mariojbra

Hello friends,

I´m travelling with my wife and 2 years old boy and planning our 21-days trip to Europe .

Our initial plans are :

19/09 Intercontinental flight

20/09 [Milan] - 3 or 2 nights ?

- Visit Catedral and Castelo Sforza
- Daytrip to cinque terre (Does it worth?)

23/09 [Bern] or [Zurich] - 4 or 5 nights ?

- Daytrip 1 to Interlaken (Jungfrau, Wengen or Murren? What´s the best for a daytrip?)
- Daytrip 2 Luzern (lake luzern - boat)
- Daytrip 3 Bern or Zurich or Basel

27/09 [ Munich ] - 4 nights

- Oktoberfest during weekdays (until 16pm)
- Alianz Arena tour

01/10 [ Regensburg ] - 3 or 4 nights?
- Daytrip to Passau
- Daytrip to Landshut or Plzen

05/10 [ Prague ] - 4 nights
- Daytrip to Kutná Hora

09/10 Intercontinental flight

The only thing we can ´t change is the flight to Milan, because we already have bought one.

About us : Before you say we have so many hotel changes, I´d like to say that we are used to travel with our child, and sincerely, we are lucky enough to be able to do some things that seems to be very difficult to other families with young children. I do not know exactly why, but we have a good feeling what kind of things work for us.

One thing is avoid take flights, we always prefer direct trains connections, if possible. So, I usually plan a itinerary based on cities that have good rail connections and stay in "train hotels". We do not care about luxury, just a clean and safe place to sleep with a private bathroom. Apartments with kitchen are also desirable.

We also try to let extra free time just to stroll with the our son in parks, playgrounds and prefer doing open air activities, etc... We already know some cities like Munich, Prague (we visited Oktoberfest last year with our boy and it was a good experience...)

Please let us know any suggestions you may have. Feel free to comment any part of our planned trip - logistics, cities, order, etc.

Thank you!

PalenQ

If traveling that much on trains be sure to check out railpasses which is over 25 are first class, which, especially with child that age, is IME well worth it and except in Italy a pass lets you hop on any train anytime - such fully flexible tickets can cost a ton.

anyway for lots on European trains and passes and alternatives like a string of discounted tickets (typically sold in limited numbers so must be booked in stone - non-refundable non-changeable usually - weeks/months ahead of time - anyway for a wealth of European rail info check: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com - latter has nice info on discounted tickets and how to obtain them - but again a string of highly restricted discounted 2nd class tickets may even approximate the cost of a first-class fully flexible pass so check both out.

Sassafrass

How did your April trip turn out?

mariojbra

Our last trip was very good, thanks !! We had a great time with my parents and our son.

I wish I had time to write a trip report and say thanks to everyone that help us that time, but we need to create a travel itineray before the end of the month.

PalenQ

Daytrip 1 to Interlaken (Jungfrau, Wengen or Murren? What´s the best for a daytrip?)>

The most popular day trip is to the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest train station and as they advertise a Top of the World look and feel - of snow, ice tunnels and even can walk to a glacier - but this excursion is VERY expensive - one of the world's steepest inclined trains (mostly in tunnel however near the top) and steepest fares.

I think the excursion to Murren/The Schilthorn, celebrated lookout vista and also in James Bond's On Her Majesty's Secret Service film, is better for its all around variety of places and modes of transit.

bobthenavigator

The best destinations in CH IMHO are Luzern and the Berner Oberland and both deserve more than a day trip. I would split that time and stay in both. I suggest 3 nights in Wengen and 2 nights in Luzern.

mariojbra

Wengen or Murren (or Grindelwald) are really beautiful villages, but we think that are not good choices for our particular needs, since it ´s not easy to get there from Milan after an intercontinental flight with lugagge and a 2 years old boy. We´d have to change trains at least 3 times.

But we could stay 2-3 days in Interlaken (just 1 train change in Spiez) and 2-3 days in Bern(or Lucern or Zurique) , then take a train to Munich on Sunday (or Monday).

How is the weather in September on Bern Oberland? I´ve checked Accweather and it seems quite warm (average 17oC). Can we expect clear and sunny days?

PalenQ

Weather is always very variable in the Berner Oberland - in the middle of summer it could rain and be cool - but could be toasty nice - ditto for September - keep a flexible schedule - somethings can be done in wet weather - even a boat ride on the two lakes.

mariojbra

Hello,

Due to some problems to find some inexpensives trains tickets fares and accomodations , we are considering staying 4 nights in just one city (I think Bern is more central than Lucern) and buy a 3-day Swiss Pass.

Am I missing something or is this plan ok?


Day 1 - Supersaver ticket Milan to Bern - Sightseeing Bern

Day 2 - Activate Swiss Pass

Bern to Lucern - Sightseeing Luzern and classic circuit to Mt Rigi - All included in Swiss pass?

Day 3 -

Bern to Interlaken - try Murren/Schilthorn* - 40 CHF extra?
* If weather is not good then Grindewald and Wengen or a boat trip

Day 4 -

Bern to Interlaken - try again Murren/Schilthorn if not done in the day before
If we already done it , then take the golden line to montreaux and return to bern (fast way) at night - All included in Swiss pass?

Day 5 - Supersaver ticket Bern - Munich

PalenQ

Bern to Lucern - Sightseeing Luzern and classic circuit to Mt Rigi - All included in Swiss pass?>

Yes

Bern to Interlaken - try Murren/Schilthorn* - 40 CHF extra?>

Yes all is fully covered to Murren then Murren-Schilthorn long gondolas is 50% off - if into moderate hiking you can do a lovely walk back down from either The Schilthorn (bit unnerving path right at start however) or from Burg (?) the intermediate station on the cable way and save some money to boot.

Bern is a fine city but does not have the ambience of a lovely lake like Lucerne does - Lucerne is also smaller and less hectic IME.

mariojbra

PalenQ,

Bern - Interlaken = 58m by train
Lucern - Interlaken = 1h50m by train

This is the main reason we are considering Bern instead Lucern. People say that you have to get early to the Alps...

Bern is also closer to Montreux or even Zermatt(another possible day trip)

Do you know how much time it takes from Burg to Murren ? We (me, my wife and toddler) are used to hike about 3 km (40 minutes) in our home town every week.

PalenQ

I agree Bern makes a good base but also consider Spiez, lovingly overlooking Lake Thun with the castle of your dreams high on a hill - boat dock down below and spiez is smack on the Golden Pass scenic train route you should take one way to Montreux over the mainline way from Bern. consider Spiez, a dreamy town with full view of awesome Jungfrau Panorama of glacier-girdled peaks from your hotel balcony and just a few minutes from Bern itself. Hotels may be cheaper also outside of Bern.

Bern is great just does not have the ambience of a town like Spiez with such scintillating views.

mariojbra

Thank you.

And what about munich-regensburg-prague?

Should we consider a stop over in Landshut when taking the train Munich-Regensburg? I think this is a good option if we use the bavarian ticket.

And Plzen? Is it a good place for a stop over when taking Regensburg-Prague train? If we do it, how do we buy Plzen-Prague ticket? Should we buy it in advance?

PalenQ

And what about munich-regensburg-prague?>

Yes but not in the same day - From Regensburg you hve direct trains to Prague, taking 4 h 15 mins that go via Plzen - maybe a short stop but yes buy any Czech ticket in Czech Republic as they are dirt cheap for trips like that. Regensburg to Plzen/Prague buy at www.bahn.de/en - German Railways official site - get nifty discounts if book far enough in advance.

mariojbra

Regensburg-Prague ticket is quite expensive (about 100 euros for 2 pax) even if bought in advance but I´ve found the bayern-bohemia ticket which is valid for Regensburg-Plzen (31.6 euros for 2 pax).

I think we could buy the Plzen-Prague ticket in czech rail company , although IMHO it is not a friendly site.

We could also visit Plzen as a daytrip from Regensburg or even spend a night (instead a stopover) . It seems a lovely town, and it is going to have a pilsen festival during this period (3 october 2015)

PalenQ

Those regional passes like the Bavaria Pass at least restricts you to regional trains not faster ones - possibly anyway - not familiar with that exact ticket. Plzen-Prague really just buy once there - how much could you save for all the frustration - there are probably no reservations required anyway - or buy in Regensburg as a separate ticket perhpas. Maybe regional trains are as quick but could mean changes and much slower perhaps.

mariojbra

I simulated the route with bahn.com for 2 pax

The dbahn site itself suggest that we should buy a bavaria bohemia ticket for the direct train Regensbug-Plzen leaving regensburg 10:31 and return from plzen at 19:00 pm

PalenQ

You are going to Plzen and back to Regensburg on the same day or do you mean return going onward to Prague - seems like a great deal and you have no need to buy it before getting to Regensburg I would think - now if those pesky German train strikes don't pop up - there have been a spate of them this year but not all trains are effected.

mariojbra

Yes, due to the pilsner fest (3rd October) , we are planning going to Plzen and back to Regensburg on the same day instead doing a stop over in our way to Prague.

For 31.6 euros it´s seems perfectly acceptable...

PalenQ

save some omney for the original Pils!

Prost!