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#1
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Looking for travel advice
Hello,
I am looking to arrange a honeymoon trip to Europe at the end of September (~27th). We will have about a month to travel, we will be flying out of Vancouver, BC - and our basic plan is to fly into Rome and travel throughout Italy, Spain and Portugal and then fly home from Lisbon. I don't have a lot of experience planning trips like this so I am looking for advice on the best way to pull this off. I have visited travel agents but right now they are basically telling me that its still to early to be planning for that time. One travel agent gave me a price for the two flights (Vancouver-Rome; Lisbon-Vancouver) at around $1300/ticket (CDN$). I have also been checking Expedia and Travelocity, and they seem to be offering higher prices than this. Others have recommended we fly round-trip to London to make it cheaper and use London as the start and end-points of our trip. While it would be nice to include London, I don't want to plan too much for one trip. I feel like we would waste a significant amount of time getting to Rome from London and then getting back to London at the end. While I am looking for the cheapest option, I don't want to waste any of our travel time just to save a few bucks. If anyone has any advice or any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your help, Mike. |
#2
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Looking for travel advice
In article , MJL
wrote: I am looking to arrange a honeymoon trip to Europe at the end of September (~27th). We will have about a month to travel, we will be flying out of Vancouver, BC - and our basic plan is to fly into Rome and travel throughout Italy, Spain and Portugal and then fly home from Lisbon. My instinct is that this is a little ambitious, depending on what places you intend to visit in the three countries. For example, when I traveled through Spain, I had two weeks planned and still didn't get to see as much as I wanted. The same goes for Italy (two weeks just for Rome, Florence and Venice). Personally, one month is probably just enough time travel all through Italy alone. But you can definitely make it work if you are specific in what cities/towns you want to visit. Since you'll be on a honeymoon, you'd want to travel at a more leisurly pace, I am sure. I have visited travel agents but right now they are basically telling me that its still to early to be planning for that time. Others have recommended we fly round-trip to London to make it cheaper and use London as the start and end-points of our trip. While it would be nice to include London, I don't want to plan too much for one trip. I feel like we would waste a significant amount of time getting to Rome from London and then getting back to London at the end. It could be that it's still too early to get the fall rates for airfares, but the London option isn't really that time consuming. From London, you can fly out to a city and come back from another easily. For instance, fly from London to Rome, and then come back from Barcelona. Just need to use low-cost airlines like easyjet or something. On the other hand, I am extremely biased, and I always recommend stopping by London. I love London (I wish I still live there!) and it's a nice way to spend a couple of days there having a few pints at some pub before I return home from my trip. But that's obviously a personal choice. Hope this helps! -Vicky |
#3
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Looking for travel advice
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#4
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Looking for travel advice
MJL wrote:
Others have recommended we fly round-trip to London to make it cheaper and use London as the start and end-points of our trip. While it would be nice to include London, I don't want to plan too much for one trip. I feel like we would waste a significant amount of time getting to Rome from London and then getting back to London at the end. While I am looking for the cheapest option, I don't want to waste any of our travel time just to save a few bucks. This is exactly right. (And would you really "save a few bucks" when all is said and done?) I mean, London is one of the world's great places, but if it is not on your short list don't go there this time. If anyone has any advice or any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it. It's hard to advise without knowing what you want to do or how you like to travel. Here are a few tentative thoughts. Don't shortchange the countryside! Adding a few days in hills, mountains, or by the sea can also provide a welcome change of pace in the middle of an ambitious fast-paced itinerary such as yours. If you are splitting your time between Italy and Iberia, you have about two weeks in each place. That is a nice amount of time, but you will still have to pick and choose. What are your priorities? How will you travel to Spain from Italy? It is a long train ride, depending on where you are leaving from. Another poster suggested flying to Barcelona--a good plan if you can afford it. Getting to Portugal from Spain is not as straightforward as you might think, either, at least from the south. So, I suggest saving Madrid (and Toledo) until after you've seen what you want to see in Andalucia and the south. If this doesn't work for you consider flying. In Spain, I'd suggest several days in Granada. In Portugal, visit Sintra. I've done this as a day trip from Lisbon, but I think it would make an especially romantic place to spend a night or two. I don't know if any of these ideas speak to you. Have a great trip! |
#5
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Looking for travel advice
Thanks for all the advice,
As far as our travel habits, we are open to experiencing more than just the big cities. I've never been to Europe myself so personally everything will be new to me. I am hoping we will be able to rent a car to travel around, it seems like the most convenient way of doing things. Italy is our prime objective... from everyone's suggestions, I would be inclined to spend the entire month in Italy, and maybe head to some of the islands in the Mediterranean instead of going to Spain and Portugal... I want to have a good mix of sight-seeing and relaxation. Maybe spend a week laying on the beach somewhere in the middle of some action-packed travelling. Does the price I was quoted from the travel agent ($1300 CDN) seem about right for the tickets, or should I hold out for a better price? Thanks again, Mike. |
#6
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Looking for travel advice
In article , MJL
wrote: Italy is our prime objective... from everyone's suggestions, I would be inclined to spend the entire month in Italy, and maybe head to some of the islands in the Mediterranean instead of going to Spain and Portugal... I want to have a good mix of sight-seeing and relaxation. Maybe spend a week laying on the beach somewhere in the middle of some action-packed travelling. That sounds like a great trip...fitting for a honeymoon!! I am sure you'll have a great time. Does the price I was quoted from the travel agent ($1300 CDN) seem about right for the tickets, or should I hold out for a better price? Doesn't seem too expensive to me (flying from Vancouver to Rome, right?), but then again, doesn't seem cheap either. Maybe you can hold out a little longer to wait for some special deals to pop up. -Vicky |
#7
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Looking for travel advice
MJL wrote:
Thanks for all the advice, As far as our travel habits, we are open to experiencing more than just the big cities. I've never been to Europe myself so personally everything will be new to me. I am hoping we will be able to rent a car to travel around, it seems like the most convenient way of doing things. It's nice to have a car *except* when you are going to spend time in a city, where it is an encumbrance. So if you were planing to see (for instance) Rome, Florence, and Venice, and also see some of Tuscany or Umbria, you might want to (1) see Rome, (2) rent a car there when you are ready to leave and see the countryside a bit, returning the car (3) in Florence. When done in Florence, (4) take a train to Venice. That's meant as an illustrative example, not necessarily what you want to do. Italy is our prime objective... from everyone's suggestions, I would be inclined to spend the entire month in Italy, and maybe head to some of the islands in the Mediterranean instead of going to Spain and Portugal... I think you could have a wonderful trip doing this, if you or your spouse would not feel short-changed by skipping Spain and Portugal. Or, if you want to go beyond Italy, not necessarily to Iberia, consider a week in Provence or Switzerland. |
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