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Between 2 RS tours

So I’m planning to take 2 RS tours in 2020; Best of Eastern Europe (15days) and Best of Venice, Florence and Rome (10days). My questions are:
1/ the best way to get to Venice from Bled and how long it takes?
2/ does anyone has done that before? 25 days would be too long/tired?
Thank you in advance for your advice

Posted by
2139 posts

I checked using Rome2rio and it’s five hours and eight minutes. Take a 2 hour ish bus to Trieste then a train to Venice (a 2 hour and 5 minute train ride).
I took the 21 day Best of Europe tour with 4 added days and was ready to go home.
We are doing back to back RS tours next Sept. with four added days at the beginning to rest and get over jet lag (for 24 days total). I’m pretty sure I will be glad to head home.

I might like traveling longer, at a slower pace, without doing an organized tour. RS tours are very active.

Posted by
1637 posts

We plan all of our trips to be 4 weeks or longer just to make the cost and pain of the airline flights to Europe/Asia worthwhile.

Posted by
27908 posts

Do not trust the fares, travel times or frequencies shown on Rome2Rio.com. They are wildly off-base shockingly often. What you can do is keep drilling down on that website until it reveals the name of the bus or tain company providing the service. Then go to the company's website (Rome2Rio usually has a link) and get your information there.

How to get to Ljubljana comes up quite often here. Several people have used GoOpti's shuttle service. I don't know whether GoOpti picks up in Bled, but there are buses from Bled to Ljubljana, and there's a train station not too far from Bled. Even a taxi might not be terribly costly from Bled to Ljubljana; they were relatively inexpensive back in 2015. If you search the forum for GoOpti, you may uncover some earlier comments.

Posted by
386 posts

We scheduled a goopti transfer from lake bled to Venice Piazzale Roma last May after the Eastern Europe tour . No problems and much easier than taking a bus to Ljubljana first. We got picked up first then picked up more people in Ljubljana on the way. Order the transfer online early for a better price. Have used them twice with good results. Bus and train connections are not easy and cost the same. Extra note-we scheduled the pick up right at the Lake bled hotel. 😀

Posted by
6922 posts

If you don't fancy a 2 h bus ride, I'd take a local bus to Lesce and a train to Venice from there (with one change in Villach). From €28 single.

Posted by
6501 posts

As to the second part of your question, a fair number of us have taken back-to-back RS tours. My husband and I have done it several times, most recently this past spring.

I would suggest you try to have a couple of days between the tours, and it's always wise to arrive a day or two (at least) before the first tour. If you have time, a few extra days at the end are nice, as well. You can rest up from these active tours, and you will definitely wish you had more time in Rome!

A couple of years ago there was a fellow posting here who strung together 5 RS tours. I believe he's back on solid food now.

Posted by
14632 posts

Haha, Jane!!

Yes, 5 would probably be too many but I did 3 back to backs plus an extra week in between 2 and 3. I did 21 Best of Europe, Best of Paris, another week in Paris with a friend and ended with Village Italy. That was an 8-week trip and no, I was not really ready to come home! I also agree it’s good to have a couple of easier days in between.

I’ve also done 2 back to backs a number of times. You’ll have a wonderful time. I always find the start of a 2nd trip very energizing. It’s exciting to meet your new travel mates and guide and be ready to step on for the ride!

I’d suggest you be in good walking and stair-climbing shape.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you all, it’s very informative and helpful. I agree to take few days gap between tours.
☺️