mandalay

I am planning a 5 week trip: Berlin - Cologne 7-10 days
Cologne - Paris 4 days
Paris - Genoa ( Portofino, st Margherita)
Rome (3 nights for New Years Eve)
Down south to Sicily
Fly from Sicily to Madrid
Madrid to Seville
Seville - Barcelona (Fly home from there)
I need advice on transport. Do I train from Cologne to Paris? Do I fly from one destination to another.
There are 4 of us and we are travelling from mid December to end of January.
Where is the best place to be for Christmas.?
Thanks for all the advice

BigRuss

Ask the moderators to re-tag this: you tagged it UK and none of your proposed itinerary is there.

mandalay

Thanks, I have done this

madamtrashheap

A few questions on your itinerary:

Are you spending any time in Berlin?

Is that 7-10days for Cologne? If so, what do you plan to do whilst using Cologn as a base?

Portofino and Santa Magherita are pretty quiet in Winter - still pretty, but you don't get the full effect of the region in Winter as compared to Spring/Summer.

Sicily - where and for how long?

Ditto for how long in Madrid, Seville and Barcelona?

The "better" modes of transport between each destination will depend on each destination.

For example, flying between Cologne and Paris will take one hour before check in, plus time getting to the airport, plus time getting from the Paris airport (whichever one) into the city. It would end up being the same amount of time as taking the 4hr30min fast train city to city.

However, you would fly (as per your other post) between Sicily and Spain.

If you list the amount of time in each city, and the cities your planning to visit (ie, not just Sicily, but where) that will help.

As for the "best" place to be for Christmas - totally depends on what you're looking to do and experience. Plus, you have listed Rome as your NYE destination, so that will determine where you'll be for Christmas to a certain degree, if you geographically and logically plan your route.

madamtrashheap

EDIT - the train from Cologne to Paris should read 3h30min not 4hr30min. Finger slip!

nytraveler

Would help to know who the 4 of you are - 4 adults? any kids?

And know something about your interest.

StCirq

Could you be more precise? As in how many nights in each place? And what your interests are? And who's going on this trip? And what time of year? It looks very chaotic the way you've described it.

mandalay

Sorry I was not more precise.
Our suggested itinerary is as follows: what do you think

1. Fly into Berlin (mid December) 3 nights
2.Train to Cologne (use Cologne as a base for day trips to Dortmund to see a football game, The Rhine,)

3. Train from Cologne to Paris (3 nights)
4. Fly or train to Italy: Genoa? Portofino
We have been to Venice, Florence and cinque terre

We have driven in Italy before, but we are keen on taking the train this time.
We will be definitely in Italy for Christmas. Any suggestions?
5. Rome for 3 nights (new years eve included.
5. Train down to Sicily - Palermo, Alion Islands, Siracusa
(7 nights)
6. Fly to Madrid (2 nights)
7. Train to Seville ( 5 nights) Take day trips from Seville to Ronda, Cordoba
8. Train to Barcelona (2 nights) fly home from there. We have been to Barcelona before.

Do you think that it is easier to fly back to Melbourne from Madrid?

Is this too much travelling?

6. Fly to Madrid (

StCirq

Actually, I think this sounds like a wonderful trip. Not clear what the plans are in Italy between Christmas and New Year's, and I'd probably choose Portofino, but Genoa is good too. Nice planning, IMO!