Wakeforce139

My girlfriend and I are planning a 2 week-ish trip to Europe in late Sept. We are meeting some friends in Munich to kick off the trip with some Oktoberfest fun so that piece of the trip isn't flexible, this is planned for 9/24-9/27. From there we would like to visit two other places, we're limiting it because we're aware that travel days can be long and tiring so 3 total locations seems reasonable.

So here is where we need help! Would seeing Milan and then Paris (then fly home from Paris) be good picks? I've been to the UK before but she's never been to Europe at all. We're kind of into seeing Italy but don't want to visit more than one place there and then Paris is kind of a go-to spot for our first Euro trip. We are open to any other suggestions of course and any decent hotel suggestions in each place would be great - looking for safe, decent quality hotels in convenient tourist locations. Budget is kind of flexible but figure in the $200-300 range per night, if one destination is more spendy we can tick that up.

Also need suggestions on the best way to book trips these days. Should we use travel deal sites? Look for all-inclusive types of trips(this could alter our destinations of course), or are travel agents the more affordable option now? All advice welcome, thanks!

Some other spots we're into: Prague, Barcelona, other parts of Germany or Italy.

PalenQ

Instead of Milan which many find not nearly as neat as Venice or Florence or Rome I'd substitute say Venice - there are overnight trains between Munich and Venice/Rome/Florence so you can cover a lot of ground at night and also save on the cost of a hotel.

Venice also has overnight trains to Paris (as does Milan)- if going by rail then check out these IMO fantastic inf0-laden sites: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb IMO online European Planning & Rail Guide for many sample rail itineraries.

Late Sept see weather in northern Europe - above the Alps get kind of dicey - cool damp , wet so start in the north and move south where the weather will be quite fine (Italy).

dwdvagamundo

At last! Someone with realistic travel goals and expectations

First, get a good guidebook or two (or use the travel planning tools on this site) to get a sense of what's where in relation to what you like to do and see. Someone interested in adventures and hiking will probably want to go someplace totally different from someone (like myself) interested in history and architecture.

Second, where you should go depends on your interests. In Italy, Milano is quite far down on the list of places I'd go on a first trip, even though a very good friend of mine lives there and I support AC Milan. Substitute Venice, which would be quicker and easier to get to from Munich and much, much more interesting--one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. Then fly to Paris from there. although you may want to train to Florence if you're into art or history. Salzburg, Vienna and/or Prague would also be doable in the amount of time you have. However, Italy is my favorite country, so I'd advise that, particularly as you're both interested in it.

Third, most of the people on this site, including myself, do not recommend all inclusive tours because they will cost much more than if you do it yourself and also will waste a lot of your time taking you to gift shops, tourist-oriented restaurants, etc.. With a computer, you can act as your own travel agent: book flights, buy train tickets or reserve rental cars, reserve hotel rooms, etc. You'll find that at least half the fun of traveling is planning the trip and making your own arrangements.

For hotel rooms, my go-to sites are Tripadvisor.com and Booking.com. Tripadvisor will permit you to narrow down your hotel choices by price, location, etc. and most importantly, see what other people who have stayed there thought of the places--you can almost always find a reasonably priced place in a good location where you can have a good night's sleep. Booking.com has the best prices, IMO, and permits you to make changeable reservations. So, for example, you may want to book a nonrefundable room in or near Munich (warning--prices will probably be sky-high for Oktoberfest) but then make refundable ones elsewhere in case your plans change.

Travelforbeer

Hi Wakeforce- I hope you already have something reserved in Munich or as dwdvagamundo states, you will probably be in for sticker shock. It turns out that Paris hotel rates are usually pretty high for the dates you will be there. And Venice hotel rates are almost always high- There are a lot of places in Italy that most of us would pick over Milan.

Have the friends you are meeting in Munich already made hotel reservations? If yes, can you share? If not, You might want to look for an apartment for all of you in a nearby town like Freising, Augsburg, Garmisch, Ingolstadt,... and then train in to the 'Fest- it is about 6 blocks south of the main train station in Munich and you can get some inexpensive train tickets for 4-5 folks.

I would also recommend the same go-to hotel sites that
dwdvagamundo uses to get a feel for hotels. They show a map and you can see the location of the train stations relative to the hotels.

Get cracking on the hotels and have a great trip!!!

eluckhardt

I also love Italy, and also agree that Venice would make a nice trip from Munich. Fwiw, there is also a great non stop train from Munich to Paris, departing early AM and landing you at Gare de l'Est early afternoon. That is also an option, if you decide to go to Paris directly.

PalenQ

There is also an overnight train between Munich and Paris I believe.

PalenQ

Yes cvheckingwww.bahn.de/en theCNL - City Night Liner - amongst the spiffiest night trains in Europe, leaves Munich's hauptbahnhof )Hbf) nightly at 22:50, arriving in Paris about 9:30 am.

PalenQ

If taking the night train Munich to Paris do not worry about missing too much outstanding scenery as you would by taking a night train say from Munich to Vienna or Italy. Oh eastern France is pastoral as any part of France as thus to a foreigner scenic but it is more of the same all the way.

Wakeforce139

Everyone I want to thank you for the great suggestions and advice!

Due to the feedback, we are settled on Munich, Venice, and Paris. Due to the cost of the trains and just how long they take, we're going to fly to each city (if this is a mistake please warn me against myself!).

Proposed itinerary:
Sept 23 - fly out
Sept 24 - land in Munich AM local time
24 - 27 explore Munich / Oktoberfest
Sat 27th - fly to Venice
27 - 30 - explore Venice
Tues 30th - fly to Paris
30 - Oct 4th explore Paris
Fly home Sat the 4th

Any suggestions on changes?

clarkgriswold

Not a lot popping up in your price range for Paris, but this one has a 3-night special on their website with a cancellation policy of 7-days before arrival. They'll probably fill up soon so if you like the neighborhood, you might want to book it while you continue to look at other options:

http://www.hotel-duquesne-eiffel-paris.com/en.html

Christina

Sept/Oct are extremely busy periods in Paris hotels, so prices are high and they get booked up far in advance. However, there are plenty of hotels in your price range in Paris available, I suggest using www.booking.com to show you availabilities. The problem is you get so many (I get about 1000 hotels with vacancies beginning 10/1), you need to filter some. Pick hotels, maybe 3*, you can check a price range if you want. There are still hundreds available in your range. That site doesn't require prepayment. It helps if you know an area to pick -- Latin Quarter would work. I see the Hotel des Trois Colleges is free for a bit over $200 a night.

I like to stay in MOntparnasse area, it is lively, plenty of places to eat, but very convenient to public transportation and close to the dead center, this is one hotel I like, they have "confort" doubles from 210 euro at beg of October:
http://www.hotelraspailmontparnasse.com/

Mimar

However, Montparnasse is not very central for a first-time visitor. S/he would have to master the metro or the bus system before they could get started sight-seeing. Usually one of arrondissements 1-7 is recommended.

To the OP, arrondissements are zones or areas within Paris. Arrondissement 1 is in the center of the city, the Isle de la Cite where Notre Dame is. The numbers go up in a spiral from there. The single digit arrondissements are close to the Seine River and convenient to all the main sights.

Around the Boulevard St. Michel, arrondissements 5 and 6, is a good area for young people; it has the university, lots of bars and restaurants. And it's walkable to many sights.

sandralist

The 7 arr. isn't very well located for sightseeing either.

I would check Lufthansa for flights. Flying from Munich going the other way in Italy (Genova) can be dirt cheap if you book far enough in advance, but Venice might be pricier. Don't be afraid to take a night flight if it snags you a better deal. It is extremely easy to get to the airport in Munich, and totally safe. Just make sure your flight lands at a time when you can still get to Venice without taking an expensive water taxi.

However, have you checked out the fast train from Munich to Verona? Last time I was in Munich it was being advertised heavily at very low prices, and since it is a scenic route, might have some appeal.

PalenQ

There is also an overnight German train rolling between Munich and Venice and also to Florence and Rome - save time even over flying - unless flying by night of course - and save money on a hotel - www.bahn.de/en for special deals and prices.

Bpesta

Hi -

We did a similar trip a few years back (London instead of Venice) and had a great time.

In Paris, we stayed at the Hotel Henri IV Rive Gauche. It's very near the Notre Dame (Latin Quarter/5 arr) and walking distance to the Eiffel Tower and many museums (we walk a lot, though, so this depends on you). I just checked both expedia and hotels.com for your dates and got $284/night. Great considering the location and time of year. Their site (www dot henri-paris-hotel dot com/ shows the rate to be 230 for a double (I didn't calculate the exchange). Also, we flew between Paris and Munich on Air Berlin and got a great rate. Good luck! Sounds like a great trip.

PalenQ

And there is also an overnight train between Paris and Munich - a very comfy CityNightLiner - CNL train -

http://www.citynightline.de/citynigh...en/index.shtml

Dukey1

"Due to the cost of the trains and just how long they take, we're going to fly to each city (if this is a mistake please warn me against myself!)."


Then here are my suggestions:

use www.skyscanner.com to look for budget flights between your three locations

Be aware of the timings and make sure you chose N/S flights

book them FIVE MINUTES AGO or you will see the fares going upward the longer you wait

Christina

I don't agree that Montparnasse is far out. That hotel I gave is right on the border of the 6th, and is closer to Notre Dame, for example, than many places in the 7th would be (it's about 1.25 miles). Furthermore, you can't really stay in the 7th and not learn to master the metro, either.

Also, you get more for your value there than in the 6th, which is another reason I mentioned it. YOu can start to sightsee from Montparnasse if you want, that hotel is only a couple blocks south of Luxembourg Gardens, for example, and there are some interesting things to see right around there, if one really wants (ie, the cemetery, the musee de resistance, etc), although not the usual top tier.

PalenQ

Montparnasse is a great location IME - that is if you can walk a short distance you will be able to hoof it to so so many famous sites and places.

PalenQ

Montparnasse is IME also a more real neighborhood than say the Latin Quarter or Louvre area hotels - lots of nice brasseries, cafes, shops and more a neighborhood feeling.