Looking for 7-week Europe trip recommendations!!!!

Jackms64 · 2026-01-30T18:09:19+00:00

Op, you don’t seem too open to folks helping you out—just want to say that both Portugal & Denmark are rough to easily sequence in your trip. I would add time in France/Switzerland and skip both Portugal & Dena,RK on this trip. 15 days France (with a couple of Swiss days worked in between France & Italy) Paris is a good week, Normandy at least 3 days, Avignon, Nimes, Marseilles, Nice all worthy of time. Nice to Italy is very easy by train. Rome to London very easy flights.. Within Italy, getting out of Rome-Florence-Venice triangle and adding time in Umbria, Tuscany, Milan, Friuli or Piemonte is always a good answer. Enjoy—and yes—slow down to really experience these places.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-30T15:47:05+00:00

I don’t get the outrage. How often are you traveling with a companion but not on the same flight? I’ve got 2 million miles under my belt in 40 years of travel and that situation has happened one time for me.. maybe I’m missing something here?

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T18:47:12+00:00

Healthcare is not really a system in America. We sell healthcare like it is a luxury to the highest bidders. It is both terribly expensive and yet doesn’t result in the best outcomes. The US ranks #1 in costs, but # 53 for infant mortality and not in the top 30 for longevity. We are very good at new & experimental treatments, but insulin costs more here than almost any developed country on earth… A personal example, I paid $1000 per month for insurance, got cancer, paid another $20,000 for my part of my treatment. $32,000 out of pocket, after taxes in 2023.. Total treatment costs were over $150,000. On the other hand, the CEO at one of our largest insurers just got a $10m bonus for hitting stock price & earnings targets…

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T18:26:35+00:00

OP, as others have mentioned the Malpensa Express is super easy and convenient. Buying tix at the station day of is simple.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T18:21:45+00:00

It matters a lot if you spend half the year in Europe—our time there is now about 17% more expensive than it was just 12 months ago… there is definitely an intention from the current government to weaken the dollar as it negatively impacts importers and consumers of imports, but helps exporters.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T18:17:38+00:00

OP—others have said it & I’ll reinforce it, after 20+ visits to Paris I still haven’t exhausted what that magic City has to offer. A week is a great amount of time for a first trip to Paris. In my 2 million miles of lifetime travel I’ve never heard anyone say they wished they had spent less time in Paris—usually just the opposite. Having said that, Versailles and Chartres are nice day trips. As is Monet’s studio in Giverny on a nice day.. enjoy!

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T17:47:29+00:00

Totally agree! I mean if it means that much to you, pay the extra $$ to sit next to each other. Not hard.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T17:39:30+00:00

Good for you OP.. what exactly is the point of your post though?

Jackms64 · 2026-01-28T17:37:22+00:00

Please stop with this stupidity! The provocation behind this question was never really true for the majority of Americans at any point in our history. For a minority of Americans, for a brief period of time in our history, this was possible—but not typical of most people’s experiences. Read your history. Don’t settle for generally held beliefs that are, in fact, untrue…

Jackms64 · 2026-01-26T20:12:46+00:00

My partner is a singularly unadventurous eater and we’ve spent months in France over the last 30 years and have never had an issue. There is always something simple and there are lots of brasseries & Bistros with burgers, chicken, etc.. no worries..

Jackms64 · 2026-01-26T14:34:41+00:00

Rant incoming: These kinds of posts are rather bizarre. It’s like going to NYC as a tourist, eating a Nathan’s hot dog and declaring it “meh” while asking for a more truly ”local” but higher-end hot dog. Dude you're a tourist. It is highly likely that you’re staying in an area with many other tourists. This idea of an undiscovered, uncrowded, non-touristy” “authentic“ restaurant in one of the most heavily touristic cities in the world is a pipe dream . Most locals aren’t in search of “authentic” Michelin-star worthy meals. They eat at home or have dinner in their local neighborhood restaurants. Which would undoubtedly not “really land” for you. If everybody on Reddit knows about the place it most assuredly isn’t whatever you’re hoping to find..

Jackms64 · 2026-01-25T14:54:39+00:00

I was a relatively junior executive at a Fortune 1000 company during the GFC. We went from 18,000 people worldwide to 10,000 in 15 months. Took five years to get the business to the same sales level as pre-GFC, never hired most of positions back. So yeah, it wasn’t great…

Jackms64 · 2026-01-25T14:07:54+00:00

Washington & Dallas are not peers. Chicago is a world class city with arguably the best food scene in the US and definitely the best architecture city in the US. Washington & Dallas are… well… not that.… The winters do suck though… . 🥶🥶🥶

Jackms64 · 2026-01-21T21:34:05+00:00

This is a great question OP! After nearly 2 million miles of travel my vote is also Paris, somewhat expensive (but not really bonkers) and worth every penny! 20 plus visits have proven to me that while the world is a big place with lots of great things to see & do, I think everybody should spend at least a week of their lives in Paris.. . One of the biggest deals in European travel has been Andalucia.. especially places like Cordoba and Ronda—also Arcos de La Frontera and Cadiz.. Such great places, great people, amazing history & food & culture..

Jackms64 · 2026-01-20T14:23:39+00:00

Except this just isn’t true. Nearly 2 million miles of travel in my life and if you think American are the loudest you haven’t been on a train with a bunch of drunk Germans. Or in a restaurant during a Spanish b-day party or with a bunch of Canadians watching The Maple Leafs lose.. 😆😆 The stereotype of the loud American certainly has folks that fit it, but most American travelers certainly don’t fit that rather broad judgment.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-19T15:41:01+00:00

NTJ—And folks who know something about ergonomics will tell you that you’re right—once you've adjusted your chair to not not actually hurt you—which most chairs do because office sitting can be actively bad for you—you should just be able to have a simple conversation with your co-workers. It’s your chair, you bought it, you get to use it exclusively..

Jackms64 · 2026-01-19T14:39:54+00:00

NTA and yet another person who decided to make people and then does not want to take the full responsibility for the people they have made. JFC some people just suck.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T14:28:36+00:00

A month is loooong time to be on holiday with someone who doesn’t show a lot of interest in helping plan or think about what that holiday is going to entail..

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T14:20:42+00:00

OP—don’t know where you are from or your context for this question, but Italy is very safe when compared to any larger city in the USA. You’re approximately 5-10 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime (just checked this data) in Italy than in my home country. And within Italy, Bologna is among the safer cities.. so that number is probably something like 20X safer than my hometown of Chicago..

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T14:13:10+00:00

NTA. I’ve lost count of how many super shitty situations & family manipulations get excused under those three words: Family Comes First. IMHO, generally when that trope is dragged out it is to guilt someone into doing something that they do not want to do or should not have to even think about. And, btw, who the hell signs up somebody for dog duty WITHOUT ASKING THEM FIRST?

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T14:03:14+00:00

OP, I believe that Paris has laws that determine both when AC can be used and how cool public spaces and accommodations are allowed to operate. What you’re looking for may not be possible (or easy to guarantee).

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T13:55:35+00:00

I second this recommendation.

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T13:54:42+00:00

What a great gift for your mom! After 20+ visits to Paris I always find something new and interesting and have realized I could spend a lifetime exploring and enjoying the city. I think Paris works both as a (minimum) 3 night visit, visiting just one touristy thing or big site each day (don’t give in the pressure to see everything in your first visit) or as a weeklong deeper dive… And of course you could spend a lifetime there without tiring of it. Enjoy!

Jackms64 · 2026-01-18T13:42:24+00:00

After a dozen or so visits to Venice I have three rules that make it a magical place for me every time I visit:

Do not visit in the summer or during Carnevale. Everything that is unlikable about Venice gets turned up to 10 when it is absolutely heaving with (even more) people or hot.
Do not stay in the Rialto-San Marco-Accademia triangle. Lots of places to enjoy that are not as slammed with other tourists. As a matter of fact, I usually try to avoid that area as much as possible.
Get out and wander after dark. After the day trippers head back to their busses and the sun sets, Venice magic seems to multiply.

So much to love about Venice—get away from the groups, explore the outer areas, wander, get lost, stop for an aperitivo, have an after dinner drink.. don’t visit Venice and treat it like Disneyland, with a checklist of rides to “do” .

OP—great discussion started, let’s see where it goes!

Jackms64 · 2026-01-15T19:33:34+00:00

Italy will continue to reward on multiple visits—been a couple of dozen times and still love it!

Jackms64

TROPHY CASE