evmarie

We have just about a month in Europe. So far I have a commitment for a week south of Munich mid way through (we can leave early) Please forgive spelling - I'm on a tiny keypad!

Land in Zurich on Aug 19 mid day - train to Lucerne for 2 nights
Train from Lucern to Paris - 3 nights
Train/car rental from Paris to D-Day beaches - 2 night in Bayeux.
return car to Local or Paris and train to Frankfurt to pick up a car. 1 full day - spend night??
Frankfort area to Trier, Buedingen, Nordiingen - drive to Rothenburg to spend the night and early part of the day.
3 days to explore Romantic Road, castles, Black Forest (would love suggestions) then on to Schliersee for a week (29-5) to relax go to Munich, Dachau, possibly Nuremburg, Leave car in Munich.
After that week we have 8 days to get back to Franfurt where our flight leaves on Sept 14
Thinking Venice (we didn't make it there last trip to Italy) by train or air, Prague by bus or train, then back to Frankfurt.

I'm also open to a day trip to Belgium for some sweets.

Too much? Too hectic? I'd like to hear from those who have gone before! Flights are booked (mileage AND first class, so I'm not changing those!) I like cities, castles, history and my husband is not a big city guy - likes smaller quaint towns.

thanks and I look forward to input and thoughts!

bilboburgler

1) Why not rent the car in Trier or Koblenz rather than Frankfurt (not great place to visit)
2) I might also look at Luxembourg for a night or two on the way (castles and cliffs and a small city) plus sweets etc.

Generally if you look along the border of France and Germany/Belgium you find loads of castles to visit and if that is what he likes then let him have it in spades, drag in Strasbourg and the WW1 battle lines (and another fine castle) along the Vosges ridge line.

All in all it would make a better use of time and travel being based around that area than flying off to Venice.

Alsace/Pfalz/Mosel is full of quaint towns and castles.

Romantic road is just a marketing exercise you do understand that? Germany has at least 20 such "roads" it is just "Romantic" caught the buzz.

kja

"Too much? Too hectic?"

For my tastes, decicedly YES. Example: I would think Paris deserves at least 4 or 5 full days. But that doesn't really matter -- what matters is what works for YOU. I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from the train/bus station or whatever, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together.

The good news is that you should be able to have a wonderful trip!

annhig

evmarie - i have to say that I do feel that this is too rushed. You need to bear in mind that two nights give you only 1 day in a place, and that every time you move, you lose half a day, more or less.

so your itinerary gives you only 1 day in Luzern to recover from jet lag, only 2 days in Paris, I day in/near Bayeux, etc.

You could easily spend the whole of your trip in the areas of Switzerland, France and Germany that you have identified, staying in the sort of places that you say that your DH prefers.

I would start by extending the time you have in the places at the beginning of your itinerary, then follow Bilbo's suggestions. Alsace, the Pfalz, the Mosel are full of little towns, castles, vineyards and lovely scenery and walking.

quokka

Far too much, far too hectic. Have you ever looked at a map, and at the actual distances?

nytraveler

IMHO it would seem to be a better idea to fly into Paris for at least 5 nights (4 days there) an then head east to Germany and a little Switz and return from either Frankurt or Munich (assume you want southern Bavaria).

Agree you are trying to do a lot of places and not allowing time for transit between different cities/areas.

annhig

well, the OP has explained that that's not an option.

so we, and she, have to work with what we've got.

evmarie

thank you all - I appreciate the input. Our flights are already booked and cannot be changed, as is our stay in Bavaria. I have my husband convinced that a few days in Paris is going to happen, regardless of his dislike for cities.

I have German/Scandinavian roots and would love to explore more areas outside Berlin, but in rethinking the trip I am not sure it works when trying to balance WWII sites in France. Again, I am open to suggestions!