Is this enough time?

Hello All,

I am just starting to plan our European vacation, do you think this is dew able. We want to spent a total of 15 days plus or minus a few days depending what airfare we can get, going from LA to Moscow staying there for 5 nights, then flying to Paris staying there for 5 nights then taking a train to Amsterdam staying there 5 nights and from Amsterdam going back to LA. Is this enough time for Paris and Amsterdam or should we skip one of the cities?

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It is eough time, although my SO goes to Moscow often and says that it is not worth the five days.

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thanks for your reply, we are going to be visitng freinds in Moscow, so i think Moscow for 5 nights going to be just enough for us. Any recomendation for hotels in Paris, something clean but not too expensive?

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Hi:

Personally, I think you could spend a day or two longer in Paris than in Amsterdam, but it really depends on your interests, what time of year you%26#39;ll be traveling, etc. And of course, Amsterdam devotees will likely disagree with me - but not on the Paris forum ;-)

Anyway, as for hotel, how much do you want to spend? Personally, I like to stay in the 6th arrondissement as it%26#39;s close to many of the sites, my favorite department store (Bon Marche), other shopping venues and Luxembourg Gardens. It%26#39;s just a very lively area, I think. We stayed at the Hotel Chaplain Rive Gauche recently for one night and thought it was a good price for a good location and the room was a decent size. If you aren%26#39;t on as tight a budget as we were, there are many better options that are more central. If you write back with your price range and specific area where you want to stay (if you know) I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get some more responses.

Happy planning!

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Hi, I have not been to Amsterdam yet, but for Paris, five days are good for a first visit.

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Thanks everyone for replying, again this is just all arbitrary as of now, probably will be traveling in Europe late April to mid May. Would like reasonably priced hotel (150-200 a night?) somewhere in the center so we can walk to most or some attractions, my guess is that public transportation in Paris is much better then here in LA, as we don’t want to take taxi everywhere. We are not fussy travelers, and we do not plan on staying in room anyways, just clean hotel would be fine. Also, this is a question that’s been to both Amsterdam and Paris, should we go to Amsterdam first and then Paris or visa versa, or does it make any difference at all? Also, what is weather like in early to mid May in Paris? Does it rain? Is there any major holidays during that period where everything is closed? Sorry to pose so many questions at once.

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Having been to both Amsterdam and Paris, I really feel you should plan on three nights in Amsterdam and seven nights in Paris. You can certainly hit the high points in Amsterdam in four days. I don%26#39;t mean to offend anyone in Amsterdam but I personally find Paris more engrossing. A longer time in Paris would enable you to see more and maybe get to Versailles or Chartre on a day trip.

As to where you go first and which one you fly back from to L.A. would depend on your airline and routing.

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Petite Grl, are you very young? The reason I ask is that when I was younger I thought Amsterdam was fun, I have already been there, seen the canals, spent a bit of time in a %26quot; coffee shop%26quot; visited Anne Franks house( a highlight I might add) and yes, saw the Red light district, but now ,I think that 5 days seems way too long. I would try 4 days in Amsterdamm and 6 in Paris( at least).

There really is just so much in Paris, you won%26#39;t see it all in several weeks!! Amsterdam is finished in a week. ( just my feeling)

Perhaps get some help from the Netherlands forums, I am sure they will think of many more ideas then the hokey stuff I saw( wooden shoe factory anyone? LOL) and I do think the canals and all the bikeriders are fun to see. Just think 5 days is one or two days too long.

Anyways read the boards and post as many questions as you can, it sounds very fun!

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I agree with the posters who say add a night or two to Paris and shorten Amsterdam. I first wennt to Amsterdam in 1988, spent 3 or 4 nights, saw the Major %26quot;attractions%26quot; plus a couple of half day tours out of the City(got up earlier in those days!) Went back in September for 2 nights, saw a museum or two missed first time, churches, Heineken, and took in the feel of the place. A wonderfful place to visit(and live I%26#39;m sure)

First wnet to Paris in %26#39;87. Been back some 30 times....always something else to interest, enchant, etc.

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I think the order will depend on the airline. I would look at KLM/NWA in which case I think I would visit Paris first and flying home, probably non-stop, from AMS to LAX. The alternative might be AF/Delta in which case I would suggest flying home from Paris.

Also consider looking for an %26quot;open jaw%26quot; ticket, flying to Moscow and returning from Amsterdam. Then you could fly from Moscow to Paris with Air Berlin, a reliable German based budget airline with an extensive network. This might save quite a bit of money vs. booking all your air travel on one or another of the major airlines and its affiliates.

I agree that you should give more time to Paris than Amsterdam, even though A%26#39;dam is a great place for a relaxing few days IMO...

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Thanks again everyone, sounds like we don’t need 5 whole days in Amsterdam more days for Paris. joan1, I don’t know what’s young to you but I am in my thirties :) Most likely we will be flying Aeroflot to Moscow since it’s the only airline that flies non-stop direct to SVO airport from LAX, however we do have more choices once we fly out of Moscow. I called my agent yesterday waiting to hear from her on the cost. Again, thanks everyone for your input.