DESPERATELY need touring suggestions for 2 weeks in Europe pls About This Page:

[Courtney892]

HEY GUYS! I haven't posted here since we spent our fantabulous anniversary in Disney Oct/Nov, but I love to keep up with what is going on. I didn't think to post here about trip suggestions until this morning, and that is so stupid because I have always gotten the very best travel advice from this board. I can't find ANY decent board to post questions about European travel where ppl actual respond helpfully and/or you can find what you need! Suggestions there would be welcome too [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

We're spending 2 weeks to at the very outside edge 19 days in EUROPE THIS SUMMER!! 6 days are set in stone in Prague and we have a convention we're attending then which runs form the middle of the last week of July through the first day or two in August...basic touring in Prague and our hotel are included there. We can go a week and a half early and tour other countries first, or we go early the same week as the convention and spend 3 days somewhere and then stay most of a week after going wherever we want. We are at the very beginning of planning and this is always my panic stage because there are too many options.

Main questions for right now:
1. How do we decide on Eurorail passes or renting a car? I am afraid since we have to dress up for the convention and we'll be touring so long that we may have a bit more luggage that would be smooth to transfer on the trains, but the cars are very expensive to leave in a country different from the one you rent it from and we don't know we're going to fly into and out of the same place (we're looking into open jaws)

2. What luggage would you absolutely recommend having? I've heard a lot about suitcases which can convert to backpacks and we'll definitely get one of those, but should we each get one? I have a hardsided carry-on samsonite, and assorted sizes of overnight carpetbags, but our main set of luggage is an awesome Diane von Furstenburg set and I've been instructed to NOT NOT NOT take this with me, so we are going to need to buy a bag or two.

3. Does anyone know a good travel agent for European advice in middle Tennessee anywhere?

4. In 8-13 free days, how many places would you think we could visit comfortably? I desperately want to see Vienna, and we are both huge castle buffs, so we though of taking theming the trip a seach for castles and letting that be our guide of where to go (Ludwigs and also driving the Loure Valley in France). There are no places at this point that are definitely out for us so that is kind of the problem. We spent our honeymoon in Ireland and wouldn't be opposed to going back since this trip will have to be for our 5 year anniversary, but other than a way too brief glimpse at Amsterdam Europe is virgin soil to us.

5. Last question is budget, we are responsible for our own airfare and getting around and food for everything but 6 days so I am not sure how to allocate what we have saved and what we can save. I've been pouring over Europe Through the Backdoor and Rick Steve's videos, and we do not demand top flight accomadations...we're more interested in seeing a lot but I am all at sea on the budget.

Does it make any sense to fly into London which we can do for less than 400-500pp and visit for a day or two before going across the channel and then renting a car? Seems like it would be too expensive to ferry a rental car over to us, but we know little about it.

If anyone could recommend other books or could PM me if you travel there a lot and wouldn't mind having your brain picked, I'd love you forever and ever!

Thanks so much!

[chezp]

Firstly, wow what an amazing trip you're looking at planning [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img] I'm jealous, especially about Prague. I so want to go there one day! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

I'm inclined to say go for a Eurorail pass, as personally I wouldn't like the idea of driving from country to country. There are so many different laws in each country that I'd have thought EuroRail is a much easier way to get around. I don't know if this is a possibility, but what about taking flights between countries? For us English heading over to the States, we can usually get a couple of free stopovers in America if we're making an international flight. Perhaps there's a similar arrangement over here? I don't know, but it might be worth investigating.

As to how many places you can visit comfortably in 8 - 13 days, I think it depends on what type of person you are. I know that DH and I can see a city in two or three days, because we pack a lot into that time. It just depends how easy you want to take things. If you want to see London, I'd allow at least three or four days. You mentioned Vienna and we're thinking about a trip over there this, which would see us spending two nights there.

If you're castle buffs, then I'd suggest a trip up the Rhine in Germany - I seem to recall that's where a lot of castles are centred. Perhaps after that, you could head over to London and then fly home from there? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

However, if you're looking to travel before the conference - and you did mention that flights into London were cheap, then you could also spend a few days in London and then take the Eurostar across the Channel, perhaps to Brussels and spend a day or two there? That's one of our favourite cities. I'm sure from there you could then catch a train to Germany or perhaps rent a car. I certainly wouldn't rent a car here and then take it over to the Continent - I can imagine that would cost a fortune and don't forget, we drive on the "wrong" side over here! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] At least the rest of Europe drives on the same side as you guys do. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I think there are endless opportunities - and I hope I've helped a little bit. I look forward to hearing what you end up deciding to do. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

[stretch2864]

Check out Rick Steves books for whatever countries in Europe you plan on visiting. He is the guru of knowing the "ins" and "outs" of everything Europe and on a budget. His website, Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door , offers lots of great tips for wherever you are traveling. We are going to England this summer and I bought Rick Steves London 2006 and Rick Steves Great Britain 2005. Both books have been great for planning. Good luck and have fun! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[statelady01]

If you can possibly swing London- please, please go. It has some amazing sights and is a positively enchanting city. Other areas in Britain are equally stunning as well.

[iamgrumpy]

I did 10 days in Europe after my HS Graduation in 2000. I had a great time and we saw Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Lichtenstein.

I would defiantely say look into Lucern, Adelboden, Innsbruck, Saltzburg, Munich, and Lichtenstein was a good 2 hour break.

We got to tour a mine in Austria that went underground and while walking the caverns we crossed from Austria, to Germany, back to Austria again. It was absolutely cool!

Also we got to see in Saltzburg most of the Sound of Music scenes (yes we sang and danced just like the movie) it was very neat!

I would love to go back over and i wish i remember half of the towns names that we stopped at because each had so many neat things to see. We hiked a lot (girlscout trip) and i remember hiking up into the alps for 7 miles and half way up there were cows grazing and having them lick and suck on our fingers.

I will pull up my guide books that i had and if i can remember any more i will let you know if you have any questions please feel free to ask me.

[Courtney892]

Thank you so much to those who posted suggestions. We'll definitely consider all the suggestions that you made. I am trying to find a travel agent to see if I can get anyone to answer some specific questions (plus I'd like to have some back up if there is a problem and we're overseas), but there are only 3 European specialists listed with the ASTA in the whole state of TN and none are very close to where I am. Do you think it is necessary to be close enough to your TA to be able to pick up tickets and meet face to face? I've never really thought that before as our cruise TA is in Florida and our overseas TA (who has retired) used to be in Maryland, but I guess I have more questions this trip because we'll be going to several diff countries and need more advice.

[blondie]

I have seen a lot of information lately about really cheap airfare in Europe ... like $20.00 one way between cities, no kidding! If I were you, with the itinerary you are looking into, I would look into this to save some time. Trains are very nice, and you can see the countryside, but if you want time to see as much as you can, this is the way I would go. My husband is going to Paris, Normandy, the Louire Valley, and London with a group of students over Easter [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]... I am so jealous! I have personally been to London and various places in England 5 times, and it is a really great city to visit. You are so lucky!

Oh, and me? I am packing up the car and going south with my kids over Easter. At least I should see some sunshine!

Have a great time! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[chezp]

[ QUOTE ]
I have seen a lot of information lately about really cheap airfare in Europe ... like $20.00 one way between cities, no kidding! If I were you, with the itinerary you are looking into, I would look into this to save some time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes, I was forgetting about that! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Sorry, I tend to take that for granted - now you see why I think internal flights in America are expensive. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] The best sites to check out are EasyJet and Ryanair

[Courtney892]

Definitely going to check out those sites for flights, but we can't even decide on what COUNTRIES we want to see yet! That is why I am feeling so panicky. I would love to spend a few days in London first and then cross over and get a car, but I'm not sure how we'd get around London, and since we don't want to be forced to fly into and out of the same country I'm nervous about charges to turn the car in somewhere else (concerned about rail because of luggage and I hear the small airlines limit luggage too??).

Are open jaw flights available on cheap flights into London? I hadn't thought of that but I bet they may not be....

[chezp]

[ QUOTE ]
Are open jaw flights available on cheap flights into London? I hadn't thought of that but I bet they may not be....

[/ QUOTE ]

I just randomly chucked some destinations and dates into Expedia (I don't know if you have this in the States, this is the British address) and I've just got some very good prices, flying in from New York to somewhere like London, London to Prague, and out of Prague back to New York. Those were all with British Airways. I'm not sure I'd suggest trying their website though, as they tend to only do return flights to the same destination. We're using them in October and I had to phone them to get what I wanted, but definitely try Expedia and perhaps some other travel sites and see what prices they come back with. You might be pleasantly surprised. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[blondie]

London is very easy to get around. Just use the subway or bus system. We always buy our subway passes in the US before we go ... we just buy how many days we want (2 days, 3 days, etc) the pass for and then pay for it. You can only buy the passes when you are out of England. If you buy subway passes as you go, you will spend a lot more money. It is fun riding the double decker buses, too. You can ride the subway or bus to any of the train stations if you want to go to someplace like Windsor Castle. The trains are pretty cheap also. there are many day tours available from several companies, but we prefer to go on our own. After all, everything is in Engligh and the people are very friendly if you need directions. I would never consider renting a car in London ... they are crazy drivers, there is lots of traffic and driving on the left is daunting until you get used to it. I did rent a car one after flying in to Gatwick and did not have any problems after going through a roundabout about 10 times before I figured out which road to get off at. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[WDW Novice]

You might want to check out a Web site called Trip Advisor. It was immensely helpful when I planned a trip to France last year. Some of the forum posters are kind of surly, but the information is great.

[JoanW]

Back in 2002, Pat and I had to go to Budapest for his conference for five days. I did the daytime tourist thing all over Budapest and loved it. When his conference was over, we hopped the train and rode to Vienna. We spent two nights touring, eating, touring, gawking. Loved it! Then we took the train to Munich, in time for Oktoberfest. It was the second or third day into the fest. Loved it! We only spent one night in Munich, so I'd love to go back.

Train time was extensive, and we tried to ride in the late evening so we'd arrive at night into each city, go to bed, and get up refreshed the next morning for sightseeing.

Now that flights are cheaper, I'd try those first. But it was awesome seeing the countryside of Austria and Germany from the train when we had sunlight.

I got my Eurail train pass from AAA, and searched Eurail on the internet. I think that's the correct spelling.

Budapest was awesome and inexpensive at the time. Vienna and Munich were more expensive and we used the Euro money there. I'd love to go to Prague someday. My brother went with the hockey team he coaches last year and loved all of it.