The Ideal Honeymoon?

I should also point out that Paris to Barcelona would be an overnight train. I'm open to mixing it up, possibly even taking out Barcelona, if there is something worthwile stopping for just so as long as I make it to Rome in the end!

Travel agent? <shudder>

Usually I'd use a resource such as Kayak, but from what I have heard, agents possibly have access to rates that cannot be found online...

Personally, I'd drop Barcelona and add the days to London. Do a day trip to Windsor and maybe 1 other- I'd do York or Cardiff over Bath, but depends on your interests. Are you a AAA member? Their travel agents are often very good.

Anymore, I don't think that travel agents have access to better deals than you can find for yourself, particularly for non-flight things. Just start watching the fares now so you know what the prices are running. Then when you see a good deal, jump on it. That's going to be harder to do flying open jaw, but you can watch roundtrips to your starting city and roundtrips to your ending city separately (just book them as a multi-city itinerary, not two one-ways). If one or both drop significantly, it's time to buy. As for Eurostar tickets, buy them online as early as you can be sure of your dates of travel. Eurail passes might not be your best option - check the point-to-point prices for your trips and compare them to a pass - and to a budget flight. Without a travel agent you will have to do some homework, but the flexibility might be worth it, and you won't be paying more by going on your own.

My wife is AAA so I suppose I am by default :) If I don't do an agent, I have my flight trackers locked in on rate changes so I'll jump the moment I find something decent. My thoughts on Barcelona are mixed: I had a wonderful time when I was there last and there is no question that the city has a lot to offer as far as culture/food/fun/beaches (Keep in mind that even though we opted out of a Hawaii-type honeymoon doesn't necessarily mean that we don't want to play in the sand for a few day). However last time I was there I was 22 and single so my perspectives on "fun" and "culture" have changed slightly to say the least... IF I do mix it up and cut Barcelona, I'm more likely thinking Provence or the Italian Riviera. The hesitation to do so is the possibly significant cost increase of hotel/hostel, and train fare. (we saved a night of lodging by sleeping in the train from Paris to Barcelona). Am I wrong in this assumption? I checked out the Eurostar rates and you are correct: the early the better. I'm just worried how little flexibility there is if say my plans change or I don't make my scheduled time (Uh oh!). Lastly, the 3 country Eurorail pass for 5 days travel is 389 per – a significant enough savings to opt out of individual train tix or even Airfare (going from Paris --> Barcelona --> Nice -->Rome). My thoughts were that an agent would be able to also get a reduced rate, but its sounding like buying direct is the best way to go.

Ryan, I would reverse the order of your trip. Start in the South - Rome - where it will be warmer and work your way North with the Spring warming. I know Barcelona has a lot of buzz these days, but I would leave it for another trip when you have time to explore it and Spain more thoroughly. You'll find sand in Cannes and St. Tropez. Rome, the Côte d'Azur, Paris and London can work well in your time frame. imho Normandy is great, but spend your time in Paris. Bath, while interesting, isn't worth a day from London given your limited time. May is a good month for travel in Europe. Re a travel agent, we've never used one so I can't recommend any.

London has way more "A" sites than you can see in 3 or 4 days. Unless you have a special ineterest i would spend all my time in London- possibly hampton court or Windsor for a break. I prefer york far over bath, but in the limited time i wouldnt do either. Yorrk needs at least one day and two nights to do it justice, plus the travel. But I would even out the time between paris and London. Mid to late may weather ihas always been very good for me, although on our last trip it rained some almost every day- no matter where we were.

Tex – you bring up an interesting idea in reversing the order of the trip; a thought I had as well until I realized that the UEFA Champions League Final (Soccer) is being hosted on the 28th of May in London and could spell trouble for getting to the major sites and possibly even finding accommodations. Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE soccer fanatic as is my wife, but I think that is one travel headache I'd hope to avoid (at least for this kind of trip). As disappointing as that is to hear I sort of figured that Normandy would be too complicated organizing buses in and out of Normandy in a day (I wouldn't want to spend a night there) and I don't know a single person that would disagree with you that the time is best spent in Paris! Brian – If this trip were just about me, I would totally spend more time in the UK. However I think that idea will have to wait for another trip. My wife is pretty dead set on sunshine so if no Barcelona, then she'll want those extra days in the South of France.

Ryan, I wouldn't worry too much about Wembley. London's a big place, Wembley is nowhere near the centre, and London is used to having big events just blend into the background. As long as you are not competing for tube seats at the time and direction of the fans there should be no issue. Sounds like a great trip; I too advocate south to north.

Ryan
Enjoy it- sounds like a great start to a marriage.

If you're eliminating Barcelona from this trip (which sounds like a good idea) you might want to add a few days in Venice and/or Sorrento. You mentioned Venice as a possible day trip from Rome, but I think it deserves a couple of nights. It's an amazing, romantic place. And Sorrento, with day trips down the Amalfi Coast and to Capri and Pompeii, is another beautiful, memorable spot. In fact, if you're up to totally rearranging your trip, it could be fun to start by flying into Naples, having a taxi pick you up at the airport and driving you to Sorrento. That would be the way to start a honeymoon!