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Urgent January Itinerary Help

Hi there-First the background: Work is taking me to Amsterdam in Mid January. I have extended my trip for another week (total trip Jan 11-24th). After Amsterdam, I am flying to Zurich for a weekend of skiing with a coworker in the Swiss Alps (Davos). I'm flying in my girlfriend to Zurich to join me on Sunday Jan 17th. She will train to Davos to meet up with us.

I would really appreciate any thoughts on what to do from there. We'd like to so into Italy (possibly the lake region) that Sunday night. From there we have thought about Milan and Venice for a few days. We've thought about jetting over to Barecelona, heading to Rome, Nice/Monacco.

Really the only Must Do's are Paris and we have to end up back in Amsterdam (I messed up with my initial booking--should have done open jaw). My plan is to do the fast train on the Saturday afternoon before from Paris to Amsterdam for one night in Amsterdam before we fly out

Anyway, if you had Sunday through Sunday and started in Davos, Switzerland and had to spend time in Paris and end up in Amsterdam, what would you do? What cities? What sites? What routes? What should we avoid since it's Mid Jan? I know it's a VERY Vague question. But reading the other posts...someone will have a great idea from experience. Thanks in Advance

Posted by
3262 posts

Hi Chad,

For one week here's what I'd consider:

  • Spend an extra day in Davos to give your girlfriend a chance to recover from jetlag.

  • On Tuesday take a train (or fly discount airline) to Paris--spend 4 nights in Paris.

  • On Saturday return to Amsterdam for your return flight.

What you've proposed is too much for one week. Relax and enjoy your time in Europe.

Posted by
6788 posts

Yep. You've got a week. You've committed to Amsterdam, skiing in Switzerland, a stop in Paris, them fly back from Amsterdam.

That's it - you're not going to Venice or Barcelona or anyplace else. That's not so bad, but you need to be realistic.

Posted by
676 posts

I agree, spend the whole time in Paris. There's so much to do there, and once you're there, no more traveling really, except to A-dam. I wouldn't even give your honey time to catch up in Davos; just FLY to Paris the next day and catch up in Paris!

Posted by
689 posts

Agreed that you won't be able to make Italy or Spain work this trip (winter isn't really the time for Venice or the Lakes or the French Riviera anyway). If you really don't want to spend ALL week in Paris (I would though), you can add a stop on your route. Bruges would be a nice stop between Paris and Amsterdam (it's just a slight detour off the main train line-change in Brussels). Or, something that's right on (or a short detour from) one of the trains between Switzerland and Paris, like Strausbourg, Colmar, Lyon...