Should I use a travel agent?

For a standard 2-week city trip, it is unnecessary. The tools available online today make booking your own train and flight segments simple and cheaper.

Is it better to stay in Airbnbs or hotels?

Hotels offer more reliable check-in times and luggage storage, which is vital when you arrive early in the morning after an overnight flight.

How to plan your first 2-week trip to Europe

Limit your trip to three cities maximum to avoid spending your entire vacation in transit. Use high-speed rail to connect your destinations and prioritize booking your long-haul flights at least four months in advance.

Select a cohesive region. Don't try to see the whole continent. Pick a cluster like London-Paris-Amsterdam (connected by Eurostar) or Rome-Florence-Venice. Staying within one region saves you 6-8 hours of travel time per transit day.
Book an 'open-jaw' flight. Search for multi-city flights where you fly into one city (e.g., London) and out of another (e.g., Rome). This prevents you from wasting a full day backtracking to your arrival airport.
Budget for rail, not just flights. Download the Trainline app or check Omio to estimate rail costs. Book these tickets 60-90 days out to save 40% compared to buying at the station.
Limit your hotel count. Only book three distinct accommodations for a 14-day trip. You need at least 3-4 nights in each city to actually experience the culture rather than just unpacking and repacking.

Should I use a travel agent?: For a standard 2-week city trip, it is unnecessary. The tools available online today make booking your own train and flight segments simple and cheaper.
Is it better to stay in Airbnbs or hotels?: Hotels offer more reliable check-in times and luggage storage, which is vital when you arrive early in the morning after an overnight flight.