Europe - Please review my europe itinerary! Thanks!

So, here is a brief summary (and I know it might seem a little crazy, but we're really trying to see as much as we can on this trip --- we can do detailed trips later)

July 11 - Leave ATL
July 12 - Arrive Paris - 9 AM
July 13 - Paris
July 14 - Leave Paris to Barcelona
July 15 - Leave Barcelona at night to Ibiza
July 16 - Leave Ibiza to Rome
July 17 - Rome
July 18 - Rome
July 19 - Leave Rome to Venice
July 20 - Venice
July 21 - Venice
July 22 - Leave Venice to Zurich
July 23 - Zurich
July 24 - Leave Zurich to London
July 25 - London
July 26 - Leave London (5PM) to home

I do have the option of leaving ATL on July 10 and arriving Paris 9 AM July 11 (giving us one extra day but that means more $$ and don't know if it's worth it).

Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks in advance! :)

oh one major thing I forgot to mention - i'm going to all the different cities via plane.

Why are you going to Ibiza and Zurich?
You only have two days in London. Why so little time?
I'd say you're spending way too much time in airports and giving yourself headaches getting to and from airports and making sure you don't miss a flight.
Doesn't seem like a relaxing trip to me at all.

Skip Zurich and add the days either to London, Paris or Barcelona.

Cheers.

Why are you going to Ibiza and Zurich?
You only have two days in London. Why so little time?
I'd say you're spending way too much time in airports and giving yourself headaches getting to and from airports and making sure you don't miss a flight.
Doesn't seem like a relaxing trip to me at all.

Want to go to Ibiza just for one night to attend a party. Zurich -- I have just seen pictures and it's beautiful. Wanted to add some "nature" to the trip (scenic mountain viewing, etc).

Skip Zurich and add the days either to London, Paris or Barcelona.

Cheers.

Okay, but do you think it's sufficient time in Italy? Also, I just found out that July 14 is a major holiday in Paris and most stuff will be closed, which is why I considered jetting out of Paris early morning on the 14th and/or maybe adding an extra day by leaving Atlanta on the 10th instead of the 11th.

Or what if I skipped Barcelona? I've already been to both Paris and Barcelona - while the person I'm going with hasn't and they aren't adamant about where they want to go.

Add or substract where you will, but the proposed itinerary includes too many destinations in too little time. You'll be spending way too much time checking in/out, packing/unpacking and dealing with all that can come with air travel. It's a formula for exhaustion. Slow down and get to know the places you go.

I suggest planning to spend at least three nights, or better four, at the destinations that are of greatest appeal. Catch some of the others on another trip.

Skip Zurich and add the days either to London, Paris or Barcelona.

Cheers.

Thanks -

How does this sound -

7/12 - 7/15 - Paris
7/15 - 7/16 - Ibiza
7/16 - 7/18 - Barcelona
7/18 - 7/21 - Rome
7/21 - 7/24 - Venice
7/24 - 7/26 - London

Does this trimmed down version (eliminated Zurich :( ) seem better? Or should I trim further?

Also, I just found out that July 14 is a major holiday in Paris


You just discovered that July 14th is Bastille Day? :confused:
It's France's national day (just like July 4th in US).

Thanks -

How does this sound -

7/12 - 7/15 - Paris
7/15 - 7/16 - Ibiza
7/16 - 7/18 - Barcelona
7/18 - 7/21 - Rome
7/21 - 7/24 - Venice
7/24 - 7/26 - London

If you can stick in a land segment, consider taking the train from Rome to Venice - it takes about 3h45, with trains hourly during the day - much better than the hassle of getting to and through Fiumicino, and not much longer journey time overall.

It honestly looks like you're packing an awful lot in to such a short time. A week in Paris, Rome, or Barcelona, is barely enough time to get a good feel for the cities. A day? Wow. I predict you will be very worn out with this fast paced itinerary. Also keep in mind that the first day in Paris could be pretty worthless with jetlag.

Look at trains. They are so much easier than flying.

I know this isn't likely the kind of stuff you want to hear, but I would cut Ibiza and Barcelona, just because the trip could be easier.

Could you fly into Rome?
Fly into Rome, train to Venice, train to Zurich, train to Paris, train to London

With your current itinerary, I'd say Paris to Venice, Venice to Rome, Rome to Ibiza, Ibiza to Barcelona, Barcelona to London, would be the best way to travel.

wow and I thought my itinerary was a bit hectic.

Look at what I am doing. Since you're in Europe, pick countries that are close by that you can simply take rail and get there. Airport is a mess. Got to get there, check ins, flight, etc, etc.

My plan:

July 21 London
July 24 Paris (rail 2 hrs)
July 27 Amsterdam (rail 2 hrs)
July 30 Barcelona (flight 2 hrs)
Aug 2 Ibiza
Aug 5 (back to NYC)

Also moving around but I have 2 full days per each city and most of them are close by. Yea I really wanted to see Viena, Prague, Budapesht but those guys are far from where I am so I'll go there next time.

good luck and have fun.

Thanks -

How does this sound -

7/12 - 7/15 - Paris
7/15 - 7/16 - Ibiza
7/16 - 7/18 - Barcelona
7/18 - 7/21 - Rome
7/21 - 7/24 - Venice
7/24 - 7/26 - London

Does this trimmed down version (eliminated Zurich :( ) seem better? Or should I trim further?

I wouldn't attempt this itinerary. You've got two full days in Paris, Rome and Venice and one full day in London and Barcelona. You need to trim some places to be able spend long enough in each city to make your travel time and costs worthwhile.

There is a difference between a mileage run and a vacation. Your original itinerary is a pure mileage run. The itinerary in post 8 makes much more sense. 3 days is an absolute minimum in most European cities. Otherwise why bother going? You can be tired and stressed at home..... One tip leave plenty of time for sleep on day 1. Flying TATL East is pretty brutal on the biological clock. Otherwise you will be exhausted and sleep deprived the entire trip.

Skip Zurich and add the days either to London, Paris or Barcelona.

Cheers.

Spend as little time as you can in London. Not worth it.

More time in France would be good ! And Spain :)

Spend as little time as you can in London. Not worth it.

I wouldn't agree with that at all. However, I would say that London requires work and effort and, unlike Paris (for example), it's not a good place just to "be". By that I mean that you could spend a happy day in Paris, say, doing nothing much, just wandering round, stopping at a cafe now and then, finding a nice restaurant for lunch, maybe popping in to a gallery, and so on and so on. London requires more planning, more travelling around, and so on. In that sense it is not always an ideal place for a very short visit.

But - in fairness - it is one of the world's very top tourist destinations, and you could spend a lifetime in London and not see everything that there is to see. :)

So, here is a brief summary (and I know it might seem a little crazy, but we're really trying to see as much as we can on this trip --- we can do detailed trips later)

July 11 - Leave ATL
July 12 - Arrive Paris - 9 AM
July 13 - Paris
July 14 - Leave Paris to Barcelona
July 15 - Leave Barcelona at night to Ibiza
July 16 - Leave Ibiza to Rome
July 17 - Rome
July 18 - Rome
July 19 - Leave Rome to Venice
July 20 - Venice
July 21 - Venice
July 22 - Leave Venice to Zurich
July 23 - Zurich
July 24 - Leave Zurich to London
July 25 - London
July 26 - Leave London (5PM) to home

I do have the option of leaving ATL on July 10 and arriving Paris 9 AM July 11 (giving us one extra day but that means more $$ and don't know if it's worth it).

Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks in advance! :)

Would definitely forget Ibiza and Zurich tbh. More time in London will be something you won't regret.

Train might be another option from Rome to Venice as well.

Your rush around travel plan gives me a headache.

Pack light, as in carry-on, use the hotel amenities and cut down on the liquid stuff in one's possession. Organize the electronic stuff, too. Each city will have free maps at the tourist bureaus/hotel front desk --try not to hang on to too much paper info: it gets weighty! Enjoy seeing the sights/sites without hovering over one's ipod/pc.

My vote is for fewer cities and at least 3 days/city. The travel by train is also a good suggestion. Time to rest up, update a journal, review photos, meet locals or other travelers... less hectic than rushing to the airports, getting through security and locating boarding areas. Rushing and waiting in airports is my least favorite part of traveling.

Also wear comfortable shoes that have good soles to handle the cobble and rough textured streets.

In a heart beat, we would love to return to Europe, but at home commitments has us somewhat tethered. We do have plans for other parts of the world come 2013. :)

I wouldn't agree with that at all. However, I would say that London requires work and effort and, unlike Paris (for example), it's not a good place just to "be". By that I mean that you could spend a happy day in Paris, say, doing nothing much, just wandering round, stopping at a cafe now and then, finding a nice restaurant for lunch, maybe popping in to a gallery, and so on and so on. London requires more planning, more travelling around, and so on. In that sense it is not always an ideal place for a very short visit.

But - in fairness - it is one of the world's very top tourist destinations, and you could spend a lifetime in London and not see everything that there is to see. :)

So true. "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." — Samuel Johnson

So true. "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." — Samuel Johnson

I guess Johnson should have got out of the house a bit more.

I wouldn't agree with that at all. However, I would say that London requires work and effort and, unlike Paris (for example), it's not a good place just to "be". By that I mean that you could spend a happy day in Paris, say, doing nothing much, just wandering round, stopping at a cafe now and then, finding a nice restaurant for lunch, maybe popping in to a gallery, and so on and so on. London requires more planning, more travelling around, and so on. In that sense it is not always an ideal place for a very short visit.

But - in fairness - it is one of the world's very top tourist destinations, and you could spend a lifetime in London and not see everything that there is to see. :)

Uh Huh.