Please help with my Europe and New York Itinerary!

[Pumbaa]

Hi guys,

I'm planning a trip for myself and the g/f to Europe, stopping over to New York on the way back home. We've both been to Europe separately, but not together. I went on a top deck tour a few years back with a mate, while we had a blast, it just didn't feel the way it should when we went on Gondola rides in venice and walked through Paris

We went to New York last year and loved it. We didn't do all the things we had on our bucket list so we thought another few days there would be the way to go.

So heres the details:
Land in Geneva - have 15 nights to use in Europe, there we fly to New York, spend 4 nights, then come back home.

I was thinking:

4 nights Paris
4 nights Barcelona
2 nights Rome
2 nights Florence
2 nights Milan
1 night Geneva

I was wondering if this would be the best way to break up the Europe part of the holiday.

The other question was with regards to accommodation. If anyone has recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'm Priority Club Platinum also a Gold ambassador with Intercontinental. Starwood Gold and Hilton Gold. I also have lots of Amex Reward points as well.

I'm tempted to use Priority Club Friends/Family or amass points with book and cancel to redeem on the most expensive properties.

Would love to hear anyones thoughts?!

 

[Passport Premiere]

Just a couple of thoughts to tweak your trip, or make it harder for you to decide and put it together

A) Need one more day in Rome .Too much history to see or miss not seeing with just two days
B) Milan is an industrial city, and if you really want to go then great but think you will find more value with more time in Rome
C) In France, you should also consider adding the South of France (Nice)
D) To find the time, you could gut GVA , MXP and a day from Barcelona



Otherwise, sounds fab!!!

Hi guys,

I'm planning a trip for myself and the g/f to Europe, stopping over to New York on the way back home. We've both been to Europe separately, but not together. I went on a top deck tour a few years back with a mate, while we had a blast, it just didn't feel the way it should when we went on Gondola rides in venice and walked through Paris

We went to New York last year and loved it. We didn't do all the things we had on our bucket list so we thought another few days there would be the way to go.

So heres the details:
Land in Geneva - have 15 nights to use in Europe, there we fly to New York, spend 4 nights, then come back home.

I was thinking:

4 nights Paris
4 nights Barcelona
2 nights Rome
2 nights Florence
2 nights Milan
1 night Geneva

I was wondering if this would be the best way to break up the Europe part of the holiday.

The other question was with regards to accommodation. If anyone has recommendations, I'd love to hear them. I'm Priority Club Platinum also a Gold ambassador with Intercontinental. Starwood Gold and Hilton Gold. I also have lots of Amex Reward points as well.

I'm tempted to use Priority Club Friends/Family or amass points with book and cancel to redeem on the most expensive properties.

Would love to hear anyones thoughts?!

 

[lovestotravel]

Agree that Europe is a trip you really want to do with a partner and not a mate, unless you are under 30 and just want to drink every night in party towns during Summer

What price range do you want to spend per night ? I can recommend hotels in most of those places!

Will you have a car or want to travel by Train ?

You could almost ditch Milan, or just do 1 night there as suggested above, Rome you want more time and maybe even more in Florence

 

[Pumbaa]

Agree that Europe is a trip you really want to do with a partner and not a mate, unless you are under 30 and just want to drink every night in party towns during Summer

What price range do you want to spend per night ? I can recommend hotels in most of those places!

Will you have a car or want to travel by Train ?

You could almost ditch Milan, or just do 1 night there as suggested above, Rome you want more time and maybe even more in Florence

Hey mate,

I don't really want to pay more than $300 Aussie a night. I love a great hotel but at the end of the day I just want somewhere clean, central and safe.

No car, I was thinking of training everywhere except Barcelona-Rome where I think flying would be easier. Overnight train from Paris to Barcelona is definitely on the cards!

 

[Pumbaa]

Just a couple of thoughts to tweak your trip, or make it harder for you to decide and put it together

A) Need one more day in Rome .Too much history to see or miss not seeing with just two days
B) Milan is an industrial city, and if you really want to go then great but think you will find more value with more time in Rome
C) In France, you should also consider adding the South of France (Nice)
D) To find the time, you could gut GVA , MXP and a day from Barcelona



Otherwise, sounds fab!!!

Hey mate, to be honest I'm not fussed about Milan at all. I've never been and thought it would be a place to visit on the way to Geneva for the flight to New York. Not really that deadset on seeing geneva either. I'm just a little over paranoid about missing my flight to new York! More than happy to use those days for Nice and Rome/Florence.

Should we do 2 nights paris 2 nights nice?

 

[amaroo]

I would cut some places out as I've learnt that a 2 night stay means you basically see bugger all.

Working with the basics of your itinerary I'd do this:-

Geneva 1 - working on that it's required due to flights
Paris 4
Barcelona 3
Rome 4
Florence or Sevilla 3......having been to both I'd go to Sevilla

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What are your flight details & are you commited to flying ex GVA to NYC?

A couple of other cities to throw into the mix are Prague & Budapest for romance & seeing as though you're already in Italy why not Venice?

It's so hard to choose what cities to visit & for how long because you think "seeing as though we're so close to xx_ we may as well go there too".

How many Priority Club points to do you have or wish to burn?

Just wondering that seeing as though time is of the essence, it may be better to fly to/from BCN rather then take the overnight train to save a bit of time.

If there were any great PC points break offers in cities you were considering visiting sometimes that can help you choose if you were having trouble making a decision.

 

[KitKat]

I would cut some places out as I've learnt that a 2 night stay means you basically see bugger all.

Working with the basics of your itinerary I'd do this:-

Geneva 1 - working on that it's required due to flights
Paris 4
Barcelona 3
Rome 4
Florence or Sevilla 3......having been to both I'd go to Sevilla

+1
Sounds great
Agree that you should limit no of destinations as you would spend too much valuable time travelling otherwise

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I'm assuming your going soon so it will be Spring / Summer when you are there. Nothing wrong with any of your choices but I would definately swap Venice for Milan and maybe one less night in Barcelona for an extra night in Rome. Look for self contained apartments, there's usually quite a few options especially for stays of 3 or more nights

 

[Pumbaa]

Thanks to everyone that has contributed so far! I built this itinerary with US Airways using points that I've purchased over the last 2 years. So I guess unfortunately, the itinerary is quite rigid in the sense I need to stop-over in Geneva and depart from Geneva on the way to New York. I thought it would be a good place because it was in the middle of France, Italy and Spain. Those were the main destinations that I wanted to revisit in Europe. My GF and I have both visited Paris separately, but she hasn't seen any of Italy or Spain while I have.

Arriving

PER-BKK TG (J)
BKK-ZRH TG (F)
ZRH-GVA LX (J) Stopover
15 nights in Europe
GVA-JFK LX (J) Destination
4 nights in New York

Departing

JFK-FRA LH (J)
FRA-ICN OZ (F)
ICN-BKK OZ (J)
BKK-PER TG (J)

We are traveling from 8th October and Returning 1st of November

I'd prefer to stay in hotels instead of apartments. I currently have 60 000 priority club points, but can easily buy more.

New Plan

4 nights Paris
3 nights Barcelona
4 nights Rome
3 nights Florence
1 night Geneva

Keep the comments coming

 

[amaroo]

Ok, I can see you're keen to maximise your Italian stay. Have to say that I agree with OBB in that I would rate Venice over Florence however, my wife rates Florence over Venice

What's your budget for the hotels?

 

[Pumbaa]

I've been to Venice as well, GF has not however. I didn't it that much, but I'm sure it will be more romantic with my GF
I loved Florence when I visited it last time, so much nice art and sculptures.

Budget is $300AU / night

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just wondering outloud if you can fit the Italian riviera into the Rome/Florence combo?
It's spectacular. V.romantic

 

[amaroo]

I've been to Venice as well, GF has not however. I didn't it that much, but I'm sure it will be more romantic with my GF
I loved Florence when I visited it last time, so much nice art and sculptures.

Budget is $300AU / night

I would stick with Florence.

I can recommend Hotel Murmuri in Barcelona -http://www.murmuri.com/

We stayed there in Dec and loved the location. We stayed in their apartments (party of 5) which adjoins the hotel however, had breakfast in their restaurant and had a good look around & would stay again.

The location is fantastic however, if you are young & want to be in the thick of things it might not be the place for you.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I would cut some places out as I've learnt that a 2 night stay means you basically see bugger all.

Agree, if late arrival on day 1 and early dept on day 3 means only 1 actual day despite a 3 night stay.

4 days as a first time visitor to Rome keep you busy, lots too see.

For BCN, though I'm sure you will enjoy it, like I did. I prefer Madrid.

 

[Pumbaa]

Just wondering outloud if you can fit the Italian riviera into the Rome/Florence combo?
It's spectacular. V.romantic

hehe Sounds very romantic, I'll do some research now!
I was hoping of somehow visiting Pompeii as well. Something I've always wanted to do!

 

[Pumbaa]

Agree, if late arrival on day 1 and early dept on day 3 means only 1 actual day despite a 3 night stay.

4 days as a first time visitor to Rome keep you busy, lots too see.

For BCN, though I'm sure you will enjoy it, like I did. I prefer Madrid.

'

Funny you mention that, I've already seen Barcelona, maybe we should both do Madrid instead!?

 

[KitKat]

Oh yes, getting excited for you..... info not asked for, but when I travel, lots of places I visit are associated with places I love to eat at!
My fav in NYC is Eleven Madison Park
Oh Paris too many to choose - L'Arpege, Guy Savoy, L'Atelier (Joel Robuchon)
Feeling hungry now
Just need to book early enough if you are interested (all fab for a romantic outing)

 

[amaroo]

'

Funny you mention that, I've already seen Barcelona, maybe we should both do Madrid instead!?

Madrid is my preferred out of the two.

 

[Pumbaa]

Madrid is my preferred out of the two.

Sounds like we're visiting Madrid instead of Barcelona