6 nights for Portofino/Cinque Terra/Milan

Michael,
I hope you realize that traveling from Nice to Portofino by train will take almost 6 hours, so you will only have a few hours to visit Portofino.

You mention that you have 6 nights, but your options total to 5 nights, is this a typo?

I like option # 1.

Keep in mind that each time you change locations, you will lose part of that day traveling, checking in/out of hotel, getting situated, packing/unpacking, so 3 nights in CT means that you will have 2 full days there.

The trip from CT to Milan will also take 3-4 hours via train depending on which train option you choose.

You may check train schedules here: http://www.trenitalia.com

I like option #2, but I am a big fan of Milano. Expo will be long over and prices will be normal.

Just so you know, Portofino is an easy day trip from any of teh Cinque Terre villages. You might just stay in the Cinque Terre and save yourself a stop.

Michael,

I agree with Laurel. Portofino would be better done as a day trip from the Cinque Terre, especially as you're only planning a one night stay there. It's not worth the effort (IMO). You'll arrive in late afternoon and will only have the evening for a quick walkabout. You'll have to be out of the hotel the next morning at about 10:00 so in reality that only allows a few hours to look around. There's also not a lot to do there, especially if you don't have money to spend in the posh stores.

Just to clarify, you can't get directly to Portofino by train. You'll have to travel to Santa Margherita Ligure and than take a boat (~20 minutes) or Bus to Portofino.

I'd suggest only one night in Milan, unless there's something particular you want to see there. At least three nights (and perhaps four) in the Cinque Terre would be good, and with lots of time you could also take a day trip by boat to Porto Venere.

I think Porto Venere is a much better day trip them bothering with Portofino.

I agree with Laurel & Ken in terms of doing Portofino as a day trip.

Years ago when we visited Portofino, we actually stayed in Rapallo & took a day trip (via bus) to Santa Margherita Ligure & Portofino.
As Ken mentioned, there's not much to do in Portofino.
However, we did walk up to 'Castello Brown', and it offered great vantage points from which to capture amazing photos of the Ligurian Sea, Portofino's town & harbor lined with it's beautiful pastel colored buildings.

Have a wonderful trip!

Hi All,

Thank you very much for your inputs. They are very valuable to me in regarding planning for my France and Spain 2016 trip.

I have revised my plan, based on your inputs, and please review, and gibe me your comments. Again, it is difficult to travel to France during the month of July, therefore, I have planned to include "Pamplona" which is one of the item on my bucket list.

2 nights in Bayeux Pick up car from CDG, Stop by Giverny

1 night in Mt Saint Michel

2 nights in San Sebastian

1 night in Pamplona

1 night in Lourdes

2 nights in Nice

4 nights in Cinque Terra

2 nights in Milan

I have questions as below, and like to have inputs from all of you:

1. Should I stay entire 3 nights in San Sebastian, and drive to Pamplona early in the morning to watch "Running Bull" at 8:00 AM, and stay around Pamplona to enjoy the atmosphere, or I should stay 2 nights in San Sebastian, and one night in Pamplona?

2. I plan to stay 2 nights in Milan, because I plan to take a day trip to Lake Como. Is Lake Como worth the day trip?

Again, thank you very much for your inputs.

"I plan to stay 2 nights in Milan, because I plan to take a day trip to Lake Como. Is Lake Como worth the day trip?"

IMO, yes it is worth a day trip. The small town of Varenna is the usual favourite here, and it's only about an hour from Milan. From there you can take the short Ferry ride across to Bellagio (about 20 minutes) or visit any of the other towns along the lake. Also spend some time in Varenna and have a walk along the lakeside promenade.

Michael,

2 nights in Bayeux Pick up car from CDG, Stop by Giverny

1 night in Mt Saint Michel

2 nights in San Sebastian

1 night in Pamplona

1 night in Lourdes

2 nights in Nice

4 nights in Cinque Terra

2 nights in Milan

I'm confused by your revised itinerary.

Do you plan to drive from the North of France (Mt Saint Michel) all the way to San Sebastián, Spain?

Do you realize that it will take you about 7.5 hours to travel this distance?

Then close to 7 hours to drive from Lourdes to Nice?

In my opinion, you have too many one night stays which are equivalent to only spending a few hours visiting said destination.

I think you are traveling great distances & you're not giving yourself enough time to explore & enjoy each of the destinations on your list.

I hope you reconsider your travel plans. You may want to focus on visiting 1-2 countries, but not 3, especially given the time you have for your trip.

Hi Priscilla,

Thank you very much for your inputs/critics. Based on your suggestions, I have revised my itienrary as below:

2 nights in Bayeux - Explore Normandy, DDay beaches, and Tour de France.

Get to MSM in the evening, after spend more than half day to continue exploring Normandy - 1 night in MSM.

Then drive from MSM to San Sebastian. The trip takes 7.5 hours.

4 nights in San Sebastian - Day trip to Bilbao, Guernica, and Pamplona.

1 night in Lourdes (3 hours driving from San Sebastian to Lourdes)

Drive from Lourdes to Nice (7 hours driving), then we will stay in Nice for 3 nights. Return car.

Take the train to Cinque Terra (4 hours). Spend 3 nights in Cinque Terra.

Take the train back to Milan - Stay overnight before the flight home.

I realize that my plan is a lot of driving, but I can compensate for more than 7 hours driving to spend 4 nights in San Sebastian. And same thing with driving from Lourdes to Nice, therefore I will spend 3 nights in Nice.

I cut down the Milan part, just take the train to Milan from Cinque Terra in the afternoon, spend overnight in Milan, before the flight home.

Again, thanks a lot for your suggestions.

Michael,
Your revised itinerary looks so much better. I understand the desire to want to visit as many places as possible while one travels, however, sometimes less is more...

Many years ago, my mom & I took a 2 week trip & visited several amazing cities in 3 different countries (Spain, France & Italy), but the only thing I regret is not spending more time in each of the cities we visited.

I realize that my plan is a lot of driving, but I can compensate for more than 7 hours driving to spend 4 nights in San Sebastian. And same thing with driving from Lourdes to Nice, therefore I will spend 3 nights in Nice.

If you get an early start the day you plan to drive from Lourdes to Nice, you may want to stop & enjoy a nice lunch somewhere amazing (Nimes, Avignon, Arles, etc...) The South of France is so beautiful!

You may want to check this website for driving directions: http://www.viamichelin.com

Happy planning!

Hi Priscilla,

I took your suggestions, and re-plan my trip. I drop the Italy portion, I will do it next time. And after I re-watched Rick Steves' Southern France video clips, I really want to spend more time in France (Northern and Southern)>

3 nights in Bayeux
1 night in Mt Saint Michel

1 night in La Rochelle

2 nights in Pamplona

2 nights in San Sebastian

3 nights in Arles

3 nights in Nice

Google Maps tells me this is a journey of 1907km. You fine with driving that?

Michael,

You have a whole year before your trip, so I hope you keep researching the areas you want to visit & narrow down the driving & moving around so much.

You may want to consider visiting only the North of France & North of Spain or just stay in France.

Both France & Spain are large countries & you can easily stay in one or the other for the whole 2 weeks.

I agree with djp_syd, that's a lot of driving...

Happy planning!

An idea may be to only drive the French part (as far as Biarritz say).
Then use public transport into Spain for Pamplona & San Sebastian.
Fly to Nice (or Barcelona even) from San Sebastian.
Then onward by train to Arles and Provence.