We are trying to make a travel itinerary starting in Paris and ending in Rome. We are thinking Paris 7 days, Provence 3 days, Nice 3 days, Lake Como 4 days, Venice 2 days %26amp; Rome 2 days. We plan to travel by train and would appreciate any input %26amp; thoughts. Are we trying to do too much, have we got the balance right? This is our first time travelling Europe, %26amp; coming from Australia we need to fit in as much as possible....the costs %26amp; the travel time mean it is not easy to %26#39;just go to Paris%26#39;.
Thanks
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Hi Fellow Aussie
This is from a Francophile who has been to Paris twice and we%26#39;re still planning a full 7 days next year, but.... imo 2 days in Rome is not enough. Our plans for next year are similar to yours except in reverse because we are leaving the best to last. Lol. We have 3 days in Rome ( and we%26#39;ve previously had a week there) and then 3 days in Venice. If it was me, I%26#39;d probably completely cut Lake Como or Provence and have an extra day in Venice and an extra 2 or 3 in Rome. If you are planning to go to the Vatican, which I believe is a must, that will be a full day and leaves you with only one day for Rome. You also have to take into consideration whether you are more scenery people or history/ art people and we are the latter. However, we travel with our kids, who are teenagers but can only handle limited scenery.
We are flying into Rome and then following your trip in reverse, except adding Switzerland after Milan/ Lake Como, and then to Nice, Provence, and Paris. Last time we flew eveywhere, this time we are trying the train. What time of the year are you planning to go?
Coming for Australia, we also have the urge to see as much as possible, but once you%26#39;ve been, you%26#39;ll be addicted and will have to keep going back.
Enjoy the planning! It%26#39;s part of your holiday.
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That was supposed to be %26#39;coming from Australia%26#39; not %26#39;for%26#39;.
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I%26#39;ve made separate trips to both Paris and Rome over the past few years. In each case, I spent 9 nights -- both cities filled my time easily. I know very little about your interim stops, but I%26#39;d definitely try to make more time for Rome -- even staying there for a full week won%26#39;t really allow you to scratch the surface of this fascinating destination.
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I%26#39;m with Veropalo: 2 days in Venice and 2 days in Rome aren%26#39;t enough. Looks like you have 3 weeks all up: you could easily spend a week in each place.
You also need to be careful that you don%26#39;t end up feeling like you are just travelling from place to place, rather than getting enough time in each to make a decent acquaintance with them.
If it was my trip, and I was trying to see as much as possible, I think I would spend 6 days in Paris then take an overnight train to Venice, spend 4 days in Venice, hire a car (from the mainland) and drive to Cortona (about 4 hrs according to www.googlemaps.com) and spend 6 days exploring the small hill towns of Tuscany (eg: Montelpuciano, Torrita di Sienna, Siena itself) drive to Rome (about 2 hrs, 15 mins), return the hire car and then spend 5 days there.
Alternatively, I would spend 6 days in Paris, catch the TGV to Avigon TGV station and hire a car and spend 6 days nights exploring the wine country around Chateuneuf-du-Pape and the exquisite Luberon Valley (eg: Gordes, Roussillon) drive to Lyon (about 2 hrs, 15 mins) and fly to Venice (you can get really cheap domestic flights on low cost carriers), spend 4 days in Venice, catch the train to Rome and spend 5 days there.
Both itineraries give you a reasonable amount of time in Paris, Venice and Rome, balanced with either the countryside of Provence or Tuscany.
Whatever you decide to do, have a great trip.
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Well , I agree with others, Rome does deserve more then 2 days,, 4 at least.
Venice on the other hand I was fine with a 2 day visit, its kind of a see it place, but for me,, not alot to do,, I really like seeing museums and historical sites..
Paris , well I think it minimally deserves 5 or 6 days, 7 days if you want to do a side trip to Versailles, Chartes, or Giverny.
I would eliminate Provence,, it is too spread out ,, it does deserve a rental car and at least a week, save it for another trip.
Nice , well 3 days to maybe relax after hectic Rome and Paris.
An important fact I am missing, ,when is this trip, I mean, I wouldn%26#39;t go to Nice at all unless it was June - September.
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Joan1 %26amp; Veropalo, we will be there in Sep 09. The other couple we are going with have already been to Paris, Venice, Milan %26amp; Rome so that is why we are trying to squeeze in other places - otherwise it will be the same as their last holiday..except this time they will have our great company lol. They didn%26#39;t particularly like Rome %26amp; because of FF points we need to fly in or out of Paris or Rome.
We might pinch a day off Como and add to Rome. I don%26#39;t know that I%26#39;m that keen on Nice, %26amp; if we go to Provence I think we will have to hire a car..or a Elladexter has suggested maybe we spend time in Tuscany %26amp; cut out Provence %26amp; Nice. Everytime we think we are all sorted someone gets another brainwave...it%26#39;s fun doing all the planning though.
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Not sure whether your trip is counting days or nights. Our trip is counting nights and the three in Venice are:
1. Arrive, get to hotel and then wander.
2. Murano and Burano.
3. Venice.
Leave next morning. Lose most of this day leaving, then on the train, and then getting to the next hotel. If you are counting nights then Rome and Venice are REALLY limited.
You probably do need a car in Provence (and I really don%26#39;t want one).
If Tuscany includes Florence that would be great too. I LOVED Florence, although rest of the family preferred Rome. If you%26#39;ve only got a couple of days, make sure you book the museums in advance. The queues were long but might be better in Sept. I%26#39;d probably choose Florence over Provence but as I said before I%26#39;m more into art than scenery.
So many places! We%26#39;ll have to just keep going back!!!
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I so agree: the planning part is so much fun. There are so many options and all of them will be fantastic.
We were in France and Italy in September/October and a bit of November last year – Paris, Bordeaux, Avignon, Genoa, Turin, Cremona, Venice, Florence Rome. Can’t wait to get back (roll on March 2009)….
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