I will be traveling to Spain in December with a friend who has never been to Europe.
Someone told her you can travel to many different countires in one trip.
We will be there from Decemebr 18th-Jan 6.2015.
First we arrive in madrid, I want o see Toledo El Escorial & Avila
Then Andalucia Seville & Grenada, Cadiz.
next a couple of days in Tenerfie
onward to Paris by the 31st for 3 days and new years.
Next I wanted to do a champagne tour in Reim .
Then we leave out of Barcelona so I want at least two days in Barcelona before we come back to the states.
She wants to squease in England and Ireland!!
Its impossible right??
I want a fun but relaxing trip too.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
It would be just about possible in three weeks but it would mean leaving out some of your Spanish destinations.
I would start booking flights or rail tickets ASAP to get cheaper fares. French trains begin booking 90 days in advance, Spain 60 days. There are now express trains from Paris to Barcelona that do the trip in six and a half hours, but that is the length when flights start getting competitive in total journey time.
If you do decide to travel to Britain, whatever you do don't plan to travel on 24-6 December as UK public transport is limited. (Early ending on Christmas Eve, no transportation at all, even local, on Christmas Day, no long-distance trains on 26th.)
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Your idea, without hers, is almost insane (sorry, I'm tactless). Subtract the transportation days from the total days and see what happens.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks Philip for your help,Is greatly appreciated.
So if we want to do London do it before christmas and new years.
Great Tip!!
I actually went before with a friend to Europe we did Italy ,Spain & France
in 16 days and believe me it was just too crazy whirlwind for me!!
I want some time to relax in these towns absorb the culture and have fun.
What I need to do now is calculate travel times.
My friend is thinking it is 45 minutes to get to any other country but its not like that.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Most of your likely flight options between neighboring countries will take at least two hours. That doesn't include local transport time to and from each airport, usually an hour on each end, nor time for check-in, security, and to collect checked luggage. See www.skyscanner.com for cheaper flight options within Europe, and do book these ahead to get the lower rates.
If you go to another country, then try not to roundtrip through Spain. Buying your trans-Atlantic plane tickets for a multi-city itinerary, such as into London and out from Madrid or Seville, usually does not cost much more than a roundtrip ticket and saves time and money "on the ground."
Each of these countries, or any one of your major cities, has plenty of sightseeing to keep you busy; see highlights listed at http://www.ricksteves.com/europe (although Rick does not discuss Tenerife).