Honeymooning to Europe... Help! :o)

Posted by Michael (Ashburn, VA, USA) on 12/28/09 01:33 PM

I proposed to my (now) fiancée Carissa in May of 2009 and we will be getting married in May 2010! We are VERY excited not just about starting the rest of our lives together as ONE, but also about the incredible adventures we hope to have together. Our first BIG adventure after the walk down the aisle will be a trip to Europe for our two week honeymoon in the fall of 2010.

Carissa has never traveled outside of the United States. We want our honeymoon to be about US, and I want to fight the temptation and mental traps of reminiscing over my prior time in Europe while I journey, explore, and grow with Carissa on OUR trip. I want to rediscover Europe as I walk hand-in-hand with her. Of course, in two weeks’ time we can’t “see it all.” Heck, in two months or two lifetimes one cannot “see it all.” Instead, I want to focus our honeymoon on seeing as much as possible, while still leaving a reasonable buffer for relaxation. It’s a fine line to walk, I know, but I believe we can do it (with your help).

1 on Carissa’s list of “must see” places is Paris. That is, without a doubt, THE place she wants to experience firsthand for herself. After that, London and Florence would probably be the most important cities for her to see, we feel. Is there any reasonable way we can work a balanced trip from London, through Paris, and down to the heart of Italy throughout a two-week time period? What places (surrounding those major cities as well as along the path) would you suggest we add into our plans? We don’t want to rush ourselves out of any one location, but we do want to see as much as we can.

Thanks for your time!
Michael

Posted by Toni

Charlotte, NC, USA

12/28/09 02:41 PM

3428 posts

In a 2 week time span, the three cities you listed would work. Fly into London- 4 days, Eurostar (or fly) to Paris 4 days, fly to Florence- 4 days. If you can stretch your time a bit- maybe to 3 weeks- you could do more either by extending your time in those cities and doing day trips or by adding one more city- like Rome or Mardid.

Posted by David

Seattle, WA, USA ☔️

12/28/09 03:03 PM

6788 posts

Indeed, in two weeks, you could visit and enjoy those three cities, but you won't really have time to get much beyond those 3 cities. Personally, I'm not so sure that Florence would be the first/only Italian city to visit (for romance, I'd pick Venice, in general, I'd pick Rome). That's not a knock against Florence - it's great - but I'd rather do more of Italy along with it, and you won't have time.

I'd probably leave Italy for your next trip, splitting your time between London, Paris and a couple of excursions out of each.

Best wishes for your impending marriage and have fun on your trip.

Posted by Tom

Danville, VT

12/28/09 08:43 PM

12040 posts

For a honeymoon with 2 weeks, the three cities you mentioned are enough. You could easily find enough to do in both Paris and London to occupy a week by themselves.

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

12/28/09 09:48 PM

32212 posts

Michael,

First of all congratulations!

As your financée has never been to Europe, and your "prior time" may have been a while ago, I'd suggest reading Europe Through The Back Door to begin with. That will provide lots of good information to ensure your trip goes smoothly.

The Itinerary that Toni suggested is along the same lines as I had in mind. A few thoughts.....

Don't forget that you'll lose the first day in flight times and the last day will be spent getting to the airport for your flight home. Therefore you'll only have 12-days to work with. Is there any chance you could add a few days?

You might arrange your trip something like this:

Fly to London (4 days)

EuroStar to Paris (4 days)

Budget flight to Florence (4 days with day trips). You could use EasyJet from Paris CDG to Milan/MXP or from Paris/ORY to Pisa/PSA. Be sure to pack light!

If you think you might enjoy a musical in London, there are LOTS of choices. Check the Guidebook regarding half-price tickets at the TKTS booth. If you're going to watch the Changing of the Guard, GO EARLY as the area fills up quickly.

In Paris (esp. in May) a Paris Museum Pass would be a good idea as it will reduce your time in queues. Also, with only 4-days, don't try to see all of the Louvre (it's huge!). You might also enjoy the Musee d'Orsay. Wear a Money Belt, esp. near the Eiffel Tower and in the Metro.

If you're planning to visit the Uffizi or Accademia in Florence, reservations would be a good idea. I usually get my Hotel to book for me, but check the Italy Guidebook for more complete information.

At the end of your trip, you'll probably find more flights returning home from Milan/MXP than from Florence or Pisa. However, I'm not familiar with the flight options in your area. Speak with a Travel Agent or check web travel sites.

Good luck and happy travels!