I didn’t want to start a whole new thread…hoping some posters will find this one and help a girl out!
So, I have NEVER had so much trouble planning an itinerary in my life! I am the Type A of the group, and I enjoy the planning stages. (Ok, I get a little obsessed actually.) This dynamic works for the group, as my husband and the other couple we travel with are what my daughter calls “passenger princesses.” I do the research, make all the arrangements and they make sure we have a good time! They are also very easy to please! No research = no specific expectations, right?!
The other couple has let us know that they only have 10-11 days, as he is still working. So, we have decided to save Ireland for another trip of its own, and just concentrate on Scotland and England. After their 10 days with us, my husband and I want to take the Eurostar to Paris for a few days. (This will be our second trip to Paris, as we did RS HOF tour a couple of years ago, so this time we just want to live like locals…very low key!)
So…I simply cannot decide how to carve up this trip. I have read so much info that my head is spinning. My goal is to use our fresh tourist legs to hit it hard at the beginning, have a peaceful interlude somewhere in a small village, and then go out with a bang!
New trip order: Scotland, Grassington, London. They will fly home from London and we will go home from Paris. Why Grassington? Small village interlude, and it’s already researched above..ha! I am open for suggestions for another convenient town, but it’s a MUST to be able to have a good country walk across fields up and over the stiles. Throw in sheepdogs and I’m sold!
But adding in this stop is really making the Scotland itinerary so short. If we count on 2 nights in Grassington and 4 nights in London, that only leaves 4 nights in Scotland. Originally, I thought to fly into Edinburgh for the first 2 nights, then do a Rabbie’s overnight to the Highlands which brings us back to Ed before heading to Grassington. But I’m worried it will feel like we spent all of our Scotland leg in the tour bus. Then I thought what if we start in Inverness and day trip, then two nights in Ed. Same dilemma but less backtracking. Then I thought…is there a small village in Scotland that works as my “Grassington” so I can skip that leg and go directly to London? Then I thought about just staying home! LOL!
So, I know it’s a short time, but it’s all we’ve got, and I want to feel like I’ve been to Scotland, you know? This is the first time I’ve felt like hiring a local to help me plan (which is an option) but I thought I’d try here first. Thanks for reading my book!
Day 1- Arrive Scotland
Day 2 - Scotland
Day 3 - Scotland
Day 4 - Scotland
Day 5 - travel to Grassington (or…)
Day 6 - Grassington (or…)
Day 7 - travel to London
Day 8 - London
Day 9 - London
Day 10 - London
Day 11- Travel home/Paris
Day 12- Paris
Day 13- Paris
Day 14 - Travel home