people who have vacationed to europe - first timer looking for some advice

[IndyColtsFan]

A 12 day vacation to Europe is not even worth it. I'd go for at least a month. By the time you get there, you're going to have to spend a day recovering from jet lag. Then the last day is spent packing and hanging out waiting for the plane ride home.

So, that gives you 10 days to visit the famous sights that everyone and their mother has seen a billion times.

Ignore this advice OP. 12 days in Europe is PLENTY to see lots of stuff and saying it isn't worth it is absurd.

 

[biostud]

Ignore this advice OP. 12 days in Europe is PLENTY to see lots of stuff and saying it isn't worth it is absurd.

To see some of Europe, just as you can see some of US in 10 days. Just narrow it down to one or two countries. And then instead of saying going to Europe, say go to Spain, France and Italy.

 

[Malfeas]

my wife and i are heading to europe for the first time in august. we plan to go for like 11 or 12 days. we're taking 2 weeks off but want a few days to recover when coming back.

usually when i plan vacations they are to the carribean, and i have a laundry list of things that i want to do and see on those trips. it's also to see what hotels are in good locations and usually closer to the beach = better.

this trip we're doing because my wife has wanted to go there for the past 5+ years and now we're actually making it happen. the 2 places that are 100% on the list are paris and spain. in spain we'd like to see barcelona, madrid, and seville.

so the things that i'm really uncertain about to look for in these places is how to find a "good" hotel. i don't know anything about location in these places or what is considered the "good" areas to stay in with things to do close by. typically we like to stay in mid to high end hotels when traveling. but location is typically important too.

another thing i'm unsure about is traveling between countries. i have heard of the eurorail pass but haven't done much research on that. will this get me from france to spain?

and on that note - should we try to see more than 2 countries if we're going to be there for nearly 2 weeks? or will that feel too busy?

as for the flights, should we fly into france then fly out of spain? or should we find a way back to france then fly from the same airport we arrived in? typically when booking vacations we fly in/out of the same airport and just do "roundtrip" so i guess doing 2 separate one way flights is just something i'm not used to.

i'm sure i'll have more questions as things come up but for now that's all i got i think.

What a coincidence. My wife and I are vacationing in Europe for our first time this September. We are taking a Rick Steves "Best of Europe in 14 days" tour. We will be in Paris 3 days early before the tour starts, in order to catch sites that aren't on the tour. Also we timed it so that we could attend Oktoberfest in Munich.

 

[zinfamous]

What a coincidence. My wife and I are vacationing in Europe for our first time this September. We are taking a Rick Steves "Best of Europe in 14 days" tour. We will be in Paris 3 days early before the tour starts, in order to catch sites that aren't on the tour. Also we timed it so that we could attend Oktoberfest in Munich.

FYI: Oktoberfest in Munich these days is basically no different than any Oktoberfest you will find in any frat-littered US college town. You will be surrounded by American college students and tourists from the UK/Australia.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

What a coincidence. My wife and I are vacationing in Europe for our first time this September. We are taking a Rick Steves "Best of Europe in 14 days" tour. We will be in Paris 3 days early before the tour starts, in order to catch sites that aren't on the tour. Also we timed it so that we could attend Oktoberfest in Munich.

We went to Oktoberfest in 2014 - good thing to do once but I wouldn't do it again.

 

[iroast]

my wife is nicaraguan and came to the US when she was 13 so we won't have any language issues anywhere we go in spain.

i actually think majorca was one of the places she mentioned checking out too.

on vacation i like to go do stuff and see things. i do also like to relax a bit too, but i think having 12 days will let us balance it a good amount. when i go to the carribean though i'm not one of those people that will just sit on the beach all day every day then go to sleep, rinse repeat every day.

Definitely visit Majorca/Mallorca. Beautiful island with beautiful beaches and rich in history. Never been there, but from the pictures and articles, I definitely want to go there. Supposedly, Palma is where you should station if $ is an issue.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Definitely visit Majorca/Mallorca. Beautiful island with beautiful beaches and rich in history. Never been there, but from the pictures and articles, I definitely want to go there. Supposedly, Palma is where you should station if $ is an issue.

I'm going to Mallorca!

Any insights to the eastern side of the island away from Palma?

I'm staying at Hyatt's new hotel there opening next month.

http://mallorca.park.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html