Travel with Elizabeth — The Busy Couple’s Guide to Vacationing in Europe

For many couples, finding a full 7-14 days to set aside for vacation is tough! There are schedules to coordinate, prior commitments to keep, and the ever-present balance of sports and activities with the kids. Sometimes, it seems the stars just need to align to make it happen, am I right?

Can you relate? Have you dreamt of traveling internationally, and now you’re finally financially able, but you just can’t seem to carve out the time? Do you find yourself thinking, “Next year… next year…” and then 12 months go by and you’re still in the same situation? I promise, you’re not alone, but I’m here to tell you that you can do it! Here’s how you can vacation in Europe, in only 5 days.

The first step is choosing the right destination.

Start by prioritizing your flight. Here’s what I mean. Between layovers and an overnight flight, your travel itinerary will need at least two days dedicated to getting there and back. Gateway cities offer non-stop flights between the US and some European cities. Narrow down your options by looking at your preferred or closest gateway city and the destinations they fly to non-stop. These will be airports like Atlanta, Chicago, JFK, Dallas, etc. If you’re like us and don’t live near a gateway city, you’ll have to work in that extra flight no matter what.

With two days taken up with travel, that leaves you with three days in destination. Believe it or not, European cities aren’t all created equal. London, Rome, Paris - these are Europe’s megacities. Yes, they’ll have the most non-stop flights, but anyone will tell you, you’d need at least a week just to feel like you scratched the surface. Since we only have three days, let’s skip the typical tourist locals and get a bit more creative. After all, Europe has way more to offer!

Here are 6 cities that are perfect for exploring in just 3 days.

Dublin
Frankfurt
Amsterdam
Zurich
Geneva
Milan

What do all these cities have in common?

Not only do they offer non-stop flights to and from the US, but they’re also pedestrian friendly with excellent transit systems and compact city centers. This means most of the top sites are centrally located within a reasonable distance of each other. It’s all about saving time, and you can waste a lot of time trying to get around and find your way in unfamiliar places.

In the travel industry, we refer to these as “second cities” because they’re not as big as their mega counterparts, yet they still have plenty to offer. The benefit of these “second cities” is that you can enjoy most of the major sites in just 2-3 days. And BONUS, you’ll find these cities are a little less expensive than the big tourist hubs.

**Can’t quite manage to cross an ocean? Scroll down for places to go in North America that will make you feel like your in Europe!**

The second step to vacationing in Europe in a short amount of time is to get yourself a travel advisor!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, (which busy couples often do) you’ve probably noticed the general movement toward customization with an emphasis on personal service. As technology continues to grow and reshape our lives, planning travel has become increasingly complex. In light of this, the value of custom travel itineraries has increased exponentially. And for busy couples, travel advisors aren’t just a helpful resource - they’re flat-out essential!

As a travel advisor myself, I work with my clients to curate custom travel itineraries that fit their needs perfectly. With only three days in destination, making the most of your time becomes a top priority. With me, you’ll have access to hand selected 3, 4, and 5-star hotels in the best locations, plus additional time savers, like skip-the-line entry tickets for must-see sites, pre-arranged tours, private transfers, insider tips, and more.

Let’s not forget, half the battle of taking the vacation is planning the vacation!

*Do you love traveling, but don’t have time to plan?

*Do you often wish you could snap your fingers and have it all done for you?

*Do you worry about how to get from point A to point B?

*Are you tired of being the one person everyone relies on to plan the vacation?

If you answered yes to ANY of these questions, then it’s time to check out Travel with Elizabeth today to start planning your next trip. Don’t let life pass you by, you can make your travel dreams come true - and I’ll help you do it!

The third step in vacationing in Europe in a limited time frame is to hit the ground running!

You’ve got your professionally planned itinerary and you just stepped off your overnight flight and it's now morning in Europe - what do you do? It’s tempting to check into your hotel and crash, but that’s the last thing you want to do! Why? Because if you don’t conquer jet lag now, you’ll be battling it all three days. I have several tips for beating jet lag (if you follow me on Instagram, then you know I cover this topic frequently) but my number one tip is to STOP REMINDING YOURSELF WHAT TIME IT IS AT HOME. Get your mind in line, and your body will follow. I’d never recommend scheduling a tour for your first day, but go outside, take a walk, and get acquainted with the city you’ll call home for the next few days. Have some lunch and maybe take advantage of a free museum or find a park to enjoy. Hit the hay a little early, and by morning you’ll be ready to see the sites.

Well, there you have it! The busy couples guide to vacationing in Europe. I hope this helped! If you need any assistance deciding on a destination or any advice at all, feel free to contact me here.

Can’t quite bring yourself to cross the Atlantic? These North American destinations will make you feel like you’re in Europe!

If Bavaria is what you want, try Leavenworth, WA, Helene GA, or Stowe, VT

How about Scotland? Visit Nova Scotia, AKA “New Scotland”

Enjoy the wine culture of Tuscany in sunny Napa Valley, CA

Feel transported to Paris in Montreal, QC Canada

Get a taste of Denmark in Solvang, CA

Enjoy the fairytale cottages of the Cotswolds in Carmel-by-the Sea, CA

See the colonial architecture of Spain in Santa Barbara, CA, or St. Augustine, FL

Hi, I’m Elizabeth Dyer, owner of Travel with Elizabeth, a travel agency dedicated to building memorable vacations for people like you. We provide planning and booking services to Europe, Canada, and the U.S. saving you time, energy, and a whole lot of stress! Sound too good to be true? It’s not! Click here to find out how easy it actually is!

Follow Travel with Elizabeth on social media!

See more from Ireland, plus insider updates, destination inspiration, travel tips, and more! See you there!