Anyone in Europe or who has travelled to europe: I need yer advice

[OIO]

When my parents got married, 30 years ago, they never had the chance to go on a honeymoon since dad had to work (and they were a young couple). And 3 years after they married I was born so there went any ideas of them having it any time soon.

So now their 30th anniversary is coming up, the only place my parents have traveled to in their lives has been the USA (and that being when we moved here).

And i'm gonna send them on their honeymoon as a surprise gift.

Problem is,  I can only send them to one place for 2 weeks. I've considered France and Italy since its the places my mom has always wanted to see.

And I've never been to Europe so I don't really know where would be best to send them.

Venice? Paris? Rome? Maybe Switzerland  (they hate the cold but heck, they've never seen snow anyways)? Holland?

Any suggestions for a 50+ year olds on a honeymoon to go?


Also, ive been told that I MAY be able to send them to Paris AND to Rome or Venice by using the EURAIL system...

problem with that is I can get them visa for France and Italy but I dont know if they can hop on the train and pass through the countries between france and italy in the train.. do I need to get them visa for those countries too?

[Nilsen]

When you get within the EU you are free to go anywere. You only need to show yhour passport at the first EU country you land in i belive.

[Furball]

Why not start in london, travel to paris by train or ferry, then down to south of france and italy?

[OIO]

Nilsen, only Euro citizens can travel freely.. well and perhaps some US citizens.

But we have Colombian passports... we need visa for every country in Europe

Besides, its just 12 days they'll be there and I dont think a honeymoon would be enjoyable if you're rushing from one place to another just to see the sights. One or 2 nice places where they can stay a week each in and explore and enjoy it would be better imo.

[Schaden]

Fly to London, take Eurostar to Paris, hop on train plane automobile and see Berlin, drive over the Alps and go to Lugano in Switzerland (frigging awesome), head down to Italya nd take in Harry's Bar in Venice, see Rome, cheap flight back to London, go home, bore everyone to tears about your trip.

Some Links

http://aplacelikehomelondon.com/prop09.html
London Apartments by the week


http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/time_table/journey_requirements.asp?&T2ID=8202_2003926113030

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/

http://www.eurostar.com/dctm/jsp/index.jsp

Rail travel

http://www.easyjet.com/

http://www.expedia.co.uk/daily/home/Default.asp?CCheck=1&


Bring a laptop.

[Nash]

France and Italy are great choices. I'd highly recommend renting a car though...

Start 'em Paris. Then Dijon, Lyon, Provence, CoteD'azure (Monaco, Nice, Cannes) then into Italy... Milan (I'd skip it, personally)... stop for an hour in Pisa and wind up in Florence. If they have enough time, go down to Rome. If not, head back up to Venice. Instead of flying out of Paris, they could fly out of Zurich instead, and that way they can see Switzerland. So, north to Lugano, the Alps, then Interlaken then Zurich.

[Curval]

Don't let them stay in Paris too long...it could seriously affect their trip and there opinions of French people in general.

Milan is a very cool place too btw if they go to Italy.

[OIO]

whats in milan? in Lugano?

And again, I dont think a rushing along trip is a good idea.. I need to pick one or 2 good places to go and stick them there for a week so they can walk around and enjoy the place.

[Nash]

Paris is the only place I could see staying for a week. Maybe Rome. It's too long for everywhere else... 'cuz most of the smaller in-between places are just to small. You've basically seen it all in 2 days.

Unless they go for the lounging around type of vacation. In that case, it'd probably be hangin' out on the beaches of Cote D'azure. If they like casinos and stuff like that then it's good for that to. But it's not really France, or even Europe... I couldn't see going all the way over there just to do that.

[BUG_EAF322]

Paris is a good idea. It has many beautiful old buildings.

They also could go see monaco or st. Tropez just for that south france feeling.

South france Cote d'Azur  is very beautiful.
and its sunny and warm.

[OIO]

Thnx. So far it seems that flying them into Venice for a week then putting them on a train to paris for the 2nd week of their stay is the best thing to do.

My parents aint the casino or lounging types.. they like to explore and walk around places. Beaches may be sort of appealing, but then again we live just 30 minutes from the Atlantic ocean

[Nash]

You can't go wrong with those two, OIO. They'll have a blast.

[Ripper29]

In 2002 my wife and myself went to Rome, we spent 5 or 6 nights in Rome and took in as much as we could see (Vatican, St. Peters, Coliseum, Catacombs and so on).  The we took the Train to Veince and spent 3 nights there (could have spent more) then we went back to Rome for 3 more nights.  We also took some day trips from Rome, went to Pompeii and such.  There is so much to see and do there...even if it's just sitting in a local cafe drinking coffee and people watching...

BTW it's about a 5 hour train ride from Rome to Vience, pay for 1st class (about 20 euros more) so that they can access the dining car.  It was pretty cool sitting there eating good food, drinking good wine and just taking in the country side.

[mora]

I've heard nothing but negative things about Venice.  Over crowded by tourists, over priced, bad service, dirty and smelly.

I'd recommend going somewhere else in Italy and making a day trip there.

There's plenty of travel related forums on the net. I'd suggest looking at them for advice.

[Furball]

What about Capri?