Europe travel

[migrant]

Thinking of a trip to Europe. Initial stages so not sure where yet. First trip so we want to visit a couple places. I've heard of the Europass a long time ago, is it still in effect? Is train the best way?

Obviously without destinations I can't ask for details, but thinking would like to see London, Paris and any other areas near by. Looking at a 2 week trip

Any, and all, recommendations appreciated

[caller]

It would take 2 weeks to just do those two cities! Two of my favourites. Use Eurotunnel for travel between the two. To avoid lots of travel, as you say, go somewhere else nearby. Perhaps north to somewhere like Amsterdam, or somewhere in Switzerland. Or head North from London to Edinburgh. Another great City and easily manageable on foot.

[STEVE G]

If you want to travel by rail, you could cover most of the major cities in Northern Europe in two weeks but I would consider avoiding London as it's a bit out on a limb. You could do something like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdamn, Hamburg, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Zurich.

[Big Boy]

I would think avoiding the UK could be easier, in terms of visas as well.

[Blacky]

I would also include Salzburg....wonderful city!

https://www.salzburg.info/en

Cheers,
B.

[MDMK]

It might be worth playing around with your airline if railtravel in Europe is what you want to do. Instead of flying in and out of the same airport (or country) ... if you chose an airline like Emirates (but there are others) then you could for instance fly into say Austria .. travel through Austria Germany France Belgium and Holland. Flying out of Holland back to Thailand. That way you never have to double back on your own tracks.

[caller]

If you want to travel by rail, you could cover most of the major cities in Northern Europe in two weeks but I would consider avoiding London as it's a bit out on a limb. You could do something like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdamn, Hamburg, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Zurich.

But you won't see hardly anything or get to savour the atmosphere of a place. It's just like having a tick-box - done, done, done.

[Ginjaninja]

Get hold of a motorbike and ride anywhere around the Alps.....


GN.

[handdrummer]

It would take 2 weeks to just do those two cities! Two of my favourites. Use Eurotunnel for travel between the two. To avoid lots of travel, as you say, go somewhere else nearby. Perhaps north to somewhere like Amsterdam, or somewhere in Switzerland. Or head North from London to Edinburgh. Another great City and easily manageable on foot.

This is the best advice here. I lived in Paris for 3 months and could have stayed for years and not seen enough. If you're an art lover the museums alone could occupy a week. Check out Rick Steve's website. His travel advice and books are excellent. Especially what to pack and what to leave out. Great itineraries for short visits, hotels and restaurants for every budget. Have a great trip!

[Nereus]

Used to be a good economical way the travel, but with the huge increase in available services and better competition from airlines, it may not be now. But still a good way to see mare of the countryside.

If you go the Switzerland the Jungfraujoch is a MUST do!

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes ... sYQAvD_BwE

And what time of the year do you have in mind?

[redzonerocker]

Two weeks will really be a whistle stop tour.

You would really struggle to see much of the capital cities, if for obvious reasons, London and Paris are top of the list.
Apart from those two, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Rome, Barcelona, Bratislava and Dublin are all worth a visit.

There are many other cities and regions across Europe worth visiting, if you had the time as have been mentioned by other posters.
I'm sure there will be plenty of helpful suggestions once you have a plan in motion.

[STEVE G]

If you want to travel by rail, you could cover most of the major cities in Northern Europe in two weeks but I would consider avoiding London as it's a bit out on a limb. You could do something like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdamn, Hamburg, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Zurich.

But you won't see hardly anything or get to savour the atmosphere of a place. It's just like having a tick-box - done, done, done.

In my younger days, I did 30 days around continental Europe on the trains, it was a brilliant experience although I wouldn't do it now as extreme as we did it then, sight seeing in the day and sleeping on trains through the night!

[PeteC]

I been told that wearing tan khaki long pants is a dead giveaway that you're a Yank. Beware! I used to wear them all over the place there in the 80's and it seemed like locals were wearing them also. So, things have changed or the whole thing is BS. Pete

[caller]

In my younger days, I did 30 days around continental Europe on the trains, it was a brilliant experience although I wouldn't do it now as extreme as we did it then, sight seeing in the day and sleeping on trains through the night!

I did the same thing myself Steve, in the inter railing days, even went over to Morocco as part of the package. But I'd already discovered Asia by then.

[migrant]

Thanks for the ideas! Please keep them coming! I didn't mention my wife has a US passport.

I think in the two weeks we want to limit to 2-4 towns in order to at least hit the high points