Purely a matter of opinion but first, I do think you have 4 great options. they are all good. And I am going to tweek it with Option 3. I like that plan only end it in Paris and not Prague. Cinque Terre is just so relaxing and beautiful. It is a wonderful break in the middle of a lot of museums and city touring.

So then my personal preference would be Paris, heads and tails above Prague. The biggest disappointment with Prague was I was not prepared for how crowded it would be. We shuffled in a mob around that city. And you have to be on super-high alert for theft. Everywhere you go, they are roasting meat somewhere - I think it took 3 showers to get the smell of roasted weiners out of my hair. It didn't seem like Prague has limitless things to do. You can definitely spend 3 nights though, but after that, you probably tapped it. What is great about Prague though is that it is a beautiful cityscape. The food is good, esp if you love meat. The beer is crazy cheap and good. And the church in Prague was one of the best ever. It was soooooooo much history packed into a church, we could have stayed there for hours longer than we had already, but we were starving and had to get some food.

So why choose Paris over Prague - also crowded but not in the same "sardines in a can" way. Also has a vast amount of thieves but at least they are a little more creative and distract you with a clever scam. The amount of history and sights in Paris is limitless. You just have to make a priority list of what you want to see and start checking it off. The cityscape is gorgeous. The food is the best in the world...cheese, bread, macarons, foi gras, even the salads...are varied and amazing. The public transportation is so easy. Its way more romantic. Oh and of course french wine and true champagne if you care to indulge. Okay, I could probably go on more but I will let others chime in with their experiences. We had a good time in Prague and I am glad I went, but between the two if I had to choose....Paris I would go back again and again.

I like option 1 but with this difference.

Paris 4 nights

Fly to Prague Easyjet 1H40m

Prague 4 nights you might take one night from here and add it to Florence.

Fly to Venice Wizz Air (Venice Trevisco) 1H20m. ATVO bus from airport to city 50min. 10E

Venice 2 nights

Train to Florence

Florence 3 nights

Train to Rome

Rome 4 nights

Paris does have more to offer, but in 3 days you won't touch the surface.

We thought Prague was a beautiful city.

If you like no. 1 then do no. 1.
Would you like French Fries with that (ahem... I mean Cinque Terre)?

MODIFIED ITINERARY NO. 1 (same total nights):

Fly into Prague and spend 3 nights (instead of 4).
Fly to Rome and spend 3 nights there (instead of 4)
EXTRA FRENCH FRIES: Train from Rome to Cinque Terre and spend 2 nights there.
Train to Florence and spend 3 nights (take a 1/2 day trip to Siena).
Train to Venice and spend 2 nights.
Fly into Paris and stay 4 Nights.
(if you can add nights to your trip, you could leave the Prague and Rome nights at 4 each, although I think 3 in Prague might do).

However, coming from the west coast (LAX), I would not fly to Prague first because from LAX to PRG the flight options are poor and you have no non stops there. This is the sequence that I would choose:

LAX-CDG (preferably non stop with flight operated by AirFrance)
Paris visit
CDG/ORY - PRG (AirFrance or CSA or Easyjet or Transavia or Smartwings)
Prague visit
PRG-VCE (with Volotea airlines) or PRG - TSF (with WizzAir, a low cost airline)
Venice visit
(train VE SL- FI SMN)
Florence visit
(train FI SMN-Monterosso)
Cinque Terre visit
(train Monterosso-RM T.)
Rome visit
FCO-LAX (preferably non stop with flight operated by Alitalia)

AirFrance-Klm, Delta, Alitalia are all part of the Sky Team alliance. Delta has a sort of a hub in LAX. You are probably better off using SkyTeam for your trip to/from Europe, but check prices on www.kayak.com.

LEGEND:
Airport codes:
LAX = Los Angeles Int
CDG = Paris Charles De Gaulle
ORY = Paris Orly
PRG = Prague
VCE = Venice Marco Polo
TSF = Venice Treviso
FCO = Rome Fiumicino

Station codes:
VE SL = Venice Santa Lucia
FI SMN = Florence Santa Maria Novella
RM T. = Roma Termini

I assume there is a typo in option 1 because I count 17 nights instead of 16 (?)

I have not traveled to Prague so cannot comment on that... but... Paris is magnificent!

All your options seem good & whichever one you choose will be great.

Personally, I like option 3 with these changes:

1. add 1 night to Cinque Terre ( 3 instead of 2)
2. end up in Paris!

Keep in mind that the flight home will be shorter if you fly out of Paris.

Let us know which option you choose!

The options are boggling. I see your struggle. My advice is:

1. do not skip Paris.

2. choose a plan that uses fewer flights. Flights eat up a lot of time. Train stations are in town, often near the center. For instance from the Florence train station, you can walk to the top tourist sights in 5-15 minutes. Airports are remote. When you fly you have to allow time for check in and security procedures. Most European flights have stricter cabin luggage limits and you will probably have to check a bag and then wait for it after landing.

I also wonder if renting apartments is a good idea for short stays. Usually it takes longer to get in (and maybe out) of an apartment. And where are you going to put your bags if the apartment isn't ready when you arrive or if you aren't going straight to the train/plane from the apartment? Another advantage to staying in hotels is that the staff are usually able to give you help and advice, whether it's the nearest minimarket or the best way to get somewhere (and show you on free maps).

Personally, I'd start in Venice and end in Paris, skipping Prague. Venice is such a great place to relax and soak up the atmosphere while you're getting over the long-haul flight and jetlag. Just ride the vaporetto (water bus) up and down the Grand Canal and watch Venice slip by you.

I have been to all these places except Venice. Since you are in your 20's i would go to Prague. I took my 25 year old daughter there for 9 days a couple years back and we never ran out of things to do. She adored it as there is a huge multinational 20's population there. Our walking guide was from Chicago, Irish running the Irish pub, Australian owned the pub across from one of the churches. We went on 2 day bus trips from Prague and loved them both. Lots of meat and cheap delicious beer. I went on a RS Italy tour last year. Loved it all but wish we had had more time in each place. Someday I will go and spend a whole week in Rome. The end of the tour was in Florence and I tacked on 2 days in an AirBnb right in the center of town for about $80 per night. Loved it. As far as Paris goes, I've been there 4 times and still haven't seen everything. I love this city. So much to do and see. I think I would come home from Paris as it will be such a long flight for you anyway.

Wow. Lots of good information! I have researched over the last couple years for this trip but I did learn something from every one of your posts. Thank u!!

I would love to respond to each of your comments in full but I do not have the time. After reading these comments I have narrowed down what seems relevant for us.. a couple details about us.. 17 nights is doable for us only if we add Paris AND we do not drink alcohol. That being said I have understood that majority recommends NOT skipping Paris and also keeping Cinque Terre as a slower pace spot to unwind and to keep flights within Europe to a minimum. That being said skipping Prague seems best as of now.. Flying out of Paris is another key note ill remember. 4N in Rome is a must.. would not do 3. gerri and Roberto- thank u for details about certain carriers. Airbnb allows communication with owners- who are very helpful with recommendation on food and details.

How does this look?

--fly into Venice from LAX and stay 3 nights
--train to Florence and stay 3 nights (1/2 day trip to Siena)
--train to Cinque Terre and stay 2 nights
--train to Rome and stay 4 nights.
-fly to Paris and stay 5 nights so we can enjoy
more and relax before going home

Leaving Prague out isnt easy but this seems more relaxing and better with the time we have. My hubby likes to sleep and gets tired a lot faster than I.. lol.

It sounds good. Florence, Rome and Paris have a big-city feel, Venice doesn't, so I think it's a good mix. I see you've gone to 17 nights - don't give up completely on alcohol. House wines in Italy and France are usually good and about the same price as a cup of coffee or a bottle of water. You can also pick up bottles in the supermarket and drink them with picnic lunches, or in your hotel room, before or after dinner.

Just to focus on Paris - it's huge. HUGE! don't try and do too much in a day. For instance, do you want to see the Louvre? of course you do. Just don't think, "we'll see the Louvre, then go to the Arc de Triomphe, and then...." Just devote a whole day to the Louvre. Go in, see some of it, remember where you are, and before museum fatigue sets in, leave! take a stroll outside. perhaps north, up Rue du Louvre, then jog right onto Rue Jean-Jaques Rousseau, find a charming cafe, sit, have a snack, gather your thoughts, enjoy the PAris around you, then stroll back, gird your loins (if you didn't bring loins, there are shops where you can pick some up) and plunge in again. Some sights that are relatively close together, the Eiffel tower and Rodin museum, for instance, might be doable together in a day, but remember, a lot of time will be spent standing. In a line. That can be exhausting. Our recommendation of a really great museum if you're getting overwhelmed is Monet's Orangerie, housing his beautiful water lily paintings. This place is so peaceful, and you don't get buried in art. Just the eight enormous paintings divided into two rooms, and a carefully chosen selection of works by a few other masters in a long gallery below. Just remember to spend a lot of time just strolling, sitting at cafes, and being in the moment, rather than trying to check sights off a list. Personally, I think you'd do well to just chuck the "faster pace" itineraries altogether. cheers. Have a great time.

Your itinerary looks great but keep in mind that it takes time to travel from one place to another ( purchasing tickets, waiting for train, walking to hotel or b&b, checking in, etc...)
The days seem to go by so fast while you're on vacation & faster still when you're moving from place to place.

It's good that you're giving yourselves 17 nights to enjoy your trip!

While in Cinque Terre, you must go to 'Via dell'Amore', (path of love), a magnificent pathway which connects Riomaggiore & Manarola.

Check this link for more info: www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en

Enjoy your trip!!!

mid & late 20s??

I have shoes older then that! At your age, I certainly understand your need to see/do it all right now, but please try to trim a few places and linger a little. Have a great trip!

Ohthebliss
Your latest plan (entry of 11/15/2014) sounds great. It' s perfect.

You can do Praha another time. You are young and plenty of years to get hooked on travel.

One suggestion actually two.

1. While in Paris, you might find the time to visit some surrounding areas. For example Versailles (but please don't stop at EuroDisney along the way, you can leave that to when you go to Florida).

2. Paris is very big and your hubby will get really tired walking (even with the very extensive Metro). But there is a solution to that. RENT A BICYCLE ('Velo' in French). That is the best way to maximize your time in Paris (and Paris is mostly flat).
   http://www.parisvelosympa.com/en
   or even using Paris' Bike Sharing scheme:
   http://en.velib.paris.fr/

Thank you for the advice all! Roberto.. I live near Disneyland and have never been. If that doesnt speak for itself then... haha. Bikes sound great!

Paris is one of the places not to miss. Rome is another. Budget European airlines have made travel so much easier. I would suggest you change the order of your cities to take advantage of FCO's better flights to the U.S.

Fly into Paris and stay 5 nights.

Take the budget air carrier EasyJet from Paris to Venice and stay 3 nights.
Fast train to Florence (reservations required) and stay 4 nights.
Fast train to Rome (reservations required) and stay 4 nights.
Fly home from Rome FCO airport.