critique my itinerary please !!

[nickolt]

Hello everyone, first time poster here !! :D

Im planning a 2 and a half month backpacking trip to europe this upcoming spring/summer with my boyfriend. We are planning on leaving around april 25th (or a bit earlier .. depending when our last exam dates are ) and coming back 2 and a half months later !! I have worked out a rough itinerary. While the days seem pretty set, we are not opposed to playing it by ear, and leaving a day early/staying a day later in places we may or may not love. We are planning to book hostels about a week in advance, except for in greece because we will be there during high season and that part of our trip is going to be pretty set in stone.

Anyways, here goes. Some important information to note, we are staying in Augsburg and Frankfurt because I have family there. These days can't be cut !!

Day 1 – Fly to Frankfurt
Day 2 – Frankfurt
Day 3 – Frankfurt
Day 4- Frankfurt
Day 5 – Travel to Augsburg (3hrs)
Day 6 – Augsburg
Day 7 – Augsburg
Day 8 – Travel to Munich (40min)
Day 9 – Munich – day trip to Castle Neu.
Day 10 – Munich – day trip to Dachau.
Day 11 – Munich
Day 12 – Travel to Prague
Day 13 – Prague
Day 14 – Prague
Day 15 – Prague
Day 16 – travel to Berlin (5hrs)
Day 17 – Berlin
Day 18 – Berlin
Day 19 – Berlin
Day 20 – Berlin (overnight to Am.) 20eur couchette
Day 21 – Amsterdam
Day 22 – Amsterdam – ½ day in Zaanse Schans.
Day 23 – Amsterdam
Day 24 – Travel to Paris (4hrs)
Day 25 – Paris
Day 26 – Paris – day trip to Versailles.
Day 27 – Paris
Day 28 - Paris
Day 29 – Paris – London (2.5hrs in morning)
Day 30 – London
Day 31 – London
Day 32 - London
Day 33 – Travel to Madrid by airplane
Day 34 – Madrid
Day 35 – Madrid - day trip to Segovia
Day 36 – Madrid - day trip to Toledo
Day 37 – Madrid
Day 38 – Madrid (travel to Barcelona in evening, 2hr40min)
Day 39 – Barcelona
Day 40 – Barcelona
Day 41 – Barcelona
Day 42 - Barcelona
Day 43 – Travel to Nice
Day 44 – Nice
Day 45 – Nice
Day 46 – Travel Nice to Vernazza (6 hrs)
Day 47 – Vernazza
Day 48 – Vernazza
Day 49 – Vernazza (travel to Florence in evening, 3hrs)
Day 50 – Florence
Day 51 – Florence - day trip to Siena
Day 52 – Florence (travel to Venice in evening. 3hrs)
Day 53 – Venice
Day 54 – Venice (overnight to Rome) 30eur couchette.
Day 55 – Rome
Day 56 – Rome
Day 57 – Rome
Day 58 – Rome
Day 59 - Rome
Day 60 – Travel Rome to Sorrento 3hrs
Day 61 – Sorrento - day trip to Pompeii
Day 62 – Sorrento - 1/2 day in Capri
Day 63 – Travel to Corfu (Sorrento – Naples – Bari – Corfu )
Day 64 – Corfu
Day 65 – Corfu
Day 66 – Corfu
Day 67 – Fly to Santorini
Day 68 – Santorini
Day 69 – Santorini
Day 70 – Santorini
Day 71 – Santorini
Day 72 – Travel to Athens by ferry.
Day 73 – Athens
Day 74 - Athens
Day 75 – fly home


Phew, that's it !! Critique away, good/bad, I want to hear it !!

[blinkchick2134]

Sounds like a pretty awesome trip. You seem to have about 3-4 days in the major cities which is pretty idea for seeing the sights and having a bit of down time to explore. Keep the options open, if you love a place - stay for a bit longer and cut out a city later in the trip that wasn't a must see. Staying in one place a bit longer not only lets you explore the city better but gives you a much needed rest. Trips can sometimes turn in a routine and resting for a bit and then hitting the road can make it seem new again.

I'm not sure what you and your boyfriend are into seeing but Spain is fabulous. Madrid is nice, as is Barcelona. I'm very glad to see Toledo on there - I love it. So beautiful! Seville, Cordoba and Alhambra in Granada are amazing as well. Keep them in mind if you get bored of Madrid. I'm sure bus or train goes to those cities and you could head to Barcelona afterward.

Paris is a grand city and Versailles is a must see! Check out the art district on the hill top and the Modern Art Musuem is neat (free on Sundays between 10-2).

[snowball1982]

It seems pretty good, and follows a logical flow. At least 3 days in cities which is good, and not too intense. I have never been to Frankfurt but I have heard it is not worth going to, so unless you have a cheap flight I would consider axing it. Again, that is just what I heard.

For your flights, are they proposed or have you actually found cheap flights ahead of time on the days you want to go?

Personally I thought Paris was highly overrated and are you going to Amsterdam for drugs and hookers? (if not, or if you are from Canada where soft drugs are plentiful, and if you don´t have a niche interest in sex trades, I do not know why one would go there, a-dam that is).

Seems to be pretty tight schedule though, I guess in the peak of summer you might have to have accomodation booked about a week ahead of time or so.

Anyways looks fun have a blast!!

[mish99]

Welcome to the boards!! Youve planned an awesome trip!

I recently spent 2 weeks in Italy and absoloutly loved it!! I spent 3 days in Rome and thought that was enough, I loved Rome, but had seen all the sights by then. I did one of those cheesy 'hop on hop off' tours on my first day, which is great for transportation! But Rome isnt very big and its very easy to find your way around walking etc....See the Trevi fountain in the evenings, its gorgeous!!

I tihnk, if your willing, you should cut 1 day off of Rome and add it onto Venice. I only planned staying 2 days, but ended up adding a 3rd. There isnt much to 'see' in Venice, but wandering the streets is awesome, and I can totally recommend seeing the Islands of Murano (glass making) and Burano (bright coloured houses). Also, what acommodation do you have for Venice?? I stayed at a hostel called A Venice Fish. Nothing great about it, only 2 showers for ALOT of people, and very basic stuff, but Mimo (the owner) cooks dinner and breakfast which is really good.

Otherwise, thats all I can suggest. And april 25th is my birthday!! Hahaha.

Goodluck

[mish99]

Originally Posted by snowball1982

Personally I thought Paris was highly overrated

So did I! I had planned on 3 nights there but ended up staying 2 and catching a ferry back to the UK overnight.

[snowball1982]

Originally Posted by mish99

So did I! I had planned on 3 nights there but ended up staying 2 and catching a ferry back to the UK overnight.

Haha seriously, I had more fun in a small city (Turku) Estonia, than all of France combined. But that could have been my attitude and mood going in. The Palace of Versailles is VERY overrated. OK, yes it is ´nice´, but not when:
- it takes an entire day to get to and see
- costs a lot: like 12 Euros to get there and back, like 14 euros to get in, and ridiculously high food prices
- absolutely PACKED with tourists. Did 50% of the population of Japan decide to migrate to Versailles?

Seriously you will spend as much time elbowing through crowds, and fending off golf-cart driving, camera wielding japanese tourists as you will looking at the palace.

[Esterina]

Good job on the itinerary ! The only comments I'd add is that you're only spending one whole day in Munich. Maybe cut a day from elsewhere to use in Munich. I haven't been there but read many reports from tpunks who loved this city !

Paris, I enjoyed very much. I went twice for a total of 5 weeks and would go back anytime. My best advise is to do the tourits stuff in a day, which is possible, unless you are a museum nerd. Then wander around the city. Just walk, relax in cafés, eat a baguette-jambon-beurre. In my opinion, as it is placed at day 25 of your itinerary, when you'll probably be a bit tired of backpacking, it'll be a good place to slow down, chill out, and reload your energy for the fiestas in South Europe!

I agree about Versailles...

[marc873]

That looks like a damn fun trip!!! The days will fluctuate a bit, but the flow around EU is cool. Happy to see you are slowing down on Santorini!!! We spent 7 days there, and could of stayed a few more. You should PM me about Santorini! I got mad info there, 2 of the best hostels on opposite sides of the Island too! I would totally do 2 nights in each. You will understand when you see it. One is on Perissa Beach, and the other in Oia. You should rent 2, 4 wheelers for the day, and tour the island. Make sure to take the odd little dirt road here and there, they all lead to vacant beaches. So yeah, PM if you want... Just thought of this, the ferry from Santorini to Athens takes over 8 hours, an uncomfortable overnighter, or not? We chose to fly with Aegean airlines. It was about $125 each, but only took 45 min.
Got tons of stuff on Holland too! And oh yeah, fuck Athens, spend the extra day elsewhere. Spend a day there at the Akropolis, and then hit the airport. Just my opinion.... But I had been the the Isles for several weeks, so I was probably a bit jaded.
Cheers

[nickolt]

Thanks guy for all your awesome and positive replies so far!!

Ive been working a lot on this trip and it is good to hear positive feedback.

Regarding the plane tickets, my dad actually is using his airmiles to pay for our flights, so the dates arent set yet, but that is around the time we want to leave. It was totally unexpected cause we thought we were gunna have to pay for our flights as well, but he decided to be really awesome !!

And the reason for flying into Frankfurt is because my Oma lives outside of there and we're staying with her for a few days. She lives about an hour outside of Frankfurt, but Im not sure what the town is called so I just said Frankfurt.

and marc873, i might have to take you up on that PM offer closer to the trip, I want all the inside scoop I can get !!

once again, thanks guys, and keep the comments coming !!

[mbo108]

Another tip you might want...lay out your itinerary on a map (either draw it on a real map or use GoogleMaps (i LOVE doing this for trips)). It really shows your travel patterns and directions and sometimes thats real helpful.

For instance, Day 9 you're going to Neuschwanstein. Then Day 12 you're going to Prague. You might be able to hit up the Castle on your way to Prague. Maybe not (because of train/bus routes) but its always a thought.

[mish99]

Originally Posted by nickolt

Regarding the plane tickets, my dad actually is using his airmiles to pay for our flights

Wow, thats awesome!! Im struggling to get my dad to use his airmiles to upgrade my flight back to England. I might have to resort to begging