Italy and/or Paris in a week? is is possible?

I think you could realistically pick 2 cities to visit. Fly to Rome, spend 3 days in Rome seeing the highlights, fly to Paris and spend 3 days in Paris. Then fly home from Paris. Or the reverse. Don't try to over-do it in each city and realize that you'll lose a day due to jet lag and nearly a day for travel between countries. But you can do it.

One, you can leave on SAturday and come back Sunday. That is 9 days gone and 7 days there. You could land in Rome and stay for 2 and half days then train to Florence for a day and half . then go to Paris for 2 and half days. Fast but not overwhelming

I suggest picking either Italy or Paris but not both. With only a week you really don't have a lot of time and by the time you adjust to jet lag your vacation will be half over. With only a week that gives you 5 full days on the ground. Both Paris and any city in Italy will have more than enough things for you to do for 5 days. Donna

I agree with Donna. Even if you have 7 days on the ground, stay in one country: Paris for a week with daytrips or Rome for a week with daytrips.

I would suggest picking just one or the other you can easily spend a week in Paris and maybe venture outside the city a bit (Versailles...) or of course a week in Italy can fill up very quickly you will lose a lot of time traveling between the two, getting to the airport, flight, getting to hotel... if your daughter wants to see the Eiffel tower do a week in Paris, you will have plenty to see and do don't forget that you will be hit with jet lag at some point during your trip and may need some down time
save Italy for another trip when you can do at least two weeks

I completely agree with Dina. With the three of you going, and time constraints being what they are, I'd say to pretty much chuck out the sidetrips and concentrate on the 2 biggies. Can you cut work a couple hours on the Friday, maybe have Mom and daughter meet you at the airport? Are there evening departures from New Orleans to Paris or Rome? Arrive Saturday morning, Europe time, do the arrival city for 3 or 4 days, then fly between the two (that day pretty much all given to checking out, travel, and settling in), then 3 days in the other. Fly home on Sunday, back to work on Monday. That would make a great trip for me, and maybe you. Can you pop a coin in the Trevi Fountain for me please? And get a Gelato from St Crispins, just nearby? I'm not sure we will get there before October.... boo.

I would most definitely see the highlights of both of those cities. A diverse trip and completely different experiences in each and I think it would make such great memories for all of you. If the thought is 'you will return', then you can see everything you missed in both cities, but if it should happen that you do not return (and you will never have this experience again) I would want to leave with 'no regrets.'
Have a wonderful time!

Tracy, I also agree with Dina and the others. While it will be a bit rushed, I believe you do have time for brief visits to both Paris and Rome. Do you actually have seven days "on the ground" or only five days??? I'd suggest starting in Paris and returning from Rome, as it will be a more "gentle" introduction to Europe for your daughter. As you'll likely be travelling in the spring, weather shouldn't be an issue. Depending on how many Museums you want to visit in Paris, you might consider getting a Paris Museum Pass, as that will minimize your time waiting in queues. For your visit to the Louvre, I'd suggest "prioritizing" as it's HUGE and visiting all three wings would take quite some time. If you're mostly interested in the Mona Lisa, it's in the Denon Wing and I've found that it's easy to spend 3-4 hours wandering around there. The Musee D'Orsay is one of my favourites, and visiting there can also be quite time consuming. For the Eiffel Tower, you might consider pre-booking online, as that will also minimize your time waiting in queues. Be sure to wear Money Belts in both cities! Have you considered which part of each city you might prefer to stay? The Guidebooks have good recommendations for good Hotels in various parts of each city. Be sure to plan your sightseeing carefully so that you don't waste ANY time! Good luck with your planning, and happy travels!

Tracy Why don't you have your Mom and daughter stay another 5 days or so? If your Mom has been to Italy twice, she would be an excellent tour guide for your daughter and comfortable enough to do it. So start in Paris for a week, you return when you have to, and your Mom and daughter can fly to Italy and do Rome with day trips. They can fly home from Rome. How does that sound? Bobbie

I think Bobbie's suggestion is brilliant! It is a long way to go for such a short time. It seems a shame for your daughter and mother to have to rush their trip just because YOU can't get away for a longer period of time.

I like Bobbie's idea too! All 3 of you have a special time together, you aren't rushed but can relax, and then they get to share a very special grandmother-granddaughter trip. Is your mom capable of handling the transportation and moneybelt?

Thanks for all the great responses. I love the idea of leaving on a Friday evening or Saturday and coming back on a Sunday to give us more days on ground. I guess i felt like I was going to be so close to Paris and the Eiffel Tower and hated not see it if we had the chance. But I work ALOT and the thought of a rushed vacation to someplace so great is not what I want. I really want to enjoy it and immerse myself in it. I am an Ortolano, my grandparents are from Sicily, so I have wanted to travel to Italy since I was little and heard of their trips. So I am thinking we will stick with our first plan of just Italy and making the most out of it. My mom just spent 2 weeks there and will be a great tour guide (as I am really quite scared of traveling out of the country, I am in my mid 30s and not so well traveled...my travels mainly have consisted of road trips to Disney world :) and maybe we can travel out to other destinations within Italy my mom hasn't seen, like Venice. Now that I've narrowed it down I can get me a guide and get to work! :) Luckily our trip won't be until May 2013 but I wanted to have a game plan in place so we can hopefully purchase airline tickets in advance to maybe get some discounts. It will also give me a reason to travel to Paris another time, maybe when my younger two daughters are older. :)- ken mentioned money belts and from Rick's videos i've watched he does discuss pic pockets so i assume this is why. Is it ok to still wear a backpack (for camera and such) and if so is it a good idea to still keep money and stuff on a belt as i would think a slick pick pocket can even get into a backpack on the sly.

Tracy, your plan sounds perfect. Stay in Italy the whole time, explore a few cities. If you are a bit nervous about visiting Europe having your mother there as a guide will be a great help -- and you will see there isn't a reason to be nervous -- I'm sure you will love it. I really hope you all make it to Venice! Saving Paris for another trip with your daughters is a lovely idea. You can't see everything no matter how many days you have. I chose quality over quantity every time. Happy planning.

You really can't go wrong with a trip to Italy I personally carry small bag that slings around my front rather than a backpack Italy is pretty safe but when you get into crowded areas like around a train station there are some "gypsy" types that do like to try to rip off tourists
just be aware, keep bag close to your body where you can see it and avoid any beggars and gypsy types, don't let them engage you in conversation

Tracy, To expand on my earlier comments, using a Money Belt is most definitely a good idea in most locations in Europe. This is used to store your Passport, cash and credit cards, and should not be accessed where others can see. Keep some "daily operating cash" in a secure pocket. Theft most often occurs in crowded locations, such as on the Metro and of course the infamous #64 Bus in Rome (passengers are often packed-in like sardines). Travellers should also be wary if any "distractions" occur near them. I don't worry too much about theft, but try to exercise caution and "situational awareness", and of course always wear a Money Belt. Regarding using a Backpack to store a Camera, that's not a method I favour. While it might be a good place to store snacks, Guidebooks, etc., having the Camera there means that every time you want to take a picture the pack has to be removed and opened. It's somewhat of a cumbersome method, IMO. Unless it's locked, contents of a Backpack are susceptible to theft. I've seen videos of thieves in Barcelona and other cities opening Backpacks while the person wearing it is walking down the street. The Backpack owner often doesn't notice a thing! They usually work in "teams", so the stolen items disappear quickly.

I'm planning my next trip to Europe (April/May 2012) and my husband and I just bought theft-preventive bags from a company called Pacsafe. Mine is a backpack and his is a shoulder bag (don't dare call it a purse! LOL) Venice is our personal favorite city in Italy and would be a wonderful destination for you three ladies. Be sure to stay in old Venice instead of doing day trips. Evenings in Venice are the best because all the tourists are gone and you have the city to enjoy with the locals. This trip we are finally heading south of Siena for the first time after 6 trips to Italy! Venice and Prague are my two favorite European cities for shopping.

I also travel with a small pacsafe backpack for my essential day items - I have back problems and a cross body bag is not an option. just wear it in front like a pouch in crowds - I sually end up with my camera around my neck anyway and a map in my pocket. I also vote all Italy!

I'm another person recommending that you pick just one city. You will be exhausted trying to get from one place to another. We have been to London three years in a row for a total of one month. We have been to Paris twice in the past two years. The first time we spent one week. The second time we spent two. We didn't run out of things to do. We also spent a week in Rome. There is way to much to see in both places. I suggest you go to Barnes and Noble and look at the tour books for both Rome and Paris. My husband and I spent a lot of time looking at the books for all three of our trips - 2009, 2010 and 2011. You don't have to buy the books. The books will give you a better idea of what your choices are. You realize that you have to spend four nights to get only three days of touring. That isn't allowing for travel to and from either. You will love either Paris or Rome. Elaine

thanks everyone! That pacsafe is a great idea, looks like i can find some good deals on them on ebay. Anyone know travel time from Rome to Venice, (guessing train is best way to get there quick and cheaply) and a round about cost would be great, I mean, is it a good chunk of money? And any hotel suggestions would be wonderful. What do you think... begin or end in Venice? (I am thinking end spending last 2 days there since my mom hasn't been there and it will be new to her, I don't want her leaving there seeing stuff she's seen before touring Rome with us.) If I do that, can I fly home from Venice or that area? Does it ad onto airfare to change airports like that? Is Venice someplace we can get around without having to rent a car? What are your must sees since i am just starting my research of what is even in Venice :)-

Hi Tracy,
How did your trip turn out? My daughter and I are taking my granddaughter on a trip to Paris and/or Italy for her graduation gift and would appreciate any suggestions you can give us. Thanks. Lynn

Assuming you have 6 nights on the ground in Europe to be divided between Paris and Italy, you can do only 3 nights in Paris and 3 nights in Rome (or vice versa). You don't have time to do anything else in a week. At most you could replace Rome with 3 nights in Venice, if Venice is more important to you.

Tracy, as this thread is two years old I would suggest starting a new thread to ask your question.