Europe Planning: Amalfi, Sicily, Loire Valley, Dubrovnik

Have you sat down and planned the route, and figured out travel time? I think you'll find it's going to take up a LOT of time getting from place to place. Don't forget things like, getting TO the airport, and the fact that you need to be at the airport 2 hours early. Check flight times; easyjet often doesn't do every route every day, or if they do, it's often only once a day. Look at Deutsche Bahn to see how long your train rides are and how well they match up with your incoming flight. I would do that exercise first, with the assumption that you're spending equal time in all areas. See how much time that leaves you in each place, and THEN take time away from certain places and give it to others, based on where you decide you want to spend more time. I think whirlwind trips work okay when you have easy connections from city to city (ie Amsterdam to Brussels to Paris...) but when you start talking about flying to Rome, train to Sorrento to catch the bus to Amalfi, it starts to sound miserable. Honestly, I don't think this trip is possible in 20 days. (Well, anything's possible I guess, but it sounds awful).

Sicily is awfully broad. I spent a week there and only saw a fraction of the island. Do you mean Palermo (or Catania)? My main observation is that your "must see" destinations are pretty spread out. You'll need to factor in a full days travel between any two of them.

Hi Renee,
For a more relaxed trip, I'd consider focusing on Sicily and the Amalfi Coast and leaving Dubrovnik and/or France for another time.

Thanks for the advice! I may still do a whirlwind trip (I see it as more a teaser, I'll be back) and I'm ok with that. Can you give me guidance on what is the bare minimum to spend in each place? I may cut something out but wanted to know. And yes, for Sicily, I will probably only pick 1 section of Sicily to focus on.

hi Renee, these destinations are all spread out, so you'll definitely spend some time getting from one place to another - I'm not sure there are direct flights from one area to the next. It's a long train ride from the Loire Valley to Italy, perhaps you might consider another stop along the way? While there are likely to be ferries between Naples (near the Amalfi coast) to Sicily, getting to Dubrovnik from Italy isn't that quick - the only regular ferry departs from Bari, on the other side of the Italian peninsula from Sicily, and there are few direct flights from Italy to Dubrovnik. Realistically, you're probably looking at 4 days per destination (which is enough time to hit the beach in Dubrovnik: I recommend Boninovo Beach near the city itself, or the sandy beach at Lopud island, ferry from Dubrovnik). I'd suggest researching all the transportation options between destinations and the travel times.

There are direct EasyJet flights from Rome to Sicily, Rome to Paris (to get to Loire Valley) and Paris to Dubrovnik. I'm planning on only training/busing it from Rome down to Amalfi and Paris down to Loire Valley but the rest of it will be by plane!

Thanks Christy- well noted. I will have to cut something down but I'd like to still know what people recommend in terms of how much time to spend in each place. Appreciate it!

Just working on an Amalfi Coast plan myself. In the FWIW department, it depends on what you want to see. We will stay 6 nights in Sorrento and I have the following day plans, to be adjusted depending on weather. Day 1 - Travel from Umbria via Rome and Naples; Arrive about 2:00PM. Settle in, take a walk around Sorrento, have dinner. Day 2 - Day in Naples using R.S. plan for the Nat'l Arch Museum and self-guided walk. With train to from Sorrento and train back, it's a full day, roughly 0900-1800. Day 3 - Day at Pompeii. Taking a 3 hour guided tour starting at 1000. Back to Sorrento by mid-afternoon. Day 4 - Hoping to hike the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), a full day commitment. Bus to Amalfi, bus to Bomerano, bus back from Positano Day 5 - Amalfi/Ravello/Atrani. Yup, back on the bus. Maybe stop in Positano again depending on how our hiking day went. Day 6 - Unplanned as yet.... Day 7 - Moving on to Rome So if you just want to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast via a bus ride, I suppose you can do it in 2 days, 3 nights. Study the transportation schedules carefully, and if you are there in the summer, I understand the busses can have long waits. Of course you can choose the ferries, too. We are going in winter, so no/minimum ferry options.

Thanks Laurel, that's helpful! appreciate it

Renee, I think you're getting really practical advice about the amount of time you'll lose traveling from place to place. To help you figure out how much time you need in each location, tell us what kinds of things you want to do. For example, on the Amalfi coast do you want to visit one or multiple towns, take a boat ride to Capri, hike, swim, drink lemoncello? Are you interested in scenery or history? Tell us what you imagine yourself doing in each location, and we'll be better able to estimate how much time you'll need. Happy travels!

Having been to the Amalfi Coast, I would say you would be selling yourself short if you spent less than 4 days there.
I agee with a previous poster, leave France for your next trip. 20 days would give you a reasonable look at Sicily, Amalfi Coast and Croatia.

@Anita I am interested in outdoor activities, outdoor nature, architecture and food :) Not as big on museums and shopping. Thanks so much! really appreciate it

@Judy yea, great advice. I'm definitely going to cut one of these out. Either Croatia or France. Appreciate it!

I loved the Loire Valley and spent three nights in Amboise at the Chateau De. Ormaneaux and loved it. I could of had a few more nights to see more. I did not make it to some of the other areas that I wanted to see. It is beautiful and make sure to see Chambord. I am going to the Almafi coast this April so I can't say how long you need. Try to spend at least 3 nights in each place or you will feel rushed. My guess would be: Amalfi Coast- four nights Sicily- 4 nights Loire Valley- 5 nights Dubrovnik and area- 5 nights I would include at least one night in Paris or where ever town you fly into and at least one night prior to leaving. Example; Naples one night Amalfi- four nights Sicily- 4 nights Loire Valley- 5 nights Dubrovnik and area 5 nights
Fly out of Croatia on last day.

@Darla Thanks! For sicily and amalfi cost, if I had to do 3 nights in one of them and 4 nights in the other, which one should I do 3 nights at? Also, do you have a recommendation for how to get from Amalfi to Sicily? what's the fastest way

hi Renee, I can't answer your question about whether to spend one more night in Amalfi or Sicily (haven't been to Sicily - yet!) but there are ferries from Naples (near Amalfi coast) to Palermo. Your itinerary isn't impossible if you're prepared to change modes of transportation a couple of times in order to get to your next destination, while carrying luggage, in hot August weather. For example, getting from Loire Valley to Dubrovnik: after arriving by train in Paris, you need to take the subway/ RER/ bus to the airport. If I were doing your trip, I'd consider this itinerary: Fly into Paris, leave Paris for Loire Valley - possibly Tours, if not planning to rent a car. From Tours, take train back to Paris, then head to Orly airport to catch direct flight to Dubrovnik. From Dubrovnik, fly to Rome (check Croatian Airlines' summer schedule.) From Rome airport, go by train or bus to Rome Termini station, catch train to Naples, then change to Circumvesuviana train for Sorrento - good base for Amalfi coast - has bus connections to Positano, Amalfi, and ferry to Capri. From Sorrento, take Circumvesuviana train back to Naples Central station then bus or taxi to the ferry terminal for ferry to Sicily. From Sicily, fly back to Rome. Fly home from Rome. Hope this helps ... It's best to research all the transport connections and calculate travel times before you decide. There's also the possibility of train or flight delays to take into consideration.

@Audrey appreciate it, Audrey! I have decided to cut out Croatia from my itinerary bc of lack of time but I will take your other tips in consideration for Italy and France. I will be sure to pack very light : )

hi everyone! I'm getting closer to nailing my final itinerary down. I cut out Croatia and am going to do France then Switzerland and then Italy instead. Let me know if any of you have thoughts about the following rough draft of an itinerary: -Leave Aug 17, arrive Paris April 18- stay in Paris for 1 night, down to Loire Valley for 2 nights then Paris for 1 more night -Leave Aug 22, from Paris, take the TRAIN to Geneva then TRAIN to Interlaken, stay in Interlaken for 3 nights with 1 daytrip to Bern, Switzerland -Leave Aug 25, from Zurich or Geneva, PLANE to Rome, stay in Rome for 1 night -Leave Aug 26, from Rome, BUS to Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, stay in Sorrento/Amalfi Coast for 4 nights -Leave Aug 30, from Naples, PLANE to Palermo- Sicily, stay in Sicily for 3 nights -Leave Sept 2, from Sicily PLANE to Paris
-Leave on Sept 2 or Sept 3 back to Seattle