|
|
Post by robandshelley on Mar 23, 2012 10:20:42 GMT -5
Hi Gang. I thought I had posted this topic a year of so ago but could not find it.
We are in the advance planning of our next trip (I say next year, the other half says later). We want to go to Venice, Florence and off course Paris.
We usually don't do multi-city so this will be new for us. The big question right now is this. Paris first or Paris last?
Paris first would give us a few day to get settled and adjusted somewhere that we are familiar with before getting into a new country and language. Paris last would give us a few days to relax somewhere familiar and end a trip at our favorite place to be other than home.
Paris first-might spend all of our money and have no food money for Italy! Paris last, we know how to eat cheap if we spend to much in Italy.
Thoughts?
Rob
|
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Mar 23, 2012 13:22:20 GMT -5
I vote Paris last. I've done it both ways and found I prefer Paris to be my final menory!   On the practical side...shorter flight from Paris!  Also have you been to Florence and Venice? (Exquisite cities!) If not you will have plenty to see...then can relax a bit when you get to "familiar" Paris!  ;D |
|
|
|
Post by cybee on Mar 23, 2012 13:30:30 GMT -5
Hmm.....one thing is that one is able to relax more in Paris (as knowing it and how to enjoy it) so that might be more suitable to place at the end of the trip. Either way has its perks though!
|
|
|
|
Post by robandshelley on Mar 23, 2012 13:46:34 GMT -5
Thanks Geordy and Cybee, that is the way we have been leaning. I think it would be good to be somewhere where we know the drill to get out of town to the airport at the end. Usually we are about 99.8% toward physical desitigration when we get done having fun in Paris, so the familiar would be good.
It's funny how each trip we pack lighter, do less in each day and still come home exhausted, broke and planning to go again.
|
|
|
|
Post by robandshelley on Mar 23, 2012 13:46:57 GMT -5
Oh, and no, we have not been to Florence or Venice.
|
|
|
|
Post by PariS on Mar 23, 2012 13:48:04 GMT -5
Sounds like a fabulous trip, Rob. I can see the benefits of Paris first, but I think I'd save it for last, too!
|
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Mar 24, 2012 0:13:56 GMT -5
Paris last sounds right to me. I'm sure you will be "wowed" by the other cities, but it's always great to have Paris to look forward to. It'll be like going "home" before you actually have to go home.
|
|
redqueen
Junior Member
"we'll always have Paris"
Posts: 68
|
Post by redqueen on Mar 24, 2012 5:02:54 GMT -5
Another vote for Paris last! It will be so good to get to somewhere you know and love where you can relax before heading home.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandy M on Mar 24, 2012 7:53:06 GMT -5
And yet another vote for your last city to be Paris! I have been to both Venice and Florence and while I enjoyed them both very much and would like to return, Paris is my favorite and would definitely leave that for the last stop.
|
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Mar 24, 2012 9:24:40 GMT -5
It most definitely has to be Paris last. If you went there first you would only be thinking, during the rest of the trip,"What are we wasting time in this dump for, when we could be soaking up a bit more of Paris" ;D ;D PS. I've never been to Venice or Florence, and it's too late now  |
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Mar 24, 2012 9:39:27 GMT -5
It most definitely has to be Paris last. If you went there first you would only be thinking, during the rest of the trip,"What are we wasting time in this dump for, when we could be soaking up a bit more of Paris" ;D ;D PS. I've never been to Venice or Florence, and it's too late now Too true...one June I was travel ling on miles and couldn't get a direct flight back from Paris so we spent 2 nights in Frankfurt at the end of the trip...I recall watching the Fete de Musique concert at the Eiffel Tower on TV in the hotel after a very nice dinner and drinks in Frankfurt..with tears running down my face aching to be THERE! Then again it was Frankfurt.....  Mossie..it is only too late when you are dead....(Warren Beatty in Shampoo??  ) Take a side trip..worth it! Says she who has a hard time going any where but France these days! But I am an ocean away with very limited vac time!  |
|
|
|
Post by holger on Mar 24, 2012 13:43:55 GMT -5
Paris at the end of the trip. But Venice is also one of my favorite cities. It is wonderful to walk and get lost crossing bridges in the mist. But one can always ultimately get back to Piazza San Marco. Florence has wonderful art and museums but is not on the top of my list even though they also have great shops.
Should be a great trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by jo on Mar 24, 2012 17:09:52 GMT -5
We first went to Paris, Tuscany (including Florence), Rome and Positano 5 years ago for our 25th anniversary. Although we keep talking about going back to Italy, we will be back in Paris for our 8th trip in May (with our grandson!). Italy was wonderful, but Paris is..................Paris!
Have a great trip!
Jo
|
|
|
|
Post by suzanne on Mar 24, 2012 18:25:45 GMT -5
We are considering a similar trip in the fall. I know we will want to to do Paris last. If we did it first it is unlikely we would make it to Venice. Are you going to fly to Paris from Italy? I don't fancy that night train or a 10 hour train ride with stops and changes. Luggage could be a hassle doing that. I see I can book the entire trip with AF. Although I'm wondering if I should try to save money by using one of the low cost carriers from Venice to Paris? I will look forward to reading all about your travel plans Rob. Thanks for sharing. |
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Mar 25, 2012 2:22:51 GMT -5
I'm with the groupParis last. We too are going to Italy in the fall and I am trying to get David to consent to adding Paris at the end before flying back to London for our flight home. Wish me luck!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Mar 25, 2012 4:08:35 GMT -5
C'mon Jody. You know that David always agrees to whatever you want when it comes to travel plans. |
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Mar 25, 2012 8:02:27 GMT -5
C'mon Jody. You know that David always agrees to whatever you want when it comes to travel plans. Agreed!  I can't see crossing the pond and not stopping by Paris! That's like coming to North America and not stopping in NYC.....or Central , South America, Carribean....... |
|
|
|
Post by robandshelley on Mar 26, 2012 10:15:35 GMT -5
Well, I think we are all in agreement on this one. Interesting about Florence. We have talked about going to just Venice and Paris instead. The Venice forum says what people on TA say about Paris....the #of days needed is somewhere between 3 and forever. Since we are in the advance, pre-planning, really just trying to relieve PPD stage, all options are open at this point.
|
|
|
|
Post by phread on Mar 27, 2012 12:46:58 GMT -5
I can't help with the before and after, but one of my favorite restaurants in earth is Aquapazzo in Venice. Just a few steps to the left of the beaten path, large parasols populate the piazzo as you savour rememorable pastas (the langoustine... well I can taste it as I type). For dessert, they make a plate of sorbets served in the original skins of their fruits, including nuts, mini bananas and nefles. Followed by house made lemon, melon for strawberry -cellos.....
|
|
|
|
Post by cigalechanta on Mar 27, 2012 19:46:58 GMT -5
Paris last!
" Paris is a poem pressed into action as a city."
|
|
Also have you been to Florence and Venice? (Exquisite cities!) If not you will have plenty to see...then can relax a bit when you get to "familiar" Paris! 
;D
) Take a side trip..worth it!
hahahha