Traveling in mid-September - are we being too ambitious

This link click here for help estimating travel times between European destinationsis intended to help travelers in your situation determine for themselves if their proposed itineraries require so much travel time between destinations that their trips won't give them as much time, as they thought they would have, to actually do and see the things they're going all that way to do and see (or not).

Lucy, 60 year olds (welcome to the club! ) can do most anything, but your plans are too hectic. You have yourselves looping through the CT area twice, for a small example.

Think about cutting things in half and do the remaining half in a year or two.

Have a great trip with your Sis!

Hi Lucky,
Here are some thoughts;

1) You're only spending 2 full days (not counting arrival and departure days) in Paris and there's so much to see there--could you add some more days to Paris.

2) I love the Cinque Terre but think that you could skip it for this trip--if you had 2-3 days there it would be relaxing and more enjoyable.

3) I'd recommend staying in Orvieto and take a day trip to Civita. Check out Hotel Corso in Orvieto.

4) I'd skip Assisi, stay in Siena and take a day trip to Florence.

5) I'd only stay in Milan the final night.

Please remember that this is just one opinion--there are dozens of ways to arrange this itinerary and I haven't worked out the total travel time between each destination but here's what I might consider:

London (3 nights); Paris (4 nights); Antibes (3 nights); Orvieto (3 nights); Siena (3 nights) and Milan (1 night.)

For a more relaxing trip I trip to stick with 3 night stays in each place.
I know that you'll have a great time!

I don't think your age has anything to do with anything. I think your trip sounds tiring, too much travelling, rushing around, and sounds like one of those "If its Tuesday this must be Belguim" bus tours. You must go with the attitude " I can come back again".. instead of shoving all your eggs into one basket( trip) LOL

In 18 days ,, I would choose no more then 4 or 5 places. London, Paris, Cinque Terra , Rome, with maybe Milan, OR Venice..

My feeling is you knew the answer. If you have to ask the question, then in all likely hood you are -- and you are !!!!

Thanks Kent - just went to that sight and once I figure out the stations, etc., I'll be on the right track - literally. :)L

Bob - you're right - maybe I'd better go back to the map and see what's really realistic. Thanks

It's back to the drawing board Pat - thanks

Sharon - good ideas - we were in Paris for a week several years ago and think that more days in Cinque Terre sounds wonderful. I'll check out the Hotel Corso - Siena instead of Assisi - thanks. We had planned on staying a few nights in Milan but from what I've read on other posts guess it's just not worth it. Thanks for input :)

Frank - you posting was a little confusing. Guess I just want to know how much time we should allot in each town. Were were spending too much time in one versus another? Thanks - I think :(:(

I find your whole schedule confusing. My point was that if you ask if it is too ambitious then you know that it is. Am I correct that you plan eight location changes in a 16 day trip? For our trip arrangements we planning on losing at least a half day when changing locations -- packing/unpacking, find hotels, checking in/out,finding train stations and trains, and finally getting oriented to the new locations and finding places to eat. With with long train rides, which you have several, the lost time can amount to nearly a day. With 8 changes you will spend at least four days and probably closer to six or seven days looking at the inside of trains and train stations. That could be a third of your time or more.

Personally I would cut it in half because I cannot travel that way. But other likes to point to a long list places that they have seen briefly. I don't know what you like so I cannot tell you what to cut. But you asked the question if it was "too ambitious?" And the answer is -- For me, it is way too ambitious ! But you could love it.

Hi Lucky,
Another option would be to skip Paris and fly directly from London to Nice (check out airline options on a site like www.whichbudget.com). Then, you'd have more time to spend in Italy.