Itinerary advice - From London to Rome

I have been to Florence, and personally i consider it skippable if not really into art etc. Others may disagree.

I think your overall plan is fantastic.
My suggestion would be to reallocate a night from Lauterbrunnen to Venice, and a night from Rome to Florence.
By having a 3 days in the Alps you risk wasting time should you encounter a total weather wipe out.
Admittedly you increase your chances for a fine day, but I would be happy having 2 days to see the mountains, and hoping just one of them was fine.
Also, with Rome and Naples, where art (alot of it in churches) consumes a major part of the things to see.
Forget Naples, and spend equal time enjoying the streets of Florence as Rome and Venice.

djp:

I see what you're saying about the Alps being a gamble, but I'm not sure I could do everything I want in 2.5 days. It seems like my first half-day there will be almost wasted because I'll arrive somewhat late.

I certainly want to take the train to Jungfrau and do a hike from Welgen-Kleine or vice-versa. That alone is a morning + afternoon. I certainly want to do the Blumental hike and spend some time absorbing the vistas from Murren and Gimmelwald. I certainly want to see the Trummelbach and take a bike tour through the valley. I'm planning a huge bike tour actually, which may be even overly ambitious. I want to rent the bike at Lauterbrunnen, go up to Grutschalp, then Murren and all the way to Gimmelwald, then go down to the valley (is there a road that takes you down by bike? I'm not sure), then MAYBE go all the way to Interlaken and back to Lauterbrunnen. I've seen some really beautiful areas in Interlaken, near the lakes. I estimate via Google Maps that this tour would take about 6 hours. But even if I cut Interlaken it should take at least 3-4 hours (I'll be doing a few stops on the way).

So if I am to do only 2.5 days, I'm certainly going to have to cut things. What sucks about the bike tour is that apparently all of the renting places close at 17h, which kinda forces me to use my mornings and afternoons to use it. If I could return it late I might have been able to fit everything in 2.5 days.

So my plan right now is:

Half-day: Trummelbach

1st day:

Morning: Blumental Hike
Afternoon: Murren + Gimmelwald
Night: Chill

2st day:

Morning: Jungfrau
Afternoon: Hike from Kleine to Welgen and train back to Lauterbrunnen
Night: Chill

3rd day:

Morning: Bike on the valley
Afternoon: Bike at Interlaken
Night: Chill

Maybe I could fit the bike tour in the first day after the hike? Just down to Lauterbrunnen. Would be super tight, though. And I don't want to completely ignore the pretty areas of Interlaken, seems like a waste.

By the way, is there any interesting night activities on the area other than eating and resting?

Thanks

If you aren't into art (I am) I'd skip Florence entirely and go to Sienna instead. I think you are shortchanging London, give it at least another day. Take it from Paris or Rome (both are more art heavy). Skip Naples, it's too much. Instead, visit Ostia Antica as a day trip from Rome.

I don't have much interest in the city of Naples itself. My business there would be Pompeii and maybe the Vesuvio. Is Ostia Antica really more interesting?

As for London, remember that I arrive very early and have basically 3 full days. This is roughly my itinerary (it's not final, I'm open to suggestions):

Day 1

Morning: Bus tour and Houses of Parliament
Afternoon: Buckingham Palace (not entering) and nearby parks
Evening: Museum of Natural History and Hyde Park

Day 2

Morning: Covent Garden (to kill some time) and National Gallery
Afternoon: Trafalgar Square and British Museum, maybe British Library's treasuries
Evening: Soho district and some shopping at Oxford Street

Day 3

Morning: St Paul's (not entering) and Tower of London
Afternoon: Tower Bridge, Thames Cruise and Westminster Abbey (a little packed, but doable I think)
Evening: London Eye and another look at the Big Ben tower at night

I'm sure there's a lot more to see and do but from what I researched this covers everything I really need to see. What else would you suggest that's impossible to miss? Keep in mind that I'm not a pub or a theater person.

The only thing I can think of would be the Victoria and Albert museum, but hmm I don't know.

Well I am going to add my 2 cents that this looks like a great itinerary. Which is another way of saying that I would make almost all these same choices. :) Of course, what you choose depends on your interests and your time but I think you nailed it. Don't skip Florence - skip the Uffizi if you don't love art but the city itself is so different than Venice or Rome or Riomaggiore. Also when I was at the Accademia in January, you could take as many pictures as you wanted. Maybe that's new. And I am not into sculpture, but turning the corner and seeing the David is something I will never forget. Do it.

I know why you put Pisa in - I did it myself because "it was there and famous". I don't regret it but wouldn't add it a second time like I would the other places. You are right - accounting for bus to and from the tower and a bit of waiting time for your reservation, a few hours is good. Allow time to check your bag, if you need to.

Cutting time in the Alps is really a personal decision. We absolutely loved our days in the Lauterbrunnen area and the scenery is SO beautiful. You don't have much of that anywhere else (except quickly in Cinque Terre), so I don't think you need to worry about cutting time there, if that's something you really enjoy.

I haven't yet made it to Vesuvius/Pompeii. It's still on my to-do list but if I had had that 4th day in Rome, I would have. This looks like great planing to me and I know you will have a wonderful time.

Hi Psyche. I can tell you are excited, and rightfully so, about yout trip! It is a solid plan overall, but to me, this is the weak point

20-mai Friday [Train 7h-15h) to Venice, sleep in Venice (2 nights)

21-mai Saturday Full day in Venice

22-mai Sunday [Train 8h-11h] to Florence, sleep in Florence (1 night)

23-mai Monday Morning in Florence and [Train 12h-16h] to Cinque Terre,
sleep in Riomaggiore (2 nights) 24-mai Tuesday Full day in Cinque Terre

25-mai Wednesday [Train 8h-11h] to Pisa, then [Train 16h-19h] to Rome, sleep in Rome (5 nights)

I think you are going to wish you had two full days in Venezia. I would be inclined to cut Firenze entirely. Your Cinque Terre time is also short, but I do not know where you can "steal" a night to extend that stay. 5 nights in Roma is good, and I would not change your time in the Alps. That area is fantastic. We just spent a week in Lauterbrunnen and could ahve stayed longer. Do check out the passes that make the lifts less expensive.

Thank you very much for you comments and advice.

Wow, it is true that you can now take pictures at the Accademia. Apparently as of July 2014. If I add a full day to Florence, then I can have a little more extra time in CT too as I would be taking the train first thing in the morning.

I just can't decide If I take this extra day from the Alps or from Naples...

As for Venice, no matter how hard I try I can't make a list of things I need to see. To me the city itself is the sole attraction, I just want to explore and get lost. Can't do that in 1,5 days?

I just checked some flights and realized I can add 2 extra days in this trip if I postpone my way back. I'd be a little afraid of travel fatigue though, it's my first long trip ever and there's no telling how I'll be feeling by the end of it. This certainly would force me to carry a little more clothes or do an extra round of laundry too.

Two mores days and doing a little laundry in the sink would make it possible to add your time in Firenze and Venezia. Well worth it! You'll be tired when you go home whether two days later or earlier. Pack light by all means!! You can move faster when you travel light. Just do laundry your first night in a place you are staying for 2 or 3 nights so there's time for it to dry.

Buon viaggio!

Nobody knows what this winter and next spring will bring the Berner Oberland.

If you are unlucky you may be a week or so early for what you hope for.

I have walked down from Muerren and Gimmelwald to Stechelberg and loved the walk. If you want to take the same route with a MVV (mountain bike) you should be prepared to go quite slowly in parts, and you should be comfortable on an MVV over drops. Some of the trail narrows considerably (shoulder width) and has both rough steps and finished steps. The trail passes over and under several streams or rivulets and when you go over them there are signs telling you not to stop.

I am quite biased as I return annually to Venice, but I firmly believe that 2 full days in Venice beats 1 day and a bit, every time. Why? On that bit of a day you will be checked out, carrying your bag with you, and looking forward to the next thing. It is a funny thing but I find that as soon as I have checked out I have mentally checked out of a city too.

On second thought adding more days to this trip wouldn't be really ideal for me. I have a couple of things I need to take care of before going back to work and those days would be kinda crucial for that.

But I've definitely decided to add a full day to Florence, and I think I can take that day from the Alps if I can see the Interlaken lakes in 2-3 hours right after I arrive from Paris. There is a very cool guided bike tour but it's a little expensive to me, so I'd have to rent my own bike or take the bus to both lakes. Is there a place where I can get informed on bus routes in Interlaken? I have no idea what lines to take.

Nigel:

That's some good information. How long did your walk take? But I have to ask, where did Rick Steves go down in his Alps video? He makes it look like it's so easy.

I suppose I could start my vacation a week later, the only difference is that the plane would arrive in London at 16:00 instead of 7:00. So I would have to stay an extra night. But It's no big deal if there's a considerable better chance at better weather.

As for Venice, I really don't mind seeing things after the check-in. I want to spend the less time at hotels as possible and make the most out of my days. I'm still not convinced I need an extra day for Venice, I need some specific reasons. It's kinda of an expensive place too, even when compared to Florence (based on the accommodation and food options I've seen).

Psyche,

I'm a bit late getting into the discussion, but have a few points to add. Your proposed Itinerary looks well organized and in a good order, but some thoughts......

• London - it's great that you don't have any activities planned for your arrival day, as you'll likely be jet-lagged, especially after such a long flight. Depending on which part of London you're staying, the train may be the best option from the airport or there may be less expensive transportation options. I assume you're arriving at Heathrow?
• Paris - as you may be aware, you can save considerably by pre-purchase of EuroStar tickets well in advance. However keep in mind that the cheapest tickets are usually non-refundable and non-changeable. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your departure or you won't be riding. Given current circumstances, arriving an hour in advance would be a good idea. Were you planning to get a Paris Museum Pass?
• Lauterbrunnen - I'd suggest leaving your stay here at four nights, as that will provide some flexibility in case of inclement weather. Regarding the "road" that goes from Mürren to Gimmelwald, it's paved but narrow, although wide enough for the local farmers to drive small SUV's on. If you take it slowly you shouldn't have any problems.
• Venice - my preference would be to leave Venice at two nights, although that will only allow slightly more than a day to explore (unless of course you're able to extend your overall holiday time, in which case adding one night would be good).
• Florence - even though you may not be interested in art, if possible I'd suggest adding at least one and perhaps two nights to Florence. Aside from the fact that one-night stops are a darn nuisance, It's a beautiful city with lots of other sights besides the art, including Brunelleschi's incredible Duomo, and you may want to see the statue of "David" as long as you're there. Having extra time there will also allow a day trip to Siena, which is easily done by Bus. You could could also take a day trip to Lucca, which is another historic walled city.
• Cinque Terre - again, two nights will only allow slightly more than a day for actual touring, so if possible I'd suggest adding one night here. I find the C.T. to be a great place to "recharge batteries" after stressful touring elsewhere, and you may find when you arrive that, that you wished you had booked more time. If you're staying in Hostels, Riomaggiore is not the only choice, as there are also Hostels in Manarola and Cornigilia (although Corniglia is not the easiest location to tour from as it's high on a rock bluff).
• Pisa - my preference would be to skip Pisa as I'm not sure it's worth the effort. Travel from the C.T. to Rome is very easy if you use one of the direct trains that travel from La Spezia Centrale to Roma Termini several times a day, with a travel time of about 3H:45M. There are numerous trains on that route with multiple changes but only a few direct trains each day. IMHO, your time would be better spent in Rome rather than wandering about Pisa to see only one sight.
• Rome -* plan your touring precisely as there's a LOT to see there and you won't want to waste any time. I can suggest a Hostel if you're interested.
• Naples / Pompeii - while that is possible as a day trip, it will be a long and tiring day. You probably won't have time to see Naples, Pompeii and Vesuvius, so you'll have to prioritize. Transportation in that area is not as well developed as in other areas so takes a bit longer (and of course one has to allow for "transportation issues" in Italy).

I don't know if you have access to the RS guidebooks in your area, but you may be able to download E-book versions. They will provide lots of good information for "fine tuning" your trip.

Boa viagem!

Ken:

London - I have a plan for jet lag, the month before the trip I'll change my sleep so that it's in tune with London time. I just have to get used to sleeping a few hours earlier than normal, it's perfectly doable. This is a necessary step as I'm very finicky about my sleep, I need my 8 hours. Yes, I'll be arriving at Heathrow and will be staying at YHA London Central.

Paris - I intend to buy every intercity train ticket as early as possible. I'm getting the Museum Pass for sure.

Lauterbrunnen - The road I'm talking about is the one that goes to Gimmelwald down the valley. Accoring to Google Maps there is a way, but I don't know if it's easily done by bike. I'm not an expert mountain biker or anything. As for the 4 nights, this is where I'm completely torn still. I'm struggling to decide if I take away a day from this or Pompeii.

Venice - I found a hostel inside the island and at least 80% of my time there will be exploring the outside, I don't have a lot of interest in their museums or church interiors. Also no touristy gondola ride to me. 2 nights sounds like it's enough.

Florence - Since I have limited time I don't think I can afford sidetrips to smaller Tuscan towns near Florence. Maybe the next time if I get to come back one day! I'm still firm on adding a full day to Florence though, should be enough to get a decent taste of the city and include the Accademia on my itinerary. Just need to figure out which day I'll sacrifice.

Pisa - To me what makes sense here is that, even though it stops me from taking a direct train to Rome, Pisa is still on the way. Sure, I'll lose some travel time swichting trains and spend a few hours there, but since I'm so close to it and since it's such a postcard of Italy, I still think it's worth checking out. I have no big expectations or anything, I've read some bad things about it, but just for peace of mind I think I should go instead of spending the rest of my life wondering if it would have been worth it or not. You know? And I have plenty of time at Rome, three full days plus an extra morning and afternoon before catching my plane, which leaves at around 7pm. As for the hostel, I'm eyeing Mr. Rome that is fairly well located and really, REALLY affordable and has pretty solid reviews. But I'm open to suggestions, always.

Rome - See above.

Naples/Pompeii - If there's one thing that makes me not want to do this, is the getting around aspect. I'm aware of it and I'm not 100% confident in my travelling non-skills to do it all by myself. I even considered doing it in a guided tour. It's kinda expensive, but may be well worth it because I don't have to worry at all about finding my way around. It's a hike up the Vesuvius and some time at the ruins + some kind of supposedly legendary napolitan pizza. Costs 145 usd, they pick you up at Rome and it includes all transportation, including out and back in to Rome, plus a pizza lunch. This would be my one and only guided tour in the entire trip, but I figure if there's one place to do it, it's in crazy Naples.

This is where I found it: http://www.viator.com/updateShoppingCartItem.jspa?itemId=563463282

How much do you think this would cost If I did it all by myself? At least half that price, no?

Thank you for your detailed post, it's been very helpful!

Hello Psyche. I think your original itinerary is very good. I suggest these changes : be at Florence two (2) nights. Do not go to Naples.

OK. I'm with you now wanting to explore the Alps in more depth, hence the 4 days.
One idea, however, may be to split the long travel day from Interlaken to Venice, making a stop in Milan.
Allow a few hours perhaps to see the Duomo in Milan.

19-mai Thursday am - Morning in Alps
19-mai Thursday pm - Afternoon train to Milan (1 night)
20-mai Friday am - Morning train to Venice (2 nights)
20-mai Friday pm - Venice sightseeing

But definitely pinch a night from Rome for Florence, perhaps dropping Pompeii and Naples.

21-mai Saturday - Full day in Venice
22-mai Sunday am - Train to Florence, sleep in Florence (2 nights)
22-mai Sunday pm - Florence sightseeing
23-mai Monday - Full day in Florence
24-mai Tuesday - Train to Pisa, then to Riomaggiore, sleep in Riomaggiore (2 nights)
25-mai Wednesday - Full day in Cinque Terre
26-mai Thursday - Train to Rome, sleep in Rome (4 nights)

Psyche,

Thanks for the detailed feedback. A few more thoughts.....

• to purchase train tickets for France and Italy, I find one of the easiest websites is www.capitainetrain.com (I expect they will add more countries soon).
• tickets for high speed trains in Italy can be purchased up to 120 days in advance. However, note that the cheapest tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable so choose carefully. These have compulsory seat reservations which are specific to train, date and departure time, and can only be used on the one train listed on the ticket.
• I normally just buy the Paris Museum Pass at the airport on arrival. Once you validate it, the clock is running so plan your touring to take best advantage of it.
• I've never taken the road from Gimmelwald down to Stechelberg, so not sure of the route. I believe there's also a route down to Lauterbrunnen from Mürren.
• Mr. Rome Hostel looks nice and it's in a reasonably central location close to Termini. If using a Hostel, I normally stay at Alessandro Palace which is on the other side of Termini. The Beehive is also very popular.
• the cost for the tour of Naples sounds reasonable, but I'm not familiar with that particular tour firm so can't offer any comments. I wonder if they meant Neapolitan Pizza on their website.
• I haven't calculated the cost of the Naples / Pompeii tour with the tour company vs. doing it on your own. My feeling is that the tour is probably good value, as by the time you pay for high speed train to Naples, Circumvesuviana to Pompeii, transport to Vesuvius, Pizza, etc. the cost will be similar. The tour will also presumably provide you with an expert guide, so you'll no doubt learn more than if you went on your own.

Good luck with your planning!

Does your flight home from Rome leave in the evening? If so consider a Naples overnight if you are heart sure on Pompeii.

29-mai Sunday - Train to Naples, leave luggage at Naples hotel, train to Pompeii. Sleep in Naples.
30-mai Monday - Morning at Archeology Museum, afternoon train to Rome for evening flight to Brazil.

It does leave on the evening. Thank you for your input. I need to plan my time at the Alps before deciding this. I've made a thread on the Swiss board if anyone wants to check it out.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/should-i-do-2-or-3-full-days-at-the-berner-oberland

Thanks

I can only speak about Italy and England and how to do this cheaply.

First get flight to London from major city whichever is closest NYC or LA. Check skyscanner for best deals, book from airline - not third party.

READ the hostel reviews. I have found that HI hostels to be my favorite for quietness.

In Italy, take the R or RV they are the slow trains, you can just purchase the tickets at the machines. Don't worry about purchasing the tickets beforehand, you can do this at the machines at the train station. Once it's printed they have validation machines where you wait and you punch them. Watch out for pickpockets as they will try to hit you up at the train machines.

Pisa - opt out
Naples/Napoli scares the crap out of me - mob country and some North African tried to steal my bag on the way to the Amalfi Coast. I would bag Napoli and do a tour of Ravello/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast, and stay in Salerno the train is one stop from Pompeii on the trains. Napoli is the only city in Italy that scared me. Pompeii is huge so start early, it's like 12€ for me 3 years ago

Venice - tip - take photos of grafitti - seriously this is how I didn't get lost. You need probably 2 days there

Florence - I spent 4 days there and have to say that is a good amount of time, also check the day you are planning to visit the Uffizi, I made that mistake and it was closed the day I wanted to go, I stayed at this amazing hostel like a villa, only thing that sucked was it was 6 km away from town center

Roma - 4 to 5 days is a good time frame, again READ the hostel reviews I ended up choosing one near the Vatican, good point of reference, bad choice in hostel, they seriously would kick you out for 8 hours, ghetto hostel it was and age restricted make sure you check the requirements from the hostels

Any major tourist place - make sure to go about a km or two from the places to eat, you are paying for the tourist stuff otherwise...seriously I paid 3€ for a 20 oz bottle of Sprite near the Colleseum.

Tip on Colleseum, go first to Palentine Hill and Forum, get your 24 hour tourist pass and then cut the line to the Colleseum

For traveling to other countries once you get to London, check Ryanair (cheap flights but they are the devil) and Easyjet. Cheaper to fly than take a train when going from country to country or look at buses (I'm on a bus to Barcelona from Madrid with wifi writing this for 32€).

Enjoy and good luck! Also, I now carry three portable chargers and a surge protector adapter. You will thank me later for those tips. Nothing beats plugging your netbook charger in a wall at a hostel in London to hear it pop on you leading to a $80 learning lesson or trying to find places to charge your devices. Seriously stay away from Napoli, trashy town as my friend in Milano would say.

Thank you for the tips.

Naples is cut, but I think I'll still keep Pisa. Not 100% sure, though. I still have time to ponder, as it doesn't affect my hotel booking/schedule.

As for the surge protector, where I live everything is 220v, so I'm thinking it should be fine in any place of Europe? Can you confirm this?

@ Psyche...I'll comment on your date of arrival in London. Keep in mind that not every one gets jet lag upon arrival...I don't...unless you know for sure you are one who does get jet lagged. Since you land at LHR in the morning , as I've done, if my experience is anything to go by, you'll be finished with Border Control in less than half an hour, maybe even 15 mins. Then what? Take the Tube to the Hostel? In London I've found (pervasive) that although you may leave your luggage in a "storage/luggage" room, you won't be allowed to check in until 15:00 hrs. at the earliest. If you've reserved at YHA Central already, (I definitely recommend that) then it makes no difference when you come back to check in. How about seeing museum between arriving in London proper and actual check in? What I am saying is that unlike other European cities outside of England don't expect to show up prior to 3 pm at Central and expect to go to the room to sleep if you are jet lagged. Check when Central allows you to check in and to go the room..

On Central and St Pancas hostels: Since they're both part of YHA in England, that means they are part of HI. When I stay in a night or two in a hostel, I don't pick the HI since school groups will occupy them too. I saw that in 2009 in Weimar, Berlin and Düsseldorf. Now I choose the independent private hostels..no school groups but a greater chance for noise and ruckus...another trade off.

Fred:

I never flew to another country so I have no experience on jet lag, but knowing myself I can say it would absolutely destroy my sleep. That's why I'll force myself to enter London time when I'm still here, so that when I arrive it's really 7am in my biological clock as opposed to 3am.

Here's what I'll do:

• Buy an Oyster Card

• Tube to Visit Center in central London to collect my London Pass

• Spend some time near the Parliament area. Trafalgar is a short walk from the Visit Center, and from there I'll walk to Big Ben, then Buckingham Palace (which I won't enter of course) and nearby parks.

All of this with my < 5kg backpack, it's no problem. That should be enough to make the clock hit 14:00, which is the start of check-in time for YHA. If not, I'll probably spend some more time checking the city on a hop-on/off bus.

The moment of check-in is where it gets tricky. If I choose a far away location like St Pancras, it might not even be worth doing the check in before I'm done for the day. I still plan to see the Natural History Museum and the Hyde Park on this first day if time allows it, but the museum closes before 18:00 so it might be better to leave the check-in for later.

There's also Oxford YHA to consider, but I hear it's smaller and very busy (and probably loud) because it's so well located.

Psyche,

A few thoughts to add......

• As you're travelling from Brazil, your flight time is going to be about 11-12 hours. With that in mind, you will likely experience some jet lag. Depending on what time your flight arrives, you may be able to check into your Hostel right away. If you decide to have a "power nap", that may be difficult if your room mates are in the room.
• While HI Hostels do host school groups, I've never found that to be a problem.
• In choosing which Hostel to use, try to pick one in a somewhat central location with good access to transit. If you stay further out, this will add to your transportation costs and times.
• Even if the "official" check-in time at the Hostel is 14:00, they may allow you to check-in earlier if the room is ready.
• If you haven't stayed in Hostels before, be sure to pack a shower towel (the micro-fibre types work great) and a small but robust Padlock for the Lockers. Don't use the small TSA luggage locks as they're simply not secure enough. Keeping any valuable items in the Lockers while you're out touring is a good idea.
• Naples is a bit "rough around the edges", but I don't mind it as it has a unique character. However, the pickpockets are among the best anywhere, so some caution is required (wear a Money Belt). Pickpockets are active in most European cities, so you'll need to be vigilant everywhere.
• If your electrical devices are all designed for operation on 220 Volt, you won't have any trouble using them in Europe. I believe the Plugs used in Brazil are the same as those used in mainland Europe with two round pins, so you shouldn't need Plug Adaptors. However, you WILL have to buy a Plug Adaptor for use in the U.K. Also, if you're packing along a device that uses a grounded plug (3 pins), the Brazil style appears to be the same as Switzerland with an offset ground pin, so you won't be able to connect that in Italy and other countries without a Plug Adaptor.

@ Psyche....A good plan after getting out of LHR. Since you didn't mention it, I assume you're giving yourself ca one hour for a relaxing lunch. Pubs allow you bring in luggage. I don't know the immediate area of YHA Central but YHA St Pancras has a few pubs (three as i recall) ,ie lunch places in its immediate area, all on the same side of Euston Street as the hostel. I would assume the hostel would allow you drop off the luggage, then come back after 15:00 to check in. That has been my experience at other hostels and B&Bs in London.

As far as the surge protector I would have one for traveling. Sometimes the hostels will even have a USB port for your devices so you don't have to worry so much. I just worry when I am in England now because of my netbook charger blowing. I mean...when I was in Malta the charger did save me a couple weeks ago...thing kept buzzing freaked me out.

Psyche,

A few comments regarding the use of Surge Protectors.....

I believe Brazil has both 127 and 220 V electrical systems. DO NOT connect a Surge Protector designed for 127V. in Europe, as it will self destruct immediately, possibly in spectacular fashion with sparks and smoke. You could use a Surge Protector designed for 220 V. but I'm not sure that's necessary. During the years I've travelled in Europe, I have never had any problems with "surges". Given the fact that you're travelling with very minimal kit, I wouldn't bother packing along anything that's not essential.

It would be a good idea to check the power supplies or chargers of every device you'll be packing along. Look for the words "Input Voltage" and if this states Input 100-240 VAC, 50~60 Hz, the devices should all work in Europe just with a Plug Adaptor.

Also, I tend to only leave devices connected during the time they're charging. I NEVER leave devices charging when I'm out of the room.

One other point to mention is that if you're travelling with a mobile phone (especially a Smartphone), be sure to check with your home cellular network to determine the costs of roaming in the countries you're visiting. Cellular data charges can often be very expensive!

I'm rolling with the idea that art is not your primary reason for travel or even any reason at all. I understand you aren't interested in art. But what do you want to see? History? Strollable streets? Culture? Vistas? Mountains?

Besides art, London is full of WWII history and the Tutors. And there's the British museum. By all means take some time in London if those things appeal. But London is expensive to live and eat in and transportation is expensive, though the art museums are free. The historical sights, with the exception of The British Museum, and the Imperial War Museum which are free, are expensive.

Paris is to me an art city. I go there for art. You could go there for food. Or for strolling. Or for expensive shopping. But it's an art and food city. There are exceptions. History can be found in The City, at The Army Museum, and elsewhere, but most of the major sights are art sights. If you really don't like art, do the City Island, The Army Museum, The Eiffel Tower, and a couple walks.

The Alps are glorious, when the weather is good. Given the length of your trip, consider a one or two day scenic train ride through them without stopping to smell the wildflowers.

Venice is about atmosphere. By all means spend a full day in Venice.

Florence is my favorite city, but that is because I'm a renaissance art freak. Absent that, it's charming, but not stellar except in the narrow streets and great food way that most Italian small towns are charming. If I were you, I'd skip it. If you want a quick charming Tuscan city choose Sienna instead, provided hilly walking doesn't bother you. But it requires a day.

If I were you I'd do four days in London and three in Paris. Limit the alps to a train through (2 days), spend an extra day in Venice, spend a full day in Sienna. Then do Rome.

Ken:

Yes I won't bother with surge. The only electronic device I'll bring is my phone which has a great camera, and I'll use it almost exclusively just for that and for wifi at night. I won't use roaming.

I'll also bring a portable charger to take on my day pack in case my phone runs out of juice. Both devices are bivolt and with 2 round points, so no problem. I think YHA offers UK adapters, but I'll bring my own just in case.

Jen:

It's not that I'm not interested in art, it's just that I'm not an art expert. What I mean by that is that I'm more interested in the historical significance of these works than their technical merits. That's not to say I'm a history expert either, or that I do not care at all about a masterful piece of painting, just that I probably find history an easier thing to understand.

I also find sculptures more interesting than paintings in general. I'll probably marvel at Michelangelo's David but won't give the Monalisa more than two quick looks. At the Louvre and the British Museum I'm looking forward ancient history stuff more than anything else.

About inverting London and Paris... that can be done still. Soon I'll start new topics to ask for advice specific to each of my city itineraries, I'll go a lot more into detail there about what I'll be doing in each city.

Thanks a lot for the help, you guys have been awesome!