sissy57

Hi
This is our first European trip and we have to go in July but don't want to be racing all over the place so have decided to "do" one or 2 places really well. Our thoughts are Paris for 2 weeks (heard all Parisians head for the country so it's not too crazy), Bellaggio in Italy for a week then Rome for 2 nights before stopping somewhere tropical on the way home. Are there any tips you can give us on finding a nice apartment in Paris? Also, we'd like to stay in a convent in Rome as we've heard they are central & cheap. Can anyone recommend one in particular? We are excited but don't really know where to start!!I think I've spelt Bellaggio correctly - it's near Lake Como.

nytraveler

Well - it seems like a rather odd trip to me - why 14 days in Paris and only 2 in Rome, which I think would be worth 5/6 at least? And there isn't anyplace tropical in europe. The whole continet is temperate (if you look at a globe you will see that Rome and Madrid are on a line with New York).

Although you can get very hot weather if that's what you want (southern Spain, Sicily, Malta etc.) But be aware that most european beaches are pebbles - not sand, and the ones that are sand don;t have sand or water like the Carib.

sissy57

Thanks nytraveller! I forgot to mention we live in Oz, that's why the tropical trip on the way home!
The reason we thought 14 days in Paris was to be able to go to the markets, cook at "home", have day trips to different places and to really get to see as much of Paris as we could. We've been told by so many people that Rome will be a nightmare at that time of year because its the high season. This is our first trip and so we wanted to relax as well as see/feel another culture. Would you say Italy is too good to miss, even in July?? Do you have any tips for coping with the crowds?

tcreath

I have to agree with the above. I loved Paris, but I also love Rome and think that staying for only 2 nights would be a shame and not really worth it. To really enjoy Rome you have to give yourself enough time to jsut enjoy the city instead of rushing from big site to big site. I think that with only 2 nights you will run yourself ragged and end up not caring for Rome. I personally would break up Paris into 1 week in Paris and 1 week in Rome.

Tracy

travelbunny

..also suggest 1 week in 2 places. Yess, I have lived in Paris but you can get a "feel" in a week and you will never really be living there unless you work, study ect so I can't see an advantage with 2 weeks rather than one.

ira

Hi S,

You have responses to your first post.

Click on your name to find them.

Although I don't think one can spend too much time in Paris, I suggest that for what you want to do, 7-10 days would be sufficient.

Also, are you traveling all the way to Italy to hang out at a lake and miss Venice and Florence and give short shrift to Rome?

I suggest adding the days from Paris to Rome; skipping Bellagio and splitting the week between Venice (3) and Florence (4).

You can then spend your week somewhere tropical reminiscing about how wonderful you previous 3 weeks were.

Enjoy your visit.

enzian

Hi sissy,

To answer your question about apartments in Paris, we have used this company and were very pleased:

www.VacationInParis.com

They have a good selection of apartments all over Paris, available for short-stays of a few days, or by the week. The company is American and you pay by credit card, charged in US dollars. I mention this because some of the "by owner" apartments and other agencies require a deposit into their bank account, and some people are not comfortable doing that.

Christina

I also think that schedule is really lopsided, and agree that you should add more to Rome and less in Paris. I don't know why that would be high season in Rome any more than in Paris, but maybe I just don't know about those things because I haven't been to Rome. I just thought there would be tourists in both places, and probably more in Paris because it's not as hot, but I'm just speculating. All Parisians don;t head to the country in Jjly, but they aren't what makes it crazy, anyway, tourists are. MOre Parisians probably go on vacation in August than in July, although I think summer anywhere has a somewhat slower feel than Fall, for example. How much do you want to spend on an apt. in Paris? Nice ones aren't cheap, and I suspect it will be much more than what you want to spend in Italy if you are going to convents. Also, in July, it can get pretty hot in Paris and you won't likely get AC in an apt., but you can pretty easily in a hotel.

tower

Hey Oz:

By all means don't give Rome such short shrift...Bellagio is not worth a week...small resort town on the lake.
I suggest 5 days Paris, 3 days in the lake district, 3 days Venice, 3 days Florence, 5 days Rome. a few days travel/air/train time and a stopover in the tropics. Have fun!

Stu T.

Carolina

I agree that you would be best to spend 1 week in Paris rather than two. I would keep the week in Bellaggio to give you time to relax. You could possibly add Venice for 2 or 3 nights and then go on to Rome for a few nights,
I stayed in Rome for 5 nights a few years ago and found that about right as I don't like to be too rushed. We then went on to Pompeii where we stayed for 3 nights and visited places around there. Two nights isn't really enough for Rome if you don't like rushing around too much.

Carolena