Plan a European Holiday in 5 Easy Steps

Once you have decided to go ahead with the trip, and do the planning yourself, you need to get down to the task immediately.

The entire planning process can be roughly divided into 5 distinct tasks :-

• Overall itinerary

• Flight booking

• Hotel booking

• Train booking

• Local itinerary

Planning the Itinerary

This is the first decision you have to make as all further planning will be based on your itinerary.

• Region.     First, which part of the world do you want to see? In our case, it was Europe, specifically Western Europe.

• How Many Days.     Next, how many days do you have. For most of us, this would depend more on our boss and kid's school. In my opinion 10 days is a bare minimum (considering the high cost of air tickets to go abroad from India) and more than 3 weeks would become tiresome. especially with kids.

• Which Cities to Visit?     Now, depending upon the time you have, you need to decide on the cities you will visit. The best way for deciding the specific destinations within a region would be by googling the "Top ten cities in ....". The search will give you the best tourist destinations in the region. Some of the websites which are good for this kind of info are :-

• Tripadvisor - By far, the best resource for this stage.
• Lonely Planet
• The Telegraph
• The Guardian
• Condé Nast Traveller
• Fodors Travel
• Rough Guides

• How Many Days in Each City.     Which cities you will visit also depends on the number of days you have. I have learn't from my experience that you should spend a minimum of two nights, preferably three, in each place. If you are spending just one night in a place, you would dump your luggage in the room, go out for sight-seeing and when you get back tired in the night, you would have to pack your bags as you would have to check out in the morning, irrespective of when you are actually leaving town. This basically means that you would hardly open your bags. Such a hectic schedule unnecessarily adds to the stress of travel. In addition, spending more time, even 4-5 days, lets you truly experience life in the city. So assuming at least two days in each place, you certainly can't see more than 10 cities in 3 weeks.

• One way of deciding is to search for itineraries within each city. Suggested itineraries for various number of days are available in Rough Guides, Frommers, Fodors, etc (Search on Google for "Suggested itinerary for ...."). Go through the itineraries, starting with the one day runathon. As the duration increases. you will notice that at some point, they start adding places just for the sake of filling up time - that is the sweet spot you are looking for. But please remember, when you find an ideal itinerary, say for three days, which covers all the places you are interested in, add an additional day or two to the schedule. Most of these itineraries are designed for making the best use of time, without considering travel fatigue. An itinerary which looks great and easily doable on paper, sitting in the comfort of home, is not as easy to keep up with when you know that you have another 15 days of the same running around to do. In any case, at present you are just deciding the time you need to spend in the city which will also be dictated by other factors such as total time available, 

• Connectivity Options.     Another factor while deciding the itinerary would be how far apart your selected destinations are and what are the connectivity options between them. In Europe, train has always been the preferred option. However, buses and low fare airlines such as Ryan Air are also good options in certain places. In fact, low cost airlines have made it possible to include widely separated cities in your itinerary by making long distance hops much easier (We will discuss the cons in a later post). A few useful resources, especially for this are :-

• The best resource for checking distances and the various means of transport available between any two cities (including time and cost) is the Rome2Rio website. This is an extremely quick and responsive site which gives you the various connectivity options, including Air, Train, Road, Rideshare (share a car ride with somebody who is also going where you want to), Ferry, etc. The route for each means of transport, along with time it will take and approximate cost are clearly given. You can add multiple cities for specific routings. Providing the date and time of travel gives a better cost estimate.

• And then there is the venerable Google Maps. The amount of details provided by Google is astounding. For instance, the routing would include how many minutes you will take to walk to the train platform from the bus stand across the road. However, please remember that generally Google gives only those means of transportation whose data has been shared with them. Also, at present, the cost is only available for air travel. Of course, being Google, we can confidently say that it is just a matter of time before this detail is also available.

• Point of Entry and Exit.     It is always a good idea to search for the hubs of international airline activity in the area you are visiting. An air ticket to a hub such as Rome would be much cheaper than that to any other major city in Italy. So try and plan your entry and exit from a hub.

• Round Trip or Open Jaw?      Once you have decided on the cities, we move on to the actual sequence of movement between the cities. A choice we have to make here is whether we should do an open jaw or a round trip. Round trip starts and ends in the same city while an open jaw starts and ends in different cities. Your choice would depend on how far apart the cities are, how they lie with respect to each other and the cities which have an international airport. A round trip is generally the preferred option as the air ticket would generally be cheaper. On the the other hand, the difference in the price may not justify your returning to the first city. For example, our itinerary included Rome and Paris. The price for a round trip ticket from Delhi to Rome was Rs.5,000 cheaper than a onward ticket to Rome and return from Paris. The money I would spend in returning from Paris to Rome and the additional day wasted, including hotel expenses, did not make the round trip worth it.

At the end of this process, you should have the first draft of your itinerary. Of course, depending on availability of accommodation, train timings, flights, further reading, etc, minor refinements, and probably major changes too, will be a continuous process.

Our Itinerary

All of the above leads to the first draft itinerary. The itinerary below is actually what we finally followed - our first draft was much more ambitious with more cities and the timings were in AM/PM.

• PM 11 May - Arrive Rome from New Delhi

12 - 14 May - Rome

• Rome (16 May/ 0630) to Naples/ Pompeii (16 May/ 0930)

15 May - Pompeii

• Naples (16 May/0430) to Florence (16 May/1030)

16 - 17 May - Florence / Pisa

• Florence (17 May/ 1300) to La Spezia (17 May/1800) Via Pisa (03 hrs stopover)

18 May - Cinque Terre

• La Spezia (19 May/ 0730) to Venice (19 May/ 1600) Via Milan (03 hrs stopover)

19 - 20 May - Venice

• Venice (20 May/2100) to Vienna (21 May/0830)

21 - 22 May - Vienna

• Vienna (22 May/ 2100) to Switzerland (23 May/ 1000)

23 May - Lucerne 

24 - 26 May - Interlaken

• Interlaken (26 May/ 1900) to Basel (26 May/ 2100)

• Basel (27 May/ 0700) to Titisee (27 May/ 0900)

27 - 28 May - Black Forest, Germany

• Freiburg (29 May/ 0700) to Paris (29 May/ 1000)

29 May - 02 Jun - Paris

• PM 02 Jun - Return flight to New Delhi

Commentary

So here are my thoughts while deciding the itinerary :-

• In my opinion, the Big Three of Western Europe are Rome, Paris and London. These are cities with so much to offer that seeing just the major sights would make even a week seem too less. Going to all three would mean that we wouldn't be able to do justice to them. In any case, the decision was made easier for us as UK is not part of Schengen. Thus we would have to take a separate visa for going to London. So it was only Rome and Paris.

• 3 full days in Rome is the minimum if you want to do any justice to this ancient city. 4 days if you also want to go to Pompeii.

• The other big draws in Italy are Florence and Venice. Pisa has just the Leaning Tower to offer. So a few hours stop-over should be sufficient. The rest are Tier 2. But of course, Italy has much much more to offer. However, beautiful cities such as Siena, Sorrento and Positano (Amalfi coast) do not lend themselves well to a day to day sightseeing itinerary. These are places where you stay for more time, relax and soak in the atmosphere.

• All of us are keen trekkers. So Cinque Terre, made famous by Rick Steves, seemed an ideal stop. It would also be a good break from the overdose of palaces and museums we would have had by now - and a breather before the next round of art and culture.

• We had a few ardent music lovers among us. So the choices were Salzburg or Vienna. There are a lot of discussions on the net regarding which is a better place to visit. Basically Salzburg is the charming and quaint small town while Vienna is the Imperial capital; Salzburg if you love 'Sound of Music', Vienna for Mozart. But the clincher for us was the fact that the train from Venice, which leaves at 09:57 PM, reaches Salzburg at the god forsaken time of 04:30 AM, while it reaches Vienna at 08:30 AM. To top it, the ticket costs the same. So Vienna it was.

• We had only 4 days in Switzerland. So instead of trying to see the entire country, which is also possible considering it's size, we decided to concentrate on one region. The region we chose was the Berner Oberland as it was most representative of what we think of Switzerland - the Alps, cows in the meadows and mountain trails.

• The next stop was the Black Forest region of Germany. This was added to our itinerary because of one members love for cuckoo clocks.

• And finally, though even a week in Paris can seem far too less, plan for at least 4 full days.

In Hindsight

After having actually implemented the itinerary above, what would I change in it? Not much really. But here are a few tweaks to consider.

• We stayed overnight in Naples for our visit to Pompeii thinking it would be easier. However, the stress of packing up and shifting rooms for two consecutive days and lugging our baggage along was completely avoidable. We could have simply gone on a day trip and returned to Rome for the night. An added advantage would have been that any journey further north could be started that much later - the train to Florence which we boarded in Naples at 5 AM passed through Rome at 7 AM.

• I would cut out Black Forest. Save it for a later trip to Germany. The two days saved there gives you an additional day in Venice and Vienna, greatly reducing the hectic pace.

Now that we know where we are going, we can move on to the next step of how to get there.

Please don't hesitate in asking if you have any queries. Just leave a comment and I will get back at the earliest.

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Other posts in this series......

Eurotrip 2015 - Our Grand Tour

Eurotrip 2015 Episode 1- Genesis
 
How to Fly to Europe on a Budget

Hassle-free Bookings to Stay Within Budget

Planes, Trains and Automobiles - How to Travel Across Europe on the Cheap

Low Cost Airlines in Europe : A Budget Travelers Guide

Places to Visit - A Guide to Creating your Own Local Itinerary

How to Move Around Town Like a Local

Visa - The Key to the Beckoning Gates

Golden Tickets, Magic Passes and Hidden Entrances

Read More

Eurotrip 2015 Episode 1 - Genesis

Background

The idea of a Europe trip was the result of an offer from a friend to join him. The estimated expenditure for a 15 day trip through a travel agency was Rs 7.5 Lakhs per family. I openly laughed at the absurdity of spending such a huge amount and asked him to count me out. However, he persisted to try and convince me. So, to put an end to the pointless discussion, I told him that even if I wanted to go, it would never be with a tour company. This of course led to the question, why? The answer was, obviously, because I could do a much better job planning it, and be cheaper to boot.

As an ongoing discount scheme was ending in a week, I agreed to work out a rough itinerary and cost to help him take a decision. So thinking that it was an interesting diversion, I began preliminary planning for an itinerary for the classic tour of Europe. Within a few days, I had a basic plan ready and an estimate of around 5L per family.

When we discussed this rough plan along with the various reasons to avoid a Tours and Travel company, the battle commenced again. What I should have realised a week prior was that I had just delayed, and not finished, the argument. And now, I was back in the same discussion, but with a weaker will, as I had tasted the allure of travelling across Europe. Everyday, as I sat on the computer and planned the trip, I was looking at these wonderful sights and was wondering 'Why not?'. It was just a matter of time before I succumbed .......and thus was born the Tintin Travel Company.

Rialto Bridge, Venice

In this post, I will tackle the two fundamental decisions we, or any prospective travelers, have to take right at the outset ; "To Go" or "Not to Go". And in case of a Go - "Tours & Travels" or "Do It Yourself"?

To Go or Not To Go

Travelling, especially to exotic foreign locales, is sure to be fun. However, is it worth spending that kind of dough. So here are the main threads of argument, along with the School of Thought they belong to :-

• Philosophical - What is the point of saving money when life is so unpredictable. Enjoy it while you still can.(Also called YOLO - You Only Live Once - by Generation Next)

• Reality vs HD - I can see the world, that too in High Definition, right here sitting in my armchair, in the comfort of my living room. Why would I want to waste time, money and effort in going all that way?

• Patriotic - India has such wonderful places to see. Have you seen even a fraction of them? Don't plan a trip just for the sake of going abroad.

• Monetary (Against) - 5 Lakhs? That is a lot of money. I can buy a sedan instead of a hatchback or a new car with that kind of money.

• Monetary (For) - 5 Lakhs? Well, it isn't a huge sum of money in the bigger scheme of things. Why do I need a sedan / second car in any case?

I will not discuss this issue any further as it is a completely personal choice which cannot be dictated or decided by anybody else.

Individual vs Group

The next dilemma - "Tours and Travels" or DIY. Here are my reasons for not joining a tour group. A disclaimer here - this is my personal choice which is shaped by what I want from a holiday. There will be many for whom the tour group would be ideal. So here goes :-

Pros:-

• They have a lot of experience. They would know the kind of problems you are likely to face and take necessary precautions.
• Since they are likely to have tie-ups with airlines and hotels, you may get a better deal. The fact that they would be booking in large numbers would add to the discounts. However, this advantage has reduced due to the internet.
• They can hire buses for large groups thus reducing transport costs.
• An agent would have bought the tickets in most museums/monuments, minimising the time you waste standing in line for the entry. Again booking over the internet has reduced this advantage.
• And finally, they would do all the thinking and planning. You just have to go where they ask you to go.

Cons:-

• Let us start with the main issue I have - You would be following a fixed itinerary, decided largely by the tour organisers. You wouldn't have any flexibility. You may prefer to spend more time at a museum, rather than a shopping area (or vice versa). But it would not be possible as the entire group would have to move together, according to the schedule set by the tour company. Even if you are okay with it, and follow the timings, you may have a straggler in the group who is always late, causing you to wait and waste your time everywhere.
• Even the specified itinerary may change if there are delays. For example a friend of mine went all the way to the Vatican and could not see the Sistine Chapel as the tour had to move ahead.
• The tours would generally cover maximum cities in minimum time. So you would get a day or two at most in each city (in fact, just half a day in some). Just as 'Rome wasn't built in a day' , it can't be seen in a day. Rushing through two or three major monuments of a city just cannot give you the feel of the city.
• You will never come to know the character of a city as you will travel from one tourist spot to another in an AC bus. If on your own, you will use the public transportation, meet the people on the streets, buy stuff from the ordinary shops and malls, and travel through parts of the city which are not on the tourist circuit, getting to know the real city. This is especially important for children as it will give them the confidence to travel independently later in life.
• All the rest are minor gripes......
• They would generally put you up in hotels in the outskirts to save money. They may be comfortable but would mean early rising everyday to be in the city in time.
• A large part of the travel would be by bus, which may not be the most comfortable means of getting around.
• Many of the itineraries advertised are impossible to do. Further digging revealed the fine print - 'See'  just means watch the monument from across the road as your bus drives past. 'Visit' is when you enter it. In many of the 'See' places, you will not even be allowed to stand and take a photo next to it - there just isn't any time. Places where you will not enter, but stop and take a photo are generally specified. So what is the point of "seeing' just for the sake of seeing?
• You are likely to be given a branded T Shirt or cap and all of you would be forced to wear it for easy identification by the guide.

In conclusion, if you do not have any great wish list, but just want to see whatever the tour company has to offer, in the most comfortable way possible, without any tension of decision making or errors in planning and execution, the tour group may be your best bet. However, you cannot call yourself a real traveler if all you did was pay money to someone else to dictate your actions and chaperone you through places he has decided for you.

A true traveller goes through the pain of planning the entire journey, watch the plan go completely awry, face the consequences of the failed plan (probably in a place he never thought of visiting) and yet, thoroughly enjoy the ride. 

Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Edit (On 15 Jun 15, Thanks to gkorula at https://nonsensegirl.wordpress.com/) :-

We, at times, tend to defend our decisions to ridiculous lengths. I, hopefully, did not do that with my defence of the DIY trip. But I certainly missed, or conveniently forgot, some good aspects of group travel. Thanks to gkorula for reminding me. After all, you can't have an entire business vertical thriving unless they provide good value. So here are a few additions to the 'Pros' :-

• It is a great way to meet like minded people and make new friends. It is especially good to opt for such tours if you are going solo or just your family. Please remember, there is a limit to the number of days your spouse and child can endure just your company :-). However, it is important to pick the right tour group in such a case. If you are keen on experiencing the local culture, including food, a group providing Indian food everyday may not have your kind of travellers. It may also be a great idea to reach the place and tie up with a local tour group (as suggested by nonsensegirl). This would give you the opportunity to meet new friends from different countries.

• As part of a tour group, the guide can give you a lot of insight and information on the places you are visiting. The same is of course available in guidebooks, through the internet or using audio guides on your mobile. But using these, as you are walking around, distracts and diminishes the overall experience. A good tour guide can make it a seamless, pleasurable and enlightening experience. However all tour guides are not made equal. Please ensure that the tour company you choose provides an engaging and knowledgable guide for your visits.

• And finally, being part of a group provides security of numbers when travelling alone.

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Other posts in this series......

Eurotrip 2015 - Our Grand Tour

Plan a European Holiday in 5 Easy Steps
How to Fly to Europe on a Budget

Hassle-free Bookings to Stay Within Budget

Planes, Trains and Automobiles - How to Travel Across Europe on the Cheap

Low Cost Airlines in Europe : A Budget Travelers Guide

Places to Visit - A Guide to Creating your Own Local Itinerary

How to Move Around Town Like a Local

Visa - The Key to the Beckoning Gates

Golden Tickets, Magic Passes and Hidden Entrances

Read More

Eurotrip 2015 - Our Grand Tour

We are finally back from a wonderful trip to Europe, which we will cherish for a long time to come.

During the 17th Century, young men from the European nobility and the wealthy upper classes would go on a tour of Continental Europe, called the Grand Tour. It was considered an essential Rite of Passage for a young man to understand art, culture and the roots of Western Civilisation. Our own tour closely mirrored the traditional Grand Tour, from Rome to Paris, through the most important centers of both antiquity and the Renaissance. Though a little late in life for a 'Rite of Passage', I suppose it is never too late to start learning and growing.

On hearing about this trip, and the expenditure involved, a common refrain was that this would be a 'once in a lifetime' trip. However, I sincerely hope that this is just the first in many more such travel holidays.

This post marks the beginning of a new series covering our trip. This feature will be covered in two 'seasons' - the first on the planning and the second on the trip itself.

Season 1 will be on the experience of planning the entire venture. I decided to document this experience as many friends wanted the details of our itinerary for planning their own holiday. Of course, it is only the successful completion of the trip, and the hard lessons learnt, that gives me the confidence to give any advice on this matter. The posts on the planning phase are intended as a guide for friends and anybody else who is planning a 'Do It Yourself' Eurotrip, especially from India.

Season 2 will of course be part travelogue,  part tourist guide, part journal, mainly for us to relive those wonderful memories, help others in deciding their itinerary and hopefully to inspire more to follow.

Finally, this series is likely to continue for a long time to come, considering the frequency of my posts :-).

So hope you enjoy the ride. Bon Voyage.

Other posts in this series......

Eurotrip 2015 Episode 1- Genesis

Plan a European Holiday in 5 Easy Steps

How to Fly to Europe on a Budget

Hassle-free Bookings to Stay Within Budget

Planes, Trains and Automobiles - How to Travel Across Europe on the Cheap

Low Cost Airlines in Europe : A Budget Travelers Guide

Places to Visit - A Guide to Creating your Own Local Itinerary

How to Move Around Town Like a Local

Visa - The Key to the Beckoning Gates

Golden Tickets, Magic Passes and Hidden Entrances

Read More