Amsterdam to Paris to London Trip on Our Own in Spring

You'll get plenty of help here, but be sure to look at our host's top left blue menu, with free advice:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips
Have you read any of his books, or seen them in your public library?

This sounds like a wonderful trip, with enough time to see a lot of your three big cities and explore parts of England too. Lots of people here have done trips like yours. Hopefully your flights will be from your home airport to Amsterdam, and then back from London ("open jaw") to save you the time and cost of backtracking.

Train service between the cities is excellent, particularly the Thalys between Amsterdam and Paris and the Eurostar between Paris and London. The Thalys stops in Brussels if you want to spend a night there. These train tickets should be bought as soon as possible for the lowest fares, which will be non-changeable. But that shouldn't be a problem, since you'll already be in your departure cities. This website is filled with information about train travel in Europe and the specific trains you'll want, including photos and directions on how to find them.

For a first independent trip, I'd suggest a hotel rather than apartment rental, especially for a couple. You may want a "hand holding" desk clerk or concierge in the lobby. Rentals through Airbnb can make sense for longer stays or families that want to spread out, but the downside is dealing with individual property owners or agents on things like check-in-and-out arrangements, appliances, etc. Put differently -- if there's something wrong with your hotel room, you can probably get another room, but if there's something wrong with your apartment you're probably stuck.

The only part of your plan that gives me any pause is driving in Britain, specifically on the left side. I have a lot of trouble with that, though many other Americans don't seem to. There's no real way to practice at home. ;-) Auto Europe is a good place to look for rental options, and (unlike booking.com) also to set up the rental itself. Keep in mind that you can rent the car in one place and return it in another, probably with no additional charge. Since you won't want the car in London, you could, for example, take the train to York, pick up the car and make your way by whatever route to Oxford, return it there and take the train back to London. (Or, in the case of Oxford, the Airline bus service straight to Heathrow Airport if you prefer.)

I hope some of that is helpful. The best use of the forum is probably to post specific questions, including relevant information about when the trip is, in the section for the specific country you're asking about. And, as noted above, use the "Travel Tips" and "Explore Europe" links on this website. Have fun planning this trip, I'm sure it will be a great one.

I think this sounds wonderful .... mostly because it's almost exactly what I am doing next April.

Here's a quick outline of my plan:

Fly Seattle to Amsterdam, 3 overnights in Amsterdam. This is mostly to see the special Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum and to see a friend who lives there. I've got my timed entry ticket to the Vermeer and will probably get a ticket to visit Van Gogh although I might go to Keukenhof Gardens instead. Tulip time!

Amsterdam to Paris: I'll book this train on the www.thalys.com website. Tickets go on sale about 4 months out. The sooner you buy this ticket the better your price will be. I'll spend about 10 nights in Paris.

Paris to London: I'll take the Eurostar train (www.eurostar.com) to London. I've already bought this ticket as they go on sale about 6 months out and the prices just keep increasing. As soon as you have your dates, buy this ticket. I'll spend 9 nights in London, then take the train north to Harrogate to pick up a small group tour. At the end of the trip I'll return to London and probably overnight in Windsor which is a short cab ride away from Heathrow.

I've booked refundable hotels in all locations. I've got the Eurostar ticket which I booked on the Eurostar app on my phone. I'll do the other tickets as soon as they come up for sale.

This is actually a very easy trip to organize yourself. Your train segments, whether or not you add in Brussels are straightforward and easy to book on the train company websites OR on their apps. Hotels are easy to organize as well. Just be sure to go refundable - I think Covid taught everyone a lesson about non-refundable reserations!

editing to add: I agree with Dick about hotels over apartments for a first trip. You don't want an apartment in Paris cancelled at the last minute due to "plumbing issues" which always seems to be the reason. Plus most of the folks a the front desks are awesome and can help if you have questions.

You are travelling a well trodden path, with good rail services between your destinations. If you wanted to stop in Belgium, I would recommend Bruges over Brussels.

I disagree with the posters above - I always stay in apartments and cottages over hotels. It’s nice to have somewhere to pop back to during the day and have a washing machine available. Plus having a kitchen is great for a longer trip, rather than have to eat out three meals a day.

The first three weeks of April are school Easter holidays, so places will get booked up early.

Hiring an automatic car will be more expensive, but may give you some comfort if you aren’t used to manuals.

I agree with the automatic transmission in the car, but you might want to consider a Rabbies tour instead of driving to see some of the countryside. Small buses with great driver/guides.

The research you've already done and reaching out here bodes well for the success of your trip. While it may be a little overwhelming at first, I think you'll enjoy the freedom of traveling as a couple without planned activities, excursions or 20 companions on a tour. Both cruises and tours have their places, but just taking off without all the accompanying distractions is rewarding and fun. And it's not as difficult as it looks. Good research and planning is very important, but so is being flexible. Having a Plan B in your back pocket never hurts. Once you're on the ground, you'll be able to get help anywhere if you need it. People in the hospitality industry are there because they like to help travellers. You just have to ask. I'd also recommend that you look at private tour options in cities where you have particular interests. Tours by locals, local recommended guides, or companies like London Walks offer good options. You can learn more this way, with the bonus of meeting someone local.

I'd add a vote for airbnb, vrbo or another apartment rental - type accommodation. Especially if you're going to be in a city more than a couple of days, you'll be very glad to have the extra square footage of a one-bedroom apartment. No matter how much one loves one's spouse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a month is a lot of quality time together. The kitchen is also nice for breakfast in, or those nights that you just can't face another restaurant meal (which, I know, sounds ridiculous, but it happens after a month on the road). Having a washer is a real timesaver; if you're looking to mix up your accommodations, you could try to time your type of lodging with where you'll be mid-trip, or when you would do laundry. For me, it's infinitely preferable to throw in a load, have some dinner and call it a night after long sightseeing days. Or, another option, when skipping the laundry issue, would be a B&B, especially in the countryside, which gives you a hotel-like accommodation with the support of the owner on a more personal level.

I'm sure your trip will be great. For many of us, planning is half the fun!

This not only sounds like a wonderful trip, it’s similar to one we will do specifically because of ease getting between these places via 1 easy and fast train!

Stopping in Brussels would be something I’d only do if you have days to add Vs taking days away from your other stops.

I aways stay in Airbnb's in Europe and have not had any trouble with doing that. I print the address and phone number on a sheet of paper in large print and hand it to the cab driver, when we pull up I have the cab driver phone the owner to let them know I have arrived. If I am on foot I go to a place to eat or have coffee and have the wait staff call and tell them where I am. If it is a confusing place to find the Airbnb person will meet me at the cafe. My feeling is that because you have traveld by crusie ship and your normal trips move from big port city to big port city. I perfer to not go big city to big city, the charm is in the small places. Only one big city per trip for me and no more than a 3 hour train ride per moving day. That time of year can be cold and wet so I would go south rather than north. I make a binder with the travel information in the order I will need it: Boarding pass, cab driver sheet, hotel or airbnb confermation and map, museum tickets, trains schedule show the intermediary stops to the next town, train ticket, and so on. That keeps me from getting having a melt down.

My partner and I are 59 and 72. I have mobility issues due to severe arthritis. We have done several independent trips in Europe by train. I have managed these trips in a knee brace and with a walking stick. As we are Australians and the flight to Europe is so long our trips are usually 5-7 weeks long. It is easy travelling by train as long as you have the right luggage.

Ideally you should have luggage you can lift into an overhead luggage rack. A wheeled duffel or backpack style is ideal. We travel with Osprey wheeled bags and they have been great. We limit ourselves to bags that weigh no more than 28 pounds packed. We have one large bag and a small daypack each. Spinner suitcases can be a big problem on trains as if the luggage rack is full you might end up chasing your luggage up the corridor of the train. There is often a place to put luggage where train seats are back to back and this is ideal for duffel/soft sided bags and usually too small for a spinner suitcase.

Buy train tickets from the railway company not a third party. Make sure you book a specific seat (sometimes there is a separate step and small fee for a seat reservation) and not just buy a ticket for the train.

At the station once you find the right platform there will usually be a picture of the train on the destination board that shows where the different carriages will be when the train stops at the platform. Work out roughly where your carriage will be and stand there. If you get confused, just get onto the train and then walk through it until you find your seats.

Have fun and ask people for help if you need to.

One of my favorite parts of travel is to be on an airplane with a guide book to read, research, mark up with a yellow highlighter, what pleasure! Well done, it's a change from traveling on a tour, & one that most of us on the forum love. People here are SO generous, and the more specific you are, the more help you will get.

• I bookmark the information I might use for future trips, and use the search bar on the main RS page to look for specific areas of interest.
• I agree about making some of your bookings asap, including air travel. Use the 'multi city' button to check how to fly into Amsterdam & out of London. I almost never book through a third party, I might use booking.com, or kayak.com for flights, but always book with the provider. That way you have more recourse if things go wrong.
• Have you involved your wife in the planning? I'm fortunate, I like planning & my H would rather have a few ideas about the day & just add input. Who likes to do what & how many hours do you realistically want to be outside hitting the pavement versus getting off your feet and enjoying a cuppa, as the English say.
• Be realistic about how much you can do & plan a rest day, (a day mid trip where there's nothing planned) or in our case we have energy until late afternoon, by which time we want to go back to the hotel & have a rest before heading out for dinner.
• 'Seeing there' versus 'Being there' as @stephen calls it. Many people cram too many activities into a day. We book ONE museum a day, and after decades of Italian travel, my rule is one church a day, or even one per city, depending.
• I liked @wanderlust58’s idea, "a B&B, especially in the countryside, which gives you a hotel-like accommodation with the support of the owner on a more personal level." Maybe mix it up a bit & splurge for a hotel mid trip.
• How many times do you really want to move locations, it usually eats up half a day at least. You've already outlined 3 large cities plus the English countryside, which you could choose to see from one place (I love Oxford, so easy!) 4-5 locations would be max for us, others may disagree.
• I've eaten some mediocre food near landmarks, so I ask the hotel concierge, or look on-line, here on the forum there are so many restaurant ideas. I usually do that along the way a day or two ahead.
• Check national holidays for when you might like to travel & what sites are open. You'll be there over Easter, but back home maybe before May 1st, Labor Day holiday in the UK.
• @AussieNomad makes great suggestions about packing light, but they're coming from Australia so usually travel longer, we try to carry less than 20 lbs, plus walking shoes. GREAT walking shoes are essential, there's an entire area underneath countries about packing light & comfy shoes. And, most importantly, enjoy & have an amazing trip!!

I think this is a great first on your own trip and you will probably find it most enjoyable & you'll be ready for more .... I'm in the "hotel" camp for the reason of having good on hand people to help answer questions. I usually do hotels in new places for just that support. Upon return trips I feel better in a VRBO/ABB situation.

Trains are great but please pack what you can comfortably and quickly lift on to the train. We've gotten it to a science - one "roll abroad" size each and a 20L backpack for me (I'm 65) my husband can carry a few more pounds but he tries to stay under 30L. He has a "shoe issue" - he overpacks shoes. :)

I want to thank all of you for your input. I'm a big believer in the RS creed of travelling light and trying to get into the local scene - that's why i'm leaning to the airbnbs for the 4-5 night (maybe a bit longer?) stays. I may well have other questions as our departure approaches...

thanks again!

Essential source of research for train travel:

www.seat61.com

There is already so much great advice here. There are a couple of things I can share based on my travels to these locations.

• Train travel is easy to navigate through all your locations except the English countryside which is best done by car. I second the advice to rent an automatic. The roads are well marked, but it does take a bit of adjustment to driving on the left side of the road. Auto Europe is my go to rental company. They are typically less expensive, but they are also good if you have problems. I have been in accidents in Europe driving and they were great in helping with claims.
• When I book for lodging, booking.com and Rick Steves are my go to. My husband and I typically stay in hotels or B&Bs versus Airbnb. This is typically to take advantage of the knowledge of the staff and/or owners of the hotel/B&B. We have rented flats before, typically when we are staying in a location for multiple days and want the ability to cook for ourselves.
• In your transportation plan, there is great public transport in the major cities that you are visiting, however, I have strategically used taxis and/or Uber to save both times and my legs.
• Since you are going to Amsterdam in spring, the Keukenhof garden is wonderful that time of year and worth a visit.

Have a great trip.

I've begun using "seat61" as a source, especially since RS highly recommends it. And thank you too "sandyo" for your thoughts especially regarding a rental car in england (oustide of London!)

And just yesterday, I made my first "commitment" - a room with bath in the harbor area of North Amsterdam (sounds good- owner and clients say it's a "6-7" minute walk from the free ferry terminal that takes you right over to the central station in central amsterdam.) But what a drawn out process through airbnb to upload and process my "government id" (my driver's licence)! Now that it's done the rest of the trip will probably be amixture of hotels and bnbs.

If you have about a month, you should spend 3-4 days in Amsterdam and don't miss the Rijksmuseum and/or the Van Gogh museum ( they are located close together.

1 day in Brussels is all you will need, however, if you haven't been to Brugges (it is west of Brussels), consider spending a day there.

Paris 4 days and London 4-5 would mean that you have plenty of time to see some of the British countryside, which is awesome.

Consider renting a car in Oxford (after you spend at least a day seeing that city). Not sure if you will wish to see Windsor Castle, you can do it on a day trip from London, but I recommend that you visit the Cotswolds for a couple of days (also add a day to visit Stratford Upon Avon). We stayed at Chipping Campden at the Volunteer Inn, which has the best pub in town and a great Indian restaurant. Also, its rates are reasonable.

Next suggest at least two night in Bath, we stayed at the Brooks Guesthouse, which is at a great location so you can walk the city. Also, the Scallop Shell restaurant is close by and they have the best fish and chips in England.

After Bath, you can head for South or North Wales. We have been to both and both are worthy. North Wales has Conwy and Chester (ancient Roman city) is just across the border in England.

South Wales, is great, we headed for Tintern Abby, just across the border, then visited Ragland Castle (there are castles all over Wales and along its border with England. We did a couple of nights in Cardiff to see Cardiff Castle and then took the train to see Caerphilly Castle. Parking in Cardiff will require a high rise garage, but there is one in the downtown.

After leaving Cardiff, head west and on the outskirts of Cardiff, there is The Museum of Welsh Life that is worthy.

Then I suggest a couple of days in Tenby, also, more castles on the way and in the area.

From Tenby, head to St. David's Cathedral that is on the SW peninsula of Wales. St. David is the patron saint of Wales. South Wales is very scenic. I always wondered by the Aussies have a state called New South Wales, now I know.

There is more to see in England if you have time, Winchester and Salisbury are worthy.

Be careful about your lodging in Paris. That city has really tightened short-term rental regulations in recent years. Be sure the listing you're interested in has a 13-digit registration number. Unfortunately, there's no way for you to know the number is legitimate, but lack of a registration number is a huge red flag. You do not want to receive a cancellation notice a few days before you arrive in Paris and have to scramble to find something affordable at the last minute. That has happened to quite a few travelers when the illegal properties they were renting were discovered by the Parisian inspectors.