A nice idea, but no, you can't get direct flights to Vancouver from Madrid.

The issue, I'm sure, isn't Madrid or Barcelona - it's Vancouver. No doubt you can travel from most major European cities direct to many eastern North American cities, and maybe even large central & western American cities as well, but Vancouver is much more limited.

I can't find this year's list, but last summer's YVR list of continental European destinations to which you could fly direct: Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Zurich. That's it.

Oh yeah, there's a few ways to do it - it's not like it isn't possible. Frankfurt seems to be one of the most common stops. But it's cheaper and quicker from Paris than Barcelona. Of course I wouldn't drive all the way from Barcelona to Paris just for a shorter and cheaper flight, because it would be neither after that drive, but if I can use that drive to see more that I wanted to, like the Loire Valley, it's an option.

That part of the trip is somewhat up in the air for a few days, as I'm waiting to find out when our daughter has to be back for university. I've booked Florence for 4 nights and Venice for 2, so I'm just down to the last 10-14 days to plan once I have the schedule answers I need.

Nice man should be an awesome trip. Have fun!!

I did not realize that Vancouver B.C. was such a backwash city. Is it the same way heading east to Asia? Is this just further proof how silly Canada is? I like Vancouver and have visited the place a number of times and it always appeared to me as an "international" city in many respects. I guest my bubble has just been burst a bit. Also, the last time I was there the traffic was horrendous. What the hell are all those people doing and where the hell are they going?

Anyway, looking forward to how you plan out the rest of your trip.


P.S. You could drive to Seattle (only about 2-3 hrs drive I think) and spend the night there, pre and post trip! That is something that may open more flight options and be viable for travel planning.

Thanks!

Well no, of course not, because...we're on the west coast. Direct flights to 17 Asian airports, and 3 more in Aus/NZ.

No, I don't think so. Seattle's a pretty comparable size, and actually a fair bit larger when you start enlarging the metro area you include - according to their airport website, in Continental Europe, they fly directly to: Amsterdam, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris. And less cities in the UK. Go down to SFO or LAX, and the number gets larger, but still not as much as if we go east. I think it's a simple matter of city size, geography, and demand.

Oh, Hi there, welcome to North American cities! But yes, Vancouver is often near the top of bad traffic city lists - it has dropped a few spots recently, but still top 5-10. Being hemmed in by the ocean, mountains, and the US border, doesn't help, but no question the traffic planning/infrastructure is far from perfect.



Yeah, that's an option we often exercise. I'd say we fly out of Seattle more often than Vancouver (less taxes, better options when we're travelling in the US as many of our recent trips have been). But for this trip, Vancouver made more sense for us.

Edit to add: Wait a minute, aren't you a west coaster? Now I wonder if I'm being leveled.

My internet was out. I was going to actually answer this. so anyway i asked my sister and her friend about historical sites. they do not spend that much time comparitively looking at historical sites.

So anyway here was there opinions on things.

overrated:
sistine chapel- they thought it was boring
picasso museum - thought it was odd and underwhelming
mona lisa- incredibly tiny painting, crowded , way way overrated

really cool:

Dublin
Berlin wall
sausen hausen(sp?) concentration camp
crown jewels in london
pompadeao center

my sis friend though gilbratar was really awesome , my sister didnt like it.

anyway hard to remember now enjoy your trip.

overall they really really like spain but not so much for historical art sites.

No, no; I just hiked up my skirt a bit to about mid-thigh.

Yes, I'm a west coaster. I live out in the sticks however and I drive the 5 hours needed up to Portland when I do any serious international or long flights. And it is not just the places you can get to directly that help, it is also number of flights available and their timing that is almost as important. It really helps with convenience and planning and money savings even with the drive. For example, if I can shave 4 hrs off a direct flight from Portland, that is worth the drive, plus other options of say only one plane change on very long distance flights, and overall the flights are always cheaper than starting from say, Eugene. These things add up to big savings on time, comfort, and also making the trip enjoyable. And cutting down on the impact of jet lag.

I think you already know most of this - but a positive cumulative effect just makes travel so much better and optimizing travel planning is a big benefit. A benefit that many disregard or don't think is important. There is nothing worse than a cumbersome travel experience and getting to your destination and hotel all weary and very bad jet lag at the start of a vacation. It can make the first days very unpleasant and put a damper on your first week. And then you will be kicking yourself and saying "If we had only planned this different or spent that extra $500 (or whatever) it would have paid huge dividends". Trust me, I know this from experience. And this applies once you get to Europe and are zooming about trying to see everything you can see.

But in the end it all will be worth it. Makes for great travel horror stories if nothing else.

Pompeii is a few hours south of Rome. Many houses and courtyards of the ruins were surprisingly accessible. You can freely roam over large parts of the excavated city. Walking down an ancient street in Pompeii is a surreal experience and could be worth a day trip from Rome.

Go to one of those catacombs where there's dead skeletons everywhere. I think they're somewhere in Rome.

I think you have to go to a library and break the floor to get in.

What about Switzerland? Are you planing on going there?
If so, have a few places to visit to suggest you.

Stonehenge, UK.
Venice - lots of historical sights here and a lovely place.
Greece - various areas
Old amsterdam is beautiful
Prague

Came to post about Florence, my favorite Euro city oat. All of these are good, plus you can check out Dante's house which is not far from Uffizi, also the Ponte Vecchio https://www.visitflorence.com/floren...e-vecchio.html and Duomo https://www.visitflorence.com/floren...hes/duomo.html

And if you're going to be in Florence anyway you might as well visit Pisa which is a 45 min train ride east and is near Lucca which is also fantastic.

Forgot about Austria and Neuschwanstein... and a ton of other castles!

Thanks for the additional advice and suggestions, everyone. I did indeed read them and appreciate the information.

Now that we're in Brighton, the Trip Report thread is alive!

I'm surprised no mention of Amsterdam, one of the best cities in Europe for single males to visit.

It's not all that surprising given that Amsterdam isn't in the UK, France, or Italy, and I'm not a single male.

This reminds me that I have a trip report to finish.

I'm dreaming of traveling to the castles of Scotland, England, and France