Help me plan my itinerary

[ice-is-forming]

So I'm coming to Europe next April for four weeks. I'm travelling with my friend Tans. In the UK we're going to travel light, stay in cheap hostels/with friends and family etc..

Obviously gonna visit my 90yr old dad in SE London, then gonna show Tans London touristy bits. Hire a car and get down to Kent for some nostalgia then driving to Wales to visit friends. And I'd like to get down to Glastonbury too. Do some castles, cathedrals and old stuff.

Have an urban meet-up is hopefully on the cards too

Then we'll have about six days to get to Marseilles to catch a cruise. I'm thinking (maybe ferry to the dam) train or bus to Prague, back over Switzerland to catch the ship. The ship drops us in Venice then weve got about a week to wander back through France to fly out of London again.

Stopping in Thailand or the way home too.

Does that look doable? What's the cheapest ways to travel through Europe. What would you do differently, suggestions please etc..

 

[DownwardDog]

UK/Europe travel could be in no deal Brexit meltdown in April...

In the even that the government isn't as suicidally incompetent as they appear then London - Marseille is a great rail journey. St. Pancras to Paris Nord then RER-D to the Gare du Lyon for a TGV to Marseille. A dusk arrival at Marseille St Charles having been in London that morning is a fine European moment.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Sounds great! All I would suggest is on your week travelling back through France maybe take a detour into Belgium for some beautiful cities and tasty beer! Bruges is lovely but can be busy, Gent is quieter as are less well known places like Leuven and Mechelen.

They should all be easily accessible via train

 

[Spymaster]

I could help you spell it too

Sounds like a cracking trip. I’d suggest you decide how much time you want to spend in each country and go from there. Personally I don’t think you should miss Spain and you’ll also get some nice weather down there in spring. I’ll have a think. The cheapest and most efficient way to get around Europe is often to fly. Low cost airlines here at that time of year will boost you across the continent, often for 20-30 quid. Travel as light as possible. In fact, you could do worse than look at the Ryanair, Whizzair, and EasyJet route maps and plan your trip using them. Obviously you could still take trains or boats between some destinations but it’ll give you an idea of where’s easy to get to and where everything is.

 

[dessiato]

Apart from on the cruise, you don't seem to be building in much time to relax and just enjoying where you are. Burn out might be an issue. But I guess that sitting on a train might help.

 

[ice-is-forming]

The cruise is the relaxing bit, and takes in Greece and Barcelona I think

 

[ice-is-forming]

UK/Europe travel could be in no deal Brexit meltdown in April...

In the even that the government isn't as suicidally incompetent as they appear then London - Marseille is a great rail journey. St. Pancras to Paris Nord then RER-D to the Gare du Lyon for a TGV to Marseille. A dusk arrival at Marseille St Charles having been in London that morning is a fine European moment.

I'm going to be on an Australian passport, not gonna bother renewing my uk one so I'm hoping not to be impacted by brexit

 

[ice-is-forming]

I could help you spell it too

Sounds like a cracking trip. I’d suggest you decide how much time you want to spend in each country and go from there. Personally I don’t think you should miss Spain and you’ll also get some nice weather down there in spring. I’ll have a think. The cheapest and most efficient way to get around Europe is often to fly. Low cost airlines here at that time of year will boost you across the continent, often for 20-30 quid. Travel as light as possible. In fact, you could do worse than look at the Ryanair, Whizzair, and EasyJet route maps and plan your journey using them. Obviously you could still take trains or boats between some destinations but it’ll give you an idea of where’s easy to get to and where everything is.

Cool, thank you I was wondering about planes. Are they cheaper when you book them last minute or in advance?

We need to be in Marseilles around two weeks after landing in London. Then about eight days on the cruise and a week left to get back from Venice to London.

I was wondering about getting a car from Heathrow and going around uk in that and then dropping it in Marseilles. And maybe getting another car from Venice back to London?

The flights have been paid for, the cruise is being paid off and the rest is on a budget

 

[Spymaster]

Taking hire cars across borders and dropping them off in different countries is often either prohibited or eye-wateringly expensive. It’s certainly worthwhile having a car in some places (especially the uk where train travel is an expensive joke) and it’ll give you freedom to see things you wouldn’t otherwise. No need for a car in London though. Hire them locally as you need.

Plane travel is almost always cheaper in advance. Bahnhof Strasse can help with this.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

In my experience, planes are always cheaper in advance.

ETA: as Spymaster has just said

I'd also opt for car in the UK and trains in mainland Europe. You will probably only be visiting major cities in Europe which will make train travel pretty easy whereas in the UK, you may well want to go to smaller places so driving would be easier. Plus it's bloody expensive as Spy also says.

I'd also book accomodation in advance as much as you can as I have always found cheap last minute accomodation, expecially in major tourist centres, to be a bit of a myth.

 

[Baronage-Phase]

Is inter rail an option?
Great train links around Europe and you get to see a lot of lovely scenery.

Europe Railway Map

 

[DownwardDog]

Taking hire cars across borders and dropping them off in different countries is often either prohibited or eye-wateringly expensive.

It's fine in mainland western Europe, I've done it a few times (Germany to Belgium, Germany to Italy and Spain to France). It's when you involve the UK or 'Bandit Country' east of the Elbe that things get complicated.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

If you are going to Amsterdam - Prague - Switzerland - Marseille, Munich is on the way and is a lovely city.

 

[Spymaster]

It's fine in mainland western Europe, I've done it a few times (Germany to Belgium, Germany to Italy and Spain to France). It's when you involve the UK or 'Bandit Country' east of the Elbe that things get complicated.

Depends on what you call fine. Spain to France and Italy to France, the one way charge is about £150 (in addition to the hire charge obvs) with Avis. Never tried from or to the UK but suspect it would be silly. A fair few countries in Southern Europe/Balkans actually don’t allow some cross border travel (e.g. nobody seems to want you to take their cars into BH or Serbia, although Croatia - Italy was fine).

 

[dessiato]

A passing thought. It's possible to buy some half decent cars very cheaply in the UK. Insurance, and tax, would need to be added, but it could be a lot cheaper than renting a car. And, afterwards, sell it to webuyanycar.com I've looked at this option for myself for the three months I'm in the UK every year. It doesn't work so well for me because I already have a car here and can drive back.

 

[Spymaster]

A passing thought. It's possible to buy some half decent cars very cheaply in the UK. Insurance, and tax, would need to be added, but it could be a lot cheaper than renting a car. And, afterwards, sell it to webuyanycar.com I've looked at this option for myself for the three months I'm in the UK every year. It doesn't work so well for me because I already have a car here and can drive back.

For a couple of weeks?

Insurance and aggro factors alone would bin that for me.

 

[planetgeli]

(e.g. nobody seems to want you to take their cars into BH or Serbia, although Croatia - Italy was fine).

You need an international green card insurance cover for Bosnia. I know because I got turned around at the border for not having one (embarrassing). And it can be difficult to get one. Serbia no longer requires the green card but used to. Croatia is fine. Maybe this contributes to why it's hard to get hire cars to drive over those particular borders.

 

[Spymaster]

You need an international green card insurance cover for Bosnia. I know because I got turned around at the border for not having one (embarrassing). And it can be difficult to get one. Serbia no longer requires the green card but used to. Croatia is fine. Maybe this contributes to why it's hard to get hire cars to drive over those particular borders.

I think it goes beyond that too though. I’ve driven from Bulgaria into Serbia with no issues but from Croatia was just a flat ‘no’ by the hire company although I can’t remember if that was to just drive in and out or to leave the motor in Belgrade.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Looks like a proper holiday that does! Where in Wale are you visiting? Plenty of castles here.

 

[dessiato]

For a couple of weeks?

Insurance and aggro factors alone would bin that for me.

I thought it was for a month in the uk and Europe For two weeks it's not worth the effort.

 

[ice-is-forming]

I think I'll rent a car for the UK. and then I want to get over to France by train and go to Marseilles via Paris and genevre. I have two weeks for this bit. Cruise for eight days..Then from Venice I have six days to get by train back to London and I want to take the scenic route. Tans is well traveled but hasn't been to Europe before so mountains, castles, old stuff etc... Maybe fly from Venice to the dam?

I've got friends in anglesea and Shropshire, I may just do Shropshire,

 

[planetgeli]

Wales has more castles per square km than any other country in the world. If castles really are on the agenda you’d be mad not to come here. Maybe not Anglesey though. Bit of a trek.

 

[weltweit]

Hi ice-is-forming I haven't detailed suggestions to make as regards your itinerary but I would just caution against trying to do too much. You also need time to chill in some of the places you are aimed at.

 

[not-bono-ever]

You need an international green card insurance cover for Bosnia. I know because I got turned around at the border for not having one (embarrassing). And it can be difficult to get one. Serbia no longer requires the green card but used to. Croatia is fine. Maybe this contributes to why it's hard to get hire cars to drive over those particular borders.

Been cross the BIH border 3 times this year with no issues- you can buy insurance for 30 quid at the border if you really want

 

[kalidarkone]

So I'm coming to Europe next April for four weeks. I'm travelling with my friend Tans. In the UK we're going to travel light, stay in cheap hostels/with friends and family etc..

Obviously gonna visit my 90yr old dad in SE London, then gonna show Tans London touristy bits. Hire a car and get down to Kent for some nostalgia then driving to Wales to visit friends. And I'd like to get down to Glastonbury too. Do some castles, cathedrals and old stuff.

Have an urban meet-up is hopefully on the cards too

Then we'll have about six days to get to Marseilles to catch a cruise. I'm thinking (maybe ferry to the dam) train or bus to Prague, back over Switzerland to catch the ship. The ship drops us in Venice then weve got about a week to wander back through France to fly out of London again.

Stopping in Thailand or the way home too.

Does that look doable? What's the cheapest ways to travel through Europe. What would you do differently, suggestions please etc..

Thats totally excited me!

 

[Spymaster]

I think I'll rent a car for the UK. and then I want to get over to France by train and go to Marseilles via Paris and genevre.

You could very easily do a whole month just in and around the south of France. Maybe look to get to Marseilles early and spend a week tooling around Provence and the riviera. You'll be too early for the lavender blooms but it's still glorious down there and there are some magnificent coastal drives. Avignon is just over an hour drive from Marseilles, Aix is about half an hour away, Cannes 2hrs, Nice 3 hrs. You could get totally carried away down there alone. I rather fancy it myself now actually

Agree with Welts though; don't try to do much but you can see a fair bit in a month.

 

[ice-is-forming]

It's not enough time, but things i need to do are see my dad, go on this cruise and show tans some old stuff. Castles and the like. I know i could get my nostalgia hit by just bumming around kent tbh, but i think i need some mountains too. And tans has to catch up briefly with her brother whos a mountaineer in france

I'm wondering if england, france, cruise, and back to wales may be the go for a non stressful month?

 

[ice-is-forming]

We're ending the holiday with some sort of tiny plane ride from Bangkok to a tiny rural mountain village. tans is married to a village man and we're calling into see her father in law for three days.

 

[ice-is-forming]

So far it's London and a bit of England for about five days, train to Paris to see tans brother, train to Marseilles etc.. Cruise. From Venice by train over the alps towards the Dam. Fly back to London and fly out does that sound doable?

Wondering where to stop whilst training it from Venice to Amsterdam!

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Nearly always cheaper to book as early as you can, very, very rarely they come down in price, but that is very much the exception. And from €89 there’s not really anywhere lower to go. So do book as long as you are sure of your dates, if you can.