Thoughts on back-to-back trips

[paddles]

What do you all think about back-to-back trips? Is it too exhausting?

I keep thinking of how much we're spending on airfare (and time to travel), so it seems worth it to maybe do 2 trips together. Has anyone done that, and what are your thoughts? Was it too tiring so you felt like you didn't get to enjoy the second trip?

We're doing the Central Europe trip next summer, and are considering adding either Germany, Ireland, or London/Paris to it.

thanks

 

[tufbuf]

What do you all think about back-to-back trips? Is it too exhausting?

I keep thinking of how much we're spending on airfare (and time to travel), so it seems worth it to maybe do 2 trips together. Has anyone done that, and what are your thoughts? Was it too tiring so you felt like you didn't get to enjoy the second trip?

We're doing the Central Europe trip next summer, and are considering adding either Germany, Ireland, or London/Paris to it.

thanks

We did a back-to-back last year and will do another one next year. We did not think it was exhausting, it's long but not exhausting. Last year, we did Greece and Alpine Magic which were two very different itineraries and topography. Both were very interesting to see and fun in their own way. There was also another family who did London/Paris before Alpine Magic. They spent a few days in Lyon to visit friends before heading to Stresa. Next year, we will do Ireland and Scotland since they are right next to each other. If we do Central Europe in 2015, we will most likely do it with Germany or another European ABD. I'd say, go for it!!

 

[JacksGirlz]

We just did back to back ABD trips, Germany followed by Ireland. With the cost of airfare and the time it takes to travel from the west coast to Europe it was worth it. We did have a short break in between our two trips. Our farewell dinner for Germany was on a Friday night and the welcome dinner in Ireland was 4 days later on the following Tuesday. I know there was one other family on our Germany trip also doing back to back ABD's, going on to do the Greece trip. I would definitely recommend it.

 

[mapsd]

What do you all think about back-to-back trips? Is it too exhausting?

I keep thinking of how much we're spending on airfare (and time to travel), so it seems worth it to maybe do 2 trips together. Has anyone done that, and what are your thoughts? Was it too tiring so you felt like you didn't get to enjoy the second trip?

We're doing the Central Europe trip next summer, and are considering adding either Germany, Ireland, or London/Paris to it.

thanks

I'd rec. going on your own after your ABD.
We stopped in London after our Viva Italia & loved it. Followed some of the ABD itinerary, but mostly did our own thing.

Loved our ABD trip, but going it alone was another experience & you definitely cover more ground away from the larger group. Definitely was less expensive. Very easy in London since there's no language issues & public transportation is so easy. We actually ran into to Knights & Lights group while going through the Tower of London!

 

[dvczerfs]

What do you all think about back-to-back trips? Is it too exhausting?

I keep thinking of how much we're spending on airfare (and time to travel), so it seems worth it to maybe do 2 trips together. Has anyone done that, and what are your thoughts? Was it too tiring so you felt like you didn't get to enjoy the second trip?

We're doing the Central Europe trip next summer, and are considering adding either Germany, Ireland, or London/Paris to it.

thanks

your still here???? go for it!!!!

 

[TexasMouseFan]

We just did a B2B! We did the Mediterranean Magic with Greece and then on to London for Knights & Lights. The Med Magic was a cruise add-on. We actually did the Barcelona pre-cruise stay too! We got off the ship one morning, flew to London, and had our welcome dinner the next day. Like you, I wanted to get the most out of the airfare cost!

Our observations: The pace of the cruise add-on is very busy - you are one of the first to leave the ship and you are one of the last groups to return to the ship. For my family, this was ok. The pace for the 'land' tours is much slower. There is more on your own time where you can customize the number of activities you participate in. Because we were used to the cruise pace, we tried to pack a lot in this time. Also, you have to be careful to not compare the guides from the adventures. Our last guide had a philosophy that works well here..."it's not right, it's not wrong, it's just different". All guides are not the same. They are great in their own way. You need to plan your clothes well! The adventures do not allow for a lot of laundry time.

Bottom line: We would do it again in a heartbeat! You are busy, so it is not a relaxing vacation. We can relax now that we are back home. We saw a lot and have a lot of GREAT memories!

 

[sssteele]

My wife and I, along with another couple, would definitely consider back-to-back trips, but we can't find any trips that aren't either separated by months or running at the same time.

 

[sayhello]

My wife and I, along with another couple, would definitely consider back-to-back trips, but we can't find any trips that aren't either separated by months or running at the same time.

Are you looking at any particular part of the world? There are lots of trips that could be combined back-to-back (with a little travel in between).

Sayhello

 

[sssteele]

Are you looking at any particular part of the world? There are lots of trips that could be combined back-to-back (with a little travel in between).

Sayhello

Europe - at least for now.

 

[sayhello]

Europe - at least for now.

As I said in the other thread (my Trip Report) you didn't specify Adults Only. I agree that may be hard to find, as they do tend to be around the same time, and in May or September.

Sayhello

 

[old lady]

They probably are tiring, but if you are young go for it.

 

[sayhello]

Europe - at least for now.

Well, now that I've narrowed it to Adults Only, I see what you are saying.

Looking only at Europe (and leaving out Viva Italia which you've already taken):

There are only 3 AO trips in May, and they all overlap (France, Amalfi Coast and Greece)

Some "possibles" for 2014 would be:

Germany and Greece (Sep 26 - Oct 4 and Oct 7 -16) with 2 days in between.

Amalfi Coast and Greece (Sep 28 - Oct 5 and Oct 7 - 16) with 1 day in between

London & Paris and the Amalfi Coast (Sep 19 - 26 and Sep 28 - Oct 5) with 1 day in between

Germany and the Amalfi Coast (Sep 19 - 27 and Sep 28 - Oct 5) with no days in between

London & Paris and Germany (Sep 19 - 26 and Sep 26 - Oct 4) which would have you ending & starting on the same day

Italy & Switzerland and Scotland (Sep 7 - 14 and Sep 14 - 22) also ending & starting on the same day

There are other possible combinations, but those would require 4 to 6 days between trips, so I don't know if those would be feasible.

I apologize in advance if I copied or typed something wrong here!

Sayhello

 

[paddles]

I'm still debating adding an extra ABD next year. However, I think we may just do a week on our own before the Czech/Germany/Austria trip because I'd like more time in Prague (ABD only spends a day there), and focus some time in Munich.

ABDs are very pricey, and I've been looking at the cost of tix to Japan, so we may do that in March on our own instead of adding a second ABD.

decisions, decisions.....

 

[SingingMom]

Wow! The cost of a back- to- back AbD for a party of 3 would be choking. Lol. I might see doing it if I were a single traveler.

The other downside I think is how exhausting it would be. Lololololol. I am still trying to get my act together and we returned July 22. . We had a wonderful trip, but we were non-stop busy. Not sure i could keep up that pace for another 9 days!

Of course.... If you offered me to stay in Europe for another week, I'm certain of what my answer would have been! <3