European Tours Thread 4

[vhanya]

Got our Schegen visa from the Italian embassy. Ang tipid nila magbigay haha! Sakto lang sa insurance yung travel dates namin.

[Happypreggo]

Hello Mga Sis,

1st time to post here.

Would like to ask for tips on our trip this nov. Actually we will just be extending our trip kasi a client booked us for a wedding in Tuscany so we will be staying there for 7 days. We plan to visit France and Spain afterwards but we only have 5 whole days.the 6th day kasi we need to go back to Rome dun kasi exit point namin. Ano maganda unahin?mas ok ba train transfer or airplane?

can you suggest an itinerary?my husband wants to visit amsterdam pero mukhang malabo na.

I know masyado gipit sa oras but we needed to go back don kasi we have a  wedding shoot uli sa Pinas. We are just trying to maximize the free airfare from our client.

Thanka so much .

[vhanya]

5 whole days you can do France lang. Di kaya isama yung Spain coz anglayo nya unless you take the plane.

We're in Paris right now, last leg of our Europe trip. Paris pa lang there's so much to see! We're allotting 3 days sa sights. 1 whole day sa out of town and another day for shopping and to relax and meet friends.

[Happypreggo]

@vhanya thank you oo nga eh. We are planning to visit lang naman mga famous landmarks. Is 2 whole days kaya?

Then 2 whole day sa Barcelona. Since magkakatabi naman landmarks.

Am looking at opodo.com to check airplane fares to Barcelona. Di naman sya ganun ka expensive.it will also show/compare price for diff airlines.

[vhanya]

^kaya naman. Parang amazing race lang nga kayo

Check vueling.com for flights to Barcelona. Cheap lang naman and you can save time instead of taking the overnight train.

[Happypreggo]

Yun nga eh ok na din ako basta maganda pictures ko haha.sayang no extra time kaso. I don't want to super extend and macompromise wedding namin sa Pinas.

just checked vuelling din around 17€ the one na ryanair 4€ kaya lang checked it and walang reservation so unahan sa seating parang bus.

[caterpillar-girl]

^Note that regional airlines land far away from the city center. Example, to get to Paris, Ryanair lands in Beauvais airport, an hour or so from Paris city center. Wouldn't recommend it. Also, they're very strict with baggage allowance. Not sure about Vueling. We've tried Transavia from Venice to Paris so baka you can check that out.

Any special reason you need to go to France and Spain? If you just want to say you've been there and have your photo taken at a landmark, I guess you can do an Amazing Race sort of trip. Definitely take flights instead of trains. Drop one destination. Between France and Spain, I would drop Spain and just go to Paris. Then fly back to Rome for your departure. With your time constraint though, I suggest just exploring Italy. It's a beautiful country with lots of places to see.

[Happypreggo]

@caterpillar-girl noted sis. Really no idea kaya am actually doing research and checking out blogs.

My husband and I really wanted to visit Paris and Spain. Dream come true for us kasi specially makakapunta kami for free and will just think of our expenses sa hotel and food and tranportation transfer. So really want to make the most out of it. And yes, as photographers din very important samin ang magandang photos from diff landmarks. Will have to check again our priorities. Thanks sis.

[mama squeak!]

^you mentioned earlier that you'll be in Tuscany for a week? So I assume you'll be going to Florence, Siena, Pisa, etc? So those cities are off your list na.

I agree with the other ladies here, 5 days is not enough. If you really want to see Paris, concentrate on Paris then. If you can find cheap airfares then go for it. Try to get flights to either CDG (Charles De Gaulle) or ORY (Orly) because these are the nearest and easily accessible airports to Paris.

I would not discount overnight trains though. Sometimes the fares come out cheaper plus para ka na rin nag hotel ng one night. Travel is from 10-12 hours, leave around 9PM and arrive early morning in Paris. But check mo na rin what fits your budget and schedule.

If I may suggest and would second caterpillar-girl's suggestion, stay in Italy. There are so many beautiful  both popular and along the beaten path places there. Have you considered Milan? Day trip to the lakes i.e. Lake Como? Venice? Visit the colorful houses of Burano island or watch the glass makers of Murano (I have these in my blog)? Or hike along Cinque Terre? You as a photographer I'm sure know about the picturesque towns of CT. At marami pang iba!

I would save France and Spain for another trip. Unless you're into the Amazing Race kind of visit.

By the way, we have separate threads for France, Italy and Spain if you want to back read. It will surely help you in your planning.

[Happypreggo]

@mama squeak thanks so much. Yes we will stay in a villa in Tuscany for 7 days and visit other places din. Will consider that too na mag stay na lang sa italy to visit mga iba pang place. I'll discuss this to my husband. I just saw an opportunity to visit other countries kaya ko naisip na nag visit din ng Paris and Spain para masulit yung free airfare. If only we don't have a wedding na malapit sa sched namin will surely extend as much as we can hehe.

Thanks again.

[shegie_285]

^happypreggo i flew with ryanair last july and i remember hindi na kami nagworry sa pila dahil may allocated seat na. Before wala nga but they made loads of changes recently. I checked ryanair's website it said free of charge na ang seating when you check in online within 7 days of your flight. From Dublin kami, i assume same policy everywhere. Anyway hindi naman ganun kahassle kahit walang allocated seat pipila lang. And they allow one handcarry plus a small bag na din. Before isa lang talaga, need ipasok ang shoulder bag, if any, sa handcarry na trolley.

[112214bride]

hi sis vhanya
ilan days ang ibinigay sayo?

Got our Schegen visa from the Italian embassy. Ang tipid nila magbigay haha! Sakto lang sa insurance yung travel dates namin.

[vhanya]

Valid from Aug15-oct3. Max of 35 days. We submitted kasi 1 month itinerary. Our insurance naman covered until oct 3.

[Happypreggo]

@ shegie_285 thank you sis.sila may pinakamura na flight eh i saw one nga from Paris to Barcelona at 4£ hehe anyway pano yung mga big luggage.we have 1 20kg. Check in na yun right?may additional fee din?salamat

[vhanya]

^yes checkin luggage yan you have to pay extra

[mama squeak!]

If you are planning on taking low cost carriers expect to pay for everything from check-in bags, seats, meals, etc.  even if you want to board the aircraft first babayad ka. That is how low cost carriers operate and that is how they make money.

[Happypreggo]

^thanks everyone.natawa ako sa questkon ko about check-in.even in pinas paid naman talaga sya.napraning lang siguro ako while working on our itinerary.

@mama squeak super thank you. Buong araw yata yesterday was only reading your blog. Nakakainspire!

[mama squeak!]

^thank you for visiting my blog sis! That's one of my goals why I created my blog, to inspire my readers to travel. And it's something to remind my husband and I of our adventures when we're old and gray.

Happy trip!

[Happypreggo]

^It also helps me decide to stay in Paris only for 5 days and maybe a daytrip to Amsterdam just to satisfy my husband since he really wants to see it.

You're so blessed to be able to travel in beautiful places with husband pa..thank you talaga. Enjoy the rest of your trips. Di ako nagkamali basahin mga thread dito sa Gtalk super back read hehe.

[shegie_285]

^ sis nasagot na tanong mo. 20kgs nga ang checkin bag (may bayad) then ang handcarry 10kilos (free). ryanair is not strict with weight ng handcarry, sa measurement lang ng bag. Not sure sa check in dahil we havent checked in bags with ryanair.

Yes ryanair is really cheap kaya madalas ryanair din kami ng husband ko. Mas siksik lang ang space and less comfortable ang seat but for an hour or two flight carry na.

I see you decided to stay in Paris.  Okay yan para makita and ma-experience nyo talaga Paris.  Was in Paris for three days before sobrang bitin. I need to go back.