Feedback on Spain, Italy, France itinerary?

I am not sure how I can offer constructive help. It looks more like an endurance challenge than something I would want to do as a European vacation. I suppose if your family members are OK with the plan, my lack of enthusiasm for such an itinerary is irrelevant.

If you like train stations and airports, the trip works great. But if you really want to see some of the places you've listed, you need to scale your itinerary way back. Each change of location is going to eat up 1/2 to 3/4 of a day - checking in and out of hotels, dropping off cars, security at the airport all take time - which I don't think you've considered with this itinerary.

3 Countries in 13 days is possible, but you will need to narrow your travels down in those countries in order to make this work.

You might look at something like this:

Oct 20 - 23rd - Madrid with two day trips (Segovia, Toledo, El Escorial, etc., etc. )
Oct. 24th - train to Barcelona
Oct. 25 - Oct. 29th - Barcelona
Oct. 30th - Fly from Barcelona to Paris
October 31 - November 2nd - Paris.

Nancy's advice is good. If you really want to see all three countries, skip either Madrid or Barcelona and add that time to either Florence or Siena.

19th-22nd Madrid or Barcelona
23rd to 26th Siena or Florence
27th to 2nd Paris

You can day trip from any of these, but Madrid and Florence are particularly easy for day trips.

I'm with Nancy - Madrid, Barcelona and Paris will just about give you long enough in each place to see the highlights and I would allocate longer to Paris.

I agree with the others. And whatever you decide to do in Spain, Valencia wouldn't make the cut for me on a trip of this length. Barcelona, yes. Madrid, yes--especially if you're interested in the art museums. Side trip to Toledo if you can spare a day, yes.

Way, way too many places. Also, you are not spending enough time in the places that you want to see.

Two nights in Madrid is ridiculous. You need to take day trips to Toledo and Segovia as well as see Madrid.
You are not even staying in Valencia. You won't see much except perhaps a windshield tour.

Further, the travel time you propose to Valencia is wasted. Skip Valencia and take the high speed train to Barcelona.

Italy is my favorite European country, but you aren't spending time in Florence? Siena is great, you can do it on a one day trip from Florence. Cinque Terre is nice, but pales compared to Florence.

Since you are spending a lot of time in Spain, I suggest doing Italy on another trip. You could then visit Siena, Florence, Venice and Rome on that trip. You could visit Seville, Granada and Cordova or go to Lisbon and Porto in Portugal.

Either do Spain or Italy, but not both in this timeframe. This is a very overstretched itinerary, especially with a group.

Oct/Nov would be a perfect time to visit Andalucia, in my opinion. I'd stick with Spain on this trip as Italy will be getting cold at this point and will be less enjoyable (especially CT).

Hi Potterfamily,

I loved Andalucia (Seville, Cordoba, Granada). Try to see that instead of Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia. Make place for it on the itinerary.

I like your itinerary in Italy. You are experienced travellers so I am assuming your know about transitioning from one area to another. Do it early and pack light.

I like that you gave 2 nights to Cinque Terre. Stay in one of the small villages (Manarola or Vernazza). Avoid La Spezia, cruise ship central.

One of Tuscany's most amazing area is Val d'Orcia. If you google it, you will see what I am talking about.

It doesn't make sense to drive 4 hours each way to spend only the morning in Normandy, leaving only one day for Paris. You see neither Normandy nor Paris with an itinerary this stretched out.