Winter Europe Vacation from Paris to Amsterdam |
| Northern France and Benelux in 20 days. Planned as a winter vacation for a family, departing mid-week before winter break (mid-December) and returning mid-week following winter break (early January). Mostly indoor activities. |
Short Summary.
See our list of trips. Consider a similar but longer trip. |
Full Description
| Day 1 | Wednesday | Take an afternoon or evening flight out of the United States, going to Paris | Try to sleep on the flight to Europe. | |
| Day 2 | Thursday | Jet lag is likely to be an issue. Try to stay active and do things until at least 8:00 p.m. Possible destinations include Musee de l'Orangerie or the Musee de Orsay. The Eiffel Tower would give a view of the city. One could make a tour of churches, seeing Sacre Coeur Basilica, The Saint-Denis Basilica, the Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eglise Saint-Sulpice. |
First night in Paris. Likely places to stay include Chambre d'hotes Rivoli, which is part of the Paris at Home group. Another possibility is Appartement d'hotes Folie Mericourt, a guest apartment. The Maison Zen is another possibility. Consider also the New Orient Hotel, which offers a 4th option. | |
| Day 3 | Friday | A day at the Louvre. A full day gives you time to see about 10% of what is on display in this art museum. | 2nd night in Paris | |
| Day 4 | Saturday | Free day in Paris. Nothing in particular is planned. Perhaps you could go to the Paris Opera. | 3rd night in Paris | |
| Day 5 | Sunday | You may want to do a day trip to the Chateu de Versailles, or perhaps devote more time to the Louvre, or do some of the suggested visits you didn't have time to do on your first day in Paris, when you were suffering jet lag | 4th night in Paris | |
| Day 6 | Monday | Have a relaxing morning in Paris, and then take a train in the late morning or early afternoon to Strasbourg, departing from Paris Est (East Station). (In 2011 there were trains departing in the late morning at 10:24, 11:24, and at 12:24 p.m.). Trains to Strasbourg from Paris are very fast, and you will arrive in Strasbourg about 2-and-a-half hours after you depart Paris. In the afternoon there could be time to check in to the hotel and walk to the Modern Art Museum or the Cathedral. |
1st night in Strasbourg. Options for the night include Ibis Strasbourg Centre Petite France, part of the Ibis chain of hotels; The Monopole Metropole (a Best Western hotel); The All Seasons Strasbourg Gare; and Hotel Pax as the fourth choice. | |
| Day 7 | Tuesday | Day in Strasbourg. This would be a good day for a day trip to something near Strasbourg. One could go to Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle or the town of Colmar, or actually, it would be easy to do both. There are a couple trains each hour to Colmar from Strasbourg, and the trip takes about 30 minutes. It might be necessary to rent a car for a day to see the castle. | 2nd night in Strasbourg. | |
| Day 8 | Wednesday | Take a morning or early afternoon train from Strasbourg to Heidelberg in Germany. One might use the morning to see something in Strasbourg first. Departures at 10:49 a.m., 12:52 p.m., and 1:47 p.m. (these three departures are for trips that take a little less than 2 hours, with two changes of trains) are attractive departure options. Upon arrival and check-in to a hotel, there will be time (unless you depart Strasbourg after 1:00 p.m.) to see something in Heidelberg. The Heidelberg Castle is certainly worth visiting. The Holy Ghost Church is also quite impressive. Heidelberg is famous for its Old Town, with many ancient buildings and historic sites. There are some museums in Heidelberg, including the Kurpfälzisches Museum. |
1st night in Heidelberg. |
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| Day 9 | Thursday | Day in Heidelberg. There is much to see and do here. | 2nd night in Heidelberg. | |
| Day 10 | Friday | Day to get from Heidelberg to Luxembourg. Some possibilities for trains include a 9:13 a.m. departure (less than 3.5 hours of travel with two connections where one transfers from one train to another), a 10:34 departure (about 4 hours, also with two connections), and a 1:13 p.m. departure (also about 3.5 hours with 2 connections). Arrival in Luxembourg at 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., or 4:30 p.m. Upon arrival in Luxembourg City, there may be time to visit one of the museums, such as the Museum of the City History of Luxembourg, or the National Museum of History and Art. Luxembourg is a small city, and it is enjoyable to walk around. |
1st night in Luxembourg. Choices for hotel include: Hotel Carlton, near the train station; The Central Molitor, a member of the Golden Tulip chain of hotels; also consider the Parc Belle-Vue hotel away from the central city and the City Hotel Luxembourg, near the city center. | |
| Day 11 | Saturday | Day in Luxembourg City. Be sure to see the Palace if it's open. | 2nd night in Luxembourg. | |
| Day 12 | Sunday | There are direct trains for the three-hour trip every hour from Luxembourg to Brussels. For example, one could leave at 9:20, 10:24, or 11:20 a.m. for arrivals at 12:23, 1:23, or 2:23 p.m. Upon arrival in Luxembourg City, after checking into a hotel, there could be time for a visit to one of a couple of the city's museums. The best are the Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts (five museums) and the Musee Horta. In Brussels, there is much Art Nouveau architecture to admire: The Cauchie House, Maison Autrique, Solvay Library. |
1st night in Brussels. Options include: NH Stephanie, which is central; Hotel Noga in the St. Katherines area; Chez Dominique near the train station; Azimuth Flathotel, also near the Gare Centrale; and the Aris Centre Hotel, which is also central. | |
| Day 13 | Monday | A day in Brussels. Consider the Musical Instruments Museum, the Belgian Center for Comic Book Art, the Museums of the Far East, and the Cinquantenaire Museum. A visit to one of the Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts is also possible. | 2nd night in Brussels. | |
| Day 14 | Tuesday | Make a day trip to Ghent. Every 10-20 minutes there is a train from Brussels to Ghent, and the trip takes only 40 minutes, so just take a morning train to Ghent and return when you are ready in the evening. In Ghent visit Saint Bavo's Cathedral, The Ghent Museum of Fine Arts, and the House of Alijn. Take a boat tour of the city if the canals are not frozen. |
3rd night in Brussels. | |
| Day 15 | Wednesday | This day after a morning in Brussles take a train to Bruges. There are a couple trains each hour, and the trip takes slightly over one hour. For example, you could depart at 11:00 and arrive a few minutes past noon. The entire city of Bruges is wonderful to see. There are old buildings, churches, and bridges over the canals. Museums in the town include the Groeninge Museum, Diamond Museum, the Friet Museum (Potato Museum), and the Gruuthusemuseum. All worth a visit. |
1st night in Bruges. Options include: B&B Gheeraert, near the Burg, but far from the train station; Consider also iRoom and Absoluut Verhulst. Right by the train station is the Etap Hotel Brugge Centrum Station, which is quite affordable. | |
| Day 16 | Thursday | A day in Bruges. Be sure to visit the Heilige Bloed Basiliek. See also the Beguinage of Bruges. In general, take in the city and its atmosphere. | 2nd night in Bruges. | |
| Day 17 | Friday | Leave Bruges at 11:18 a.m., and switch trains in Antwerp, arriving in Amsterdam at 3:10 p.m. Amsterdam is a major city like Paris or London, and with just a couple days here it will be impossible to do the city justice. There are some interesting museums, and many memorable sights. The official tourist bureau can give you some ideas about what to see. It might be a good idea to visit the Anne Frank House while here. |
1st night in Amsterdam. Options include: Boogaard's Bed and Breakfast; Hotel Aspen, with a good location; Hotel Groenendael, or else the Frisco Inn, or else Hotel Brouwer, or else the Prinsenhof. | |
| Day 18 | Saturday | Day in Amsterdam. The two museums one must visit are the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. | 2nd night in Amsterdam. | |
| Day 19 | Sunday | Take a little tour of the towns around Amsterdam. Take a train to Haarlem (about 15 minutes from Amsterdam), and walk around there for a couple hours. Then from Haarlem take a train to Den Haag (35 minutes away). Spend a couple hours there, visiting the Mauritshuis, and then take a train to Delft (8 minutes away). After dinner in Delft, take the train back to Amsterdam (50 minutes away). The trains among these cities run at least twice an hour, and sometimes as often as four times per hour. | 3rd night in Amsterdam. | |
| Day 20 | Monday | A morning flight out of Amsterdam is likely to get most people back to their homes in America in the evening. | Arrive home in the evening. | |
| Day 21 | Friday | Morning to enjoy Maumee Bay State Park, the Toledo Art Museum, and other sights in the Toledo area. Leave Toledo around 2:00 p.m. Stop for an hour on the way home for dinner and a break. Arrive home at 10:30 p.m. | Home |
Cost analysis
Costs. I use dollars for the year I research costs and then convert those dollars into Myrfti units. A Myrfti is a sort of inflation-adjusted price. If you have 100 Myrfti, you have 1% of the median year-round full-time American worker's wage/salary. So, if the median year-round full-time American worker earns $50,000, a Myrfti is equal to $5, and 100 Myrfti are $500. |
| Cost Item Description | Cost in 2011 US$ |
Cost in % Myrfti for U.S. |
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| Day 1 | Flight from Midwest to Paris, then returning from Amsterdam | 2 persons $2,180 |
2 persons 540 Myrftis 4 persons 1,080 Myrftis |
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| Days 2-5 | Four nights in a Paris hotel | 2 persons $585 |
2 persons 230 4 persons 145 |
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| Days 2-5 | Estimated costs for food for all the time in the Paris region | 2 persons $365 |
2 persons 90 4 persons 180 |
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| Days 2-5 | Estimated costs all local transport around Paris and to Versailles, assuming the purchase of a Paris Visite Transport Card for three days. | 2 persons $85 |
2 persons 21 4 persons 40 |
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| Days 2-5 | Estimated costs for all admissions to attractions, assuming visits to about seven or eight major attractions while in the Paris region. | 2 persons $215 |
2 persons 55 4 persons 80 |
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| Days 2-8 | Estimated shopping expenses in France (Paris and Strasbourg). | 2 persons $125 |
2 persons 30 4 persons 60 |
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| Day 6 | Rail transport between Paris and Strasbourg | 2 persons $205 |
2 persons 51 4 persons 102 |
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| Days 6-7 | Estimated costs of two nights in Strasbourg. | 2 persons $330 |
2 persons 81 4 persons 154 |
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| Days 6-7 | Estimated costs of renting a car to visit areas near Strasbourg, including Colmar, including parking fees and gas. This estimate also includes local transport costs in Strasbourg. | 2 persons $180 |
2 persons 45 4 persons 45 |
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| Days 6-8 | Estimated costs of admissions to museums and historic sites in Strasbourg and in the surrounding area | 2 persons $85 |
2 persons 21 4 persons 28 |
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| Days 6-8 | Estimated costs of food in Strasbourg and Colmar | 2 persons $110 |
2 persons 28 4 persons 51 |
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| Day 8 | Rail transport between Strasbourg and Heidelberg, Germany | 2 persons $90 |
2 persons 22 4 persons 30 |
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| Days 8-9 | Estimated costs of two nights in Heidelberg. | 2 persons $365 |
2 persons 90 4 persons 112 |
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| Days 8-10 | Estimated costs of food while in Heidelberg. | 2 persons $110 |
2 persons 27 4 persons 49 |
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| Days 8-10 | Estimated costs of admissions to museums and historic sites in Heidelberg. This also includes an estimate of local transport costs within Heidelberg. | 2 persons $65 |
2 persons 16 4 persons 31 |
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| Days 8-10 | Estimated shopping expenses in Germany | 2 persons $30 |
2 persons 7 4 persons 15 |
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| Day 10 | Rail transport between Heidelberg, Germany and Luxembourg | 2 persons $185 |
2 persons 46 4 persons 63 |
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| Days 10-11 | Estimated costs of two nights in Luxembourg. | 2 persons $380 |
2 persons 94 4 persons 159 |
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| Days 10-12 | Estimated costs of food while in Luxembourg. | 2 persons $130 |
2 persons 31 4 persons 46 |
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| Days 10-12 | Estimated costs for local transportation and all museum and historic site fees and admissions while in Luxembourg | 2 persons $60 |
2 persons 15 4 persons 25 |
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| Days 10-12 | Shopping budget while in Luxembourg | 2 persons $30 |
2 persons 7 4 persons 15 |
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| Day 12 | Rail transport between Luxembourg and Brussels | 2 persons $150 |
2 persons 37 4 persons 74 |
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| Days 12-14 | Estimated costs of three nights in Brussels hotel. | 2 persons $350 |
2 persons 87 4 persons 173 |
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| Days 12-15 | Estimated costs of food while in Brussles and Ghent. | 2 persons $120 |
2 persons 30 4 persons 58 |
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| Days 12-15 | Estimated costs for local transportation and all museum and historic site fees and admissions while in Brussels and Ghent | 2 persons $190 |
2 persons 47 4 persons 87 |
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| Days 10-17 | Shopping budget while in Belgium | 2 persons $30 |
2 persons 7 4 persons 15 |
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| Day 15 | Rail transport between Brussels and Bruges | 2 persons $40 |
2 persons 9 4 persons 14 |
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| Days 15-16 | Estimated costs of two nights in Bruges. | 2 persons $280 |
2 persons 69 4 persons 137 |
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| Days 15-17 | Estimated costs of food while in Bruges. | 2 persons $80 |
2 persons 19 4 persons 31 |
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| Days 15-17 | Estimated costs for local transportation and all museum and historic site fees and tours and admissions while in Bruges. | 2 persons $110 |
2 persons 27 4 persons 45 |
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| Day 17 | Rail transport between Bruges and Amsterdam | 2 persons $135 |
2 persons 34 4 persons 67 |
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| Days 17-19 | Estimated costs of three nights in Amsterdam. | 2 persons $550 |
2 persons 130 4 persons 260 |
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| Days 17-20 | Estimated costs of food while in the Netherlands. | 2 persons $195 |
2 persons 48 4 persons 86 |
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| Days 17-20 | Estimated costs for local transportation and all museum and historic site fees and tours and admissions while in the Netherlands, including trains from Amsterdam to Haarlem, then to The Hague, then to Delft, and then back to Amsterdam, and transport to the Airport. | 2 persons $245 |
2 persons 60 4 persons 98 |
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| Days 17-20 | Shopping budget for the Netherlands | 2 persons $110 |
2 persons 27 4 persons 45 |
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| Days 1-20 | Total costs estimated. For two adults this trip costs 20.93% of what a median American full-time year-round worker earns in a year. For a family with two adults and two teen-agers the trip costs about 38.14% of the median full-time year-round annual income. A family with one income earner making the median year-round full-time income could save 9% of their income each month and have enough saved up after four years to pay for this. |
2 persons $8,459 |
2 persons 2,093 4 persons 3,814 |
Budget to save up for this trip. In 2010, the median earnings for a year-round full-time male employee was about $56,000, and for a female employee the median was about $43,000, so $49,500 would be an adequate estimate of a median year-round full-time earnings. Incidently, the median household income was about $50,500 in 2010. To afford a vacation like this for four persons every year, a typical family budget for a family earning 120% of the median year-round full-time income (120% of the median year-round full-time wages in 2011 was about $59,500) might allocate money in this way each month:
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