Itinerary realistic ?

Why are you going to Rome, Paris and London twice? That's a big time waster and will be more costly. Why not fly into London and home from Rome? If you have to return to London to fly home, spend an extra day in Paris to see the Louvre rather than returning for one day to go there. From London take the Eurostar to Paris, fly from Paris to Naples, spend time in Amalfi/Capri, then train to Rome. Fly from Rome to London.

all your time in London seems to be getting out of town for daytrips (the ones you mention will take most of each day) and the footie which seems the purpose of the trip. Nothing wrong with those, but are you expecting to actually see anything of the fabulous city of London?

I too don't get the logic of the 2 trips to Paris nor the 2 trips to Rome. You're going to be seeing an awful lot of check in desks at hotels and moving around rather than in visiting the places you have gone to see.

Also, your trip - on which you want feedback - is pan-European yet you posted your question in the "To the Boot" section which people interested in Italy visit but not people interested in England or France.

You might have had more responses from people about those if you had put the question in General Europe.

Or do you only really want your feedback about the Italy portions?

Thank you Andrea and Nigel for your feedback.

I know the Paris and Rome thing twice is goofy. I need to fly in and out of London because I want to see 2 football matches which are only on Saturdays so that is the reason for that. I did try to find a flight from Paris to Rome/Naples and then Rome/Naples to London but they seemed way more expensive. I will look into that again.

Nigel, I do want to see London in all its glory so that schedule may change depending on what I encounter. I am not much of an art enthusiast but do like history and architecture and outdoor space. So by all means, tell me what I am missing. I looked for a general europe place to post this but couldn't find so I figured the italian leg is what I know least about.

Do you need to see 2 Soccer Matches in London? You can always do 1 game in London then 2 weeks later watch a Serie A game in Italy. Rome has 2 teams (Roma and Lazio). The stadium has easy public transporation in Rome. I went this past October to a game while I was there. Lazio vs Fiorentina and it was a great expierence. With 2 teams you are almost guarentted one of them will be a home game that week.

Paying all that extra money for flights all over Europe seems a waste. A game in each country is what I would do.

You do know the European Soccer schedules are not out until a couple weeks before the seasons start late in the summer.

Thank you for your reply Robert. Yes, I was debating one of the Rome teams or AC/Inter Milan in addition to the 2 matches in England. I am a die hard English Premier League fan. I am nervous to have to wait that long for the schedules but I will just have to make it work. Your point on too much travel is right on though. I suffer from the first timer need to see everything the first time. Thanks again.

Your two day trips out of London, Sept. 11 & 12, make little sense to me. Save the Cotswolds and Kent for another trip. London has so much to offer .... one of the world's great cities and not just for football.

This is an axhausting itinerary - you need to smooth it out and allow some time to sit and enjoy Europe. Have you looked at how you are going to get tickets for the football matches you want to see? Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are the most popular and best London teams and usually you cannot just walk up to the window and buy a ticket - I recall a thread about this some time ago on To the North so see if you can find it. You also cannot buy tickets far in advance online. Goggle the Clubs to see what you can find out from them.

My suggestions. London, I'd take the tube to Kew Gardens it takes only 30 minutes from Westminster to Kew Gardens station (Make sure you get off at Kew Gardens, not Kew which is the town and further down the line). The Thames cruise is 1.5 hrs each way so assuming a morning for the IWM, you'd barely have time to make it there and back let along take a tour of the gardens.

Leeds Castle is near Maidstone in Kent, Bodium is near Robertsbridge in East Sussex; are you think of a guided tour or doing it yourself? Bodium is about 5 miles from Robertsbridge station and requires prebooking a taxi to meet the train and take you to the Castle and back. Leeds may be the same (train to Maidstone and taxi to Castle) or are you renting a car?

Do everything in Paris at the same time - look at Easyjet for fares from Rome to London (Gatwick) it is probably cheaper than flying into Paris and getting the train. Easyjet is a good budget airline - but book sooner rather than later to get the best prices.

Villa Borghese - you do know that you have to make a reservation to visit the Villa? 9 am, 11 am 1 pm 3.00 pm You have 1.5 hours in the Gallery - do get the audiotour or hire a guide - it added so much to the visit. Do not miss your tour time! They book up and numbers are restricted. The gardens are a public park - mostly grass and trees. Lovely views over Rome. There are sculpture, various lakes and fountains. I was there in September and it been very hot and the gardens were certainly looking a bit worn.

You might consider a day trip from Rome to Tivoli and Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este both of which have lovely settings.

Capri? Never been there, but you might want to make it one day or overnight and take the boat back to Naples? Be aware that the sea can get quite rough at the end of September and it is not unknown for the boats to be cancelled.

Valley of the Mills looks fantastic - had not heard of it before. Another reason to go back to Italy!

Thank you for your reply Norma. " not just for football' (GASP), the english football field is like the ceiling of the sistine chapel to me. they call it the beautiful game after all.

Thank you Lesley for all the info. Believe me I know tickets for those teams will be difficult and expensive too. I was planning on one way cruise to Kew and then train back but you are right that is kinda a waste of an hour. I think I will take the train to Maidstone and then get taxi to Leeds. Haven't figured out Bodiam quite yet. I am only going to Paris once now. I wasn't thinking clearly on that one. Tivoli and Hadrian's Villa did catch my eye as well. Glad to hear confirmation on those. I will definitely get reservations for Borghese Gallery. I have what appears to be a heavenly hotel in Capri (CAPRI WINE HOTEL) so I hope weather and seas cooperate. I agree it appears to be exhausting at this point. I'm sure as I get closer to September the trip will be more streamlined and manageable. Or I will die on the pebbly shore of Amalfi with a huge grin on my face. Thanks again.

This made me laugh! People think Im crazy too when my friends and I move from city to city after 2-3 nights, but I understand you are trying to make it work with the game schedule and sometimes it may be a little wacky to some people =)

Agree with other post, Amalfi and Capri I would combine together and stay more central in Sorrento in case the weather doesnt cooperate- plus more options for day trips from Sorrento. I was in Amalfi the first week in October -left my friends in Naples because i was determined to see Capri - got lost trying to find some hostel that didnt' have real walls and the guy in the "room" next to me snored ALL NIGHT - cried myself to sleep - got up early to take the boat to Capri- and it was cancelled due to rough seas!!

And this was my 4th trip to the Sorrento area =)

Good luck! Whatever happens, you will have good memories!

Also price out flights from Naples back to London, with Rome only once.
There is a good coach shuttle service between Sorrento and Naples Airport.

If flying from Naples to London, then your first two nights from Rome would be in Capri.
Then I'd spend the next two based in Sorrento for the Amalfi Coast. The hired drive would be for the full day, from Sorrento = best use of time and resources. This scenario would also protect your ability to be on that flight from Naples airport...

We did a similar itinerary 18 years ago (London, Paris, Italy, Paris, London and back to US). Spent too much travel time between countries. We were much younger then and had much fun, but, I would never do it again. Fly into London, take the Chunnel to Paris, then fly to Rome and your Italy. Fly home from Naples.

I think if you want a whirlwind trip... then just go for it...realizing you may have regrets and be exhausted, but will probably have memories of a lifetime:) I would try to consolidate a few things as suggested, but spend your time and money on what you want to see and do. My first trip itinerary was crazy... but I would not change a moment of it. After you have been a few times you may decide to slow it down.... but maybe not:))