European Tours Thread 4

[mama squeak!]

^sis, for your Qs about Pisa and other cities in Italy, let's continue our discussion in the Italy thread para di OT. If you also backread on the Italy thread there are tips about sightseeing in Pisa.

[ileina]

Hi everyone, here's my Europe itinerary for May 2015 honeymoon. I have a 2 days free between London and Paris in case ma bump off yung flight namin since my ticket is a buddy pass gift from my mom in law. Any suggestions?

Pls also comment if we have enough time. So far 4 cities (possibly +1) for 18 days.
 
1 day - Manila to London via PAL
2 days - optional trip between London and Paris (any suggestions? Brussels? Amsterdam?)
3 days - Paris (then sleeper train to Venice)
3 days - Venice
4 days - Rome (then fly back to London)
4 days - London
1 day - London to Manila via PAL

We are going to festival in London, watch Les Mis the musical and the usual sights in Paris and Italy cities. First trip so we won't go the less visited sites yet.

Leigh

[bzbee]

Sis Chili1113,
We've already booked our flight to celebrate the holiday there. Dec 21~Jan6, Italy then France. nung nag check kasi ako ng Venice weather sa accuweather for December 24, High: 4°C Low:-2°C naka lagay. we're also aware that 4:30pm palang madilim na kaya limited ang sightseeing time. Kaya I want to make the most out of day time sana. Ang problema ko lang kung kakayanin ko yung lamig. di kami sanay sa lamig. ngayon palang kami makaka experience ng ganun ka lamig and no idea on what to wear. Ilan patong kaya ng damit yun?

hi sis! please share how your europe vacation goes. also planning to go there dec-jan next year for our honeymoon but we're having second thoughts because of the winter weather, hindi rin kasi ako sanay sa lamig.

[Chili1113]

^ sis Ileina, between Amsterdam and Brussels, I find Amsterdam more interesting. Then you can take a day trip to see the windmills in Zaanse Schans or visit Volendam and Marken. Brussels is OK lang, and we found Bruges to be even more enjoyable.

However I see that you've only alotted 3 days in Paris. For many people that isn't enough especially if you will shop and spend time at the museums (fave is Orsay and Lourve). And because Paris is so big, it takes time to get from one place to another. Plus you might want to spend a day in Versailles also.

 But if that's enough for you then I suggest going to Amsterdam. Even if you dont have time to see the windmills in Zaanse Schans etc... the city itself is very interesting and colorful. Lots of museums and the culture is unique.

[little_princess]

ileina, Brussels can be done in a day, even half a day if you are just staying in the city.

However, coming from London, Amsterdam is an hour plane ride and you'd have to travel to the airport pa. Brussels is just about 2 hours from central London via train.

Viena can be done overnight and 4 days in London might be too tight. My family will be visiting us there for 11 days and they will be missing out on a lot of things still.

[mama squeak!]

@bzbee, if you're not sanay with cold weather and you haven't made firm plans yet I would suggest you go during spring time (late March to early May) instead of winter. The air fares and hotels are not yet that expensive as compared to summer. Plus it won't be as cold as winter, still cool (15-20C during the day, warmer in the south EU areas) but definitely tolerable. Mas mag-eenjoy pa kayo sa pag-ikot ng husband mo.


@ileina with 18 days and a round trip ticket to London, I would suggest this IT or any variation you see fit:

Day 1  Departure MNL/LHR

Day 2  Arrive LHR 3PM. London (1st night)

Day 3-5  London (3 nights)

Day 6  Take morning Eurostar (St. Pancras) to Paris (Gare du Nord), approximately 2 hours 30 minutes travel time. Paris (1st night)

Day 7-9 Paris (3 nights)

Day 10  Option A - take a one-hour plane ride to Rome via Easyjet or other EU low cost carriers.
            Option B  - take the overnight train to Rome. If you take this option you still have the whole day in Paris. Maybe visit Versailles or Fontainebleau during the day. The trains leave Paris usually at 10PM.

Day 11-13  Rome (3 nights)

Day 14  Train from Rome to Venice, approximately 3 hours. Venice (1st night)

Day 15-16  Venice (2 nights)

Day 17  Fly back to London to connect to PAL flight LHR/MNL at 6PM.

You said your mom-in-law will give you the trip pass on PAL? Maybe you can ask her na rin if she can apply for interline travel on AF, LH or KLM for you and your hubby para tipid na kayo sa train and just fly. Yun nga lang since it will be staff travel, standby mode kayo. But if alanganin your in-between travels, try to abang promo fares on the trains or low cost carriers in EU. The deals usually come out 3 months prior to departure dates for the trains, earlier for flights on Easyjet etal.

    

 

[Chili1113]

^ nice itinerary sis mama squeak! I agree, flying is easier and sometimes even cheaper than the train.

sis Iliena - I havent taken the overnight train from Paris to Venice, but Ive experienced taking an overnight sleeper train from Krakow to Prague because flights were too expensive. OMG... never again. Di kami nakatulog. To make a long story short it, wasnt a pleasant experience for us and we vowed never to do it again.

[bagaholic_chewy]

Kami naman tried the overnight trains na - Paris-Madrid and Barcelona-Paris routes. Since it was our "honeymoon" (though 5mos after the wedding na. Haha), we opted for the first class cabins. Hubby & I had our own room with our own shower and WC. Me towels and basic amenities din, including ear plugs and eye cover. Dinner and breakfast included. It was a nice experience.

[Chili1113]

^ good for you sis hehe Perhaps the trains that run through Eastern Europe aren't as nice. Back in 2012 we couldnt also cannot book online and had to buy tickets at the station. We flew in from Budapest to Krakow and the same day we got there bought tickets for the overnight train from Krakow to Prague. Goodness, 4 days before departure all the 1st class cabins were already sold out (price diff was only about 10-15 Euro per person for 1st class vs 2nd class). We had no choice but to get the 2nd class 4 berth cabins, so we had roomies pa in our tiny cabin!! The train was full of noisy drunk backpackers and we didnt get to sleep a wink hehe It was an interesting experience though. But medyo traumatizing for us.

[mama squeak!]

^Thanks, sis! 

Sad naman to hear your unfortunate experience with an overnight train. Hubby and I naman love taking the trains in Europe. Like bagaholic_chewy, we take first class. Ang standard ko kasi if a train ride will take more than 3 hours, we'll do first class. I try to make abang their promo deals since you can get first class fares for the price of second class fares. Some sleeper trains have their own shower/WC in their first class compartments while some bunk beds lang with a common shower/WC per carriage.

For the ultimate train ride experience, I would suggest taking the Orient Express. What an experience! Hubby and I did the Venice to Paris route for his 50th birthday. God willing we can do the Paris to Istanbul route for my 50th naman, ipon ipon muna in the meantime. 

[vhanya]

We always take the plane if the train ride is more than 5 hours =) More often the plain fare is cheaper than the train ticket haha!

Our recent Europe trip, we took the plane from Rome to Budapest and from Prague to Amsterdam.
In trains naman, ok na 2nd and first class especially the Italian and Eurostar and Thalys trains.

[Chili1113]

^^ oh my!! Sis Mama Squeak It's on my bucket list to do the Orient Express. That Paris-Istanbul route sounds amazing. Hmmmmm You just gave me an idea for my Honeymoon in 2016 hehe (We're supposed to do Africa for a safari, but fiance doesnt want to do it if the Ebola issue gets worse) It's so expensive to do the Orient Express, but perhaps I can justify the cost it being a honeymoon journey HAHA. 

I love trains in Europe too and prefer it to flying, unless the rides are too long. I noticed though that the Eastern Europe trains are way older and less comfy.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^^ naku @mama_squeak hanggang pangarap lang muna namin ang Orient Express. Mahalia e. Hehe..

Back in 2008, we decided to take the overnight trains mainly for experience. Nakatulog naman kami ng maayos. Pagsakay namin, naka-setup pa as seats. Pagbalik namin from dinner, nakaset-up na ang beds. Sa morning naman, after breakfast e nakaset-up na ulit as seats pagbalik namin from the resto. Medyo mahal din (we booked in advance about a month yata, after we got our visa), pero inisip na lang namin na part na rin dun yung dapat cost ng hotel for those nights. And, "honeymoon" naman din, plus something new for the both of us.

Kami nga lang ata yung nasa (late) 20s and Asians sa first-class that time e. Karamihan ng mga nakasabay namin sa restaurant during dinner and breakfast e mostly businessmen and middle-aged couples, esp for the Paris-Madrid leg. Kami lang naka-casual sa resto, yung iba naka-longsleeves, me naka-suit pa. But in fairness, the butler and waiters were still nice to us. Nung una medyo na-shy pa kami, hehe..

In 2012, we took naman budget airline flights for our Rome-Prague-Rome sidetrip. Tyagaan lang maghanap online ng pinakamurang flight within our desired time frame.

[supladitang cute]

How much do I have to prepare if I want to go to London, Paris and Italy for 2 weeks. Accomodation to London for 5 days is free c/o sister?

[mama squeak!]

^Really depends. What's your travel style? Budget or splurge? Will you be traveling alone or with someone else? When will you be traveling? Lean or peak season?

[bzbee]

@bzbee, if you're not sanay with cold weather and you haven't made firm plans yet I would suggest you go during spring time (late March to early May) instead of winter. The air fares and hotels are not yet that expensive as compared to summer. Plus it won't be as cold as winter, still cool (15-20C during the day, warmer in the south EU areas) but definitely tolerable. Mas mag-eenjoy pa kayo sa pag-ikot ng husband mo.

mama squeak! thank you sa inputs. ask ko na din, if sa ganitong itinerary kasya na kaya ang 10k usd for 2 persons? h2b and i are also considering packaged tours (globus, cosmos, etc) but i want to know our options din if mag diy na lang kami. TIA!

[mama squeak!]

^sis I think better to do a breakdown of expenses starting from the major ones down to the lesser ones.

Assuming you will be out for 21 days (3 weeks) like the IT I wrote and you will be traveling during non-peak season:

Estimate Airfare on economy (highly restricted RT)  $1000.00 X 2  =  $2000.00

4 nights in London (rent an apartment, it's cheaper) $130 X 4  = $520.00  **I've seen some studio apartments in airbnb going for $121/night++

3 nights Paris (rent an apartment)  $85 X 3  = $255 **I've rented an apartment there at roughly EUR70/night. You can still get something cheaper depende na lang sa preference/standard nyo.

3 nights Rome (rent an apartment) $85-100 x 3 = $300 (peg it at $100/night na lang)

2 nights Venice (since you'll only have two nights you might not be able to rent an apartment since most of them have a minimum 3-night stay)  $150 x 2 = $300 (usually 2-star hotels)

Train fare on Eurostar London to Paris (early bird promos)  $55 X 2 = $110

Easyjet Paris to Rome (early bird promos) $60 x 2 = $120

Train Rome to Venice   $35 X 2 = $70

Easyjet Venice to London $60 X 2 = $120


So sa major expenses nyo nasa $3795 or sarado mo na sa $4000.00 That leaves you with $6000 (a lot!) for the miscellaneous expenses like entrance fees, local transpo, food and shopping. Baka may sukli ka pa kung di naman kayo magastos.

I would DIY it. Of course it would take a lot of patience and careful planning but it will be truly worth it. Good luck!

 

[ileina]

@ileina with 18 days and a round trip ticket to London, I would suggest this IT or any variation you see fit:

Sorry, I just checked girltalk now but thanks so much! I have less time in Paris but it's okay we're only going to Louvre and Eiffel. Thanks a lot!

[bzbee]

^sis I think better to do a breakdown of expenses starting from the major ones down to the lesser ones.

Assuming you will be out for 21 days (3 weeks) like the IT I wrote and you will be traveling during non-peak season:

Estimate Airfare on economy (highly restricted RT)  $1000.00 X 2  =  $2000.00

4 nights in London (rent an apartment, it's cheaper) $130 X 4  = $520.00  **I've seen some studio apartments in airbnb going for $121/night++

3 nights Paris (rent an apartment)  $85 X 3  = $255 **I've rented an apartment there at roughly EUR70/night. You can still get something cheaper depende na lang sa preference/standard nyo.

3 nights Rome (rent an apartment) $85-100 x 3 = $300 (peg it at $100/night na lang)

2 nights Venice (since you'll only have two nights you might not be able to rent an apartment since most of them have a minimum 3-night stay)  $150 x 2 = $300 (usually 2-star hotels)

Train fare on Eurostar London to Paris (early bird promos)  $55 X 2 = $110

Easyjet Paris to Rome (early bird promos) $60 x 2 = $120

Train Rome to Venice   $35 X 2 = $70

Easyjet Venice to London $60 X 2 = $120


So sa major expenses nyo nasa $3795 or sarado mo na sa $4000.00 That leaves you with $6000 (a lot!) for the miscellaneous expenses like entrance fees, local transpo, food and shopping. Baka may sukli ka pa kung di naman kayo magastos.

I would DIY it. Of course it would take a lot of patience and careful planning but it will be truly worth it. Good luck!

 

this is awesome! thank you so much mama squeak! pwede pa kaya namin isingit swiss alps? hehe. this is really helpful. will try to do more research based on this. thanks again!

[kho_leen]

Hi everyone!

Hubby will take me to his company trip to London on Feb 15-19.

He has been to ireland last year but it's my first time in Europe.

Both of us don't have UK visa and schenzen visa yet.  The travel agency for the London trip will schedule our embassy appearance pa lang.  We intend to apply a schenzen visa as well.

We intend to have DIY trip to Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam then Italy - Venice, Florence (outlet shopping), Pisa (picture at the tower only) & Rome.

Kaya ba ang DIY trip namin for 2wks only? 


TIA.