Europe experts??

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

A couple friends and I are planning several days in London over Thanksgiving this year. We know 100% sure that's our main destination. Here's the questions for you guys with international travel experience since two of us have never been to Europe before and the third has only done missions as an English teacher to Romania.

We are planning a quick trip to one of four cities. British Airlines overs flights including taxes and fees from London to many cities that are affordable. Each roundtrip would be less than $200. The Italian cities are closer to $110 each.

1. Paris - an hour and ten minutes one way. Seems like a very cool city.

2. Amsterdam - an hour one way. Interested in Anne Frank, etc.

3. Rome - another cool city

4. Venice - cool city, but my grandmother was born and raised in Udine, which is an hour by train. I could see family members whom I have never met, but would this destination be selfish of me to the other two people going?

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

Oh yea... and I did some google searching. Do you guys know where I could request printed brochures? I tried the main sites but most is electronic. I am sorta old fashioned and like to read actualy printed material as I am lying in bed or watching TV.

[kevin]

Barcelonia was a Awesome experiance as well Munich,etc.

[firefly]

I belong to Charlton Heston's fan club. One of the members just got back from a trip to England. She wanted to see the Dorchester Hotel where Mr. Heston has stayed on several occasions. She said that prices are totally absurd in London! She said that a local(also a CH fan on the website) told her to stay in a hotel outside of London because they were much cheaper. She said that "High Tea" which consisted of a cup of tea & some sort of muffin or scone was $22!!! She had "High Tea" 3 times while she was there. I hope that this info is helpful to you.

[sackett22]

I can give you some pretty good info on Amsterdam. Just let me know, what you want to know.

[pinkytuscadero]

While I am no expert, I can tell you that the train trips are great. \While my main destination was London, I took a train to Scotland, then rented a car and drove all the way back down to London. I loved the countryside.

Bath, England is gorgeous to see for the Roman baths and fabulous architectural sites.http://visitbath.co.uk/imageresizer/?image=%2Fdmsimgs%2FRoman%2DBaths%2DDay%2Ejpg&action=ProductMain I think that was about an hour drive. 15=16 years ago.

In my opinion, it would be great to go to Venice and get the chance to met your extended family. Not only would your friends be welcomed, they would be probably be excited.

If those four are your options, get in touch with the family now, and ask them if you can come through and meet them. I'll bet you'll be pleased at how receptive they will be to meeting your Grandmother's "people".

[marion]

All I can say is that Paris is absolutely awesome. There's so much there you'll be wishing you could stay longer. I spent around two weeks and didn't get to see and do everything I wanted to.

On another note, I never been to Italy but I've always wanted to go and to meet family members you've never met would be awesome. I can understand your frustration with "dragging" your friends along but personally, getting out of the big cities might be a good thing for the group, if you can get them to see it that way.

When I went to Paris, we also took a few days to visit the countryside and smaller cities and towns in the Loire Valley and Normandy. While Paris was awesome, it was a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life and things are much different there as well. I have to say a walk through the wheatfields and scenery of the French countryside, as simple as it is, has to be one of the best experiences of my life. Plus, if you know people there they can show you the things that aren't in the tourist guides.

[ComputerDude]

I absolutely loved Rome when I went. However I was only seventeen at the time so I'm sure if I went now the experience would be very different.

[dollfus46]

A couple friends and I are planning several days in London over Thanksgiving this year. We know 100% sure that's our main destination. Here's the questions for you guys with international travel experience since two of us have never been to Europe before and the third has only done missions as an English teacher to Romania.

We are planning a quick trip to one of four cities. British Airlines overs flights including taxes and fees from London to many cities that are affordable. Each roundtrip would be less than $200. The Italian cities are closer to $110 each.

1. Paris - an hour and ten minutes one way. Seems like a very cool city.

2. Amsterdam - an hour one way. Interested in Anne Frank, etc.

3. Rome - another cool city

4. Venice - cool city, but my grandmother was born and raised in Udine, which is an hour by train. I could see family members whom I have never met, but would this destination be selfish of me to the other two people going?

My family began in Mulhouse, France. I've always wanted to go there to see it. Not my immediate family but the Dollfus tree. All our records were destroyed during WWII by German bombs. But I have a copy the Dollfus Book going back to 1400. Before that word of mouth is we were nomads in North Africa. I had an artist in Atlanta do an original painting of my family crest.

[dollfus46]

I've only been to a couple of resorts south of the border, so I'm not a world traveler. I'd love to buy a house trailer and just take off and spend a year or two touring the U.S. I don't have any interest in touring the world.

[onlyme]

A couple friends and I are planning several days in London over Thanksgiving this year. We know 100% sure that's our main destination. Here's the questions for you guys with international travel experience since two of us have never been to Europe before and the third has only done missions as an English teacher to Romania.

We are planning a quick trip to one of four cities. British Airlines overs flights including taxes and fees from London to many cities that are affordable. Each roundtrip would be less than $200. The Italian cities are closer to $110 each.

1. Paris - an hour and ten minutes one way. Seems like a very cool city.

2. Amsterdam - an hour one way. Interested in Anne Frank, etc.

3. Rome - another cool city

4. Venice - cool city, but my grandmother was born and raised in Udine, which is an hour by train. I could see family members whom I have never met, but would this destination be selfish of me to the other two people going?

I have been to all four cities and my favorite is Amsterdam although you really can't go wrong with any of them. Paris and Rome are a bit too hectic for my taste and Venice is a bit overrated. All cities, London included, will probably have lousy weather in November so be prepared and pack your brollies and wellies ;)

[amanda]

Sir Mikey, you may want to pick up Fodor's Europe. It is full of wonderful information and you will be "up to speed" in no time. :) Sounds like a blast - have a ball!

[endofthetrail]

I have been to all four cities and my favorite is Amsterdam although you really can't go wrong with any of them. Paris and Rome are a bit too hectic for my taste and Venice is a bit overrated. All cities, London included, will probably have lousy weather in November so be prepared and pack your brollies and wellies ;)
I agree. But Venice is a LOT overrated