I'm taking my mom, who lives in Greece, to see the countries she's always wanted to visit. She is handicapped in her leg but can walk. Trying to decide, once we fly into Barcelona from Greece, whether to rent a car for the whole trip or should we go by train? It's 3 "girls" going on the trip. Barcelona to Paris to Venice, Verona, etc, then ship from Venice to Greece. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Do you plan any stops along the way? Is there a need for you to see the countryside between those three cities? How much time from touchdown to ship departure? This additional information will have a major bearing on what suggestions may be offered.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, Tx, USA
2 posts
Well, I guess more info really would help..Thanks.. :) We will fly into Barcelona. We don't know for sure exactly what to do. I just know she wants to see those places. The countryside would be fantastic to see and I don't know how difficult it would be with her being somewhat handicapped to maneuver around those countries otherwise(car). We have 2 weeks to get around in those countries after we land. Paris, possible 2-3 days, Venice 1-2 days, Verona area, 2-3 days, Spain 2-3 days and travelling time...Not sure exactly. Just trying to figure it out... Thanks!
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
You've got a lot on your plate for 14 days (including travel) so you'll have to adjust your expectations and hit the highlights.
First, I would suggest that if you want to see "Spain," you go to Madrid rather than Barcelona. Barcelona is a wonderful city, but it is not "Spanish," as the Catalans will tell you. In fact, it has more of an affinity with southwestern France than it does the rest of Spain. In Madrid, it is easy to schedule day trips to wonderful cities like Toledo and Segovia....Toledo will give you a good idea as to the Moorish, Jewish, and Christian history that makes up Spain....plus all the wonderful El Greco paintings!
I would suggest Day One (arrival day) and Day Two in Madrid, and Day Three to either Toledo or Segovia.
Day Four, you can catch a cheap discount airline flight to Paris (check www.whichbudget.com or www.skyscanner.net for flights...watch the luggage allowances.) Day Five and Six in Paris as well, maybe with 1/2 or 3/4 of a day at Versailles. There is a little train that runs from the Palace out to the Grand and Petit Trianon, so no problem there.
Day Seven, fly to Rome, out of either Orly or CDG airports to Fiumicino, the main airport, with a fast train link to the Termini station. Day Eight and Nine in Rome.
Day 10, train to Florence...explore the city and stay overnight.
Day 11, train to Venice. Day 12 and 13 in Venice....Day 14, on the boat.
To and from Madrid and Paris airports, arrange for a shuttle to pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at the airport (and vice versa....posters will have suggestions for you.) That's cheaper than a taxi, and probably better for your Mom to go door to door. Rome has the express to Termini station in the city center. And the main train station in Venice is close to where you'll be staying.
This, of course, is just a rough outline, since I'm not clear whether your mother has a definite interest in visiting some other locale. But it should give you a good start