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European Trip 26 days

Posted by (Los Angeles, CA) on

Hi everybody, my grandparents and I are planning a trip this next June and July to Southern Europe. We have all been to France and Britain before, so we arent clueless European travelers, but would love to hear comments and advice about our upcoming trip. As we are beginning in Spain, I am posting under this thread. Please note that my grandparents are in their 70s, so cant do what, for instance, a 25 year old can. Thanks. Here is our plan:

June 17th-Arrive in Madrid

Spend time in and around Madrid (Toledo, etc.) Any suggestions about Madrid, also, how long should we be here.

AVE to Barcelona. Time around Barcelona (3-4 days?) Train to France (any suggested scenic or fast way to do this?)
In France we want to see Provence (Arles, Avingnon) and Nice, (Marseilles?). How long should we do this? Should we go to Nice or Provence first? After France, we want to hit the Cinque Terre, Umbria/Tuscany, Rome, Florence, Naples (and Amalfi Coast), and Venice. Should we go to the Cinqe terre from France, then over to Venice (via Northern Italy?), then southward, or down the coast to Rome and Naples, then northward to Venice? Or should we go to Tuscany/ Umbria and Florence first, then north or southward). From our final point in Italy, we then want to fly to Athens (three days?) and Greek Isles (Which are the best, and how long should we stay on them) From Greece we then plan on flying home (Likely via Istanbul, would it be feasable to add a stopover here?) Thanks for all the help.

-Patrick

Posted by
6 posts

Please note that we plan on ferrying around Greece, not flying, and also, is it feasable to ferry ourselves to Turkey (Istanbul)

Posted by
4132 posts

You should travel from west to east without doubling back, Madrid > Barc > Provence > Nice > Italy. Where in Italy is up to you; every place you mention is great, but don;t underestimate the time and effort of moving from place to place especially in the south.

The train from Barcelona to the Rhone valley area of Provence is about 5-6 hours. If that's too long you can break your trip in Languedoc, just over the Spanish border in France. You could easily spend a week in Provence and not be bored, if you rented a car, which might be a good idea for you and yours.

From there Nice is another 3 hours. The trip from Nice to the CT is another long one.

I do not want to make any assumptions about you or your grandparents, but groups of 3 traveling together for the first time are rarely nimble and you have a very fast-paced itinerary for 26 days. During that time you wish to explore 4 very geographically distinct countries.

I would at least ask myself if limiting things to 3 of those would be a better trip for everyone. Believe me you will not run out of things to see and do.

Posted by
6 posts

Thanks Adam, We would very much like to visit all these places, but it seems that visiting Spain is unfeasable (the other sensible option to eliminate, Greece, is a place where my Grandfather VERY much wants to go). I would REALLY like to visit Spain, but it seems like we will have to save that for another trip, or at least eliminate Madrid. I know, this is the Spain forum. Hopefully we will come back, and see Portugal, Spain, and even Morocco! Having said that would it make more sense to fly from LAX to Lyon or Nice. WAIT, I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING, fly Barcelona to Naples, and eliminate France, possibly combinging Southern France with Switzerland and Germany in the future. Ideas, comments, concerns. All are welcome.

Posted by
16893 posts

If you don't find a multi-city flight plan that is affordable to fly into Marseille, then Athens-Istanbul, and home from Istanbul, then look at booking the Athens-Istanbul portion separately at www.skyscanner.com. However, you are right to be trimming down the furthest points of the trip plan, which might mean sticking to three countries and cutting Istanbul.

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