We are planning on connecting with our daughter after she finishes a study abroad in London and like the London to Florence itinerary and the variety it offers. Unfortunately we have to do this in late May 2022 and it isn't offered as a group until early summer in June. We may try and mimic this tour and are seeking advice from anyone that has taken it or anyone that may have more specific information about what is a must or what we may need to avoid given the earlier start. Any hotel information/ suggestions would also be appreciated. Thanks
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16622 posts
Hi Ed, welcome to the forums!
I think you mean this RS escorted tour itinerary?
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/family-europe-london-florence
I guess the biggest thing I'd advise, off the top of my head, is not to try and do it independently within the same amount of time as the tour. Understand that tour groups have the benefit of time-saving transport to pick them up and drop them off at hotels and attractions, and guides to help them find their way, provide tickets, etc. I'd also suggest adding more time as 1 .5 days isn't even CLOSE to enough time for London, and I'll say the same for Florence. I'd even say that Paris could use extra time; depends on the sorts of things you are interested in seeing/doing?
Posted by
Green Bay
21223 posts
You can always arrive in London before hand to take extra days there until your daughter is finished with school. Yes, Paris is worth more than 1 1/2 days (or worth a mass per Henri IV). If you really want to see Guedelon, you should rent a car in Paris and drive, then drive to Basel Airport (which is actually in France) to drop the car, then bus to Basel SBB station. There you can get a train to Interlaken Ost then the train to Lauterbrunnen. If not, you can take a train to Beaune and do a day-long winery tour by guided van. Then trains to Lauterbrunnen with several train changes along the way. Its about a 10 hour train ride from Lauterbrunnen to Monterosso, again with several train changes. Monterosso to Florence is pretty straight forward with 1 change using an IC train in 2 1/2 hours, or 3 1/2 hours using regional trains with 2 changes. Or you could skip the CT and go from Lauterbrunnen to Florence in as little as 5 3/4 hours with 3 train changes.