dotmex

Hi! My boyfriend and I are planning to visit next week Brugge- Rhine Valley- Zurich and Munich along 8 days. The only restriction we have is to reach Munich on a weekend and from there to come back to Amsterdam on a monday. I would appreciate very much any advice, I am a bit confused with the planning.

We are considering to get the Eurail pass of 5 countries-6days (to have the option to add one more country in case there is some time left with the Rhine Valley route). // Or the Benelux-Germany pass, in which case, we will have to buy a separate train ticket to cover Zurich.

We plan to visit Brugge on a Monday. Then I am unsure how to accomodate better the route to Rhine Valley. Are three days good enough to make the route Upper Middley? Or maybe you recommend only 2 days? What must be the starting point to make this route going down to Bingen? Or how does it must be?? (we will come from Brugge). I read that Eurail passes also serve for the Rhine Valley? Any advice on how to use these passes on the Rhine?

After Rhine Valley, we want to visit Zurich (friday), **unless there is another recommended city for visiting in Switzerland¨* and then reach Munich to get to Oktober fest (saturday and sunday). The day after come back to Amsterdam.

Should anyone has been, lives there, or knows any advice, I would greatly appreciate answers to my questions or further relevant information!

Kind regards,

Russ

You don't seem like advance planners. I hope you have already reserved rooms for Oktoberfest. You probably will not find a room in Munich, and if you do, it will be VERY expensive.

I suggest a stay of 2 nights in Brugge. 2-3 nights in the Rhine Valley is about right.

There is no reason to go to Zurich or to Switzerland for one night. Zurich is pretty boring, and it's just too far off your route to Munich. Just stay in Germany. If you want to go back home saying you visited 3 countries, go to Salzburg, Austria. It's much closer to Munich.

"What must be the starting point to make this route going down to Bingen? Or how does it must be?? (we will come from Brugge). I read that Eurail passes also serve for the Rhine Valley? Any advice on how to use these passes on the Rhine?"

Your questions are not clear enough to understand.

If you are having trouble finding train schedules, try this:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You do not need a "Eurail" Pass. Buy a 5-day Benelux-Germany pass for $286 each in the saver version:

http://ricksteves.raileurope.com/rai...d-pricing.html

dotmex

Thank you very much Russ. Definitively not an expert planning at all. But I hope I can help some day to someone else as you did this time. Kind regards!

PalenQ

The Benelux-Germany pass could be cheaper as the fare from border to Zurich is not that much I believe. And with that pass you could travel in 2nd class - but if you are under 26 you could also get a Eurail Select Youthpass in 2nd class that may be as cheap - the value of a pass is whether you want to be able to just hop on any train anytime in those countries - compared with full fares that offer the same hop on anytime option the pass probably comes out well - it does of course include travel on the Rhine boats with K-D (www.k-d.com) -

Great sites to help plan a rail railpass trip - i addition to www.ricksteves.com that Russ points out I also love these info-packed sites - www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - are you from the U.S.? If you are residents of Europe I think you are not eligible to use the Germany-Benelux Pass.

I would personally recommend skipping Zurich and sticking to Germany and Benelux - say from Munich day trip to Salzburg, Austria, a city that IMO is more beautiful than Zurich by far for the average tourist that is - a Baroque wonder and small enough to be easily handled as a day trip from Munich.

PalenQ

). I read that Eurail passes also serve for the Rhine Valley? Any advice on how to use these passes>

I have used railpasses for years on the K-D boats on the Rhine - and with a pass you just flash the pass when you board - no need to queue for tickets - just go on.

The classic part of the Rhine is the Rhine gorge and the stretch of river between Rudesheim and Koblenz - start at Rudesheim and go downstream to Koblenz - a 2.5 hr cruise thru the prettiest part of The Rhine - there are train stations at both ends and at many docks in between. Spend a leisurely day so you can get on and off the about hourly boats (in season) to trek up to a castle, visit a riverside wine village, etc.

PalenQ

You could easily do the Rhine Gorge as a lovely day trip from Cochem and not have to relocated - using Cochem as a base for both the Mosel and Rhine.

IMO one day is enough for the Rhine and more in cochem - most folks find the Mosel a lot lot more romantic than the Rhine - like Germans are want to say - the Mother Mosel - a languid river that slowly twists and turns like a snake with walls several hundred feet high on each side, lovingly clad with vineyards much of the way

vs the Father Rhine - a much broader and much faster river with tons of freight boats chugging along and industries along its banks at many points between Mainz and Koblenz, the classic boat cruise.

Cochem is sure to win your hearts - IMO use it as a base from which to hop by train to the nearby Rhine Gorge and take the boat from Rudesheim downstream to Koblenz, just 20 minutes or so by rail from Cochem.

kellymasterson

if you don't already have oktoberfest arranged, www.alpenrider.com are amazing, i went with them two years. they are based in austria will take you into munich/beer tents and it is in a beautiful place

PalenQ

I have been to Octoberfest several times and always have moved around freely from tent to tent - now that does not mean I sat down but could stand and drink beer, radishes, pretzels, hazlenuts, etc as I wanted. I found moving from tent to tent does indeed give a great overall view as each tent though similar is different, not only in decor but type of band and music - I heard the Notre Dame fight song in one tent and pop music oompah band style in others and more traditional Beer Barrel Polka fare always in each.

Note the special puke stations in the restrooms - prepare to see and deal with a whole lot of way too drunken folk.