Updated 18 Day Itinerary

Just moving this to the top to see if anyone has a response.

Most travelers get from Paris to Versailles by a regional train system known as RER, not by bus, and they do it as a day trip from Paris, not requiring an accommodation change.

The travel time Cinque Terre to Venice will take most of the day; this is unavoidable. It just means you won't have 2 full days in Venice, if I understand your itinerary, then your time in Venice will be more like 2 nights and 1 full day (most people give it more time than that).

Some back-tracking is unavoidable for an itinerary that covers CT, Venice, Florence, and Rome. Some do it in the sequence CT - Florence - Venice - Rome; and some do it the way you're doing: CT - Venice - Florence - Rome. You'll likely go through Florence to get from the CT to Venice.

"I still need to look at train times."

Yes, and the easiest/fastest way to look at train times is:

click here

It's the German website but is the most user friendly for looking at train times for all countries; you don't use this site to buy tickets.

Town name is all that's needed.
Date doesn't matter, I usually just put it forward a few days.I change time to something like 0600 to see all schedules for the day.

You asked about CT and your original post says "relax by the water but no hiking." Then you ask whether you should delete CT and substitute another destination.

You probably do want to consider substituting another destination or two for the CT, given how you've described your interests above. That that free up another 2 days in your busy itinerary.

CT is a nice place for hiking, and then kicking back at the end of the day. But when you say "relaxing by the water"--it makes me think that you might find a better place. The CT is known for its spectacular hiking and scenery but not so much for great beaches, its beaches are okay but some are surprised at how pebbly they are, small, the water colder than many are expecting. The CT beaches are not so much a "relaxing by the water" kind of places--not like beaches in Hawaii, California, Florida, or the French or Italian Riviera.

Many enjoy the CT but usually they have a stronger interest in hiking, then the CT makes more sense.

For these reasons, you may want to consider using the 2 days you save to explore more of Tuscany, including Siena.

Thanks for your replies.

We're considering switching a few things - traveling mostly by train (will use bus in small towns). Hopefully we can catch a night train - so we don't lose too much day time. Does this sound more reasonable?

Paris to Lucern

Lucern to Alps

Alps to Geneva

Geneva to Venice

Venice to Florence (base for day trips)

Florence to CT

CT to Rome OR back Florence to Rome?

Thanks so much!

PS - anyone ever see the human chess game in Marostica (near Venice)

I can tell you've been looking at the map (over the years I've been surprised how many travelers try to plan their itinerary without bothering to look much at a map of Europe or the distances between destinations).

Your revised itinerary should work better for you: Venice - Florence - CT - Rome.

At this point, you probably want to avoid the ever-present temptation to add more locations: you already have 8 destinations and 7 changes of accommodation in 18 days (and if your 18 days includes any flying in or flying out days, then you actually have something less than 18 days).

8 destinations in, say, 17 or even 18 days, on an itinerary like yours that involves significant travel distances--this is about the maximum that most people find they enjoy. You get to a point where the traveling between destinations starts wearing on you in a way that decreases the quality of your overall experience--seeing too much of the inside of train stations, trains, airports, car parks.

Just changing accommodations takes about 1/2 a day, not including the actual train or driving time (packing up, checking out, getting to the train station or car park, waiting for the train, and then the same drill at the destination end).

Thank you Kent very much! You're right we have 17 full days and 2 - 1/2 days (Paris arrival at 12pm and Rome departure 12pm) I'm trying to be efficient as I don't want to maximize all the time.

We may not stay in CT for 2 days, and willing to cut CT if needed and sub in Bologna, or Siena or (Pisa 1-day trip) instead because of the distance. Any cities you prefer over another?

I still need to look at train times.

Thanks again!

Thank you again Kent! My husband and I enjoy kayaking and snorkeling. Since we were close to the Italian Riviera - we thought it would be cool to take a dip but since hiking is the big thing - I think we'll choose Siena or Bologna.

Based on our rail trips from country/city do you think it's best to get the 3 country select pass or just get rail tickets when we get there?

Salsachica: Sounds like you've made the right decision on the snorkeling, the CT is not really a snorkeling kinda place.

Re your rail pass question, I'm going to suggest that you go to the Transportation section of this site and post a New Topic with your revised itinerary, plus your rail pass question, so that people who know more about rail passes will, hopefully, answer your rail pass question there.

And Happy Travels!