Before my 2 week trip to Switzerland, I had a somewhat stereotypical vision of what Switzerland would be like. I expected to see wooden chalets, meadows surrounded by rugged mountains, and cows grazing in green pastures as bells around their necks rung with every move. I looked forward to indulging in warm cheese fondue and…
A trip to Alberta wouldn’t be complete without doing a road trip in the Canadian Rockies. The drive from Calgary to Jasper is one of the finest road trips in Canada, a route that passes by Alberta’s most inspiring scenery as it makes its way through the mountains and into the heart of Banff and…
That really depends on the year. Sometimes we have snow that sticks around by October, but sometimes not. In general, weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, especially on the Icefields Parkway. I would make sure I come prepared with blankets, food etc. just in case. I think if road conditions get really bad they close the highway but I’ve never seen that in October/early November.November 18, 2018 – 5:54 pmReplyCancel
New York City is a place I felt like I knew even before I’d ever visited. A backdrop to countless movies and television shows, New York City has been making appearances in my living room for as long as I can remember. Planning a 5 day trip to New York City felt like making plans…
I’ve never met anyone who’s done a road trip in Ireland and not loved it. After spending 2 weeks in Ireland, I am now one of those people. My 2 week road trip in Ireland had it all: postcard-worthy landscapes, fascinating ancient sites, evocative ruins, gratifying outdoor adventures, colourful small towns, delicious food, lively music, fun…
Hi Rhonda!
I just found your post via LP pathfinders monthly roundup. :) Oh my, you did quite a nice round around the island!To me everything looks travelworthy, just to soak in that Irish atmosphere. I’ve been thinking of visiting either Ireland or Scotland next year, and like you said more for the nature and small villages, than for the big cities. Have you ever been to Scotland?
Hi Rhonda,
I am planning on going to Ireland this summer, but am hesitant to rent a car due to the cost. I wanted to know how much it cost you to rent your car for 2 weeks? Also were there any restrictions on it? ie being 25 or a specific type of license?
Thanks, I loved this post so much. I am using much of it as inspiration!December 3, 2017 – 11:23 amReplyCancel
Hi Alexi!
The car rental was just over $700 CAD for an automatic. It’s way cheaper to rent a standard. I hadn’t driven stick shift in many years so I didn’t want that stress on top of driving on the opposite side of the road that I’m used to.
As a Canadian, I didn’t need an International Driver’s license but had to have my Canadian driver’s license for a minimum of 2 years. Not sure about the requirements for other countries and if there are any age restrictions. You should be able to find all that info on the car rental company’s website.
I would definitely rent a car if you can afford it. It’s by far the most convenient and flexible way to see Ireland!December 3, 2017 – 2:08 pmReplyCancel
Hi there! This has been EXTREMELY helpful. I am wondering what type of camera you used during your trip? Your photos are excellent! My boyfriend and I will be travelling to Ireland to visit my cousin for 2 weeks in July. We are also not big on the touristy part and are looking for some amazing hikes. I’m really looking forward to the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk. I’m afraid because we will be going in July, there will no doubt be lots and lots of people! We are definitely thinking of doing this exact itinerary but we will have to stay and visit Dublin for an extra two days. Is it possible to still do this itinerary but in 14 days? Anything you would fast track? We will be renting a car, manual, did you know how much cheaper it was? Gas efficiency? Thank you for this blog post!! Jennie :) February 15, 2018 – 10:21 amReplyCancel
Hi Jennie. Glad you like my photos! I use a Canon 6D with L-series lenses. July will definitely be busier than Sept/Oct when I was there, but I’d suspect the majority of people still don’t do the full coastal walk. I would have liked to do more (and longer) hikes but the weather was not on my side during this trip!
I did this itinerary in 13 full days. It sounds like a lot but was manageable. Getting an early start meant that I could linger at sites longer and make more photo stops. Perhaps I could have done more of the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Ring in one day had I not needed to spend the night in Portmagee for the Skellig Michael trip that never happened. I’d skip Inch Beach if I was short on time. I also really took my time doing the Slea Head Drive. But if I needed to cut something out, it would be Northern Ireland because I wasn’t a fan of how “touristy” it felt.
I don’t remember exactly how much cheaper it was to rent a manual, but I seem to recall it was around half the price of an automatic. I was shocked at how much gas I went through! Maybe a diesel would get better mileage?
Hope you have an awesome trip to Ireland!February 16, 2018 – 2:08 pmReplyCancel
Wow there is so much useful information in this article! I love that you include the hits and misses of each day, it really gives me insight into what to skip if we don’t have time. My partner and I are planning a 12 day trip for November of this year and will definitely be using this as a rough guide, thank you so much!July 9, 2018 – 10:05 amReplyCancel
Hi,
I would like to thank you for sharing your itinerary. I was pressed for time so I used your itinerary for planning a trip for my family (2 adults and 3 kids). It worked very well for us. With 3 kids we went a bit slower and skipped a few visits, but that was fine.
We did stay in Londonderry 1 night and Belfast 1 night. In the end, that really wasn’t necessary. We didn’t really like these two cities and to me they felt much more English than Irish.
On the other hand, we loved Galway. It has a great walkable pedestrian area and street performers.
Thanks again, we had a great vacation and your blog was a huge help.July 31, 2018 – 2:41 pmReplyCancel
I actually didn’t keep good track of how much I spent. I know my flight from Canada was exactly $1000 and the car rental was $720. Food was expensive and gas was very expensive, but I was able to find decently priced accommodations (less than $100/night). I’d guess that I spent around $4000.August 3, 2018 – 10:09 amReplyCancel
So enjoyed reading about all you saw! We had less time to tour the west of Ireland so we never made it farther south than Dingle (our favorite town), so there’s lots more for us to see. And we ran out of time and didn’t get to visit Newgrange. Kudos to you for driving solo. I’m not that brave! (The roundabouts! Driving on the other side of the road, etc. And the Connor Pass!) Also was glad to read I wasn’t the only one not wowed by Galway. (We liked nearby Salt Hill better.)September 20, 2018 – 5:49 amReplyCancel
Hi Rhonda. Many thanks for your sharing your experiences. My wife and I did a similarly focused tour of Scotland earlier this year and we now have Ireland in our sights. I found your travel-log very helpful and will revisit when we plan out our trip. We are not group tour people preferring to do our own thing in our own time. We hate crowds and being rushed. Being a bit older (65+), we do prefer the more comfortable places to stay. Scotland was a bit hit and miss as far as accommodation went but can you give us a brief summary of the types of accommodation you experienced in Ireland, B&B’s, hotels etc. Thanks.October 9, 2018 – 3:56 pmReplyCancel
Hi Rob. I mostly stayed in B&Bs but a few hotels as well. I was happy with all my accommodations except for one. I wasn’t sure I would like staying at B&Bs but they kind of felt like a home away from home. It was pretty easy to book rooms that had a private bathroom, so to me it wasn’t much different than being at a hotel.November 18, 2018 – 5:48 pmReplyCancel
Hi Marni. In Dublin I stayed at the Conrad near St. Stephens Green and it was great. For Bru na Boinne I stayed in Donore at a place called Newgrange Lodge (which I wouldn’t recommend, but the location was very close to Bru na Boinne and the price was cheap). I really enjoyed visiting Newgrange and Knowth. Newgrange is the “main” mound everyone chooses to visit, but I would recommend the tour that visits both since I actually preferred Knowth. As for Dublin, I wasn’t that interested in the city and thought one was day plenty for me. Hope this helps!November 18, 2018 – 5:41 pmReplyCancel
Rhonda, tripped upon this browsing for a fall trip my wife and I are planning in September/October. We hope to have 16-18 days and will for the most part try follow your recommendations, this looks amazing. Is Lonely Planet the better of the books? Pubs and hiking will be our focus but the bike tours sound interesting, any one of them really stand out? Thanks for all of this, I’ll be doing some reading! RobJanuary 2, 2019 – 3:16 pmReplyCancel
Hi Rob. I used Lonely Planet for this trip but have used Eyewitness Travel books for other destinations and have really liked them. Both are good for different reasons. As for bike tours, my favourite one was the boat & bike trip I did of the Killarney lakes and Gap of Dunloe. The tour is really only the boat trip, then after that you can ride your bike (which you need to rent on your own) independently through the Gap and back to Killarney. It was a great way to spend the day!January 7, 2019 – 2:21 pmReplyCancel
Hi Rhonda,
I absolutely enjoyed reading about your 2 week trip around Ireland. I’m also from Canada! :) My mom and I plan to go this August 2019 and I have a few questions for you.
1. Do I need to book accommodations early, or can I just drive into a town and be able to find somewhere to stay for a night?
2. Do I need to pay or book to see any of these places of interest? Places such as the tombs at Brú na Bóinne or any of the castles you stopped at for pictures from outside. We are both mostly interested in a scenic journey instead of taking tours.
3. Flighs are around $500-$600 each for end of August. Would you think they would increase as the summer months approaches? Same for car rentals. I see that manual is alot cheaper so I don’t want to miss out.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with us. It is very well-written and photographed.
AshaFebruary 5, 2019 – 10:58 amReplyCancel
Hi Asha,
Glad to hear you’re planning a trip to Ireland and found my itinerary helpful. I’ll try to answer your questions:
1. I always book early and didn’t try to find accommodations the night of. I went in October and in some popular places (Kinsale and Galway come to mind), the pickings were slim even months in advance. I’d imagine with August being high season, popular destinations would book up in advance. Maybe you’d be able to find accommodations in smaller towns the day of (I don’t think my B&B’s were always sold out).
2. Some of the sites I paid to go in once I arrived (Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, Kilkenny Castle, Bru na Boinne, Kerry Cliffs, Giant’s Causeway). Glendalough doesn’t have an admission fee. You can get pics of Rock of Cashel from the road (but better ones if you go in), and you can photograph Kilkenny Castle from the grounds for free. Most everything else I saw didn’t have an admission fee or I could photograph from outside. You wouldn’t be able to get pictures of Bru na Boinne since access is through the visitor centre and by guided tour only. This is also the only site I’d recommend booking in advance if you can, or else get there as soon as it opens. Blarney Castle you’d need to go in to get pics of as well.
3. My flight from Edmonton was $1000 booked really far in advance and I didn’t notice the price changing too much. In general, I notice that flights cost more as it gets closer to departure, but who knows what those airlines will do. Not sure about the car rentals- I’m a planner so like to book everything in advance! But yes, manuals are cheaper (maybe they have more of them available too?)
Hope this helps. Have fun on your trip!February 8, 2019 – 6:31 pmReplyCancel
I live in Ireland and was looking for a weekend Itinerary in the west coast. I’m extremely impressed by this web-site and I can say that the information you provide is accurate. Also, It includes so much important details that I had to note down. Thank you very much for your great effort! This is one of the best travel blogs around for sure.February 7, 2019 – 6:38 amReplyCancel
The Call of the North. It’s not some cute marketing slogan but rather a true, deep-rooted feeling that’s impossible to shake after visiting the Yukon. The Yukon’s had a hold on me since my first visit in the 1990’s. It was one of my favourite family summer road trips and even now, in my mid-thirties, I vividly remember how…
It’s not hard to fall in love with Québec City. Only two blocks into the Old Town and I was already head over heels. I still vividly remember the moment Québec City stole my heart. It was my first night in town and I was walking down Saint-Louis toward Château Frontenac. Lantern-shaped streetlights warmly shone…
There was only one place during our 3 week trip to South America that I was nervous about visiting- La Paz, Bolivia. A lot of what I’d heard about the city was not positive. On blogs I read stories about encounters with fake police, and heeded my guidebook’s warnings about taxicab “express kidnappings”. Then toss…
Isn’t it funny how in South America the poor often have the most scenic views in the city? I remember in Rio the favelas stretching up the hills…
Some beautiful scenery and that photo with Mount Illimani stunning.
I don’t know if we’ll ever get there, Spanky has always been nervous about South America and even though we’ve been twice (Colombia – Great experience, Brazil – shitty experience) it’s not high on our list mostly because of the crime factor.
Ah, Tokyo. Just hearing the name conjures up images of densely packed skyscrapers, streets lined with larger-than-life advertisements and crowded public spaces. Yes, that vision is correct, but there is much more to Tokyo than first meets the eye. Tokyo is a city where the past, present and innovations for the future co-exist in perfect…
Hello! Great, helpful post! I am heading to Japan at the end of August. I am wondering if you think it is worth getting a 14 day JR pass and activating at Narita in order to take the express train and use the Yamanote line within Tokyo or to get a 7 day and not activate until we leave Tokyo to to go Hakone, Kyoto and then back to Tokyo? Your assistance is appreciated!July 30, 2018 – 8:59 pmReplyCancel
I recommend pricing out the individual train trips vs the cost of the passes and see which is the better value. The cost of using public transportation in Tokyo is not that expensive in the grand scheme of things and the JR pass is, so I probably wouldn’t get a 14 day pass primarily to travel around Tokyo. The trip from Tokyo to Kyoto is pricey, so the pass has value there. I’d crunch some numbers (use Hyperdia for train ticket schedules and prices) to see what makes the most financial sense.August 3, 2018 – 9:59 amReplyCancel
“We’re most looking forward to spending 4 days in Easter Island,” I’d say when friends asked about our upcoming trip to South America. “What’s Easter Island?” some would ask, a quizzical look on their face. “You know, the place with all the stone heads,” I replied, trying to hide my shock that they didn’t know…
South America has been a place I’ve wanted to visit for 10 years, but for some reason it has always taken a back seat to other destinations. I am happy to say, that is no longer the case! We finally made it to the southern hemisphere, spending 3 weeks in South America (well, 24 days…
Sorry to hear you had a poor experience in Huacachina- we loved it, and I don’t remember seeing any garbage at all (we went 2 years ago). I also didn’t notice pollution in Lima like you described, but it’s also one of the only places I’ve ever been where I was terrified about getting robbed anytime we had to get into a taxi. I’m hankering to get back down to South America to explore Argentina!November 4, 2016 – 9:58 amReplyCancel
Yeah, it was a big disappointment. Our hotel had a nice pool area that looked out onto a dune, but the sand was covered in garbage. We noticed garbage is a problem in a lot of areas in Peru and Bolivia. It looks like people drive out onto the rural roads and dump their household waste. Then the dogs and other animals come and rip open the bags and before you know it- garbage everywhere!
I felt safe in the cabs in Lima. Well, from getting robbed that is, not so much when it came to the driving!
I’d love to explore Argentina too and maybe even go back to see more of Chile.November 11, 2016 – 3:39 pmReplyCancel
Rhonda. Thank you so much for your blog post on 3 weeks in South America. My wife and I are planning 4 weeks starting in Santiago, Atacama, Bolivia, Lake T., Cusco, M.P., Lima and ending with a cruise on the Amazon. I was wondering if it is too much but after reading your blog, I got energized and decided to go for it. Thanks again.
Stretching along the Sea of Japan, in the San’in region of Chugoku in Western Honshu, is a coastal prefecture that’s largely untouched by foreign visitors, at least for now. But once the secret gets out, I’d expect that to change. Tottori prefecture is an ideal area of Japan to visit for people, like myself, who…
I’m trying to think of a way to describe Savannah without gushing superlatives, but it just can’t be done. Savannah is one of the most interesting, easy-going and attractive cities we’ve had the pleasure to visit. With 3 days in Savannah we had enough time to not only see the sights, but more importantly soak…
Rhonda, I’m so glad I asked for Savannah recommendations! This post is a great one to get started – really looking forward to trying a ghost tour and checking out Bonaventure and Wormsloe . . . and pretty much everything you wrote about. Your photos are absolutely stunning!! Thank you so much! I read all your other Savannah posts too. Can’t wait for the trip.May 11, 2016 – 9:16 pmReplyCancel
Wow Rhonda, great photos! had no idea Savannah was so pretty! check out my awesome travel blog @ http://www.RichTrek.com … cheers!May 14, 2016 – 7:39 amReplyCancel
Going this September. We will have three and a half day and we intend to visit EVERY square…including what’s left of Liberty and Elbert Squares. Savannah is as your said, very photogenic and also atmospheric. Going to be in Charleston before Savannah that same week. Charleston just cannot compare.July 24, 2016 – 8:45 pmReplyCancel
A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting Kyoto. It’s a city full of enchanting sites- geisha hurrying down dark streets, ancient temples rich with spiritual tradition, a natural beauty that is both appreciated and celebrated, especially during cherry blossom season. We spent 3 days in Kyoto and it was just enough time…
Rhonda, thank you for sharing your lovely photos and itinerary for Kyoto. We also visited Kyoto back in September last year and would definitely agree that it is a ‘must visit’ part of Japan.
We were there in autumn so did not see the cherry blossoms, but we did see quite a few of the temples etc that you visited. you certainly criss-crossed the city with the places you visited! We tried to group together key sites and as a result we were able to use the bus system to get around relatively easily – but perhaps there were less people at that time of year…April 1, 2016 – 1:28 amReplyCancel
Ooh, I would love to go back in the fall! Yes, we did bounce around the city a bit, but it wasn’t too bad. We spent a lot of time walking through the Higashiyama district and once we got to Arashiyama, that was really walkable as well. The only places that were out on their own, too far to walk were Fushimi Inari, the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle and To-ji Temple.April 1, 2016 – 8:43 amReplyCancel
Rhonda, your photos and descriptions are amazing so ‘thankyou’. My appetite is whetted to return and see so many of these place we missed through lack of time. I love Kyoto and Japan. Your blog is brilliant and I will return to read in depth at another time. Thanks .. VivienneMay 24, 2016 – 8:57 pmReplyCancel
Dear Rhonda, thanks for your useful blog. We are heading to Kyoto in a few weeks (early April 2017), hoping to catch the cherry blossoms too. I am just wondering how did you manage to get all these beautiful photos without the crowds that everyone is warning us to expect everywhere? for example your photos of Fushimi Inari, Ninnen zaka streets and Nazenji temple.
If you see this comment please give me some tips because although we are planning to go to certain sites very early in the morning (8 am start) but throughout the day I am sure we can’t keep avoiding the crowds so any tips on taking such beautiful photos would be appreciated.March 7, 2017 – 11:19 amReplyCancel
Hi MJ,
Getting photos without people in them takes A LOT of patience. Usually I’m standing there with the camera up to my face waiting for the perfect moment with no people in the frame (that’s what I had to do at Fushimi Inari- it took forever!). Another tip for Fushimi Inari is to walk further up the path/mountain, as the crowds do eventually thin out. Ninnen Zaka streets actually weren’t that busy, so I didn’t have to wait too long for those shots. I also try and visit the most popular places early in the morning, right when they open, and on a weekday if possible.
If all else fails, I angle my camera up above the people!
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip to Kyoto!March 7, 2017 – 5:35 pmReplyCancel
Hi Rhonda,
I just read your 3 day itinerary for visiting Kyoto. I am looking for ideas as my 2 adult sons and myself are spending 3 days in Kyoto this January (2018). You have lots of great ideas that we can use during our stay even though it’s a different time of year. We’re hoping to see some of the archery festival that happens each year in January. Love your pictures and thanks for making your blog available to help others. I don’t have a website but post pictures on flickr so when I subscribed I put that address.
I haven’t booked our 3 nights in Kyoto yet but will look at the links here for ideas. Any suggestions for personal favourites? We’re thinking of renting a Ryokan for one night to get the authentic Japanese experience.
Thanks again, Rhonda
RossDecember 7, 2017 – 3:18 pmReplyCancel
Hi Ross! Thank you for your comment and I’m glad you found this post helpful. I can’t remember what hotel we stayed at, but it was pretty ordinary (which I guess is why I can’t remember it!) I do recommend staying at a Ryokan at some point during your trip to Japan as it’s a great way to experience some of the culture and traditions of Japan. We stayed at one in Miyajima and Koyasan and loved it. I hope you enjoy your trip to Kyoto- the archery festival sounds interesting!December 14, 2017 – 5:26 pmReplyCancel
At the furthest point of the Florida Keys sits Key West, a sub-tropical town full of life, colour and celebration, yet still laid back enough to sense the history and tradition that make it one of the most unique destinations in the United States. Key West is a place where your days can be spent…
Japan is a country I have wanted to visit ever since I was in the seventh grade. Learning about it in social class, I was fascinated by the history and culture, enamoured by its beauty. As intriguing as Japan was in textbooks, it was infinitely better in real life. Just one day into our two…
Interesting post on a place we’ve never been (Spanky really wants to go). You mention throughout the post ‘a lot of people’ and it’s one of my pre-conceived issues with Japan. On the other hand its nice to know that you liked the people.
We’ll go there on day I’m sure!
Frank (bbqboy)April 26, 2015 – 9:53 amReplyCancel
I was worried about getting around as well, but we didn’t have hardly any trouble. All of the important signs (at train stations, major street names etc.) were in English, as well as Japanese. If they hadn’t been, getting around would have been much more of a challenge!April 27, 2015 – 4:14 pmReplyCancel
Rhonda, thank you for sharing your Japan itinerary and how it went. We are heading to Japan in September, and I have just finished our itinerary. Ours is quite different as we are only staying in 4 places – Tokyo, Kyoto, Shinano Onsen and Shibu Onsen which are both in the Nagano prefecture. As we ate travelling with our 3 children I have tried to minimize the number of places and transfers and also plan some rest days, and have a couple of theme park days in Tokyo. We are looking forward to our trip and thanks for your advice.April 27, 2015 – 2:14 amReplyCancel
Looks like you had a wonderful time. I am thinking of taking my nephew as a graduation present. Thank you for sharing. I will be back when I start planning my trip.I was recently in Paris and lucked in with the trees blooming. Sometimes your are fortunate with the weather and sometimes it just does not cooperate.May 3, 2015 – 10:27 pmReplyCancel
Hi there, great review of your 2 week trip and super to hear what worked and what didn’t. I was interested to read, at the start of the article, that accommodation etc is more expensive during Springtime in Japan – presumably this is because its high tourist season for them then? What sort of price difference are we talking roughly? Are you still glad you went at this time? Thanks :)May 5, 2015 – 7:22 amReplyCancel
We went for cherry blossom season, so yes, it was high time for tourists. We paid between $100- $150 Canadian/night, which is what we’re used to paying here at home. However, we were in Kyoto for full bloom and paid $400/night! We searched and searched for cheaper prices, but this was the best we could find in a convenient location. I am glad we went during cherry season because everywhere was so beautiful!May 11, 2015 – 5:03 pmReplyCancel
Hi Rhonda. I got 2/3 through your blog before I realised we are from the same “small town” of Edmonton. I’m researching a trip for 2 weeks in April for my wife and myself. It sounds like you rented a car for a bit but took trains mostly. Would you recommend renting a car in Japan? What was your experience (besides the flat tire)? I’ve rented cars in Turkey, France and Mexico but I really hadn’t considered car rental in Japan.December 4, 2015 – 7:39 pmReplyCancel
Hi David. Nice to “meet” a fellow Edmontonian! I would definitely recommend taking trains as much as possible. They are so fast and efficient. We wouldn’t have been able to cover as much ground in two weeks if we were driving. Plus, there’s always the issue of parking, especially in big cities. I had read it’s very expensive. But, the up-side of a car is complete freedom. You can go where ever you want, when ever you want.
The only place we rented a car was in Kawaguchiko (Mt. Fuji area). We did this because we wanted more freedom than the bus system there allowed. You can rent a car from Nippon for as little as 6 hrs. The only issue when renting a car was the language barrier and the flat tire. The guy at the rental company was very helpful though and took us to a place where we could get a fixed for a reasonable price. To rent a car you will need an International Driver’s Permit and your passport.
Hi there, thanks the run down of your itinerary…it was very helfpul! I myself am planning to go during Cherry Blossom season next year, so I am trying to educate myself as much as possible.
Your photos are fantastic by the way – do you mind me asking what camera you use?August 6, 2016 – 10:56 amReplyCancel
We are planning a trip with very similar timeframes and locations and found your blog really helpful. What kind of luggage did you travel with? Did you check into hotels when arriving to destinations or travel throughout the day with bags? I wanted to find out how much time does this eat of your day of exploring and how did you find travelling around with bags. Thank you in advance!January 24, 2018 – 2:14 pmReplyCancel
Hi Tia. We travelled with suitcases and would drop it off at our hotels as soon as we arrived. They would store it for us if it was too early to check in to our room. It didn’t take much time at all because I always book hotels that are close to the train station or central to the main sights. It wouldn’t be fun to have to drag around luggage all day!January 28, 2018 – 10:06 amReplyCancel
As our train pulled away from Prague, I was excited to spend the next 3 days in Budapest, yet also feeling a little uneasy. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Hungary’s largest city. Would we feel any Soviet influence, lingering from when Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain? Or would Budapest feel similar…
I love your photos, they’re amazing! We went to Budapest last year and did most of the same things as you (The fisherman’s bastion was my favourite building and the cat cafe was so fun!), we didn’t get to see Margaret Island though – that fountain looks beautiful, maybe next time.March 19, 2015 – 9:40 amReplyCancel
Thank you for sharing! I am traveling to Budapest myself in a few weeks and am so excited to see everything you shared. I did have a question about how you arranged for a car to pick you up at Keleti Station. Did you order a cab or was it with a separate driving company?June 5, 2015 – 1:59 pmReplyCancel
Great post, wish I had actually gone inside the parliament building when I was there! I’d also recommend visiting some of the ruin pubs, especially Fogashaz and Szimpla Kert, which are unlike any other pubs elsewhere! They’re great during the day to chill or for a few drinks at night.March 30, 2016 – 5:56 amReplyCancel
Paris is one of my favourite cities, the one that made me fall in love with travelling. Paris is romantic, cultured and sophisticated, with so much to see and do. It’s hard to do Paris justice in just four days. I’ve visited twice now and there are still entire sections of the city I’ve yet…
What a fabulous itinerary and what lovely photos. You sure did get lucky with the weather in this visit. Having lived in Paris for 10 years I think one area I’d add that you didn’t mention is the Marais and Place des Vosges, but like you said, everyone’s interests are different and there’s so much to see that in 4 days you’ll never see it all! I think your advice of seeing things AND taking time just to watch the world go by from a café terrace is good advice. It’s a very Parisian thing to do after all. Thank you for joining in with #AllAboutFrance Rhonda.March 5, 2015 – 10:54 amReplyCancel
I’m going to France in April. My friend and I are taking a Viking river cruise down the Rhone. We’ll then take the train back up to Paris for 5 days. We are staying in the Latin Quarter. Your post is a big help. We are “art people” and are planning to go to Giverny as well. Thank you.March 5, 2015 – 2:05 pmReplyCancel
Ah, Paris! I’ve been three times, each for just a few days and in December, and I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface. So much more (including some of the things you mention) that I need to see and do and I’d love to see Paris is season other than winter. :) Your photos are fantastic.March 5, 2015 – 5:32 pmReplyCancel
Ahh-so you were in Europe in the summer-that explains the colour and light in your photos. I have never seen a rat in Paris-thank goodness. It is a city I never tire off-that said it has been over a year since I was last there. Your honeymoon sounds delightful.
PS I am originally from Canada. My mum was a teacher-I really should have considered it.
thank you for stopping by.March 5, 2015 – 9:46 pmReplyCancel
Great itinerary! It is so hard to narrow down what to do in 4 days in Paris. There is so much to do, and I think you hit it right – you have to accept that you can’t do everything and allow time too to just wander around and enjoy the city without running from one thing to the next. I love that you included Saint-Étienne-du-Mont! That’s one of my favorite churches in Paris – I just love the interior!March 6, 2015 – 2:31 amReplyCancel
Thanks for this! Out of all 4 day itinerary suggestions I’ve read, this is the most realistic for me and 2 of my friends so far! However, I do see the Orsay Museum is missing in here – where do you suggest we insert this (I am also not much of a museum person)? And we also plan on inserting in a french wine tasting.May 13, 2016 – 2:06 amReplyCancel
Great info and pictures. I have visited Paris twice for 4 days each time and there is so much to see. I’ve tried doing The Louvre twice and seem to just see the same two galleries before I leave exhausted.
I did enjoy the Military Museum and Napoleon’s Tomb at Les Invalides. The Musee d’Orsay is much more manageable than the Louvre if you must fit in a museum, but my favourite was the Rodin Museum which is quite close to the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides – it includes a garden of his sculptures including “The Thinker” and a wonderful collection of his early drawings.
Climb to the top of Sacre Coeur Bascilica – the view is amazing.May 13, 2016 – 6:41 amReplyCancel
Havana is a lively capital city, full of charisma and, often times, crumbling charm. Friendly, colourful, and exuberant, Havana is worth a visit on any trip to Cuba. Days in Havana can be spent riding around in a 1950’s classic American car, admiring colonial architecture, visiting museums and wandering through the many historic plazas. Nights…
Hi Rhonda,
Love the itinerary but I agree that you should see the Hotel Nacional and the Museo de la Revolucion if you get the chance to go back! I stayed at the Hotel Nacional and, though it was a little worse for wear, it was brilliant to stay in such a historical place. They also did a really interesting hotel tour covering the guests that had stayed there (the Mafia, Sinatra, etc.).
The Museo de la Revolucion was fascinating because of the political climate – it was basically a giant propaganda exercise! Definitely worth a visit, though you had to take what you saw with a pinch of salt.
I also enjoyed your post about the street hassles and harassment in Havana – I had a bit of that, but my main issue was getting robbed on the Malecon in broad daylight (police were useless). I was relieved to see you guys didn’t have a similar experience to mine, and that the Malecon was a safe place!February 22, 2015 – 3:40 pmReplyCancel
Hi Polly,
I’m glad you had a chance to experience Hotel Nacional and the Museo de la Revolucion. They sound very interesting and I for sure will make a visit if I am ever back in Havana.
That’s crazy that you were robbed like that, in broad daylight nonetheless! I hope you were okay though and nothing more serious happened. I was actually worried that we were going to get robbed on the Malecon, our first night there. It was dark out, but we wanted to take a very quick walk before bed. As we were looking out towards the ocean a car came out of nowhere and out jumped 3 or 4 guys. I thought for sure we were going to get held up. Instead, they played us some music and told us stories about what life was like in Cuba! It turned out to be pretty harmless, but it sure got my heart racing!February 24, 2015 – 8:48 pmReplyCancel
An Alaska cruise is a trip that everyone should take at least once in their lifetime. And I say that as someone who isn’t always the biggest fan of ocean cruising. We were only a few days into our trip and Mike and I were already saying that we wanted to do this again! The…
We also just got back from an Alaskan Cruise with this exact itinerary! I’m working on my blog posts now! I took so many pictures! Some highlights from our week included: whale watching in Juneau (saw bubble-net feeding and 2 whales breach), seeing a momma bear and her cub at Mendenhall Glacier, driving through the Yukon, and hearing and seeing the glacier calving in Glacier Bay, to name just a few! We were so fortunate to have incredible weather the entire week aboard the Island Princess (July 30-August 6). It sprinkled a little bit during our day in College Fjord, but the gloomy weather added a magical element to the scenery. I absolutely agree… everyone should so go an Alaskan cruise at some point in their lifetime. The landscape is simply amazing!August 23, 2014 – 9:49 amReplyCancel
For our honeymoon, Mike and I decided to spend five weeks in Europe. We travelled to six different countries experiencing everything from small lakeside villages in the mountains, to one of the world’s most popular festivals. I’ll admit it, I planned a very ambitious (and detailed) itinerary for our five weeks in Europe. I left…
Thanks so much for this. We did a whirlwind 3-month European adventure a few years ago… 17 countries – wow! We are planning a trip back to Germany in the next year or two as our sister-in-law is originally from a little village outside of Bamberg. And we want to go see her family. I can’t wait to check out some of the other towns you listed! Also, I went to uni with Mike and just wanted to say a huge congratulations to the both of you. I’m so glad he found his soul-mate. xxx CaramiaNovember 10, 2013 – 3:37 amReplyCancel
Fantastic post and beautiful photos – you’ve really showcased the places you visited perfectly. I love all your comments on the German towns you visited. These are all on my next European itinerary so your comments are really useful. I look forward to reading more of your posts.November 11, 2013 – 3:00 pmReplyCancel
Interesting post – you covered a lot of places on that trip! We did some of the same spots a few years ago. I was also very impressed by Regensburg, not a place many people go to. Enjoyed, like you, Munich and Fussen (but disappointed by the Neuschwanstein tour as well). Heidelberg we found pretty but overly touristy, kind of felt the same way about Salzberg. We actually ended up being big fans of Germany – and your German photos especially are fantastic. You almost expect Hansel and Gretel to show up…
Great job,
Frank (bbqboy)November 26, 2013 – 9:19 amReplyCancel
I love your hit / miss approach. Definitely a different approach but that’s just makes it even better — and more insightful! For example although I’ve never been to Budapest (although I really want to) I have heard lots about their thermal baths. Everyone else that has written about them only speaks of the good — I’ve never heard anyone mention of the downsides, namely the rude staff that y’all experienced. Shame to hear but I appreciate your candor. Travel isn’t always a perfect experience but I feel all too often bloggers only write about the good and leave out the bad. For not doing so I just really want to say THANKS! Keep up the good work :)March 12, 2014 – 11:43 amReplyCancel
Thanks Derek. I always try to be honest about our experiences, even if they are not so great. Travel is still real life- many things are wonderful, but sometimes a few disappointments sneak in there. I think we would be doing readers a disservice if we didn’t write about our struggles, but I always try to convey that our experience, is nothing more than our experience. Someone else can have a completely different experience/opinion of a place and that’s okay. As for the baths in Budapest, I had read many reviews on Trip Advisor that were almost identical to our experience, but many blog posts that were opposite of what we experienced. I wrote a more in-depth review article about the baths, highlighting both the positives and the negatives, but I made sure to tell readers that our experience is just that- our experience. I think people should still go and try things out for themselves, but a little heads up about what they may encounter is nice!March 12, 2014 – 6:19 pmReplyCancel
We’re heading on a 6-week trip to Europe this summer, including several of the places you guys visited! (Munich, Fussen, Rothenburg, Cologne, Burges, Brussels, Hallstatt, and Salzburg!) Thanks for the inspiration! I will be trolling around your blog for more tips! :) (I’m very much a detailed planner, like you!) I look forward to all of the wonderful memories (and tips) I’ll be able to write about when we return! :)April 1, 2014 – 3:05 amReplyCancel
I love your blog so much. My sister and I went to some of those places in 2013. We have same opinion that Salzburg is truly amazing old town.. We love Neuswantein dearly. We do have the same problem in Paris. Paris is beautiful city but it was slowly lost its charm due to the smell, vandalism… We plan to go to Hallstatt next year…June 9, 2014 – 1:05 amReplyCancel
Hi there planning a two week trip next year paris for 6 days then on to munich and area my question is should we spend a night in rothenburg and a night in salzburg or just stay in munich and do day trips? Should we skip ludwigs castles is it really worth 30min tour of each ?? Thanks so much love your blog!June 24, 2014 – 3:39 pmReplyCancel
Nice job on this recap! Like you, we spent five weeks in Europe earlier this year on our way to the Winter Olympics. It was fun to see your impressions of the places we have mutually visited. Your itinerary, like ours this time, was quite ambitious, as my husband had never been. At times it felt as though we were doing reconnaissance, anticipating return visits in more depth. Now we are embarking on a “deliberately homeless” two-year round the world trip so that we can slow down. I appreciated your impressions of the places in Germany and Belgium we have yet to see and will add them for the Europe leg. Safe travels and Aloha!July 11, 2014 – 7:02 pmReplyCancel
hi i was online looking for tips to travel europe and as i have never been there i found your article very helpful thanks a lot for sharing it. i would really appreciate if there is a way i can get your itinerary where to traveled when and how. i would understand if you do not wish to share it. thanks again for this article.July 28, 2014 – 11:48 amReplyCancel
That’s a fantastic itinerary, though as a local I would definitely opt for more time in France!
In case you’ve liked Strasbourg so much, you would definitely love Colmar even more! It’s even more colorful and fairy-tale like :) The small city in France is – the more allure it has, actually.
Your photos are fantastic!
P.s. yep, ice-cream in Petite France is an absolute yum!August 18, 2014 – 6:35 amReplyCancel
Hi! Wow that was great! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
I’m starting to plan my honeymoon trip for next year 5 weeks in April-May and I don’t even know where or how to begin it. Your hit and misses really have me a great platform to start on. Thank youSeptember 5, 2014 – 10:34 pmReplyCancel
I just stumbled across your blog, Rhonda, and have spent far to much time reading it when I should be doing something more productive. I always get suckered in by good writing.
My wife and I have been to quite a number of the places that you mentioned here and can never decided which to return to. With one exception.
At the end of every trip to Europe, we spend the last four to five days in….. Paris. We have been there the last three years running, and, maybe it’s because I’m getting old, but I have never noticed the bad odor that you mentioned.
If you want bad smells my wife would encourage you to visit Rouen in Normandy. She swears that the whole town smells of dog p..s.(Had to be delicate there.)
At any rate, have been enjoying your blog immensely.
Bonne journéeOctober 19, 2014 – 5:01 pmReplyCancel
Thanks for your kind compliments, Arnie. I’m glad you have been enjoying my blog! My husband and I could also keep returning to Paris again and again. I’ve been twice now, but still don’t feel like I’ve seen and experienced all that I want to. I think for any future travels to Europe, we will try and use Paris as our starting point. If only it weren’t so expensive! Happy travels!October 20, 2014 – 10:22 amReplyCancel
Hi there! Thank you for this post! I am planning a trip to Europe for next year and I found this really helpful! I was curious about how you structured your itinerary. When you say you spent 1 day in a certain place, do you mean one full day without traveling, or is that with traveling to/from the city?October 25, 2014 – 5:23 pmReplyCancel
Hi Jackie! I’m glad you found this post helpful. To answer your question, the amount of time I stated we were in a city is the actual time we had to explore (it doesn’t include travel time). So for Budapest, I said 3.5 days because that’s how much time we were actually in the city. We arrived early afternoon and then had another 3 full days to enjoy. Hope this helps. Have fun planning your trip!October 27, 2014 – 5:11 pmReplyCancel
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your trip, it was a great read and very helpful.
We are going to Europe for 4 weeks in ‘May 2015 and im struggling to work out how long everywhere. Some people say you have to stay a few days everywhere or you waste too much time travelling and get too tired .
Ive noticed alot of organised tours only do 1-2 night stays. There is so many places I want to see . What are your thoughts on overnighters? Is it difficult with luggage and check in & out times?
Originallly i had planned london-paris-venice-rome-munich-amsterdam-brussells-mannheim(our son is playing hockey representing australia here for our last 6 days). I was planning 4 nights/3 full days in each but now wonder if 2 full days is enough after reading your post?
We are late 30’s and fit and have our 13 yr old daughter in toe as our son travels with his team.
I always struggle with deciding how long to stay in one place. On one hand, I like to see a city in depth, but I also like to see many different places in a country.
When I’m planning a trip, I make a list of places I “must-see” in a city, and then another list of places that would be nice to visit if we have time. Then I look on a city map how far apart the attractions are, and use that to estimate how much time we need getting from place to place. In Europe, many of the cities are compact with the main sights close together, so you actually can see quite a lot in a day if you wanted to.
For bigger cities, I like to spend at least 2-3 days, but for smaller towns, I have no issue with only spending one night. If possible, I try to arrange it so that we have a few over-nighters in a row, then take a travel break with a few days in one place. This way we didn’t get too tired or feel like we were travelling all the time. We also tried to do day trips if possible.
I never unpack my suitcase, so the luggage wasn’t an issue. We always took an early morning train in order to maximize our days. Most places we arrived at late morning/early afternoon which still left us half the day to explore. We found train travel to be really relaxing, so that helped with not feeling too tired.
I can’t really tell you if 3 days is too much because it depends on what you want to see. If you get bored, you can always do a day trip somewhere. Munich wasn’t my favourite city, but there are a lot of great places you can see on a day trip around there. For myself- 3 days in Brussels would have been way too much, but you could look into doing day trips to Bruges and Ghent from there. I wouldn’t take away time from Paris or Rome though- both incredible cities!
Hope this helps. It’s hard to give advice for things like this because everyone’s travel style is so different. I personally don’t travel to relax- I want to see as much as possible, so I don’t mind getting up early, travelling around, and returning home tired. But, that’s not for everyone (my husband included lol!)January 17, 2015 – 10:40 amReplyCancel
Hi there, I am a relatively new traveler and I will be spending a month or so this summer traveling Europe by myself after my abroad program ends. I am trying to lay out an itinerary for myself but I am also trying to figure out the best way to get from place to place. Your itinerary looks quite similar to what I had envisioned and I was hoping you could let me know how you got from place to place. Any information you can give me would be a big help. Thank you!March 11, 2015 – 11:31 amReplyCancel
I feel the same way about planning a trip as you do! I also faced people saying it would not be convenient to book everything in advance and plan what to do. But for me it’s definitely the best way to travel because you don’t have to use your valuable time abroad doing that.
I’m also a big fan of these hits and miss styled posts. I really like the way you approach travelling in your blog in general as well. It’s refreshing somehow. Thank you! :)October 4, 2015 – 3:46 pmReplyCancel
Loved your trip review! I’m going on a Danube rivercruise next week that starts in Budapest and ends in Nuremburg. We had planned a couple of days in Salzburg afterward but now are thinking of staying in Nuremburg and taking day trips from there. Would you recommend Regensburg and Bamberg as the best daytrips from Nuremburg?October 8, 2015 – 3:33 pmReplyCancel
Great idea to spend some extra days in Nuremberg! I wish I had planned for more time there. We enjoyed both Regensburg and Bamberg, but would maybe give a slight edge to Regensburg, if I had to pick only one. But both towns were great! Another option would be Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This was my favourite place in Germany! Most people do it as a day trip, but I’m really glad we spent the night so we could enjoy it without all the crowds. Hope this helps! Enjoy your cruise!October 8, 2015 – 4:01 pmReplyCancel
Hi Rhonda,
How did you go about budgeting for this trip? This is the hardest part for me, as I have planned an itinery myself, however just want to make sure we are not leaving ourselves short.
Also how did you go with the trains and finding your way around to your accommodation everytime, is this time consuming? or did you just catch taxi’s etc?March 3, 2016 – 8:02 pmReplyCancel
Hi Peita! When it comes to budgeting, we honestly don’t worry too much about that while we’re on the trip. We almost always use our airmiles/points for flights, so really only budget for mid-range hotels and train passes to get from city to city. Once we’re there, we do everything we’re interested in and not worry about the cost. We actually have a box that we throw all our spare change in and we use this as our spending money for our trips (it’s amazing how all that change can add up!)
I always tried to book hotels that were sort of halfway between the train station we’d be arriving at and the main tourist areas, also not far from a subway stop. Sometimes we’d walk to our hotel, sometimes we’d take the subway or a cab. Since we were staying so close to the train station, cab rides weren’t very expensive.
Hope this helps with your planning!March 4, 2016 – 9:08 amReplyCancel
i think i have like 10 tabs open here. what a great idea for a blog post, this is super helpful. we were going to do an overnight in munich, after 2 nights in salzburg, but i thought it was just getting a bit too fast paced, and since we’ll have a rental car, parking is expensive. i figure i will likely visit munich on its own than st. gilgan in austria, or the wachau valley. how i wanted to drive the romantic road! oh well, next time. from our week in the alps, we are driving down to lake bled and spending 2 nights in ljubiana, have you been?
bMarch 17, 2016 – 11:55 amReplyCancel
This post is exactly what I have been looking for! I am trying to plan an itinerary for my Europe trip and have had no luck looking online. Yours seems perfect the only thing I would have loved to know is travel time and the way you travelled between each place. I am super organised when I travel and I am really struggling with a Europe itinerary and where to find one with travel times and best way to travel :(April 24, 2016 – 4:01 pmReplyCancel
Hi Hailey! I’m glad you’ve found this post helpful for planning your own trip. I’ve gone and added the travel time between destinations, which is something I’ve been meaning to do for a while, so thanks for the reminder! We took the train almost everywhere and rented a car once. Train is definitely our favourite way to travel in Europe. It’s easy, fast and efficient. Good luck with the rest of your planning!April 25, 2016 – 5:22 pmReplyCancel
I found your blog while searching for a 5 week itinerary for a trip to Europe. I really enjoyed reading about your trip but I couldn’t help but laugh about what happened on your walking tour in Prague. Something similar happened to us while my husband and I were in Cordoba, Spain. It was our first time taking a walking tour, we even paid for it because we wanted to skip the long lines to the Mesquita. The tour was so awful that we wanted to leave. Like you, we’re polite Canadians and we simply couldn’t bear the thought of being rude.July 25, 2017 – 7:36 pmReplyCancel
Oh no! It’s always unfortunate when a tour is not what you expected. I still regret doing that one in Prague because it made us miss out on other places we wanted to visit. I think a good guide is knowledgeable but a great guide knows how to read (and cater to) his/her audience.July 26, 2017 – 8:27 pmReplyCancel
Hi! I really enjoyed reading your post and the pictures are beautiful! I’m planning a 3-week trip to Germany currently and some of the same places are on my list! I’ve been reading various blogs to try to get ideas and information. I have to say, yours is the first that informed about having to pay for public restrooms, that is very good to know as I will be bringing my daughter!
I’m curious – there don’t appear to be a ton of people in your pictures, which is appealing to me to not have to deal with as large of crowds. Do you mind sharing during what month(s) you visited the Germany portion of your trip?March 22, 2018 – 11:47 amReplyCancel
Your photos are really amazing and especially the Ice cave. Everything is summarized so well. I am visiting Austria in September 2018. Will be staying 5 days in Vienna, 3 days in Salzburg. Planning for a day tour to Melk from Vienna and a day tour to Hallstatt from Salzburg. Is the Vienna Pass worth? Please give suggestions from where to shop souvenirs and must buys in Austria. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Thank You!July 23, 2018 – 2:24 amReplyCancel
Thank you! We bought the Vienna Card and only saved a tiny bit of money. We wouldn’t buy it again. You can see our review of it here: https://www.travelyesplease.com/travel-blog-vienna-card/ I don’t like to shop so can’t help you on the souvenir question- sorry!August 3, 2018 – 9:52 amReplyCancel
I found your blog while browsing for things to see and do in Salzburg, and liked it so much that i started reading your other posts. I like this idea of hits and misses very much – very useful to start you off, and then point you to more in depth articles. But you really lost me when you said that you found Vienna boring. To each his own, I guess, but I like Vienna very much (but then again I am that person you never met, who found Prague quite underwhelming). I agree with you that the city is too expensive, but there is so many great things to do and see, and a lot of it even for free. I visited Vienna several times, never for less than a week, and never found a minute of it boring. I also think that you lose much when you visit a city famous for its museums, and then don’t go to the museums. On the other hand, I think that you can skip going to a classical concert (especially on your first visit and/or if you are only staying for a short time). A lot of the concerts are just tourist traps – expensive, and not that good.Anyway, keep up the good writing, and I’ll keep reading, even if I sometimes disagree :)August 24, 2018 – 7:20 pmReplyCancel
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Jerry - What an interesting trip to a beautiful country.
We were there last week, on a first visit, in the Chateau D’Oex area (still writing the blog posts :) ). We stayed in a wooden chalet in the mountains, but saw the contrasts in Bern, Montreux and the like.October 4, 2018 – 3:27 am