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Itinerary help! London-Amsterdam-Brussels-Bordeaux

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Hello everyone! My husband and I are traveling to Europe for the first time for my little sister's wedding (Château De Malliac, in Montreal-du-Gers). I am having trouble figuring out the first leg of the trip (June 26-July3).

We are flying into London from Vancouver, BC and should be landing around 10am. Taking into account that my husband will be passed out for the reminder of the day (he gets jet lagged with mere 3-hour time difference) my itinerary is as such:

  • June 26: arrive at London
  • June 27-June 29: London
  • June 30: travel from London to Amdsterdam
  • June 30-July 1: Amsterdam
  • July 2: travel from Amsterdam to Brussels
  • July 2-3: Brussels (maybe Bruges if possible)
  • July 4: travel from Brussels to Bordeaux (where we are to catch up with my parents and together drive to the wedding)
  • July 5-July 8: Wedding -Montreal-du-Gers (with day trips to Condom, wineries, etc)
  • July 8: back to Bordeaux's airport and fly/train to Barcelona (unless there is a better way?)
  • July 8-July 11ish: Barcelona
  • July 11ish: back home

London - 4 nights
A'dam - 2 nights
Brussels - 2 nights
Wedding - 3 nights
Barcelona - 3/4 nights

We are interested in unique things that can only be done in the city we visit (local cuisine cooking lessons, biking through Amsterdam, sunsets @ Pllek, Belgian Waffles, boating through canals, experiencing street markets, architecture, etc.). While we appreciate a good museum we know we don't have enough time to spend an entire day in a single spot. I personally love photography and will be coming back home with gigabytes to prove it. We like to get up first thing in the morning and explore. My husband is always on the move and gets antsy if he is stationary for too long. And we both love food and coffee.

Does the first leg of the itinerary seem feasible to you? Am I packing too much in a short time?

Thanks :)

Sofia

Posted by
16893 posts

Your timing is doable and you should have no problem to allot the whole day of July 3 to Bruges. Many of us would actually sleep in Bruges instead of Brussels, and/or give one of those nights to Amsterdam. Is any of this booked yet - hotels, train, or flight home?

Flying from Bordeaux to Barcelona certainly works, such as EasyJet at 4:45 on July 8. If you were taking a train, you'd want to be dropped at a train station closer to that direction of travel, such as at Toulouse, Pau, Tarbes, or Auch, not Bordeaux.

Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the Deutsche Bahn train schedule link and tips for using it. See also tips and links for buying tickets.

Posted by
6374 posts

I agree with the previous posters, taking a train from Toulouse makes more sense than flying from Bordeaux. Trains are fast and efficient in that part of Europe.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks everyone! Will definitely be making the change from Bordeaux to Toulouse, it does make more sense.

:)

Posted by
7295 posts

It's more travel time that I would schedule, particularly combining London with a primarily Continental vacation. But you say your husband hates to stay in one place. You've allowed a whole day to get to Bordeaux, which is sensible, because it takes at least 6 hours and two changes of train. The worst part is the change of stations in Paris, with wedding luggage in hand. The change in Brussels is quite easy.

Although there is now direct high-speed service from London to Amsterdam on Eurostar (as well as some 1-change trips as well), this is non-changeable, non-refundable, and the price will increase until departure time. That's about 5 or more hours, too. The price can vary with time of day. And you have to get to St. Pancras an hour early for Immigration formalities.

I would certainly check for the time of day you might have to leave Barcelona to fly home. I'm more used to flying home from Madrid. This is peak vacation time, so air seats may start to get scarce and pricey.

Posted by
6374 posts

You've allowed a whole day to get to Bordeaux, which is sensible,
because it takes at least 6 hours and two changes of train. The worst
part is the change of stations in Paris, with wedding luggage in hand.

Brussels to Bordeaux does not take at least 6 hours by train. 4:30-5 hours of travel time according to SNCF. There are also options which don't include a change in Paris.

Although there is now direct high-speed service from London to
Amsterdam on Eurostar (as well as some 1-change trips as well), this
is non-changeable, non-refundable, and the price will increase until
departure time. That's about 5 or more hours, too. The price can vary
with time of day. And you have to get to St. Pancras an hour early for
Immigration formalities.

The direct train from London to Amsterdam takes 3 hours and 55 minutes and you need to be at St Pancras at least 30 min before departure.

Posted by
32742 posts

30 minutes at Eurostar in London is cutting it very fine.

You have to be checked in and through the ticket barrier with 30 minutes in hand. If you are in what is sometimes a long snaking queue at the 30 minute mark you are unlikely to travel on that train. They are strict. The only exception is if you are travelling in the nosebleed fare class.

After you get through the barriers there is airport style security, then UK exit border checks, then French entry border checks, all before you get to the departure lounge.

Posted by
143 posts

I much prefer Bruges to Brussels. I would sleep in Bruges.

There is an alternative plan to your itinerary, which is to spend time in La Dordogne instead. It is 2.5 hours from Bordeaux, and this area is one of the prettiest in France. There is a lot to do, from exploring medieval towns, to prehistoric caves with drawings, to canoeing on the Dordogne river, great food and wine.

Posted by
4132 posts

As Laura says, it is feasible. it would also (to respond to your last question) be too much for my taste.

2 nights = 1 day and some change; that is not a lot for Amsterdam, and you are spending a lmuch time in trains, planes and airports. (Is A'dam not really a priority? Leaving it out gains you a day plus time you don't need to spend on the train.)

But your logistics are so well thought out that you have probably considered all of this.

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