1

Welcome to Thorn Tree.

It seems Paris and Venice are musts for you. Barcelona (supposing that's what you mean by "Barca"), Athens and Nafplio are out of the way, so adding those to Paris+Venice only results in spending a lot of your precious and limited time between places. Athens is also about the opposite of what I would consider "romantic", by the way.

Since you have only 10-12 days (please specify - it does make a difference, and it's also important to know if this includes your arrival and departure days; besides, if you arrive from a different time zone, don't expect to do too much on your first days because of jet lag), I'd recommend you start your trip in Paris and fly back home from Venice. For the remaining 3-6 days, find destinations that are more or less on, or perhaps involve a short detour from, the Paris-Venice route. Take a look at a map and get a guidebook to find a few places that appeal to you, feel free to post here if you need feedback.

2

Thanks a lot.

I am looking for 10-12 nights. I understand the jet lag problem. So, suppose i start from Paris I can stick to my room on that day or just visit cafes or some other stuffs..
So as per your suggestion:
4 days paris
2 days venice
4-5 days days rome/barcelona/florence

Is this ok? can you help me decide for the last 4-5 days..Rome and Florence looks pretty near to me. So as you said i can cut down on travelling 2...wat do u suggest?

Thanks in advance

3

In case it has any influence, Venice Carnevale is early this year around the second weekend in February

4

Weather is not such a big issue. Dress for the temperature, bring an umbrella, and don't plan on going to the beach ..

I agree with #1 that if Paris and Venice are your priorities, then go there. It's your trip, do what you want. Romance, of course, is very much a personal fantasy. I've always thought that both Paris and Venice are very good places for atmospheric wandering around. You might need more luck with the weather in Venice .. Paris is easier if the it's rainy.

Good food is anywhere, it depends on the restaurant you're in (I don't have a good feeling for why people mention 'food'). Paris will have more variety to choose music and so on. It sounds like you will prefer a bigger city. In that case:


sounds as though it will suit you. I'd use the other days for day-trips from these two locations.

Edited by: BthDth
I see you added something while I was typing. Two stops sounded OK to me. You're now starting to add too many destinations, taking up too much time getting around. So the planning is going in the wrong direction. It's a common 'mistake'. If you make it, you will probably enjoy your trip anyway, so it's no disaster. You will just be more tired and will not have clear memories of anywhere.

5

4-5 days days rome/barcelona/florence
Barcelona is nowhere near Paris or Venice, so it doesn't make sense to add it. You could fly out of Rome instead of Venice.

Rome and Florence looks pretty near to me
Approximate journey times by high-speed train:

• Venice-Florence 2 hours 8 minutes
• Venice-Rome 3 hours 47 minutes
• Florence-Rome 1 hour 31 minutes

This does not include waiting time and time to get to/from your hotel

With this in mind, your itinerary might look like this:

Day 1 Arrival in Paris
Day 2 Paris
Day 3 Paris
Day 4 Paris; night train to Venice (or take an early flight on day 5)
Day 5 Arrival in Venice
Day 6 Venice
Day 7 Travel to Florence
Day 8 Florence
Day 9 Travel to Rome by morning train
Day 10 Rome
Day 11 Rome
Day 12 Fly home

You'd do more justice to Rome and Venice if you'd skip Florence and add 1 day each to the other two. But in the end, how much time you need for a city depends on what you want to see and do there.

6

Thanks every1 for the inputs.

After reading your suggestions and reading here and there, I felt i shud drop paris(though i really wanted to go :( and look to cover only Italy.

Please check this out and also can you add how to travel between destinations or any other feedbacks. if u can suggest or add short day visit to places to it , please do so.

Here it is:

From 10th to 21st February, 2013(Just keeping carnival in mind. I can start the trip the other way around also)

Day 1: Fly from India to Venice. Leave this day Open( Early Morning Flight . Reach by Afternoon).

Day 2: Venice

Day 3: Venice

Day 4: Venice to Florence. Keep luggage in station and take a local train to Pisa Visit Pisa and back. Stay in Florence. (Please suggest timings. What time I shud Venice so that i can do justice to Pisa. Is it too ambitious? Or i can go to Florence and leave to Pisa next day???)

Day 5: Florence

Day 6: Florence

Day 7: Florence

Day 8: Leave for Rome(Florence to Rome by Train)

Day 9: Rome

Day 10: Rome

Day 11: Rome to India( Leave by afternoon. ) .

Please add or comment on the same.

regards,
Nikesh

7

This is a good example of how you are creating a problem and worrying for no reason. Day 4, stay in Florence. Relax. Enjoy the trip. You will be in Florence for 3 more days -- pick one of them for a day trip to Pisa.

8

Thanks . I thought so :)

Any other suggestions you would like to add in this or shud I stick to this.