Single female, last week in April, first week in May, 2008. Will fly into Paris, take fast train to Nice. Also, Northern Italy, how to get around. Need advice on trains, basic public transportation. Some moderate places to stay, must have private bathroom, closets, safe area. How to pack, my first time going to Europe, thanks. GreatNeck.
Posted by
Austin
203 posts
It seems like you don't know where to start in planning your trip. You should consider taking one of Rick Steves' tours. They seem to have the advantage of backdoor travel with the guess work taken out. If you don't wish to take a tour, you have a lot of homework to do. First of all, go to Barnes & Nobles and buy a few books. Look at the Plan Your Trip links on this website. I've had good luck with the Rick Steves recommended hotels.....What you're asking in your question would take hours to respond to adequately. Do some reading and then come back with a more focused question. Happy Travels.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Buy or borrow Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door. It's written to answer the exact questions you ask. Then you can start narrowing down on specific issues such as:
How long do you want to stay in Paris? What's your budget for a "moderate" place to stay?
How long in Nice?
That leaves you with the remainder of your days for Northern Italy which won't be many. So most people begin with Florence or Venice (Venice being about as far away as you can go in the north.
Will you be flying back from Italy or will you need to get back to Paris for your return flight.
If you break your questions down into specific issues, people here and on Lonely Planet will be happy to give you their opinions and recommendations.
But go get ETBD. It will help you and get you even more excited about your trip!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I agree with the others about buying a copy of Europe Through the Back Door. The 2008 edition is now out. FYI, much of the information, in summary fashion, is in the Travel Tips section of this Web site. Click on the link at the top of the page you're reading now and dive in!
Posted by
St. Paul, MN, USA
3 posts
Stay at La Malouine, 62 Blvd Carnot (panosmart.com/malouine/). Beautiful little hotel just past the harbor. Good neighborhood. Good bus service everywhere, including hill towns on the "corniches."
Posted by
White Bear Lake, MN, USA
479 posts
Rosemary, also I would echo buying Rick Steves' book. Also, there is a Rick Steves Travel Skills video available on this website in the Travel Store. I would highly recommend the $20 investment!
There is so much all of us could tell you but not in 1000 characters. Those videos should tell you what you need to know.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Rosemary, you don't indicate where you will be departing Europe from. Do you need to return to Paris or will you depart from Venice, Rome or ??? From Nice, you have nice (pun) options to get to the Cinque Terre, Florence, Siena and even Venice. However, I wouldn't attempt all if you have less than a week in Italy or you need to return to Paris. I would suggest preparing a spreadsheet with your planned itinerary. We do this for every trip and we absolutely avoid whistlestopping (one day here, one day there) through major cities.