BreakerBacker

The wife and I have never been to Europe before, but have travelled quite a bit in the States. Never have been on vacation for more than a week, however. Never have been away from personal transportation at our disposal. We are planning on backpacking, with short trips by bus or metro and longer spans by train or plane.

We already have our round trip tickets to Amsterdam, as well as our 1 month Eurrail passes. I will be ordering the two one way tickets (Brussels-Madrid, Barcelona-Venice) today.

Can those with experience comment on the following itinerary? It might seem like lots of travel, but we aren't the kind to stay in place too long.

Date Day City Travel Train-Flight Times
8 Fri ABQ Y Leave by plain
9 Sat Amsterdam N Arrive AM
10 Sun Amsterdam-Brussels-Madrid y Leave AM train, then plane after lunch
11 Mon Madrid n
12 Tue Madrid-Valencia y Train
13 Wed Valencia-Castellon Y Tain
14 Thurs Castellon-Barcelona Y Train
15 Fri Barcelona N
16 Sat Bacelona n
17 Sun Barcelona-Venice y Plane
18 Mon Venice-Bologna y Train
19 Tue Pisa-Tuscany y Bus?
20 Wed Tuscany y Bus?
21 Thurs Tuscany Y Bus?
22 Fri Tuscany-Rome y Bus?
23 Sat Rome n
24 Sun Rome n
25 Sat Rome-Munich y Overnight Train
26 Sun Munich n
27 Mon Munich n
28 Tue Munich-Nurnberg y Train
29 Wed Nurnburg n Train
30 Thurs Nurnburg-Frankfurt y
1 Fri Frankfurt-Heidelburg y Train
2 Sat Heidelburg Y
3 Sun Heidelburg-Frankfurt y Train
4 Mon Frankfurt-Brussels y Train
5 Tue Brussels N
6 Wed Brussels-London y Train
7 Thurs London N
8 Fri London-Antwerpe y Train
9 Sat Antwerpe n
10 Sun Antwerpe-Amsterdam y Train
11 Sat Amserdam n
12 Sun Amsterdam n
13 Mon Amsterdam n
14 Tue Amsterdam-ABQ y Plane

I am also planning on pre booking rooms in the cities where we arive by plane, Amsterdam, Madrid, Venice, the rest of the time we were hoping to just wing it and stay in hostels. Is this a good idea, or will we be without a bed? April and early May is offseason, or busy?

Any information and feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Greg.

kingcrazylegs

It looks like an awesome trip, but I would slim it down a little bit..its a lot of moving about. I know you said you don't like to stay in one place for long, but you'll want to spend enough time to see and do!

__________________

all that is not given is lost

skorch

Europe doesn't tend to get busy until around June, so I wouldn't worry about finding a hostel bed. In many places it might be worth while getting a pensione where it isn't too much more than a hostel. You'd get much needed privacy.

While its an ambitious schedule, it's good that you have a few extra days here and there where you can relax and try and recover. Its very difficult to balance travel time with sight seeing time.

Instead of staying in some of the larger cities, you might want to check out some smaller, close-by areas. For instance, instead of Brussels, Brugge is under an hour away. I'd stay there over Brussels any day. Brugge is simply amazing. And unless you have a real desire to see London, I wouldn't really go out of my way. There are just as many memorable places which aren't as far out of the way.

__________________
"There is nothing in the world more helpless and
irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an
ether binge, and I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff
pretty soon." - Raoul Duke

BreakerBacker

KingKrazyLegs, Thanks for the input. I might still slim it down a little, or possibly make some of the day trips optional, doesnt hurt to add flexibility.

Skorch, Thanks for the tip on Brugge or Brussels. You got any specifics why you like it more than brussels? Can you mention areas of Brugge that interest you, maybe special restaurants or pubs, museums and the such?

We are now working than specific attractions for the various places we visit. Might have to steal an extra day for Madrid as it is full of places to see.

Thanks, and keep the replies coming please. Lots of good information, as well as many well traveled people.

Thanks for the help, Greg

ChasinJason1313

when you say tuscany, does that include Florence? Cuz it should. Venice deserves more than 1/2 a day...not much more but you need time to get lost, that's Venice's best charm. Why Nuremburg for so long? I'd skip Nuremburg and go to Berlin. It's not that far out of the way and has much more to see.

go to ricksteves.com if you want to know why Skorch recommends Brugge. Brugge is awesome, very small town feel, it'd be a good break on a hectic trip.

__________________
Live life so there is standing room only at your funeral

The beauty of this world will last
Much longer than its men
No need for man to test this fact
Enjoy the view instead----Me(Part of a longer poem)