Eurotrip (8 days)

[Toiletduck]

Hi guys, need your help!

I'm going to be flying into Paris and was looking forward to have a trip for 8 days that was more focused on country side B&B's, possible wineries, mixing with local culture etc. Does anybody have ideas of what I could do, or perhaps have past itineraries they could share?

I'm looking at Google maps right now and am thinking of a possible

Paris - Belgium - Netherlands

Not sure whether my timeline is good for these 3 countries or whether I should focus more or which cities to go in those places.

Will either Eurostar/Cartrip - again not sure which is the best, everything is at the planning stage.

Would appreciate all your input!

 

[M.D.]

If you plan to visit wineries and countryside B&B, it would be better to go south once you arrive in Paris. The region of Bordeaux, the Loire and in Italy Piemonte & Tuscany are great. However, if you go north you could pass by l'Alsace (which is actually more NEE of Paris) to do the wineries. Countryside is OK in Northern France and South-Belgium (Walloon). If you still choose to go North I suggest Paris - Reims (champagne) - Alsace(wine) - Luxembourg (country) - Maastricht - Amsterdam - Den Haag - Antwerp (absolutely fabulous great city, don't skip that

) - Brussels - Ghent - Lille- Paris

 

[James Bond]

Go to Club Wandersexxx and get the free t-shirt.

 

[Toiletduck]

Originally Posted by M.D.

If you plan to visit wineries and countryside B&B, it would be better to go south once you arrive in Paris. The region of Bordeaux, the Loire and in Italy Piemonte & Tuscany are great. However, if you go north you could pass by l'Alsace (which is actually more NEE of Paris) to do the wineries. Countryside is OK in Northern France and South-Belgium (Walloon). If you still choose to go North I suggest Paris - Reims (champagne) - Alsace(wine) - Luxembourg (country) - Maastricht - Amsterdam - Den Haag - Antwerp (absolutely fabulous great city, don't skip that

) - Brussels - Ghent - Lille- Paris

Thanks MD, they both sound like promising itineraries.

As it will be my first time really trekking around town alone, rather than with family in a major shopping area like Paris, how friendly would you say the southbound tour is. I'm assuming that this would only be doable by car?

The northbound trip seems quite busy - would this be doable on a 8 day schedule? I'm guessing some of the places may be less than a day trips?

 

[M.D.]

You're right. The southbound trip is only doable by car. I did a roadtrip in the north of italy last year, and I especially enjoyed driving aimlessly throught the vineyards and discovering small azienda agricola. In these small wineries, the owner himselfs takes the time to explain all his wines, has an elaborate tasting with you and it's in all a more personal approach.
The north route is indeed a bit busy, but well, you want to see Paris & the Benelux in eigth days, that's quite ambitious. It makes me think of a story where a bus of tourists in Firenze who were standing on the Ponte Vecchio were asking themselves in which city they were. One of them answered, it's tuesday, this must be Florence....
You can of course skip some cities or visit two cities in a day. Luxembourg & Maastricht can be done in a day, same as Antwerp & Brussels, Ghent & Lille.
Have fun on your trip!

 

[Toiletduck]

Sounds great, thanks so much for the advice!

Will definitely explore both possibilities. WOuld me and my friends limited french hamper the southbound trip?

 

[M.D.]

To be honest, yes it would

In France and even more so in Italy, they only speak French resp. Italian. However, use your imagination, grab a pocketdictionary, use handgestures, be spontaneous... After a few glasses of wine, it starts to come naturally

In Northern Belgium & the Netherlands, (almost) everybody speaks English.