So as I said last week, our trip has been booked! Eric and I will be in Europe from April 20, 2010 until May 9, 2010 - so we will be in Europe for 20 full days (traveling overnight on April 19 and all day on May 10).
We arrive in Amsterdam the morning of April 20 and we are there until mid-morning on the 22 when we will fly to Paris. (btw, yes, we realize we’ll be in Amsterdam on 4.20 and NO, we did not plan it that way! Eric’s cousin pointed it out to us.) Other than that, our trip is wide open so far.
Here’s what we’re thinking:
April 19 (overnight) - Fly to Amsterdam
April 20-22 - Amsterdam (We need a cheap/relatively nice place to stay for two nights. Suggestions, please??)
April 22 to April 26ish - Paris
April 26ish - Fly from Paris to somewhere in Italy (thinking Venice)
April 27ish to May 7ish - Travel across Italy using a Eurail pass, we want to hit up Venice, Florence, Rome and Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
May 7ish to May 9ish - Fly from somewhere in Italy (Sorrento area) to Athens, spend a 1 to 1.5 days there, probably take a ferry to an island
May 9ish (evening, hopefully) - Fly from Athens back to Paris
May 10 - Fly home (with the time difference we leave Amsterdam at 2:30 PM local time and arrive in Canada at 3:30 PM local time, lol!)
The underlined dates are set in stone, the “ish” dates are flexible.
So to sum up, we are looking at doing 7-8 different places in 4 different countries in 20 days.
I know it seems like a lot to squeeze in, and maybe it is, but we want to spend 2-5 days in each place MAX. I know the best way to see a city is spend a few weeks there, and even that’s not really enough time. I know that some of you LOVE Paris, and some of you LOVE Rome but we might not so we don’t want to be stuck staying in one city for most of our trip, you know? Also, tours (which we were originally considering) cram 16-18 different places into 20 days so I think we’re doing pretty good with 7-8!
I also want to get the inner-Europe flights booked and the eurail pass purchased BEFORE we go over there so I don’t have that stress while I’m there. So while things can be flexible IN Italy (with the eurail pass) the other dates/places will not be.
So far I’ve been checking easyjet.com and ryanair.com for flights within Europe. Are there other sites I should be looking at? Do you guys have any other suggestions for that? We were originally going to fly within Italy too, but then we thought a Eurail pass would be cheaper since we want to hit up quite a few places in Italy. We’ll see though; right now I want to go to Venice and Eric wants to go to Florence so we thought we’d compromise and go to both!
So what do you guys think? Advice/comments/tips??
PS: I’m SO FREAKING EXCITED!
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
This trip sounds amazing! I’ve always wanted to do a trip that takes me through Europe like this.
I was in Amsterdam with my family a few years ago and we stayed at a pretty cheap hotel called The Amstel. It was a hotel boat, not the greatest place we’ve ever stayed, but okay.
Good luck with planning the rest of your trip!
Okay, I wanted to double check the name of the hotel and now I know for sure that it’s called The Amstel Botel. You can find it online @ http://www.amstelbotel.nl/en/
Im so jealous! Make sure you dont pack too much in and miss out on taking time to enjoy it. I guess its good you are keeping everything open in case you fall in love with somewhere.
i totally agree with you about some people might love one city and others might not. that’s a good idea to not lock yourselves into one city for a LONG period of time!
That’s so exciting that you’re going on a trip to Europe! Italy is AMAZING!!!!! florence, rome, sorrento, venice. *sighs*
athens is cool, you’re just lucky you are going now instead of when i went! taking a ferry to an island can be a day trip. Do pompeii! that was way way too cool!
Your trip sounds great! I would love to spend a whole week in Amsterdam, so can hardly grasp spending only 2 days there. I have a friend who used to live there, I will ask her if she has any suggestions.
I don’t have any advice whatsoever, but I am MAJOR jealous and SO excited for you!! I can’t wait to see all the pictures you’ll take. I’m dyinnnng to go to Europe someday but I’ll have to save up for it. School really screwed me on the financial front! Till then, I will live vicariously through you. Hope you don’t mind.
I’m excited for you! It sounds like you have lots planned to see and do, but you’ll have a great time!
I actually don’t think you are trying to fit in to much as long as you know what you are in for (aka a lot of traveling) and are the type of person who can handle it. When Eric and I did our Europe trip we stayed 2-3 nights in each place and it was fine.
Let’s go through: Amsterdam & Paris seem like a great ammount of time at each, then you’ll have 10 days in Italy- I’d do only one full day in Venice and Florence (I loved Venice, but still think it can be experienced in a day- didn’t go to Florence but would guess the same), spend at least 3 nights in Rome there is SO much to do, that still gives you 5 days to explore the Amalfi coast which I have not done but really want to! You may want to *consider* adding an extra day in Greece. Personally I was not a huge fan of Athens as a city but there is a lot of REALLY cool stuff to see- if you add a day you could see the city (Acropolis etc) and then spend one day on an island…just a thought. In fact, instead of taking from Italy you could take a night from Paris. We did Paris in 2 nights and while I’d love to go back, I think I saw a good amount also. Just my thoughts
I can’t wait to read all your blog entries about this trip- I can pretend I am taking it haha.
That sounds so amazing!!! I am so jealous! I wish I had advice for you, but I’m really looking forward to the rest of your planning in case I ever get to go on a trip like this!!! Good luck!
It sounds like you guys are going to have a lot of fun! I just watched the musical Nine in theatre and I’m slightly in love with Italy because of it.
I’ve never been overseas, but my one piece of advice is to bring a Euro-otulet converter, you know, since their plug-ins are different than ours. (Or at least I’m pretty sure they are). I know TRU’s bookstore carries them, but you can probably find them cheaper elsewhere!
I think this sounds like a really awesome trip! I don’t think I could ever be that flexible though. I’d stress out too much. I need to have everything planned and all modes of transportation figured out.
AND YOU’RE NOT GOING TO LONDON? :-O
lol please try and cram it in!! easyjet.com and ryanair.com are both wonderful and you can definitely book them ahead of time. And they are RIDICULOUSLY cheap. But teensy little seats all squashed in - make sure the flights are no longer than an hour!! If you end up stopping in the UK/Ireland let me know and I will tell you all the places you’ll fall in love with
Jealous! I LOVE Paris and not been there for like fifteen years.
I’m not a massive fan of Easyjet but that’s mainly because you don’t get seat numbers in advance and it’s always hectic trying to get on and find a decent seat. But that’s just me - the prices are damn good! They seem to be a lot stricter than other airlines on check in times though.
Can I just be jealous? I would love to go to Europe. Probably never gonna happen until my 40s now. Unless I am make it through 2010 not knocked up. Then I will be taking a large large large trip in 2011. Though we tend to go visit beaches.
Sounds like an amazing time! I’m jealous and super excited for both of you. I love it when I hear about people taking (much needed) trips after they finish their degrees.
No real advice. I’ve only been a few places. And only one in Europe. Only tidbit I can mention is that a friend of mine visited an area of Italy called ‘Cinque Terre’ and RAVED about it. Raved about it so much, she made me google it and then want to visit immediately.
Amber, this sounds like a great trip! And smart that you guys are willing to be flexible on when you are at certain places. You are going to see about the same number of places my friend A and I saw in 21 days. It worked out perfectly. We only spent two-three nights in each city and we always felt like we had seen enough of each place. I didn’t go to the Almafi coast, but have heard great things about it. I think you’ll have a blast in Rome and Florence.
Ahhhh! I’m so glad you guys decided to do Amalfi Coast AND Athens! Great compromise.
wow, this sounds like an amazing trip! im jealous!
OMG that is so exciting! Congrats on finally booking the trip! (I am so behind on my reader! Sorry for delayed commenting!!!) YAY for Europe!!!! You guys are going to have so much fun! Please take lots of pics to share with us!
Hey Amber,
When I was in Europe we went to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and England…. I LOVED it! So jealous….. haha have a good trip! I do recommend London…. probably my favourite part of the whole trip!
This trip looks GREAT! I don’t know much about planning trips to Europe but I don’t think you’re doing too much. You’re young now is the time to go crazy traveling all over the place : ) You’re going to have a blast!
i want to go live in greece so badly!!
So, I haven’t been to Europe for a trip like that. In fact, I’ve never been to Europe proper. I know. Terribly depressing. only London a few times but I loved it and want to go back.
My best advice is follow your heart, do what you think is best and what will be the least stressful, most fun-filled for you. =)
http://www.lonelyplanet.com
such a good website!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! LOL I soooooooooo freakin wish we were going with you and Eric!!! 20 days of bliss!! Oh well next year we’ll leave the baby with Sheldon & Leigha and do another Europe trip!! LOL ;p JKKKK
When we planned to go we were going to start out in Amsterdam too……luckkkkyyyy you guys will be where on 4:20 LMAO So was the cousin Shawn that mentioned it to Eric LMAO
Yes i agree with packing light, take outfits that you will be able to wear with other things and good shoes….the eurail is awesome because you’ll get to see a lot of country side.
LUCKY LUCKY LUCKYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve never traveled overseas so I don’t have any advice to offer, but it sounds like a fantastic trip! I’m excited for you.
It is going to be a fabulous trip.
You’re going to have a ton of fun! i’ve always wanted to take a trip like that.
Sooooo exciting!!!! I’m so jealous you are going to Italy…. I really want to go there!!!
Can’t wait to hear all about it :)))
Sounds like a fantastic trip! I’m very excited for you.
If you get a chance, check out the Vatican. It really is an interesting place to visit!
You won’t regret Florence…I guarantee it.
FUN! I’ve never done Europe apart from France & the UK. I’d love to, but have other places on my priority list first (South East Asia and South America and Africa).
I’m interested on hearing how you budgeted for this trip too (maybe after the fact?) I’ve never paid 100% for my own long-term travel, besides this Canada trip coming up. And I have no accommodation costs this time around and since I’ve lived there I have basic ideas of food, transit and entertainment.
Oh for fun! You are going to be so glad you did this!!
I don’t think you have too much planned at all. Yes, it is great to spend a week+ in a location, but you dont’ really have the time to do that on a trip like this. I think it sounds really well thought out! Happy planning! Out of the cities you are visiting, I have only been to Paris. But as you know, I fell head over heels in love w/ that city so have lots of tips on where to visit, etc!
Sounds awesome, Amber! I hope you’ll blog all about it.
I think this trip sounds like an incredible adventure. It seems like a really smart idea to only spend a few days in each city. You can make note of which ones you fall in love with and decide afterwards which ones you simply must spend more time for a trip down the road.
I can’t say I have a lot of advice, because even though I’ve traveled quite a bit, I’ve never actually planned out any of those trips. But it sounds like an amazing trip! And while 7-8 places might seem like a lot, since everything is so close together in Europe its really not to crazy. I’m sure you two will have a blast!
Look at you go!!! I agree - you might as well see as much as you can while you’re over there! Who knows when you’ll be back, right?! 2-5 days wherever you are will be plenty - you’ll love some places more than others and you can relax when you want to.
I’m so excited for you!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! How amazing!!! This is going to be such an amazing trip, I’m sure you wish you could leave tomorrow!!
I would definitely book the flights and the eurail pass before going to Europe. If you really want to go somewhere, you don’t want it to have to be canceled because you can’t get there!
I definitely have a hostel to recommend for Venice (it was great and right in front of a GREAT cafe to have breakfast), and I’ve got some suggestions for Rome and Florence too! I’ll try to get these to you this week-end
ps: Amsterdam is one of my fave cities, it is SO gorgeous! If I’m rich one day, I want to buy a house on the canal! And make sure you check out Anne Frank’s house, it’s so moving!
I think that sounds pretty freakin’ awesome!!!! You are going to have a ridiculous good time!
your trip sounds AMAZING!! you guys are going to have so much fun!!!
i know you always say your a HUGE saver…. i need some help learning.. ahem.. making myself become a saver. any tips?? if so would you email me… chambernic@gmail.com
THANK YOU!
xoxo
AH! I’m so excited for you!
I studied abroad in Cortona, Italy during the summer of 2006 and fell in love with the country. I definitely recommend checking out Tuscany in your tours, and if you want to chat specifics, let me know! I’d love to help you out since I kind of know the area!
i’d say to check out the actual country’s airlines too (air france, luftansa, air italia) sometimes they’re close to as cheap. i use expedia usually.
(i’m in france right now until the end of may.)
beware that ryanair and easyjet have insane baggage restrictions!!!
some flights charge you more than the ticket price to check a bag - and even then your bag can only weigh something like 25 lbs. so if you’re planning on skipping all over for 3 weeks, your luggage may not be suitable to take with you….
i’ve been to venice - 2 days is tonnes.
paris i’ve been 3 times and still can’t get enough.
amsterdam is cool and 2 days is prob fine, but at that time of year the tulip fields are incredible. at the very least make sure to look out the window of the plane as you fly over holland. the tulip fields look like lego blocks of colour on the ground. not sure if you ever read the diary of anne frank, but that museum was one of my favourite things to see.
when in amsterdam i stayed with family, but look into hostels for cheaper rooms, you can always book a private bedroom and have to share the bathroom…just remember that they charge per person.
in italy - have a good dictionary. esp in rome, they don’t seem to care or have the patience for anyone.
for sure message me if you want more tips - and i just went to paris over christmas, if you want to see some pics on my blog…
cheers and happy travels!
Hey! Great list… but I can’t believe that you’re missing Germany
You should travel by train from Paris to Venice and stop in Munich. Actually there’s a train that goes straight from Paris to Munich and another one from Munich to Venice… So, you could try the delicious Bavarian beer…
Have a great day…