This sound ok? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

prom83 · 04-21-2005, 09:56 AM

Planning my first trip to Europe early next year (sometime March/April/May), for about 4 weeks. This is what I've come up with, anyone add any comments? I plan to travel alone.

(I already live in UK)
London - Paris
Paris - Brussels
Brussels - Amsterdam
Amsterdam - Berlin
Berlin - Prague
Prague - Vienna
Vienna - Rome
Rome - Bern
Bern - Paris
Paris London.

Was gonna use Eurostar for travelling between London and Paris, and get a rail pass (Interrail) for the rest. Any comments?

**Esterina** · 04-26-2005, 06:30 PM

Hi prom83 !

Your itinerary is very well thought, but maybe you'll get tired of staying 2 days and hop! leave for the next destination. 10 cities in 30 days will sometimes seem like racing, so maybe just allow your route some flexibility on your way around Europe. You might want to discover a country more thoroughly.

Especially if you live in the UK. It's easy to return some other time.

Berlin-Prague is a long way, the night train is certainly to suggest here.

Check the Raileurope link on this site, it could provide you answers.

prom83 · 04-27-2005, 08:15 AM

Cheers for the feedback.

I don't actually plan to stay in London, so its more like 9 cities, but I get what your saying. My thinking was have a whirlwind tour, and then if I particually like somewhere come back the year after and do it abit more throughly.

I didn't think Berlin - Prague would have been a problem, it was the Vienna - Rome I was worried about. I'll have a look into it though. Cheers.

**omisan** · 04-27-2005, 10:04 AM

You're looking at roughly 3 days a city, which I personally feel is a bare minimum. Since you're in the UK, and the continent is so close (as opposed to the rest of us punks on the US, Canada, Australia, etc.) I think you should concentrate on one or two regions, then save another region for a future trip. I don't know how often you get 4 weeks off - or even a week off - but that's how I'd plan it out. Taking in too much at once doesn't give you a good feel for the places, and that's what we travel for, right?

prom83 · 04-27-2005, 02:10 PM

The 4 weeks off would be yearly ( and thats using just about all my holiday days from work).
Main reason for seeing alittle of everything is its my last adventure before I settle down and buy myself a house, so just wanted to see alittle of the world (well couldn't quite get enough time off for the world so Europe will do

)

**Esterina** · 04-27-2005, 07:37 PM

It seems to me you know what you're looking for in this trip. So I say go ahead, and enjoy yourself ! Your itinerary is well done, but you're right, Vienna-Rome might be "challenging"... I've never done it either.

You'll see (from afar though) plenty of differenty cultures, and it will be easier to go back some other time, unless your mortgage prevent you from travelling... !

BUT, since you leave in a year or so, you still have looooooooooots of time to change your mind !

**worldwidemike** · 04-29-2005, 08:19 AM

The one thing I notice is that everything is a major city. Perhaps you're planning on catching some of the smaller towns while in the big cities, but I'd seriously look into getting out of the cities and out into the countryside, too.

It's your trip, of course, but I'd nix one of two cities and add in some countryside. After all, you do live in the UK, you say, and you can hit these cities for long weekend trips using easyjet or ryannair.

My suggestions? Catch some of the smaller towns in the Czech Republic, or Provence in France, or the Rhine-Neckar region in Germany, or the Amalfi Coast in Italy...

Other than that, I'd say your list looks good!

worldwidemike