Yeah 10 days isn't a long-enough time to relax and enjoy more than two places. You can do three, but you might not see as much as you would hope. Then again, if you're going just to spend a nice time, you don't have to "rush" to see everything. Can't go wrong with Italy (I would even suggest Sorrento). Milan...ehh. Nice town, but you should probably stick to Florence, Venice, and/or Rome (for the vast amount of history). Depending on when you're going could affect what would be worth seeing. If you're interested in Eastern Europe, yeah Prague is nice. Budapest is similar as well (and their known for their baths which can be nice).
i think it depends on what kind of vacation you want. the one time i went to europe it was a 2 week trip and i was flying in and out of amsterdam - i planned on going amsterdam-berlin-prague-munich-heidelburg-amsterdam. but once i got there i liked amsterdam so much i spent 5 days there...then i got to berlin and was blown away by its awesomeness and stayed there a week. at that point i just went to cologne and then back to amsterdam to fly home - really wanted to see prague and munich, but im glad i did what i did and really soaked up two amazing cities.
And Pompeii. Yeah, that would be a great trip. They only have ten days, so you can't do everything. There are some other things to see in the area.
Thanks guys. After hearing your opinions and talking to a buddy who did 6 places in 22 days, I think we'll probably try and stick with just a few places. I'm thinking Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) and probably Amsterdam for a night or two, since from what I can tell, most flights direct from Europe to Houston depart from Amsterdam. Wouldn't make sense to me to fly from Venice and have a layover in Amsterdam and not hang out there for a day, maybe hit up a coffee shop or two (and if I can get my soon to be wife liquored up enough, the red light district). I've always been fascinated by Italy, I've told myself that when I go to Europe next, I'd go there for sure. There's always next time to stop in Barcelona, Prague, London, Greece, etc.
Rome is awesome. I did a point-to-point trip with my wife and 2 kids going from Zurich to Rome by train and stopping at 10 places along the way. Best trip ever. Rome, Florence, and Lucca (and Tuscany, generally) were the best towns we visited. We didn't go further south than Rome, or cross over to Venice. Since we were going down the west coast, crossing over to the other side was too big an inconvenience logistically. And given that I'm warned it's just a tourist trap, it was probably not worth the trouble.
In Italy, especially around Rome, Venice, Florence, can anyone give me a few places that are a for sure see? There's a ton of stuff to do there, and other than the Colosseum, I don't have any 'must sees.'
Just FYI, BM...if you go to France, you'll be known as Le Big Mak. Your cousin, however would be "Royale with Cheese". .
okay flying into Amsterdam.. Step 1 Hit the coffee shop stock up. I recommend a strain called bubblegum. Night train to munich 2 days in munich Munich to venice 2 days in venice venice to cinque terre (trust me on this) I stayed in monterrosso but vernazza is the crown jewel. from cinque terre to Switzerland. either zermatt or interlaken interlaken to paris yeah you have been to paris but anyone who has a problem going back to paris is no friend of mine. Go to musee d orsay or get lost in monmarte ..walk the hill to sacre couer.. trust me you havent seen it all when talking paris. paris to Amsterdam klm flight home that's a clean 12 dayer right there. /thread //capri is like santorini ..simply too out of way but nice nonetheless.. if you can fit in rome and capri great then fly into somewhere closer and make it all italy. but a more well rounded europe trip I laid out flows better and you get variety vs. just italy
I think you are possibly trying to squeeze too much into 10 days. Rome, Venice, Florence in 10 days is already a stretch. Not if you are into "seeing as much as you can in 10 days", but for a honeymoon trip, I would not recommend it, if you want to have a relaxed, romantic trip. Don't forget that you will also be tired from a long flight to Europe, and then your onward flight from Amsterdam or Frankfurt or whatever the hub will be that you go through. Also, don't forget that traveling (with luggage) within Italy will also be tiring. How do you plan to get around in Italy? Do you have a status with a hotel chain? (Hilton, Starwood, etc.) There are some hotels I would recommend then. Or are you looking to stay at cheaper places? There might also be some decent options. Italy is beautiful. There are so many beautiful places. But for a honeymoon trip, I would definitely recommend to include Capri and Positano. Yes, check out Pompeii, too, while you are there. Here's something you could do: Get to Rome. Stay at the Cavalieri hotel and relax for a few days, enjoy the pool and spa to recover from the travel stress, while doing some sightseeing in Rome (Colosseum, Forum Romanum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, walk through Trastevere in the evening and go to some nice Trattoria). Then rent a car for a week and drive down towards Naples. Drive down the Amalfi coast and enjoy the view. Stay in Positano or the area for a couple of days and just discover and soak in the beautiful landscape. Don't spend too much time discovering Naples itself, it's not the most beautiful city. From there, take the ferry to Capri. Spend a couple of days in Capri. It's perfect for a honeymoon trip. You will love it. Check out the Grotta Azurra as well. <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=rome,+italy&daddr=Positano,+Italy+to:capri,+italy&hl=en&geocode=FdgyfwIdqaW-AClfFvCor2EvEzHVHDe_UYwMQA%3BFW72awIdBgvdACkvdC2Pb5c7EzG7aSgxo-rLwA%3BFfHKagIdSgPZACnJSW2t0Xk7EzHwSEuSIOEJDw&aq=0&sll=43.17237,12.41838&sspn=8.764313,21.643066&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=41.23858,13.49959&spn=1.37728,2.01068&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=rome,+italy&daddr=Positano,+Italy+to:capri,+italy&hl=en&geocode=FdgyfwIdqaW-AClfFvCor2EvEzHVHDe_UYwMQA%3BFW72awIdBgvdACkvdC2Pb5c7EzG7aSgxo-rLwA%3BFfHKagIdSgPZACnJSW2t0Xk7EzHwSEuSIOEJDw&aq=0&sll=43.17237,12.41838&sspn=8.764313,21.643066&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=41.23858,13.49959&spn=1.37728,2.01068" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small> If you can make it two weeks instead of just 10 days, you would still have time to drive or fly (probably better) to Florence or Pisa. Rent a car there as well and drive around in Tuscany. Stay in one of the private houses that is overlooking the hills of Tuscany. While you are there, might as well see the tower of Pisa. If you still have time, you could drive to Venice. Venice is unique, but also very touristy. But if it is on your list of places you want to have seen, go for it. There is a small village that is worth visiting, sort of on the way (copied this text from Flyertalk): Not very far from Venice lies the small town of Asolo. It's very nice. There is a very good hotel there, called Villa Cipriani. Venice: I think that's the absolute maximum you could squeeze into two weeks. 10 days is too short, in my opinion. <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Pisa,+Italy&daddr=Florence,+Italy+toozza,+Italy+to:Asolo,+Italy+to:Venice,+Italy&hl=en&geocode=FScOmwIdqKOeACn9PAnRnpHVEjEMRBgkvvpkTA%3BFZzbmwIdRcSrACnfTKTToFYqEzHZl2CJaKVFug%3BFYrfpAIdYXGxAClLxVxUZjQrEzEU1o2pWmp7uw%3BFRDAugIdgca1AClpUzdzWSd5RzEJSkkrh7b6Dg%3BFeBFtQIdYEa8ACkfb1JTCq9-RzGwX5EVhwkHBA&sll=43.17237,12.41838&sspn=8.764313,21.643066&vpsrc=6&mra=pr&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=44.855869,12.216797&spn=5.451594,9.338379&z=6&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Pisa,+Italy&daddr=Florence,+Italy+toozza,+Italy+to:Asolo,+Italy+to:Venice,+Italy&hl=en&geocode=FScOmwIdqKOeACn9PAnRnpHVEjEMRBgkvvpkTA%3BFZzbmwIdRcSrACnfTKTToFYqEzHZl2CJaKVFug%3BFYrfpAIdYXGxAClLxVxUZjQrEzEU1o2pWmp7uw%3BFRDAugIdgca1AClpUzdzWSd5RzEJSkkrh7b6Dg%3BFeBFtQIdYEa8ACkfb1JTCq9-RzGwX5EVhwkHBA&sll=43.17237,12.41838&sspn=8.764313,21.643066&vpsrc=6&mra=pr&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=44.855869,12.216797&spn=5.451594,9.338379&z=6" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
I just googled this because it looks beautiful. It looks like this area was wiped out from flooding and mud slides. Villages all but wiped out as storms batter Italy's 'Cinque Terre' "The mayor of Monterosso said the fishing village had all but been wiped out. "
wow thanks for the great news. Ouch.. sorry Mak.. okay umm replace cinque terre with florence, throw in capri and pompeii since cinque terre is off. Maybe do portofino as an alternative perhaps to keep on the north side of rome and flowing. I can give you the bonus of lake cuomo but that's getting too cute. Im trying to get back to villefranche (seen dirty rotten scoundrels?)and the cote d azur. Bono agrees the S of France is always cest si bon. People are hot on dubrovnik of late. but that's sidetracking again. virginia is for lovers and prague is for yawners. Again out of the way. Been there done that and sure its got its features but umm no...save prague for trip 12.
also skip pisa its garbage unless you REALLY are just damn adamant about seeing the towers. skip it. trust me. a 12 day cruise might even be a consideration if you are wanting italy. Costa is really offering TONS of itineraries and the least expensive. Or you can be baller and spring for the seabourn,regent,crystal. Other lines as well flit in and out on these awesome med itineraries.You can do a venice to rome for about $5000 12 days. Heres a typical sample cruise schedule for around $5000 : Sat Aug 4 Venice, Italy Sun Aug 5 Venice, Italy 1:00pm Mon Aug 6 Dubrovnik, Croatia 9:00am 6:00pm Tue Aug 7 Corfu, Greece 8:00am 6:00pm Wed Aug 8 Olympia (Katakolon), Greece 7:00am 4:00pm Thu Aug 9 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 6:00am 5:45pm Fri Aug 10 Mykonos, Greece 1:00am 6:00pm Sat Aug 11 Ephesus / Kusadasi, Turkey 8:00am 5:00pm Sun Aug 12 Rhodes, Greece 8:00am 5:00pm Mon Aug 13 Santorini, Greece 7:00am 6:00pm Tue Aug 14 At Sea Wed Aug 15 Naples / Capri (Sorrento), Italy 7:00am 6:00pm Thu Aug 16 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 4:00am
i did barcelona, venice, florence, and rome in 13 days and it was PACKED but enjoyable. i'd suggest the following: if you're into italy, stay in italy. 2 days, tops, in venice: st mark's, doge's palace, the canal, an old-timey cocktail, maybe a water taxi to a glass shop or paper/mask shop, that's it. it's a dying city. 4 days in rome: there's a lot going on here. coliseum, pantheon, forum, baths, spanish steps, vatican, sistine chapel, trevi fountain, churches all over. mind the gypsies. don't let them distract you, cover your wallet, no eye contact with them, don't let a gladiator/costume guy take a pic with you and scam you for $, be firm with the flower salesmen. finish with 4 days in florence (my favorite, besides barcelona): beautiful old-world feel to it and much less frantic than rome: the uffizi, ponte vecchio, gardens of boboli, the accademia, the duomo, leather shops, food... maybe squeeze in a day-trip to pisa. don't eat out all the time for lunch. grocery shop and take advantage of fresh deli counters and open-air markets. bring comfortable shoes, but buy some in italy too. stretch your feet every night. don't "look like a tourist" - italians dress sharp... always have nice shoes. leather's popular. bring your own medicine (pharmacies make it a little difficult to get otc stuff). drink lots of wine, bed your wife frequently. it's how they live.
Thanks everyone! You guys are awesome, I have so much to consider. My buddy said to skip Pisa, and I've heard that from many people, so I think we'll skip it. 10 days is probably going to be too short. We'll probably make it closer to 14. Maybe 4 nights in Rome, 3 in Florence, 2 in Venice, a couple in Amsterdam. Maybe extend our stay in Rome and head down to Capri for a night or two. I figure if we're spending $2k on plane tickets, it's worth spending another hundred bucks on a hotel for an extra night, so long as my wife (feels weird to call her that, lol) can take off work.
If you could you should go to Ibiza, but maybe its not possible to visit Amsterdam and and Italy and then Ibiza in 10 days, but that is very nice place to visit.
some quick advice Paris is awesome if you have money for top notch food and wine Munich kicks azz in the summer for the bier gartens. Sucks other times Some great ski resorts but that's a much longer discussion Amalfi and San Torini (sp?) are incredible
I will say this once, and hope it sinks in... Do Not Go To Venice Besides being a ridiculously overpriced, overcrowded tourist trap now, the entire city reeks of sewage and is just generally filthy.
