Help!!!! First time planning trip to Europe
So, planning a trip to take my dad to the homeland of Aalborg Denmark this October (I know, it's like the commercial!!). Will also be taking my wife who has always dreamed of seeing Paris. Planning a 10-12 day trip. Here is what I'm thinking. Fly to Paris spend ~ 3 days in Paris, Fly/Train to Copenhagen spend 2 days. Then train to Aalborg and spend 2 days. That leaves me with a few extra days. Where else would make sense to see, with those musts on the itinerary? How difficult would it be to see London? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Mike
Saskatoon 2/7/10
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Keep in mind that you will eat up at least half a day everytime that you change places. The days that you arrive and depart are also not terribly productive. On the first day you will be tired from the flight and jet lag and the last day will be eaten up with getting to the airport. With 10-12 days, I'd suggest that you skip London and add any extra time to the other locations. I'd start the trip in Paris and finish in Copenhagen or vice-versa.
If you could extend this trip then you might start in London and finish in Copenhagen or vice-versa. Here is how you might do this.
1) Fly into London. Spend 3 to 4 nights in London.
2) Eurostar from London to Paris. Spend 3 to 4 nights in Paris.
3) Fly from Paris Orly to Aalborg on Norwegian Airlines (a budget airline). The train from Paris to Copenhagen is more than 12 hours so you will probably want to fly from Paris to Denmark. Spend 2 to 3 nights in Aalborg.
4) Train to Copenhagen. Spend 3 nights and fly home from Copenhagen.
Have you considered visiting Oslo? It is a lovely city and there are some very good museums. You could probably get a cheap flight and I bet it would only take an hour or so. Then you could fly home from there. I also agree that you should fly from Paris to Copenhagen.
Biggest bang for buck for those 2 days would be to spend them in Paris, maybe taking a day trip by train (Chartres, Reims, Rouen, Fontainblue, Versailles are justly popular).
Assuming your flight to Paris is a round-trip, Amsterdam might be an easy, efficient addition to your schedule. There's nothing wrong with London or any other option but Amsterdam is a hub for journey's like yours. Good luck and I hope you don't have any surprises like the Father/Son in the commercial :)
With 3 days in Paris, and one of those being your arrival day, you aren't spending a huge amount of time in Paris. Same thing with Copenhagen, especially when you factor in travel time.
I'd add a day or two to those locations, rather than adding another destination.
Or, if you really want to see London, then it's easy enough. But in that case, fly into London, then take the train from London to Paris.
I think this sounds like a lovely trip. I would not add one more place. I urge you to spend more time in one -- or all three -- of the places you have planned. You will find that the 3 days in Paris is nowhere near enough and two days in the other two is way too little time when you factor in travel time.
Hello Mike. If you did not buy your airline tickets for flying to Paris, I recommend : Fly to Copenhagen. After you visit in Denmark, Fly from Copenhagen to Paris, fly from Paris to your home. The Copenhagen airport and the city Copenhagen are pleasant places to arrive at, not stressful or confusing.
I agree, this sounds like a great trip. I'll second the notion that you have enough destinations in mind. Choose where to spend the couple extra days rather than adding another stop.
Another option for getting from Paris to Copenhagen, rather than fly, is to take a night train.
One way to do that would be to take the Thalys train departing Paris at 6:00pm, have a nice dinner on the train, arriving Cologne at 9:15pm. Then, board the City Night Line departing at 10:30pm arriving Copenhagen at 10:00am.
I don't like to fly, but absolutely love spending some time on the train -- besides, 1 hour 15 minutes is enough time to walk outside at Cologne and get a quick look at the cathedral...
Right -- spend more days in Paris! Your wife will love it.
Spend the extra days in Paris, and give your bodies a chance to overcome the time change. My family of 4 did a 3 week tour beginning in London, and we'd only planned for 4 days there. Everyone was so tired the 1st 2 days. Everytime I turned around, I had to wake someone up! In the future we will allow 1-2 days for time adjustment.
Thanks for all the great advice!!
What I think I am going to do is spend the 3-4 days in Paris. Take the train to Cologne and spend a night and day there. Then to copenhagen for two days then to Aalborg. Then fly back to Paris and go home.
Is Cologne the best place to stop on the train from Paris to Copenhagen?? Is Hamburg a better option??
How do I best go about booking the train?
Thanks Again!
Yes Cologne (Köln) is the best place to change trains. If you want to do only one train change, you will have to change in Cologne. You should be able to buy tickets at a major station ticket counter in Paris.