A Month in Europe.

Advice? Your request is a bit broad. Get some good guide books. Many people on this website will automatically recommend Rick Steves, but I think for your age and budget, Let's Go, The Rough Guide or Lonely Planet would be better sources.

What is that ,, SIX countries and two continents,,, ,, slow down! You are doing a bus tour are you ? LOL

You have four weeks .. and train travel takes time,, its not instant teleportation after all. You will spend one day in travel from point to point at least,, MORE if you plan on places like Athens( I would strongly recommend you skip it, or fly into it on a low cost carrier from Rome,, otherwises its a long train ride to Brindsi and then a LONG ferry ride. .I absolutely LOVED Greece, but, its really worth another trip, and doing it right,, and including a few island visits.

I appreciate all the feedback! I have read many many travel books over the last year in preparation for this trip, however despite all my research I still feel bogged down in knowing what todo and see once I get there. I am either planning on flying from Rome to Athens and Athens to Munich, or cutting Greece out all together. This will be my first trip to Europe and I want to get as much out of it as possible...

Theresa,

My first suggestion would be to read Europe Through The Back Door as that will provide answers to a lot of your questions. Given your location, you can use the Library at ETBD for access to all of Rick's books. That would also give you the opportunity to speak with Rick's excellent staff, and I'm sure they will be able to help you sort out the details. Watching some of Rick's videos might give you some ideas on places you might want to visit.

Have you bought your air tickets yet? Open jaw flights would be a much better option (if possible). If you already have return tickets to Paris, it would be a good idea to limit the area you'll be travelling in in order to reduce both travel times and cost.

Regarding a budget, the "usual" method is to allow about US$100 per day for lodgings, food, incidentals and local transportation. This amount does not include air fares or Railpass. One point to note is that travel with a Railpass does not include the reservation fees that are compulsory on the fast trains. These must be paid separately.

A month is not a long time for travel in Europe, and after reading your proposed Itinerary, my first impression was that dropping Sicily and Morocco would be a really good idea. As your destinations are somewhat "geographically distant", allowing adequate travel times between cities is very important!

Don't try to see everything in one visit. As Rick says "assume you will return".

If you could add some details on what your interests are and what you most want to see in Europe, I'll try to offer some further suggestions.

Cheers!

I agree that you are trying to include too much and go too far. Why don't you get a map and circle your propsed destinations. You will see how they group. Munich will stick out by itself! So will Athens and Morocco. If Spain and Italy (and Paris) are what really interest you, then plan a trip around those cities. Give yourself time- at least 4-7 days in major cities like Rome, Paris and Barcelona. Plan at least 2 days even in small towns so you don't feel rushed. Read Rick Steve's book(s) and others and start thinking about absorbing the sense of a place, not just glancing at the skyline from the airport and checking it off your list.

Theresa,
Many people on this site have travelled to Europe many times and may have forgotten the timing of their very first trip and how much they wanted to see. I remember vaguely those 1 or 2 night stays of my first trip to Europe--now I prefer a week in a spot with day trips.

I think you could work out an itinerary that would give you 3 nights in each place (omitting Athens) with a day to travel between places. (EG. Par- Barc- Moro- Sici- Rome- Mun- Paris). However, your distances between places are far and a day to travel would be a full day IF you get the right connections. The order of places you visit may depend on whether and where you can get cheaper air flights. Overnight train travel is another option--both pros and cons have been discussed on this site.

My 25 yo son found that point-to-point rail tickets, buses, and airflights worked out cheaper (and more time efficient) for his 3 month European trip than a Eurail Pass. He did a lot of research online building his itinerary.

As to what you want to see: investigate Rick's Library there in Edmonds for information, read through blogs for inspiration of what YOU find appealing. There are great people on this site who can help you with specific questions.

Theresa, Athens is completely out of your way. It's a smoggy big city. The real attractions in Greece are outside of Athens (apart from a few museums and the Akropolis from which you usually can't even see the city due to the smog). On your way from Paris to Munich there are many places worth visiting, like Reims, the Rhine river gorge, Mosel river or the Black Forrest area, Stuttgart, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Then from Munich to Rome there is Garmisch, Innsbruck, Venice, Milan, Florence, Pisa etc. Between Rome and Sicily there's at least Naples worth a stop. From Sicily to Barcelona you'd have to fly. From Barcelona you can work your way down to Algeciras with a couple of stop overs. Then take a ferry to Morocco. But what do you want to see in Morocco, it's such a huge country. Just staying in Tanger? That's like a day trip to Tijuana and then believing you had seen all of Mexico. For you as a young woman Seville is certainly going to be especially worthwhile (lots of students from all around the world, plenty of culture, history, sights and party). From Seville it's about a day and a half back to Paris by train...

A month seems like a long time but you will be better served to think about how many days you have on the ground and what is reasonable to see during that time.

I plan my trips for at least three weeks and preferably four weeks or more.

I fly open jaw and plan an itinerary that makes a logical sweep through a region without a lot of backtracking or jumping around.

Although you have time to cover several countries (or at least parts of several countries) I would probably not put Morocco, Munich and Athens in the same trip. That uses too much of your time for transportation and not enough time seeing sites and meeting people.

Hi Theresa,

It's great that you have a whole month to do this trip, but I would make some changes. Skip Sicily and Morocco. Spend that time in Paris and a possible day trip. I would suggest that you use Rough Guide Europe and Let's Go: Western Europe in your planning, and if there is a STA Travel Agency around, contact them to help you put your trip together.

You have an age advantage because at 25 you still qualify for youth discounts, such as with the Eurail pass--get the Youth one, 2nd class, and with plane ticket discounts.

Between Rome and Munich you have a direct night train, that way you will have an extra day.

For suggestions as to where to go, apart from your list, I would definitely suggest BERLIN--a real must-see. Based on your list, there is a direct night train from Paris Est-Berlin and Munich-Berlin and Paris Est-Munich, all of which could solve some of your time concerns. If Berlin is too far north for you, then I would recommend Milan, or Strasbourg, which is worth at least 2 full days. Happy Travels.

All this feedback is great! I think I will cut Morraco out of my trip, and hopefully make northern Africa a trip in and of itself someday. I got a Killer deal on my plain tickets back in August (550 RT to Paris). I am planning 4 days in Paris with a Day trip to Normandy, then down to barcelona for 3 days, taking the train around the french riviera( I know this will take a few days... I don't have this fully planned yet).. I also want to go to rome florance,milan, and hopefully venice. I really wanted to stop in Interlaken for a ski festival during Valentines day weekend. But I am not sure how to fit it in, Should I spend more time in France first and then swing back to Spain from Switzerland or do Spain and then Switzerland... This is my firt trip overseas so I know I am going to try and do so much. It is also just hitting me that I'll be traveling solo which is exciting and daunting all at the same time. Does anyone have any clothes/packing tips? What is the weather like during Febuary/March?

Since you are from Rick Steves' hometown it would be most helpful for you (if you haven't already) to head over to the Europe Through The Back Door Travel Center. It's an amazing resource, I go at least once a year. Beyond the travel items for sale, they have a full library of guidebooks that you can sit and read at your leisure, and a staff of travel gurus. It is worth the small fee to sit down with an expert there and ask your questions and get some advice from the best in the business. They also have free travel classes every Thursday and Saturday. Happy travels!

Theresa,

I definitely concur with Rich's suggestion. As I suggested in my first post, paying a visit to ETBD headquarters in Edmonds would be a really good idea!

Cheers!

I agree with Rich and Ken. You should take advantage of the RS resources there in your hometown. While there, you might want to check into their consulting services, which seem very reasonable in price. See http://www.ricksteves.com/about/consulting.htm

When I was in my early 20s (21 and 23), I went to Europe solo too, still do. About France: since this is your first time over there, I would allow 6 nights for Paris, since you are going to make a day-trip to Normandy and return that night to Paris.

There is the Paris-Caen train, which leaves from Paris at Gare St.- Lazare. Caen is the province capital of Lower Normandie, a very large museum on WW II is there, accessible by bus from the Caen train station.

I found the town very interesting, considering what happened to the place in the Battle for Normandy in 1944. The museum was definitely interesting. If you go to Caen just for viewing the Museum, make it a day trip; if you want to see the city as well as the Museum...it's called the Museum of Peace....spend at least two full days there.

The shop in the Museum offers a wide selection on military history, if you want to learn more on the subject. Some works in English too are among the volumes available.

Ok. So Thank you again for all the help! I have been and go to ETBD in Edmonds all the time, and I have made I think good use of the staff and his library as well as taking many many travel classes over the the last year.
I have taken your advice and cut many things out of trip in order to maximize the time:
Day 1 Arrive Paris
Days 2-7 Paris (Day trip to Normandy)
Overnight train to Barcelona
Days 8-11 Barcelona
Overnight to to Marselle
Days 12-14 Marselle/Nice
Days 14-17 Genoa
Days 18-21 Rome
Days 22-24 Venice
Days 25-27 Innsbrook
Days 28- 32 Munich
Overnight train to Paris
Day 33 Fly back to US

With a 4 country Eurail 2nd class Youth Selectpass at 468$
I figured out that Hostels and Rail fees would cost roughly 1100$.

Does this sound about right? How much do the "metros" in the larger city usually cost? Is it like riding the metro in DC or NYC?

Theresa.

When you get to Paris at CDG airport, I assume you will take the RER "B" into the city; if you do, the RER goes to Gare du Nord; the stop for the RER is called Gare Magenta, which runs into Gare du Nord--it's all connected; the ticket for that ride costs 7-8 euros, one way...it might be cheaper if you ask for a round-trip ticket (aller-retour). Ask at the station where you buy the RER ticket, if you can buy tickets for the Metro. If yes, then buy a "carnet"---that is TEN tickets for a set price. It is by far the best deal in riding the Metro in Paris and the bus, ie, the cheapest.

There is another way to get to Paris from CDG, that is, to take the ROISSY BUS (CDG airport is known as ROISSY, which the French always say to mean the CDG) to the Opera House.

I think that is the main stop for this ROISSY BUS, which is right next to the American Express building. The Metro station is across the street called L'Opera, if that is your first Metro station, buy the "carnet." I would choose the RER option and have always done that; once you walk by the Sheraton at CDG, you're heading to the RER station. Lucky YOU!!!

I see that your last place before returning to Paris for the flight home is MUNICH; the overnight MUNICH-PARIS train is a direct shot, leaving at 22:44 and arrives 09:30 at Gare de l'Est, which is a few minutes walk from Gare du Nord. It will be a German CNL train--very good. You'll need to walk (about 10 mins) over to Gare du Nord to take the RER back to CDG. I haven't done the Munich-Paris Est night train, only during the day. The train from Munich only goes to Gare de l'Est, what the Germans call PARIS EST, not Gare du Nord.

Theresa,

I checked the German Fed. Rail and would suggest that you take a train from Munich to Paris Est with the least number of transfers, which may mean in the afternoon; most of the night trains require changing trains 3,4, or 5 times, and you don't want to do that!! Plus you won't get any sleep.

Theresa,

I have a few more questions and comments after reading your last post.....

• NORMANDY DAY TRIP: Were you planning to do this via an organized tour or by rail on your own? It will likely be a LONG day. What were you planning to see in Normandy?

• MARSEILLE: Although it will be "quiet" at this time of year, you might find it better to stay in Nice. There's some great Museums there, and that would make it easy to daytrip to Monaco/Monte Carlo, Villefranche, Eze or other nearby locations.

• GENOA: Was there a particular reason you wanted to stop in Genoa? There other locations in that area that would be preferable (IMHO).

• INNSBRUK: You might also consider Salzburg, as it's another beautiful location.

It's great that you've been taking advantage of the free classes at ETBD. Living in Edmonds, you're able to utilize the resources at ETBD, a benefit that most of us here don't have.

Cheers!

Hi Theresa,

I know people are discouraging you from staying in so many places, but when I travelled in my 20s, I usually found that 2 to 3 nights in a town was enough to get a taste of the town and then I was eager to move on. I had a lot more energy and was eager to see a lot. I prefer to travel slower now that I am older.

I do agree with your decision to cut out Athens and Sicily on this trip.

I would definitely recommend Let's Go if you are hostelling and on a budget.

I would suggest not making all of your train rides long trips or overnight trips. Choose a few destinations that are only 2-3 hours apart.

I'd probably skip Marseille and split my time in southern France between Arles (or Avignon) and Nice.

I also think that there are better places to visit in Italy than Genoa.

Rather than taking an overnight train to Paris on the last day, you might want to split your time in Paris ... spend 3-4 nights on arrival and 1-3 nights at the end. I love Paris. I've been there 3 times and spent 8 days on my last trip. However, on my first trip I only spent 3 days and it was enough to get a taste of Paris. I would have preferred more, but don't necessarily be swayed into spending a week if you are anxious to see more places. Normandy might be a bit tough as a day trip, particularly in the cold weather.

You don't necessarily need to plan everything particularly since you are going in the offseason. On several of my trips, I met people in the youth hostels who I travelled with for a day or two. It was fun to deviate from plans.

One thing that I found helpful for planning was a Rail Map of Europe. These maps show the train routes and approximate journey time between cities. They can be particularly helpful for mapping out your route.

Finally, you might also look to see if there are any cheap flights between towns that you want to visit that might cause you to change your route.

Ok. So new itinerary, after spending hours at ETBD this morning, I have come up with a modified plan:
Day 1-3 Paris
Day 4 - Normandy
Day 5 - Paris
Day 6 Fly to Barcelona
Day 6-9 Barcelona
Day 9 Fly to Nice
Day 10-12 Nice
Day 13 Travel Day to Sienna ( 3 trains through Genoa and Florence 7 hour travel time)
Day 13-16 Florence/Sienna
Day 17-19 Rome
Day 20-23 Venice
Day 24 Travel day to Munich ( 2 trains through Innsbrook to Munich 5.5 hour trave time)
Day 25-27 Munich
Day 27 Overnight train to Paris
Day 28 Paris
Day 29 Fly Home

Going to throw you a small curve just to screw up your planning. Most museums and other tourist sights tend to be closed on Monday. Not all as someone will point out but ones I always want to see are closed on Monday. Monday can be a good travel day or just a day to catch up on laundry and a little rest. In my planning I find it helpful to schedule a blank day (nothing planned) every four to six days as both a rest day and day catch up from previous days. You cannot go continuously for 30 days. You need catch your breath once in a while.

Theresa,

Check with the Deutsche Bahn (DB) website about taking the night train from Munich to Paris Est. Still, you have at least one and half days for Paris before your departure back to the States...that's good.

Plan on enough time to get to CDG from Gare du Nord with the RER "B".... 3 hrs prior to departure. My suggestion is that you stay in the Gare du Nord area for your last two nights in Paris because you don't want to be navigating the Metro with your luggage trying to get to Gare du Nord/Gare Magenta (the two stations blend into each other) to take the RER "B" to CDG so you'll be there, at the very least, no later than 2.5 hrs. prior to departure.

What time is your flight back? I always stay in the Gare du Nord area...numerous two and three star hotels and restaurants just across from the train station.