re: Two weeks in Europe

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Prague

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Ok, OP, I changed my mind (well, maybe not, but..)

Prague is THE COOLEST CITY IN THE WORLD!

Been there twice, including this past December. Drove a couple of hours (hired a driver) and spent a few days in Ceský Krumlov.

Selected Photos.

Talk about a great food, beer, wine, outdoor scenery vibe. Czechia's got it all. I'm tellin' ya. Just go there and spend the whole time in the country and tour around.

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The classic mistake people make, and I say it time and time again on this board, is thinking "I'll never go back so I have to cram as much stuff in as possible."

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Disagree here with someone that's never been to Europe, chances are they haven't traveled a ton outside of US or at least to Europe and Asia.

The mistake people make in Europe OP IMO is covering MASSIVE distances in Europe. For example, I would personally not recommend Paris, Rome, and London. Too spread out for 2 weeks. I'm not personally a fan of flying mid trip unless you have to because flying in the middle of vacation sucks to.

I always recommend a Northern Europe Trip and London if needed. I also HIGHLY recommend getting outside of the cities. Something like:
London - Fly in, 4 days
Paris - Train over, 4 days
Belgium - Whatever you want
Amsterdam - 2-3 days, fly out

Could also easily do:
Munich, 4 days
Saltzburg - Sound of Music, Alps,
Switzerland 3-4 days
Venice or Milan - 4 days

Close, 3 hour trains at most, and very easy. Wake up, have breakfast, catch a 9 am train and be there by lunch.

I personally HIGHLY recommend a first time Europe trip going to multiple countries. You get to experience multiple cultures and until you have a experienced multiple you really don't know what you actually like and don't like.

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Ok, so it sounds like maybe you could do a few days in Ireland (2-3 in Dublin tops, maybe take a day trip to Cork/Blarney), and then head to Paris for a few days.

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Not a bad idea. Only thing I would do is flip it so Ireland is the flight home so you can clear customs/immigration before you leave. Dublin allows you do do so.

I assume they don’t have global entry and dealing with customs when you land after a long flight is not fun.

We did 3 countries in 10 days back in 2009. Started in Rome and finished in Munich. Looking back it was way too rushed. Spent half the trip hustling to train, bus, whatever station in order to stay on schedule. We hit Rome, Florence, Venice, Innsbruck, and then Munich. While it was fun, next time it’s gonna be way more laid back.

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Do you feel modern technology and increased transportation options would have helped?

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Not getting the transportation options. Between cities it’s a plane, a train or an automobile just like way back in 2009.

I actually liked going to Europe more before technology and globalization made everything homogenized. I went several times in the 80s and 90s and it just felt so much different and foreign. Getting lost in the streets was part of the fun. Trying to communicate with people who spoke no english using a little book off translated phrases was part of the charm. Every day was a crazy new adventure and every country was a new currency. language and set of customs.

If you are probably doing mountains rather than the beach I would sure look at Switzerland and Austria. The Alps are pretty incredible especially in Switzerland.

Great ideas. Thanks!

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I’ll just say based on experience I don’t agree with you.

All of my worst trips are the ones where we did multiple countries.

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What's your age and how many times have you been to Europe?

I don't disagree that a lot of people try to over due it. I personally said don't fly in the middle of your trip, I think Ireland and Paris is a bad idea for a first trip.

Everyone says "don't plan like you'll never go again", but respectfully anyone that says that is either wealthy or ignorant. There's plenty of things in life you only do once.

My suggestions above are 4 countries in 14 days, under 3 hour train trips. Extremely easy and doable.

I was also playing devil's advocate, I don't think there's anything wrong with staying in the same country. But I also don't like people acting like there's a difference between going to Amsterdam and Paris compared to going to Paris and Nice. Equally enough far apart by distance and train.

People discussing doing all of Ireland in 14 days is no different than my plan above. Its a lot of different stuff.

Again, just offering a different perspective. No right or wrong way to travel if it makes you happy.