Requesting Trip Advice from European Savvy Travelers
EDIT: Just realized this might belong in a separate forum. Please move as appropriate, thanks.
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Thanks in advance for your time and advice.
Just booked my first Europe trip for me and my girlfriend:
2/28/13: ATL-ZRH (Zurich)
3/10/13: CDG (Paris) - ATL
I plan on spending first 3 nights in Zurich, last 3 in Paris, and 3 in between in a yet to be determined city. European fights from ZRH - "City X" - CDG are typically $200 or less, so I want to hit a third city (fast paced trip, city highlights).
My initial thought was Vienna in between, as my parents rave about it.
What are your thoughts? Bear in mind this is a winter trip!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drminn
Berlin - the fastest paced city in the world nowadays.
It may seem to be out of the way but Rome would be nice or Florence if you are into art. Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam and even London. All do-able. Rome would be warmest.
Three nights in Zurich is two nights too many. If you want to hit up Vienna, I recommend taking the train from Zurich, stopping for one night each in Innsbruck and Salzburg along the way. Great scenery en route. VIE-CDG is $89 o/w with Niki.
Zurich is worth about one day at most, though Bern is only a little over an hour by train and also worth a day.
I would suggest you use the train instead of the plane. You could easily hit Bern, Basel, Colmar, and Strasbourg on the way from Zurich to Paris. Or if you prefer, you can hit Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, and Lyons instead.
With all the cities in Europe to choose from.... Zurich would be one of my last ones....
Not a whole lot of love for Zurich! I assume you all are speaking from experience? Anyone disappointed on a trip there?
I can easily alter plans to shorten Zurich to one or two nights. I arrive at 7:35 AM on 3/1/13, so I can get a full day in right away.
As far as plane vs train travel, I wanted to hit 3 major cities, as this is my first trip to Europe. Trains seem to take 6+ hours, as opposed to a 3-4 hr (total travel time with airport, etc) flight option.
Great feedback so far, thanks!
Last edited by GenYTraveler; Dec 16, 12 at 12:49 pm..
Reason: iPhone typo
Zurich is worth about one day at most, though Bern is only a little over an hour by train and also worth a day.
I would suggest you use the train instead of the plane. You could easily hit Bern, Basel, Colmar, and Strasbourg on the way from Zurich to Paris. Or if you prefer, you can hit Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, and Lyons instead.
The area around lake geneva really is some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. It's also a quick easy trip to Chamonix for the Alps.
I would only spend a couple days in Zurich. Get to Milan and spend a couple days enjoying northern Italy. Or go in to southern Germany. Lots of great winter villages to enjoy.
It all depends on your personal preferences. It is very nice to rent a car and travel around Zurich. But the city itself is not a tourist attraction... and it's also horribly expensive. So it really is best to take a flight/train from there to someplace better.
It all depends on your personal preferences. It is very nice to rent a car and travel around Zurich. But the city itself is not a tourist attraction... and it's also horribly expensive. So it really is best to take a flight/train from there to someplace better.
Agree with all the posts about Zurich. Bern is nice, but I would take Rhine cruise or train from Basel to Rotterdam, take in Amsterdam, then train to Paris. Or go up the Mosel for a piece. All very romantic!
As far as plane vs train travel, I wanted to hit 3 major cities, as this is my first trip to Europe. Trains seem to take 6+ hours, as opposed to a 3-4 hr (total travel time with airport, etc) flight option.
Great feedback so far, thanks!
So two thoughts:
1) Why three major cities? Why not two larger cities with some smaller places in between? There's more variety there.
2) Your time estimate on airport time is probably overly optimistic, but besides, there's something to be said for taking trains regardless, as you can actually see some of Europe.
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Since you're arriving early in the morning, I would suggest one night in Zurich. Then take the train toward Paris, stopping at two or Bern, Strassbourg, and Reims. In spring/summer, I would push for Strassbourg, but since you will be traveling in winter, you can't enjoy the canals and flowers there so well.
Also, I would not suggest renting a car in winter unless you do it at the last minute, having checked the weather forecast.
Driving in Europe is not a good thing to attempt on your first trip, even in good weather. Language, standard road signs, navigation conventions, and driving oractices make this not a good idea to attempt for a relatively inexperienced international traveler.
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I would only spend a couple days in Zurich. Get to Milan and spend a couple days enjoying northern Italy. Or go in to southern Germany. Lots of great winter villages to enjoy.
Indeed!
OP, if your tickets were purchased less than 24-hrs, I would suggest you to change the departure route to MXP. There are more things to see in Milan and northern Italy. Afterward, you can take 3.5-hrs scenic train ride from Milan to Zurich. As indicated by quasihumanist and others, Bern, Lausanne, and Geneva are wonderful places to visit.
