Tentative May-August itinerary

[Dex]

Okay, here is my tentative itinerary for Spring and summer next year. I'll be gone for about 4 mos. starting in early May and going to late August.

Not a strict schedule but some places on here that I definitely want to hit, especially after doing some research on this site. Ireland, Interlaken, Italy, and Greece are all must-sees. Spain is creeping up there. Germany and France aren't as big of draws to me for some reason, but with four months I definitely have time to see them.

I'm asking for suggestions, so any place that has a nice atmosphere - relaxed OR partyish, would be great. Love history but I'm not a big art person.

Ok, here we go:


Ireland (6 days)
-Dublin and Galway

UK (4 days)
-London

France (5 days)
-Paris
~thinking about taking a bus to Normandy one day. My great-grandfather was in the first wave that landed at Omaha beach on D-day with the Rangers. I'd love to see it. Anyone know if any busses or anything go to Point du Hoc?~

Belgium (1 day)
-Brugges (heard good things about Brugges)

Netherlands (3 days)
-Amsterdam

Germany (4 days)
-Berlin

Poland (6 days)
-Not sure which cities...I'd like to see Gdansk and Krakow (daytrip to Auschwitz maybe). Beyond that, I have no idea what Poland has to offer.

Czech Rep (5 days)
-Prague
-Cesky Krumlov (ppl seem to be in love with this town, I'd like to find out why)

back to Germany (3 days)
-Munich (daytrip to somewhere)

Switzerlannd (3 days)
-Interlaken

Italy (10 days)
-maybe find a place in Lucca and take daytrips to Pisa, La Spezia, any other suggestions?
-Florence [should I stay here and then do daytrips to the above places?]
~Kind of want this to be a relaxing part of the trip, just a lot of time to sit around and recharge my batteries with some nice scenery to look at.~

Greece (7 days)
-Athens, of course
-still debating on the islands, anyone have any recs? Parties, please.
~Is this enough time?~

Italy again (7 days)
-Rome
-daytrips to Pompei and Naples

France (5 days)
-somewhere on the Riviera, but I haven't made up my mind yet

Spain (14 days)
-Barcelona
-Madrid
-daytrips to Avila, Salamanca, Toledo
-maybe Grenada or Seville

Portugal (5 days)
-no idea where to go here, but a lot of ppl seem to think it is underrated. Suggestions?


That accounts for 88 of my 106 allotted days. I've given myself thirteen days to be used for travel, which brings me to 101 days, leaving five days to play with.

Does this look too rushed?

Anyone have suggestions? Places to go or alt routes to take?

Thanks!

[The Sasquatch]

Ok, for the Italy part. If you want relaxation and nice scenery, I would say you should def. go stay in the Cinque Terre near La Spezia for a couple days. Amazing place. Amazing.

For Spain, change Granada from a maybe to a DEFINITELY.

I missed Portugal, but it sounds like Lagos is the place to be. Beautiful scenery and a 24hr party place.

[lilchappy]

That is one hell of a trip. As for your days in Italy, I would add some more, but I am partial. I would spend 5 days in rome, 2 in florence, 2 in venice, 2 in cinque terre, 3 in southern italy(sorrento?) and day trip to siena.

Are you traveling by yourself?? If you are, and you want to meet up, I will be in Brugge, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, from July 1st-13th. Let me know because I have already done Paris by myself and it was a let down. And I am thinking about partying in A-dam for the 4th of July. Anyone know if anything goes down among hostels or americans there?

cya...lilchappy

[Brookers13]

In Spain I would say that Sevilla and Granada are both MUST SEES!

In Portugal, I'd recommend Oporto, Lisboa, and Lagos...you can daytrip from Lagos to Sagres which was once thought to be the "end of the world"

Also, in Spain you might want to check out San Sebastian...its a really chill beach town and I absolutely loved it...great parties but great relaxing and surf as well.

In France, I spent a few days in Nice. It was relaxing and I like it there...you can daytrip to Monte Carlo from Nice as well.

So ya, look into those cities...if you'd like hostel recommendations, let me know, I'd be happy to help

[joe7f]

Originally Posted by Dex

back to Germany (3 days)
-Munich (daytrip to somewhere)

Italy (10 days)
-maybe find a place in Lucca and take daytrips to Pisa, La Spezia, any other suggestions?
-Florence [should I stay here and then do daytrips to the above places?]
~Kind of want this to be a relaxing part of the trip, just a lot of time to sit around and recharge my batteries with some nice scenery to look at.~

Spain (14 days)
-Barcelona
-Madrid
-daytrips to Avila, Salamanca, Toledo
-maybe Grenada or Seville

Portugal (5 days)
-no idea where to go here, but a lot of ppl seem to think it is underrated. Suggestions?

Anyone have suggestions?

Hostel recommendations are in parenthesis.

For Munich (Wombat) day trips, an obvious choice would be Neuschwanstein's castle (and despite being close, it takes the entire day). For Italy, I just heard about Lucca (sounds cool!) but yeah I think I would be based out of Florence(Ostello Archi Rossi) and do daytrips. Pisa is less than an hour away and pretty cheap (5 euros?)

Good call on Spain as sasquatch said, Seville (Oasis) and Granada (Funky backpackers) would both be definites for me. Since you are not an "art person" the day trips from Madrid (Cat's Hostel) are a good idea and you nailed them (depending on the time you are spending there I have heard great things about Segovia). I would definitely attempt to catch a late train in Salamanca (the Plaza Mayor at night rocks!).

Jeannybean posted an Evora recommendation in another thread for Portugal as being one of those out of the way kind of places that are worth seeing.

--Joey

[Dex]

Awesome advice everyone, thanks!

Okay, I am adding Granada and Lagos, and possibly Nice and Evora.

Really appreciate the hostel recs, Joe, thanks man (and I may get back to you on those Brookers).

I may add a couple more days to Italy, lilchappy, I should have a few to play around with. The more I plan the more stuff I want to see. I'm really lucky to have so long but the more I research the more time I want!

I am going alone lilchappy, just so we're on the same page I'll be leaving in May08. (I just found out I'll be able to go so I'm still pretty excited and want to talk about it, even though it's a ways off). If you know where you'll be that far in the future I'd be glad to meet up. :D

This is the most helpful board I've found so thanks a lot, guys!

[lilchappy]

Here are two ideas I am deciding upon.

1-3 Paris and Normandy
4 brussels
5 brugge
6-9 Amsterdam
10-12 Berlin
13 Paris
14 Fly home

......or.........
1-3 Paris
3 Flight to Madrid
4-5 Madrid
6 Seville
7-9 Find my way to somewhere in Portugal...Lagos
10-12 Ferry to morroco or island off portugal or spain
13 back to paris
14 home

Not sure what yet, but definatly want a travel partner because by yourself gets old!

cya...lilchappy

[Brookers13]

i dunno...my personal opinion on morocco is that youd need more than that amount of time. i say just do portugal and see lagos and lisbon

[joe7f]

Lilchappy, I would do option two, take Brooke's advice of dropping Morrocco and add a day to Sevilla (really worth two days, especially since it is a nontrivial train ride from Madrid)

--Joey

*Brugge rocks! So that is my wishy washy advice. "Do number two definitely...but parts of number one are great..." Um, yeah Joey thanks.

[Luckhardt]

I would definitely recommend heading out to Normandy for a couple days; when you get there, there are lots of tours that take you to the beaches and the Pointe du Hoc, etc. I took a half day tour in a mini-bus; there are a lot of English ones since it is obviously quite popular with the Americans and the Brits. You can also get full day tours taking you to the more obscure places. It is a very humbling experience looking at those beaches; if you're interested in WWII at all, it is well worth it. While you're in Normandy, you might considering Mont-St-Michel as well. It's a monastery that is sometimes an island, sometimes connected with the mainland. Very touristy, but still beautiful.

[SuDz]

Welcome to the forums Luckhardt.

SuDZ