Going at it again - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**lilchappy** · 02-16-2007, 12:31 AM

Well, I guess third times a charm...even though the first two have been great. I am headed back to Europe for the 3rd straight summer...not to brag...but taking summer classes in tours france. Then 2 weeks to travel. Let me know what you guys this of this little route.

Paris 1-4 (day trip to Caen..normandy)
Bruges 5
Brussles 6
Amsterdam 7-9
Berlin 10-13
13 travel back to Paris
14 fly home

Let me know what you think. Cut out either Bruges or Brussles? I heard they are pretty similar. Enough time in a-dam and Berlin? Missing anything cool along that train route?

I guess with this I would get a 3 country rail pass. 6 days, 3 countries..$269. Skyscanner didn't have much or I would fly.

cya...lilchappy

**expatben** · 02-16-2007, 12:42 AM

cool good route. Normandy is my favorite part of France and I love Berlin. Brugges is very nice too.

**joe7f** · 02-16-2007, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilchappy

Let me know what you think. Cut out either Bruges or Brussles? I heard they are pretty similar. Enough time in a-dam and Berlin? Missing anything cool along that train route?

Brugges and Brussels are similar in that they are both in Belgium and they both start with Bru, have a double letter and then have an e. Other than that, they are exact opposites. Think Venice and Torino...where a different language is spoken in Venice. Both are worth seeing but if you have to drop one, I would pick Brussels, Brugges is too nice a town not to stroll around in. While heading to A'dam there is a cool little town called Ghent that is worth stopping off and having lunch (I did the reverse, A'dam, Ghent, Brugges all in about 5 hours)

Good itinerary!

--Joey

**marc873** · 02-16-2007, 06:33 AM

^^^^^ I agree totally. Brugges is worth the extra time for sure. My best advice there is to rent a bike and ride on the Dike trail around the city. You can see the whole city pretty fast that way, and it is FLAT, so the ride is very easy. I truly love the medevilness of Brugge, and think it would be much more fun than trying to whip through Brussels is one day.

Watch your train ride from Brugge to A-dam, it is easy to get off at the wrong train station in Antwerp when changing trains. Happy Travels

**mushroom22** · 02-16-2007, 09:03 AM

^ I agree with both, don't skip Bruges! It's a smaller but has heaps of personality and fun pubs.

**Brookers13** · 02-16-2007, 09:13 AM

scotty mcscotterson! im so jealous..id give a-dam one more day, but thats just me!

**lilchappy** · 02-17-2007, 11:30 AM

Brookers you would just give A-dam an extra day to get stoned out of your mind..jk. Thanks for the advice and humor Joe. Bruges is penciled in and will probably take a day trip somewhere while in A-dam. I am guessing you can rent bikes all over the place in Bruges because everyone recommends it. What is the best way to experience Normandy? Day trip from paris or stay closer? Thanks

cya...lilchappy

**Brookers13** · 02-17-2007, 05:03 PM

o you know me so well scotty...

but really especially if youre daytrippin in A-dam I'd give it another day...and I'd rent a bike there just cuz well everyone rides bikes and it seems like fun

**joe7f** · 02-17-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilchappy

Brookers you would just give A-dam an extra day to get stoned out of your mind..jk. Thanks for the advice and humor Joe. Bruges is penciled in and will probably take a day trip somewhere while in A-dam. I am guessing you can rent bikes all over the place in Bruges because everyone recommends it.

Hehe, no problem, and yes, bikes in Brugge are common. I have a great photo of an old man on a bike on the perimeter of the city I'll have to post it here when I dig it up (I have a copy hanging in my cubicle at work).

--Joey

**marc873** · 02-17-2007, 06:38 PM

aahhh, riding a bike in amsterdam,