SmileDarling

Hello, everyone!

A few months ago I posted a couple possible itineraries and was exceedingly grateful for all the advice recieved. Of course, since then, plans have slightly changed and I was hoping for some more of your expert opinions!

Briefly, this is what's going on. I'm going to Europe for 20 days and I want to make the best of it! I don't want to cram a million different places into those (pretty much) 3 weeks, but I do want to get a taste for a few different locales.

I'm working in Iraq and will be flying out of Kuwait, hopefully just after midnight on the 16th of February (i.e. the night of the 15th). The first week and a few days I will be alone, then for a few days I'll meet up with a good friend and her slightly estranged husband (trust me, this was NOT the original plan but oh well, such is life), we'll part ways and I'll meet up with my Mom for the last week.

I have four possible starts to my trip, with four minor deviations from the main plan. They are as follows:

A

1.) 16 FEB, fly to Rome from Kuwait
Rent a car
Drive to a Tuscan apt. for rental
Spend 4 nights in the rental
2.) 20 FEB, drive to Florence
Spend 3 nights in Florence
3.) 23 FEB, drive to Rome
Spend 3 nights in Rome
*Meet up with friend in Rome on the 25th)
4.) 26 FEB, train to Venice (w/ friends)
Stay in Venice 3 nights

B

1.) 16 FEB, Fly to Florence from Kuwait
Stay 3 nights
(*or should I still fly into Rome and then just train up to Florence?)
2.) 19 FEB, Rent car in Florence
Drive to Tuscan rental
Stay 4 nights
3.) 23 FEB, Drive to Rome
Drop car off in favor of public transportation
Spend 3 nights in Rome
*Meet up with friend in Rome on the 25th)
4.) 26 FEB, train to Venice (w/ friends)
Stay in Venice 3 nights

C

1.) 16 FEB, Fly into Rome from Kuwait
Train up to Florence
Stay three nights in Florence
2.) 19 FEB, Rent car in Florence
Drive to Tuscan rental
Stay 4 nights
3.) 23 FEB, Drive to Rome
Drop car off in favor of public transportation
Spend 3 nights in Rome
*Meet up with friend in Rome on the 25th)
4.) 26 FEB, train to Venice (w/ friends)
Stay in Venice 3 nights

D

1.) 16 FEB, Fly into Rome from Kuwait
Rent car and drive to apartment in Tuscany
Stay there six nights and do a day trip or two to Florence while there
2.) 23 FEB, Drive to Rome
Drop car off in favor of public transportation
Spend 3 nights in Rome
*Meet up with friend in Rome on the 25th)
3.) 26 FEB, train to Venice (w/ friends)
Stay in Venice 3 nights

As you can probably see I’m stuck on where to fly into, and whether to split my time between Florence and a small village about an hour outside it. Here are some facts to keep in mind:

1. Rome is cheaper to fly into and Florence is a few hundred dollars extra.
2. I have to be in Rome on the 25th to meet up with my friends there.
3. I don’t want to rush through Florence because I have two goals in mind – I want to shop there and view historical sites. I doubt I can accomplish that in one day trip.

Lastly, here are two possible endings to my trip (and I can’t decide either way, AGAIN, please don’t hate me). Which, of the two, strikes seasoned travelers as the cheapest?

1

1.) 1 MAR, Say farewell to friends
Fly or train (help me?) to Vienna, meet up with Mom
Stay 3 nights
2.) 4 MAR, fly or train (help me?) to Prague
Stay 3 nights
3.) 7 MAR, depart Prague for Kuwait

2

1.) 1 MAR, Fly to Paris
Meet up with Mom
Stay 6 nights
2.) 7 MAR, Depart Paris for Kuwait

I didn’t really want for this to be super-complicated but it’s overwhelming just for me to look at it! Thanks for anyone who navigates the labyrinth above and take the time to respond. I can’t wait to hear any and all advice. Thank you!

ira

HI SD,

It is easier and cheaper to fly into Rome and then take the train to Florence.

If you have luggage, leave yourself about 3 hrs from the time you are scheduled to land to the time your train leaves Rome TE.

If you get to Rome TE early, there is a decent self-serve resto where you can have a cuppa and people watch while decompressing,

I generally recommend against driving in Italy for 1st timers, but that is your decision.

I would stay in Florence, rent a car for Tuscany, drop the car at Orvieto, see the town and take the train into Rome.

Have you considered visiting Venice instead of Tuscany?

I definitely recommend Paris over Vienna and Prague.

Enjoy your visit.

SmileDarling

Hello Ira,

Thanks for your response!

First thing, I'll only be travelling with carry-on luggage. I've heard too many horror stories about lost baggage and since I don't work in either my destination or arrival city I don't want to risk anything.

Second, why do you recommend Paris over Vienna and Prague? Cost-wise, which itinerary do you think would be cheaper?

Thanks!

Jean

Well, Paris is Paris. There's no comparison, although Vienna comes close in some ways. Prague is quite different but very interesting. IMO your money goes further in Prague.

I think you should do some research on the three cities and decide for yourself.

I don't recommend against driving in Italy, but I think it would be more difficult without a navigator.

danon

Tuscany countryside in Feb. may not be that great. You can easily visit Siena from Florence.
Vienna is very nice, I have not been to Prague yet, but if you ( or your mom) have never been to Paris ... go there!

SmileDarling

Okay, I've decided on Paris. While the Prague and Vienna option would probably be a little cheaper it's not enough to offset the fact that I'll already be in Europe, I may as well see grand Paris! Plus, if I go to Paris my mom and I will just stay there for a solid seven days with no moving around which equals more exploratory time.

Thank you again Ira for suggesting to fly into Rome and then train up to Florence. I will stay there for 3 nights, then do four nights in the Tuscan countryside (yes, it probably won't be spectaular that time of year but at least it will be cheaper!), then three nights in Rome, three nights in Venice, and one week in Paris!

Yay! I'm so excited. I'm sure I'll have more queestions in the following days (or even hours). Thanks again everyone!

ira

Hi SD,
> I will stay [in Florence] for 3 nights, then do four nights in the Tuscan countryside ....then three nights in Rome, three nights in Venice, and one week in Paris!<

Good plan, but there is no need to back track.

Fly into Rome - 3 nights
Train to Florence - 3 nights
Visit Tuscany - 4 nights
Drop car in Venice - 3 nights
Fly www.myair.com from Venice VCE to Paris ORY.

>why do you recommend Paris over Vienna and Prague?<

Prague was once the "Paris of the North".
Vienna was once the "Paris of the East".
Go to the real Paris.

It is not necessarily that expensive.

What is your hotel budget?

SmileDarling

Hi Ira,

Unfortunately, there is a reason to backtrack. I will be meeting friends in Rome on the 25th and taking a train with them to Venice on the 26th.

After looking at airfare for my Mom from LAX to Paris it's about 300 dollars cheaper to fly her out on the 27th as opposed to the 28th so it looks like I'll be flying to Paris on the 28th of February instead of 1 March. Which of course means only two nights in Venice.

After reading some of the other message boards I'm wondering if I should do only 2 nights in Florence, 4 nights still in the Tuscan countryside, 4 nights in Rome and then to round off my time in Italy the 2 nights in Venice.

Any thoughts?

Also, my hotel budget for Paris is about 145 dollars (not Euro's) a night. So, currently that is around 113 euro a night. We'll probably look at renting a flat as opposed to stay in a hotel. It may be cheaper since we'll be there a full week.

danon

I would suggest more time in Florence less in the countryside.

SmileDarling

Ah... so would you advocate for something more like this?

3 nights Florence
3 nights Tuscany countryside
4 nights Rome
2 nights Venice
7 nights Paris

The Venice and Paris nights I can't really juggle.

sf7307

Sounds outstanding to me! I love the idea of the entire week in Paris. There's plenty to do and see for 7 days, but there's also plenty of time to "not do, just be" -- and what a place to do that!