Europe travel advice?

Question

I want to go to Europe for about 10-15 days. I would like to visit Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, but here's my dilemma flights are cheaper when booking round trip, and it is much cheaper to travel to Rome or Paris than to Barcelona for some reason. If I book a round trip from Rome, I would begin my trip in Rome, then Paris then Barcelona, but then have to travel all the way back to Rome for my flight back. How long would it take on the train to travel from Barcelona to Rome? Would I be better off just taking the financial hit and booking one way to Rome, and one way back from Barcelona? Any suggestions are welcomed.

Answer 1

You need to ask a travel agent, or do it yourself, and get what is called in the industry an 'OPEN JAW" ticket. That is a ticket where you fly to one airport/country and fly back home from a different airport/country. I know for certain that American airlines will let you book these type tickets yourself. What you have to do on their web site is click on 'MULTIPLE CITY" instead of round trip or one way. When the page opens you put in the starting destination, the ending and then the next starting and ending. If you want you can actually fly from each city using this same technique.

I recently did one of these on American and we fly to Toronto, Canada, but flew back home from Chicago. We have a cruise booked for next year and I booked the air flying to Santiago, Chile and flying back from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Answer 2

Check out Flightcentre.com. We travel every year to multiple destinations and they can find you pretty decent prices. Barcelona is pretty out of the way compared to the rest of continental Europe. I'd recommend flying into Barcelona, training it to Paris, and taking a train possibly to Rome. However, that'll be a long, long train ride. You may want to break it up by stopping in Switzerland or northern Italy, like Florence or something. Besides, Rome is definitely not the best part of Italy. Then plan on flying out of Rome.

Answer 3

First Time for on a Cruise Ship...First Time to Europe
While I have lived and travelled across the US and Pacific, I was apprehensive about stepping onto a European foreign shore and a cruise ship. I had heard how some cruise ships were poorly maintained, people falling overboard, mass sickness, fires and sinkings...I would never have made this trip but I promised my wife I'd take her to renew our vows on a Mediterranean Cruise on our 25th anniversary.....I kept my promise I made 25 years ago.

Disney made it's inagural transatlantic cruise last month in May and the Disney Cruise Ship MAGIC began it's Mediterranean cruises for the first time stopping off in:
Barcelona Spain,
Palermo, Sicily
Naples/Sorrento/Capri, Italy
Olbia, Sardinia
Rome, Italy
Florence/Pisa, Italy
Marseille, France
Manaco, France
Barcelona, Spain

From day one I was just amazed impressed with the Disney Cruise Welcome staff, housekeeping, Dining, and Entertainment venues including new Movies (latest Pirates movie) and shows (2 per night).

Disney contracted out the shore excursions, and I found them all well run...although IF I ever do this again, I will opt to do several 1/2 day tours (get all the travel and shopping tips) and 1/2 on your own. Disney provided travel and shopping seminars (which are rebroadcast on their internal TV channels 14 and 46).

We met many veteran cruisers (almost 70 percent were on Disney Cruises in the Bahama's (Castaway Club) where they've been based since 1998) and all agreed with my assessment that Disney made this the most enjoyable experience I ever had. Other said Disney was the best as compared to other cruise lines....not just for families with kids, but also for couples, single parents (I met several who left their kids at home).

Many Disney Vacation Club members also told me how they got to take this cruise for FREE (paid only airline fees and EU Taxes). I learned something new about how to plan for future vacations (maybe for my 50th Anniversary).

My only regret was that I now realized I should have done this sooner...but I'll will do it again.

Check to see if there are any last minute cancellations which can be real bargains depending on your budget.

Answer 4

Barcelona to Rome by train will take for ever!

Answer 5

We got really cheap flights between Rome and Barcelona on Vueling Airlines. All the info and links are in our travelogue: http://www.thetravelzine.com/Barcelona2006.htm

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

Whoa! sounds like a lot to try and see in ten-fifteen days! maybe your setting your sights a bit too high.. remember that it's better to leave a day for each flight to acclimatise etc. and there's a lot to see in these places...
know it's not the most helpfull but you'll probably regret it if you rush seeing places.