and discover stuff for yourself. I would then fly home from Venice.
If you want to really do Italy well in one trip, you'll need at least 2 weeks.
This post was edited on 1/23/17 at 11:50 am
Posted on 1/23/17 at 1:15 pm to Mahootney
Thanks. It looks like we have settled on at least two locations for sure with Rome and Venice. Venice, we plan to only go for a 2 or 3 days like all have recommended but its one that seems like a must see. The other locations are still up for debate as the SO is interested in seeing Croatia. She has been to Italy and would like to go somewhere she hasnt before. Anyone have any experience with Croatia?
I liked the idea of checking out Barcelona to say I saw both Italy and Spain but it could be too much to try and staying in Italy could be our best bet if we decide against Croatia.
I liked the idea of checking out Barcelona to say I saw both Italy and Spain but it could be too much to try and staying in Italy could be our best bet if we decide against Croatia.
Posted on 1/23/17 at 5:35 pm to YankeeDoodle
Croatia is very doable you are very close. Obviously do Rome, then Venice, then Croatia or the other way.
My one recommendation would be to try and stay somewhere in the country or outside of Venice and Rome in Italy. Both those are very touristy and busy, you should see Italy outside of those two also.
My one recommendation would be to try and stay somewhere in the country or outside of Venice and Rome in Italy. Both those are very touristy and busy, you should see Italy outside of those two also.
Posted on 1/24/17 at 1:59 pm to all_over_it
quote:
a coffee was 12 euro in the square but only 3 a block away
Dang its gone up, it was only 8 euro in St. Marks last time I was there.
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