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Suggestions on my Europe itinerary

Hello,

Happy New year.
I am planning a trip to Europe with my wife this May 2016. It will be for 16 days starting 7th of May. I have a rough structure in my mind and require your suggestions to make a final itinerary.
Amsterdam 2 nights
Bruges 1 night
Paris 2nights
(i am not sure which part of france i should go now. Marseille, Nice or some country side) - 2 nights
Chamonix 2 nights (need to know if Early may is a good option. Will the cable cars at Aguille du midi be working or should i try Dolomites in Italy if they are open for tourism)
Lake Como ( i guess i have to keep base in Milan) 2 nights
Rome and Pisa 3 nights
Santorini 2 nights.
Back to India

This is a temporary structure. All suggestions are highly appreciated.

The most confusing part is after paris. We want to see the mountains but not sure of the transport and which area to stay near chamonix.

Also note that we will be using all train routes and flight will only be used from Rome to Santorini.

Looking forward to your valuable suggestions and comments.

Thanks
Ankur

Posted by
650 posts

Every travel day deprives you of most of a day sight seeing. You are traveling 8 of your 16 days so you will literally spend half your time on trains or planes. It's tempting to want to see everything, but you need either fewer destinations or more time. You have 10 destinations. Choose your top 4 and you'll see more and be happier.

Posted by
2487 posts

This itinerary worries me too. Assuming you're arriving in Amsterdam, two nights mean one evening (with jetlag) and one full day to enjoy the city. One night Bruges, means one short afternoon and one evening. The morning is spent on travelling from Amsterdam (which will take some six hours, including checking out and in at hotels, getting to and from station); and the next morning already finds you on the train to Paris. Those two nights for Paris also means one short afternoon and one full day, which gives you time to see the Eiffel Tower, have a look at the Notre Dame and a short visit to the Louvre.
Much travelling, much stress and little enjoyment. I find it all a waste of your time and money.

Posted by
33991 posts

Lake Como ( i guess i have to keep base in Milan) 2 nights

Why? Why would you base an hour away in Milano to spend time on a beautiful lake and where you could stay on the lake?

Rome and Pisa 3 nights

Together?

Posted by
6113 posts

Halve the number of destinations. Moving destinations looses too much time.

Paris deserves 4 full days as an absolute minimum without any side trips. Santorini doesn't fit with the rest of your itinerary and early May is not the best time to visit there. I would imagine that it's not the easiest airport to fly home from.

I would suggest Amsterdam 3 nights including recovering from jetlag.
Paris 6 nights with a day trips to the Loire Valley and Versailles
Rome and Pisa 5 nights
India from Rome.

Posted by
11613 posts

The train from Amsterdam to Brugge takes about two hours, not counting travel to/from the stations, waiting for train change in Antwerpen, and checking out/in at hotels. I just did this trip in reverse on the Thalys train and it was easy.

Overall I do think your itinerary is scattered, and you will spend lots of time in transit. But if these are the places you want to see, it can be done.

Look at rome2rio.com to check distances and times for various modes of transportation.

Posted by
5235 posts

Too many cities in too few days. As has been suggested, pick your top four and concentrate on them. You want to have memories of people, place, and things rather than memories of train stations and airports. Travel rule to remember: It almost always takes longer to go from Point A to Point B than anticipated.

Posted by
7175 posts

Your itinerary is fine in terms of transport arrangements getting you from place to place. However, It does not allow for time at your destinations to really see anything and enjoy the experience.
I think you should be satisfied spending 16 nights a bit more realistically ...

Amsterdam - 3 nights
Bruges - 2 night
Paris - 4 nights
Chamonix - 2 nights
Lake Como - 2 nights
Rome - 3 nights

Posted by
1243 posts

I agree with David, arrive Amsterdam, stay 3 nights, to recover from jet lag. Bruges should be 2 nights, since it takes a bit of travel time to get there.

Lake Como--stay there, possibly in Varenna. Why stay in Milan and have to travel back and forth?

I don't understand Rome and Pisa 3 nights?? They are nowhere near each other. Pisa is usually done as a day trip, or as a stop on the way to the next destination. Rome should have at least 3 nights, IMO.

Can't say anything about France since I haven't been there yet.

Posted by
10 posts

Thanks a lot everyone for their suggestions. This has been really helpful. So to summarize, i will follow the below itinerary. I have dropped some places.

Amsterdam - 3 nights
Bruges - 2 night
Paris - 4 nights
Chamonix - 2 nights
Lake Como - 2 nights
Rome - 3 nights
(suggested by David - Thanks)
Now i remain with a few more questions.
1. In Chamonix, will the lifts be working during mid may for Aguille du midi and Helbronner and the Ice cave?
2. What is the best way to travel from Paris to Chamonix?
3. In Paris i am interested to see the Eifel tower, Lovre museum, Arc and few in city places. Since i have 4 nights what do u think should be my plan. I would love to do some countryside day trips. Can you suggest some?

Looking forward to your reply.

Thanks
Ankur

Posted by
7175 posts

Aiguille du Midi cablecar runs year round, however Helbronner only in summer, from May 30 it appears ...
http://www.chamonix.com/aiguille-du-midi-timetables-and-rates,180,en.html

Best connection from Paris in mid May ...
1) TGV 9765 Dep 09:11 PARIS GARE DE LYON (France) Arr 11:48 BELLEGARDE (France)
2) TER84517 Dep 12:09 BELLEGARDE (France) Arr 13:56 ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET (France)
3) TER18917 Dep 14:05 ST GERVAIS LES BAINS LE FAYET (France) Arr 14:50 CHAMONIX MONT BLANC (France)
This last train is on the route of the Mont Blanc Express. http://www.mont-blanc-express.com/cms

Posted by
4105 posts

For transit Paris-Chamonix, you could do TGV from Paris-Geneva then the airport
Chamonix Shuttle bus. Should save 1 1/2
Hours travel time.