In May 2009, I want to spend one week in Europe. I want to visit Amsterdam and Paris for sure… undecided on the rest. I would like ANY advice on ANY part of this vacation, from people who have already been there.
For example… is it best to buy a package deal off the internet or consult a local travel agent?
I have never been out of the United States and am excited and scared of making a mistake in my travel plans. 
Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer my question.
I think for a week you will have your hands full with just these two cities.
Paris is enough to fill a week at least by itself, by adding Amsterdam you will loose most of a day on traveling, checking out of your hotel/hostel, the actual travel and checking in and getting your bearings in your new hotel will take from breakfast till nearly dinnertime.
It is like somebody who is going to New York for a few days and add Washington DC to the mix because he was near. Or LA and San Francisco.
There are tours that do half of Europe in a week, but I think you would be crazy to do one, as you will not remember anything you have seen, only the inside of the bus.
If you want to do a package tour, and you have a reliable travel agent near, (that is in the USA,) go there. Do not book through an agent in Europe, as you can not judge whether the agent is trustworthy,
If you are unsure of what to book and where to go, go for an ‘all in’ tour, that is hotel in Paris, tours in town, 2 or 3 meals per day and a guide to fall back on.
I am sure that every travel agent will be able to find one of those for you.
(I would personally not combine Paris and Amsterdam, but if you insist, it is possible.)
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December 1st, 2008 at 7:39 am
Make it by your self through internet it’s cheaper ..
you can book the hotels on http://www.booking.com
References :
December 1st, 2008 at 8:30 am
Why Dont you Try My Custom Travel Search on Google
Upper links may help you
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http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-6828716762099822%3Akwm6ort73pj&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=europe+tour+amstredam+paris
References :
December 1st, 2008 at 9:37 am
I think for a week you will have your hands full with just these two cities.
Paris is enough to fill a week at least by itself, by adding Amsterdam you will loose most of a day on traveling, checking out of your hotel/hostel, the actual travel and checking in and getting your bearings in your new hotel will take from breakfast till nearly dinnertime.
It is like somebody who is going to New York for a few days and add Washington DC to the mix because he was near. Or LA and San Francisco.
There are tours that do half of Europe in a week, but I think you would be crazy to do one, as you will not remember anything you have seen, only the inside of the bus.
If you want to do a package tour, and you have a reliable travel agent near, (that is in the USA,) go there. Do not book through an agent in Europe, as you can not judge whether the agent is trustworthy,
If you are unsure of what to book and where to go, go for an ‘all in’ tour, that is hotel in Paris, tours in town, 2 or 3 meals per day and a guide to fall back on.
I am sure that every travel agent will be able to find one of those for you.
(I would personally not combine Paris and Amsterdam, but if you insist, it is possible.)
References :
I am Dutch, I live near Amsterdam, I have been to Paris many times and I travel often, mostly I book all my own things, but for new countries I often use a travel agent too.
December 1st, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I agree with the others - Paris and Amsterdam is truly plenty for one week. You will spend 1 day traveling back and forth, which gives you three days in each city, which is a good amount of time to see the sights and absorb the cultures. However, if you want to spend less time in these cities, then you could add an additional city or two. Brussels and Bruges are in between Paris and Amsterdam, or you could visit a smaller city outside of either of those cities. Rick Steves recommends going to Haarlem, right outside of Amsterdam.
While I recommend spending three days in each city, I have been to Paris once and spent two nights and one full day there, and was able to take on many experiences, including the Musee D’Orsay, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and Sacre Cour in one busy day. In a couple of months, I’m returning to Europe and will spend approximately a day and a half in Amsterdam. Ideally, I would like to spend 2-3 days in Amsterdam, but I am already spending more time in other cities during this trip.
For my previous and current trip, I made all the travel plans myself, without a package deal or the help of a travel agent. It takes a little research, but you have over 6 months to plan. Start looking at flight deals on websites such as http://www.kayak.com and http://www.expedia.com for dates that you want to travel. See which city is cheaper to fly into based on where you’re coming from, and often, flying on a week day instead of a weekend can also save you money.
Once in Europe, you can travel from city to city via rail or plane. http://www.eurail.com is a great resource about rail travel in Europe. Since you’re staying such a short time, you probably should just buy the trips that you need to take instead of a comprehensive pass. If you are under 26, then you qualify for money-saving 2nd class passes. Also, look into flights through low cost European airlines such as ryanair and easyjet. I flew from Barcelona to Rome via ryanair and had a good experience, and for my upcoming trip, I’m flying easyjet Berlin to Budapest. Flying can definitely cut down on travel time, if flights are available.
I have always stayed in hostels or low-cost hotels, which I booked through http://www.hostelworld.com This really depends on your preference, but I’m a student who like to save money and enjoys meeting others, so I have found hostels to be a great experience and good way to have an affordable trip. This website even has great free 3-page pdf guides for many European citites, which are very informative. I also recommend consulting the Lonely Planet travel guides series and Rick Steves.
You are smart to begin your planning now, and I wish you luck with all of your travels!
References :
http://www.eurail.com/eurail_railway_map
http://www.hostelworld.com/
http://www.hostelworld.com/infozone.php
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/ben/bd-haar.htm
http://www.easyjet.com
http://www.ryanair.com
http://www.kayak.com
http://www.expedia.com