Plans for European Trip - anyone have suggestions? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Plans for European Trip - anyone have suggestions?
I'm going on this trip with one of my college classes (I'm a student, albeit an older one) and we've got a few "free days" any suggestions would be helpful.
May 12 - leave Indy
May 13 - Arrive Paris, walking tour of Opera/Madeleine/Champs Elysee
May 14 - Musee d'Orsay/ Eiffel Tower
May15 - Trip to Reims. Visit Cathedral, Basilica and Champagne caves
May 16 - FREE day
May 17 - Versailles
May 18 - Louvre museum/ walking tour of Marais
May 19 - Catacombs
May 20 - FREE day!
May 21 - travel to Brussels
May 22 - The itinerary says "Optional trip - Bruges/Amsterdam (students must pay) - don't know if that means it's a "do it yourself" trip, or guided, or if it's a Free day
May 23 - travel to London
May 24 - British Museum
May 25 - FREE day
May 26 - Tate Modern
May 27 - mystery trip??
May 28 - Leave London, arrive in Indy at 11 PM - with one hour to spare before DD's 15th birthday is over
Seems that the 16th or 20th should be DLP - see how much it's changed since you were there last. Besides, you could get something nice to bring home to your poor old Mom!
Seriously, try to get in two of my favorites - Sacre Coure, and Montmarte. them!
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Do you know what? I'm leaning towards one of those days being Disneyland Paris as well, as it seems that they've covered Paris really well. I agree, the Sacre Coeur and Montmatre is a good area to see. I can't see the Notre Dame anywhere and that's another good place to see. We also like La Defense to the west of the city - you get some good views back towards Paris there or the Arc de Triomphe. It's quite a climb up there, but it's worth it for the view.
I would definitely got for the optional trip to Bruges and Amsterdam. Bruges is a really stunning city - absolutely beautiful and Amsterdam is well worth a visit as well.
For your free day in London, there are just so many choices - I think it depends if you can find out in advance what your mystery trip is, is it London or outside of the capital? You don't want to end up doing something that they'll do a couple of days late anyway... Options include Windsor Castle and Eton, Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye. Gosh, there are so many options! Those would be my top choices. Let us know what you end up planning for that day - I see it's a Sunday, so maybe we could come up and join you?
I've been to most of the touristy spots in London, Paris, and Amsterdam.
I know I've always told people they shouldn't hesitate to do WDW alone, since my mom does it, but it just feels like I'd be betraying my family to return to DLP without them! Of course- if I went in the middle of the week, I'd be able to get in a lot of stuff!!
I've been to most of the touristy spots in London, Paris, and Amsterdam.
I know I've always told people they shouldn't hesitate to do WDW alone, since my mom does it, but it just feels like I'd be betraying my family to return to DLP without them! Of course- if I went in the middle of the week, I'd be able to get in a lot of stuff!!
You would - I still say go for it. Of course, another option might be a day trip to another city - perhaps Brussels? I don't have much experience of getting from Paris to Brussels, as we can direct to Brussels from here using the Eurostar, but I would imagine there would be some high speed train services between the two - it might be worth investigating, as Brussels is a wonderful city.
Thanks Chezp - the class is going to Brussels, but I'm thinking more and more of going to Bruges.
Can anyone suggest a good, medieval type town? I'm going for a study group, and we're talking about the changing of Paris from a medieval type town (small, dirty streets) to the Paris of today (wide boulevards, good sewer systems, etc.)
In Paris sit at a outdoor cafe and drink wine. I would take in the Moulon Rouge!! And the darker area around it. In London there is so much to do. Do you like the Beatles? Go hang out on Abbey Road!!!
Oh also there is much history! Perhaps a battle field or two? Hastings? Waterloo? Chalon Sur Marne? (Where Attlia The Hun was defeated by The Romean Empire in 451 ad)
I'd definitely go to DLP for a day! But then again, I'm a total Disney-holic You could get a cool gift for your DD's birthday there - maybe that way you'll feel less like "betraying" your family for going there alone? I'm sure your family won't mind you going there without them - after all, you're already in Paris anyways.
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I'm glad to hear that! I hope you have lots of fun. Let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to know about DLP!
BTW, I'm not sure if you decided to go there or not but if your itinerary includes Amsterdam, I suggest visiting the Anne Frank house. I went there in 2001 and even though it's really small, it was so worth going there. You can even step into the closet behind a wall where they used to hide during WWII. Other than that, Amsterdam is best enjoyed by boat - you get to see so much during a "cruise" on the canals (called "Grachten")
I'm glad to hear that! I hope you have lots of fun. Let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to know about DLP!
BTW, I'm not sure if you decided to go there or not but if your itinerary includes Amsterdam, I suggest visiting the Anne Frank house. I went there in 2001 and even though it's really small, it was so worth going there. You can even step into the closet behind a wall where they used to hide during WWII. Other than that, Amsterdam is best enjoyed by boat - you get to see so much during a "cruise" on the canals (called "Grachten")
I second that. We visited the Anne Frank house and it's an amazing - and very humbling - place. It's something I think every visitor should see. We also did the canal cruise, it's just a shame it rained when we did ours.
We did the Anne Frank house in 2002. It is definitely an humbling experience, and very, very touching.
I loved Amsterdam, and am thinking of going back - there was a wonderful pancake house that I'd love to return to!! Oh, and the scenery and was great. the things I thought Most Interesting about Amsterdam were the bicycle garages and an under-ground grocery store we shopped at! I know - odd, odd person.
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Those would be my top choices. Let us know what you end up planning for that day - I see it's a Sunday, so maybe we could come up and join you? 
You could get a cool gift for your DD's birthday there - maybe that way you'll feel less like "betraying" your family for going there alone? 
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