First trip to Europe at age 58!

FYI--Eurail is not a type of train or rail system. It is a type of railpass. You can simply say "train to..." unless it's a specific train such as the Bernina Express.

You're covering a lot of ground over the 4 weeks. Have you checked rail schedules and maps to get estimated travel times between destinations? Have you checked into where you will pick up and return your rental car?

Frank,
Thanks for the lingo lesson re train v. eurail. The answers to your questions are "yes" and "yes". Any other suggestions, must-see, must-do, must-avoid, etc.?

If you have not purchased the pass, you should go some point to point pricing to make sure that the EurRail Pass is, indeed, a deal. There is a good possibility that p to p tickets would be cheaper. A good guide book will help you id the sites that appeals the most to you. What I like maybe not be what you would like.

Suggestion: Carefully consider what you are doing. You are spending 27 nights in Europe in 14 places - 11 two-night stands, 2 - one-night stands. I think you will get awfully tired of moving so much. And, you are committing to do that for four weeks! You might decide after two weeks that you have had enough. Have you ever spent four weeks traveling in this country, moving every two days?

I don't think a trip like what you are planning is for "amateurs". In 2007 I spent 13 days touring Bavaria, staying in 10 places, moving almost every day, but it was my 9th trip to Europe. I had pretty well perfected my packing technique so I could move easily. By the end, I was pretty tired of the pace. I would never recommend that kind of a trip to a first-timer. (My most recent (10th) trip was 12 nights in 3 places).

Rachel, I don't think your trip is unreasonably crowded. You seem to have done enough research to know exactly where you want to go, so I'd be reluctant to weigh in and say, for example, skip Lucerne and Varenna and go to Venice instead. You must have considered and discarded that idea already.

Because you have been so definite (why Luxembourg?), it's hard to know what to offer you in the way of "must sees" and "must avoids".

I would go armed with hotel reservations so you don't waste time trying to find vacancies once you get there. I enjoy having a big block of time, a rental car and no particular schedule. But it does take a couple of hours to find a hotel room once I arrive in a town. It has become so easy to research hotels and reviews of them on the Web as well as to reserve by e-mail.

Doug..she is going to Venice, it's just hard to read.

Most of us "seasoned" travelers know to add in a leisure day every 10 days to 2 weeks. Travel is very tiring. I don't see that in your plan.

While the schedule is doable, it will be exhausting and you haven't left any leeway in terms of "unplanned contingencies"--weather, strikes, etc.

While in the Amalfi area, do you plan on visiting either Pompeii or Capri? You haven't left a lot of time for either.

Also realize the day you arrive in Amsterdam will not be a full day as more than likely you'll be fighting some jet lag.

Two days in Strasbourg? That seems to be a lot.

Just a few thoughts.

In our travel plans, every fourth day is blank.

Congratulations on finally getting to Europe! So I'm curious as to the choice of your destinations...do you have particular reasons for going to them? My first trip was five weeks and similar in intensity to yours, and I chose big time destinations because I wanted to see all THE sites not knowing if I'd ever have the chance to return. (which I have, seven times) It is doable if you have all your ducks in a row, that is, scoping out each city, know what you need to see there and where you will sleep each night. Planning is the key. With such a tight schedule, my advice is to follow Rick's advice...he has never done us wrong! Especially for a novice! Our first trip was all by train: Ireland 4 days, Wales, London, Paris, Chamonix, Berne, Tirol, Saltzberg, Prague, Krakow, Vienna, Venice and travel by car in Italy at the end for two weeks with a base in Umbria doing day trips to Assisi, Florence, Siena, Orvieto, etc., fly out of Rome. Pack light! (one medium size rolling bag and one carry on, an empty day pack for water, map, camera, Rick's guidebook, no purse) Pick a hotel near a laundromat on the days you need to do laundry. Use your money belt! Yes, this traveling is intense, but it's all what YOU want to get out of it...and I want to do it all, see it all and not miss anything! If I wanted to relax, I'd go to the Bahamas! GOOD LUCK ! HAVE A GREAT TIME!

I'm going to sort of agree with the others. This plan is feasible, but not desirable. You will be REALLY tired by the end of the second week, and you simply won't have much time to see much at some of your destinations, But, your route is logical and flows well.

BTW, I visited Destin for the first time last October. Although nothing will ever replace the special place Ocean City, NJ, holds in my heart, I can say that with more visits, Destin could easily become my second favorite beach town.

Read Kent's post called Estimating Travel Times within Europe. Link:

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/8978/itinerary-planning-underestimating-travel-times-within-europe.html

I pulled it up to the top in "General Europe."

Rachel,

I tend to have the same view as Lee. The trip may be feasible, but IMO there are too many short visits, especially the very significant places where more time is warranted (eg: Rome). More importantly there isn't adequate allowance for travel times between cities, so you may end up spending only 1.5 days in some locations. Also, given that you want to take day trips from some cities (Rome/Tivoli), you won't actually have much time to see and appreciate some places.

I note that you're planning to use a rental car from Florence and then through Tuscany. You may want to have a look at some of the recent posts here regarding the ZTL zones, especially in Florence.

Just curious, did you read Europe Through The Back Door while planning your trip?

While the trip may be feasible, this type of Itinerary wouldn't be my choice for a first visit to Europe. Remember Rick's Itinerary planning advice regarding trying to fit too many cities into an Itinerary - "assume you will return". I'd probably drop at least one of the cities from this visit, to allow a more "relaxed" schedule.

One city that was conspicuous by it's absence was Paris. No desire to visit there?

I definitely agree with the previous post that suggested pre-booking your accommodations. Even though Sept. is the "fall shoulder season", I've found that it can be very busy at that time of year.

Happy travels!

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have traveled vicariously through my brother for over 40 years. The train travel is mostly quite short except the day for the Bernina Express. Also, I really only plan to visit 2-3 touristy sites in each city. I mostly want to see the achitecture and countryside. I already have most of the rooms booked with a mix of B&B's and hotels, including one run by nuns. On this trip I have no interest in going to Paris or Capri. In Rome I really only want to see Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica (and the day trip to Tivoli). I intend to drink beer or wine at sidewalk cafes and sample mom & pop type restaurants. Is this still too aggressive a schedule???

Why so little time and such a limited itinerary. Is it because you are Catholic and deeply committed? Rome was the center of the world and you are coming in on only the last part of its history.

Why so little time and such a limited itinerary in Rome. Is it because you are Catholic and deeply committed? Rome was the center of the world and you are coming in on only the last part of its history.

I forgot to mention that we are only staying in Milan the one night to sleep near the airport -- no sight-seeing there. Also the other one night stay is just a rest stop on the way to the Amalfi Coast and is not intended for sight-seeing anything in particular.

Katy, I'm just not that interested in big cities. I wouldn't mind skipping Rome altogether except for my Italian Catholic husband, and that's really all he wants to see there.

It sounds like you are either going to be carrying a lot of luggage or washing clothes out every night. Suitcases and public transportation do not combine well.

I don't know how much of the countryside you will see from the train. I was disappointed in Italy, most of the time either the route wasn't scenic or the trees that lined the RR tracks hid the view.

Friends of mine went to the Almalfi coast and were very happy there without a car.

One day in Cinque Terre is really short - I did it that way and wished I'd had another day, at least.

Chani, We actually have 2 nights and 2 days in Cinque Terre. My itinerary isn't easily readable, sorry. Also, I'm determined to follow Rick Steves' guidelines for packing to the letter. The only exception might be leaving old clothes behind as I buy a souvenir sweater, tee, etc.

By the way, Sorry, Charles from Katy TX -- I tried to trust my memory as to whom I was replying.

We did a similar trip for 5 weeks in 2005. We were 60 at the time. We spent 4 nights in most places, except Pisa (1) and Geneva (3). It seems you have booked most of the trip and are locked in, but I really think you are doing too much in too short a time. I know you said you did not want to go to Paris. Hoever, if architecture is your interest, you could spend all 4 weeks there and still not get your fill!

You will be spending all your time traveling to the train stations....traveling on the trains...traveling from the train stations to your hotels...unpacking....sleeping...eating...traveling back to the train stations.

Having spent 8 weeks visiting 8 countries (at age 64)...I would suggest you spend more time in your favorite places.

I once took a 6-day coach tour in England. We were ALL so happy near the end when we had TWO nights in the same hotel. Packing and unpacking is time-consuming and tiring, even when someone else is schlepping the bags and chauffeuring you around.

Are you up to the physical and mental effort to re-orient yourselves every other day to a completely new environment? Are you going to remember each jewel of a place later, or are they all going to kaleidescope into a hopeless jumble?

My advice is to be much less aggressive. Your senses will be assailed by all the new sights and sounds and aromas. Take more time to absorb and enjoy them. Less is truly MORE.

I've weighed in on all the advice, for which I'm so appreciative. I've decided to forego a couple of destinations and make each stop 3-4 nights. It really does make more sense. Thanks to all of you.