My fiance and I are planning to use a 15-day rail pass to see the above listed cities. We're flying in and out of Paris. We are planning to do a loop on the rails to see the following cities in the listed order. Are we trying to see too many cities in 19 days? We may leave out Madrid and/or Berlin. Also, would it be better to make Sleeper car, High-Speed Train, and Hotel Reservations now or later? Would it be better to wait until we get there? The first 3 days will be in London and we plan to book a hotel room for that city right now. I don't know if hotel rooms will get cheaper later on because of slowing tourism.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
9 cities in 19 days sounds like a nightmare to me. Slow down and take the time to actually see the cities you visit rather than check off that you have set foot in the city.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Save Madrid and Berlin for another trip; then scale back further so you will have time to enjoy the fabulous destinations you have selected.
Gain a day by not flying in and out of the same city. Try, for instance, London - Paris - Monaco - Venice - Rome. (Other 19-day itineraries possible of course.)
When to make reservations depends a lot on your travel style and time of year. Have a great trip!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Drop Pisa from the itinerary. It's worth an hour and a half at most. Siena or Florence would be better if you're wanting a place in Tuscany, but yeah, you're trying to pack too much into too little time.
Posted by
OP
Savage, MN, USA
19 posts
Thanks for the advice all!
Posted by
Henson, Florida, USA
466 posts
Scale back your cities. You actually want to see the cities and spend some time rather than just taking pictures and telling people you were there. You will be so tired hopping trains dragging luggage to your hotels and then dragging it back to the train station for another train ride. I'd at least (and I said at least) drop the Berlin Amsterdam Madrid part of the trip. Concentrate on London, Paris, Monaco, Rome, Venice (I would skip Pisa and go to Florence). Florence has much more to see than Pisa. Have fun and good luck!!
Posted by
Bellevue, WA, USA
81 posts
I agree with a lot of the other folks. Once you arrive there you will realize that you want to spend more time really enjoying each place you visit.
I do have one bit of advise - skip Pisa. The only real thing I saw that it offers is the church and leaning tower. The other cities are much more impressive. I enjoyed Florence, Cinque Terre and the smaller Tuscan towns much more.
London - you need at least 3 full days
Paris - you need at least 2 full days - preferably three
Venice - 2 full days
Amsterdam - I'm probably one of few that only needed a day or a day and a half here
Posted by
Pasadena, California
4 posts
You will not be able to use your railpass to go to London. British rail and Eurostar through chunnel are not included in a Eurrail pass, so I would skip it this time. You are trying to do too much anyway.
Posted by
boulder, colorado
192 posts
With this schedule you will be spending your entire vacation on trains or going from the terminal to your hotel - hotel to terminal. I would pare this schedule down to Paris, Rome and Venice. You should be able to take overnight trains to each destination - no need for the rail pass. Each of these cities (with the exception of Pisa, Monaco and maybe Amsterdam)deserve a full week. Plan on returning again.