Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am taking my first trip to Europe in 2010 (probably summer) and was hoping to get some suggestions. I can only take about 1.5 weeks off from work, so I'm thinking of sticking to just one country and only about 2-3 cities within that country.
My husband is going with me and he's been to Europe about a dozen times, so he has "pre-conceived ideas" about where we should go, but I'd kinda like to go somewhere he hasn't yet visited.
He's only been to Italy once, so I'm thinking that might be a good country to start with for my first (but hopefully not last) trip. I want to see history, culture and scenery - I'm thinking Italy's the place. Rome, Florence and Tuscany.
Any ideas/suggestions/advice?
Also - my husband wants us to go with a tour group - I think that sounds kinda lame, but he doesn't want to have to worry about which hotel to stay in, rental cars, etc. I think planning all of that stuff is fun. Anyone been on a tour - with a group??
And finally - what are the best tips for finding budget (but not CHEAP) ways to travel - airfare, rental cars, trains, accommodations?
I am taking my first trip to Europe in 2010 (probably summer) and was hoping to get some suggestions. I can only take about 1.5 weeks off from work, so I'm thinking of sticking to just one country and only about 2-3 cities within that country.
This is smart. You could maybe do Italy/Greece (Rome/Venice, then ferry to Greece) or France/Italy (Cote d'Azur, then train to Cinque Terre) but it's probably better to stick with just one country.
Quote:
My husband is going with me and he's been to Europe about a dozen times, so he has "pre-conceived ideas" about where we should go, but I'd kinda like to go somewhere he hasn't yet visited.
He's only been to Italy once, so I'm thinking that might be a good country to start with for my first (but hopefully not last) trip. I want to see history, culture and scenery - I'm thinking Italy's the place. Rome, Florence and Tuscany.
Any ideas/suggestions/advice?
Also - my husband wants us to go with a tour group - I think that sounds kinda lame, but he doesn't want to have to worry about which hotel to stay in, rental cars, etc. I think planning all of that stuff is fun. Anyone been on a tour - with a group??
And finally - what are the best tips for finding budget (but not CHEAP) ways to travel - airfare, rental cars, trains, accommodations?
THANK YOU!!!
Planning all that stuff IS fun.
And if you want to do this trip inexpensively, going with a tour is not a great idea.
I recommend Eurotrip and Tripadvisor for planning.
I actually think your idea of Italy (Rome, Tuscany) is excellent, especially since your husband has only been there once.
You might like to look at some guidebooks and see what interests you.
Go to the travel section at the library or bookstore, see which books appeal to you. I don't always agree with Rick Steves' opinions, but his writing style is engaging, his maps are easy to understand, and his books are wonderful for first-time Europe travelers on a budget. I like Let's Go Europe as well.
This is smart. You could maybe do Italy/Greece (Rome/Venice, then ferry to Greece) or France/Italy (Cote d'Azur, then train to Cinque Terre) but it's probably better to stick with just one country.
Planning all that stuff IS fun.
And if you want to do this trip inexpensively, going with a tour is not a great idea.
I recommend Eurotrip and Tripadvisor for planning.
I actually think your idea of Italy (Rome, Tuscany) is excellent, especially since your husband has only been there once.
You might like to look at some guidebooks and see what interests you.
Go to the travel section at the library or bookstore, see which books appeal to you. I don't always agree with Rick Steves' opinions, but his writing style is engaging, his maps are easy to understand, and his books are wonderful for first-time Europe travelers on a budget. I like Let's Go Europe as well.
Thanks for the feedback! Awesome suggestions.
I did actually buy the latest edition of Frommer's Europe, but it is so much information - it can be overwhelming.
Tour groups ARE lame, avoid them - you will find travel much more rewarding.
I like your first idea - not only one country but one area of Italy. A week and a half is perfect for that area, any less and you don't get to appreciate it all. You can drop down to Sorrento and Pompeii as well.
I did actually buy the latest edition of Frommer's Europe, but it is so much information - it can be overwhelming.
If you think Frommer's is overwhelming, then stay away from Rough Guide, which gives a lot of good background info but can be tedious.
You might like Rick Steves, though Let's Go is probably my favorite, Lonely Planet less so. Steves can be good for offering trip planning for set amounts of time (one week, two weeks etc.)
If you have one and a half weeks on the ground (you have to allow for travel time) it probably would be good to stick to a smaller geographical area.
You could follow Dd714's suggestion of Rome and the Amalfi coast, or if you have your heart set on Tuscany, this is certainly doable. The bus (very comfortable) between Rome and Siena only takes 3 hours, from Siena to Florence is only about one and a half hours. Or you could rent a car, which we have done, and it was great, but driving in Rome is, um, kinda like NASCAR.
We- me, my wife and teenage daughter- went to Italy last April.
In order to avoid driving we used trains to get around having flown into Venice.
I reckon that Venice would be far too busy in the summer, but it was mt favourite place.
After a few days there we trained it to Florence, again staying there a few days and finally took the train south (through Rome) to Naples where we hopped across to Sorrento for a week.
Train tickets can be bought in advance, for reserved seats, on the internet or at the station.
I would feel tied by a group.
None of us speaks Italian but we got by even if we did take the wrong bus one day!
Or hotels were chosen largely by Trip Advisor.
I was pleased not to worry about driving and trips by coach were available from Florence into Tuscany.
Overall we all enjoyed it but I would have reservations about going in the summer.
I am taking my first trip to Europe in 2010 (probably summer) and was hoping to get some suggestions. I can only take about 1.5 weeks off from work, so I'm thinking of sticking to just one country and only about 2-3 cities within that country.
My husband is going with me and he's been to Europe about a dozen times, so he has "pre-conceived ideas" about where we should go, but I'd kinda like to go somewhere he hasn't yet visited.
He's only been to Italy once, so I'm thinking that might be a good country to start with for my first (but hopefully not last) trip. I want to see history, culture and scenery - I'm thinking Italy's the place. Rome, Florence and Tuscany.
Any ideas/suggestions/advice?
Also - my husband wants us to go with a tour group - I think that sounds kinda lame, but he doesn't want to have to worry about which hotel to stay in, rental cars, etc. I think planning all of that stuff is fun. Anyone been on a tour - with a group??
And finally - what are the best tips for finding budget (but not CHEAP) ways to travel - airfare, rental cars, trains, accommodations?
THANK YOU!!!
Being half Italian and spent time in Italy I recommend it for a visit. Especially Sorrento (where half of my family live) and Rome, Tuscany. I will be going to Tuscany in 2 weeks time.
I have also been travelling to Mallorca (Spain) for 18 years, what a beautiful country and truely has the "Euro" feel. I also recommend Scotland because its a jewel of Europe and I live there.
Ryanair is one of the cheapest airlines in Europe.
I am taking my first trip to Europe in 2010 (probably summer) and was hoping to get some suggestions. I can only take about 1.5 weeks off from work, so I'm thinking of sticking to just one country and only about 2-3 cities within that country.
My husband is going with me and he's been to Europe about a dozen times, so he has "pre-conceived ideas" about where we should go, but I'd kinda like to go somewhere he hasn't yet visited.
He's only been to Italy once, so I'm thinking that might be a good country to start with for my first (but hopefully not last) trip. I want to see history, culture and scenery - I'm thinking Italy's the place. Rome, Florence and Tuscany.
Any ideas/suggestions/advice?
Also - my husband wants us to go with a tour group - I think that sounds kinda lame, but he doesn't want to have to worry about which hotel to stay in, rental cars, etc. I think planning all of that stuff is fun. Anyone been on a tour - with a group??
And finally - what are the best tips for finding budget (but not CHEAP) ways to travel - airfare, rental cars, trains, accommodations?
THANK YOU!!!
A tour will be more cost efficient. Your hotel and most of the meals including visits and transportation will be pre-paid. Unless, you guys don't care share a floor bathroom at Bed & breakfast type places.
I would suggest:
London
Amsterdam
Paris
MonteCarlo(Monaco)
Geneva
I checked out that link.
I clicked on Independent Vacation, Europe, 14 days, any tour company.
Globus came up, with the suggested brochure quote of $2949, and "their" price of $2654. Also this: All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators.
I also googled Globus and found what I expected to find: some glowing reviews, some under-whelmed reviews--the base price is not necessarily what you end up paying, because of the "optional supplements." Frommer's had quite a bit of info. More info
I really don't consider myself a control freak, and I do think there are times and places when it might not be such a bad idea to use a tour company.
However, if a person is under 80, reasonably able-bodied and healthy, and has any sense of adventure, I can't understand why they would want to be herded around Italy, and would *not* want to choose where they eat and sleep.
But that's just me.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
