In my experience taking frequent lessons really helps. Once a week is minimum, twice a week is better, more is even better (if you can afford it).
I did fixed wing first. It helps with airmanship and getting used to how things look from the air, what a shallow and steep should look like approach look like, basic eye-hand coordination, etc. With the f/w experinence I found it not being that hard to get the heli add-on in the minimum time required.
solo-airplane: around 15 hours, PPL(A) around 65 hours, CPL(A)+IR another 50 to 60 hours, solo heli a bit over 10 hours, CPL(H) a bit over 40 hours. (all Dutch licenses)
Also, make sure you get a good instructor. If the two of you don't get on, try someone else.