kenny_Gua

Hello, I am planning to go Paris to spend my vacation time with 2 adults ands three children (under 14). Which cities should we visit in France. I wan to see beautiful places/scenic places. I have 9 days (Excluding travel time). Should I buy daily trip pass/ Euro train pass in France? I am also thinking to visit another country. I have one option of LONDON. Should I buy train/BUS pass to travel LONDON for 2-3 days? If someone can suggest any other option?
If someone traveller can suggest for Day1, Day2, Day3, Day4, Day5, Day6, Day7, Day8, Day9 then it will much helpful to manage the trip with confidence. Thanks in Advance for your help.

marvelousmouse

Buy a guide book?

To me, cities aren't scenic. Fascinating, home to great food and museums, sure. The only two places you've mentioned are cities. So I think you need to go back to the drawing board and figure out what you want to see in Paris

greg

You seem to be at this trip for almost two months, but still seems to be at the same point after getting numerous inputs. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-spring.cfm

If you had read several guide books during the same period, you would have gained better idea on where to go and how to get around. If you cannot make use of already posted inputs or guide books, I doubt anyone here can help you.

A transportation pass is a tool. But for what? Once you defined objectives, you can test if those objectives can be achieved within your time and financial constraints. Without objectives, you continue spinning unproductive wheels until your trip dates.

wasatch

First decide if this is a once in a lifetime trip, or if you plan to return to see more of EU. If you plan to return, you can devote more time to seeing Paris/London in depth. If one and only, hit the high points.

Having spent 3 weeks sightseeing in Paris and two weeks in London, if you want to do both, reverse your schedule 6 days London, 3 days Paris.

Both: use metro to get around.

Don't advance plan daily itineraries. You will never keep to the schedule, and weather can mess it all up. Instead, make a list of what you want to see, and if it rains, go to your indoor selections. Sun, focus on outside sights.

To see in Paris:

Isle de la Cite
streets of Montmarte
streets of the left bank
Eiffel Tower & Napoleon's tomb
Versailles (connect to the suburban RR at some Metro stations) With kids, head for Le Hammeau. (3 days to fully see Versailles).

Day trips:
Chartres
Rouen
Orleans
Reims
Strasbourg (use fast train)
Colmar (use fast train)

ANUJ

You could easily spend 9 days in total between Paris and London only, with 4-5 days in each city, connecting between them by flight or the train (Eurostar).

If you want to see "beautiful/scenic places" and get out of the cities, pick one country e.g. UK or France. Then buy a guidebook for that country immediately - the Lonely Planet or RickSteves are good for less-experienced travelers. See what interests you-some of them even suggest short itineraries. You don't need any railpasses for travel within a country, just buy point to point tickets once you've decided (see trainline.eu for routes/tickets).

Here's some real advice as you seem new to travel forums : you will get incredibly helpful input if you do some basic reading/research, develop a basic travel plan and pose specific questions. However, if you expect anyone (complete strangers to you and your interests) to write up an itinerary from scratch, you <b>will</b> be disappointed and draw criticism.

kenny_Gua

Now I am planning of 4-5 days tour of Switzerland from Paris. I want to see Towering mountains, gentle hills, lakes in these days, if possible otherwise I am flexible. I read and reviewed some reports and found that Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfrau are good to see. My question is:

1. What is the cheapest travel (Train OR Bus) from Paris.
2. Which place should I come first from train/Bus from Paris then how should travel to other places.
3. Should I buy Swiss Travel Pass for 4-5 days visit? Accommodation: I have to book hotels. Should I book hotel in different places. Please help for this Switzerland plan trip.

Thanks.

kenny_Gua

Now I am planning of 4-5 days tour of Switzerland from Paris. I want to see Towering mountains, gentle hills, lakes in these days, if possible otherwise I am flexible. I read and reviewed some reports and found that Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfrau are good to see. My question is:

1. What is the cheapest travel (Train OR Bus) from Paris.
2. Which place should I come first from train/Bus from Paris then how should travel to other places.
3. Should I buy Swiss Travel Pass for 4-5 days visit? Accommodation: I have to book hotels. Should I book hotel in different places. Please help for this Switzerland plan trip.

Thanks.

WoinParis

I think in your case a travel agent would be useful.

Edward2005

What time of year is your visit?

In Switzerland I would stay in Lauterbrunnen, about 20 minutes south of Interlaken. Aside from the mountains surrounding it, there are several other sights in easy reach of Lauterbrunnen. Everything can be done by rail and cable car. A Swiss half-fare card is probably the most economical pass to purchase.

Paris-to-Lauterbrunnen is about 6 hours by rail and costs about $150 per person.

Christina

Don't take a bus no matter how cheap it is. Trains are pretty cheap in France.

I've only been in Lucerne and Montreux in Switzerland so can't advise you about those places like Innsbruck. However, I believe the train from Paris goes to Geneva or Lausanne if you come one route via Dijon. The other method (going through Strasbourg) goes to Basel, then Zurich.

I think either Zurich or Geneva/Lausanne could be a place for you to launch your trip. But you don't need to figure that out, use the railwebsite to tell you. I think INterlaken can be gotten to by train either from Basel or Geneva/Bern direction.

janisj

Unless you have tripled your budget or more you probably should stay away from Switzerland.

PalenQ

I have 9 days (Excluding travel time). Should I buy daily trip pass/ Euro train pass in France? I am also thinking to visit another country. I have one option of LONDON. Should I buy train/BUS pass to travel LONDON for 2-3 days?>

You can hardly begin to make any pass pay off in that short of time.

For London take Eurostar trains in a couple of hours vs an all-day or all-night bus ride. Book early to save money - www.eurostar.com.

For lots on European trains and where to go check www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

In France www.voyages-sncf.com has deep discounted tickets if you book again really early - cheapest fares are train-specific and non-refundable non-changeable.

suze

Did the length of your trip increase?

Are 5 days in Switzerland in addition to 9 days in Paris/London, so 14 days total now?

Or you are trying to see all 3 places in only 9 days?

janisj

>>Or you are trying to see all 3 places in only 9 days?<< . . . And w/ only $3000 after the airfares.

PalenQ

1. What is the cheapest travel (Train OR Bus) from Paris.

3. Should I buy Swiss Travel Pass for 4-5 days visit?

the Interlaken area is one you will love-the Jungfrau Region- stay in a mountain village like Grindelwald or Wengen and be eyeball to eyeball with soaring glacier-girdled peaks- toylike trains and thrilling aerial gondolas go off in all directions:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...w=1536&bih=760

Swiss Transfer Ticket plus 1/2 off Half-Fare Card could be better depending on what you do -but some kind of pass would be good if traveling much at all.

For lots on Swiss trains and passes - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.