Copenhagen, Prague, Munich, Budapest, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Oslo
Aug 5th, 2014, 02:42 PM
#1
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Copenhagen, Prague, Munich, Budapest, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Oslo
Hello All!
After much discussion and pro's/con's lists--we have finally decided on the following cities!
Copenhagen
Prague
Munich
Budapest
Istanbul
Amsterdam
Oslo
We have 3 and a half weeks in late Sept-Mid Oct. Havent booked our flights yet and we are flexible on exact dates except that we must participate in Oktoberfest somtime from Sept 21st to Oct 6th. Also, we have noticed it is cheapest to fly into Oslo or Copenhagen so those ahve to be at the beginning/end of our trip and all the other cities can fit in the middle somehow... We would love suggestions on the best route! We are going to purchase the Global Eurail Pass.
For any of you who have traveled to these cities, please help us plan the details!
Where must we go when we are here and how many days should we be in each place?
What are your favorite monuments, museums, activities?
Any help is so appreciated! Thank you
After much discussion and pro's/con's lists--we have finally decided on the following cities!
Copenhagen
Prague
Munich
Budapest
Istanbul
Amsterdam
Oslo
We have 3 and a half weeks in late Sept-Mid Oct. Havent booked our flights yet and we are flexible on exact dates except that we must participate in Oktoberfest somtime from Sept 21st to Oct 6th. Also, we have noticed it is cheapest to fly into Oslo or Copenhagen so those ahve to be at the beginning/end of our trip and all the other cities can fit in the middle somehow... We would love suggestions on the best route! We are going to purchase the Global Eurail Pass.
For any of you who have traveled to these cities, please help us plan the details!
Where must we go when we are here and how many days should we be in each place?
What are your favorite monuments, museums, activities?
Any help is so appreciated! Thank you
Aug 5th, 2014, 02:54 PM
#2
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Three quick points:
Don't buy any rail pass until you figure out the point-to-point prices. Passes are far from automatically being a bargain, and can be an extra nuisance (and cost) where reservations are required.
Fly into one city and out of another using a multi-destination search site.
Look at skyscanner.com or whichbudget.com to compare short-hop flights to trains, remembering that the sooner you buy the cheaper the tickets will be.
Here's a bonus suggestion: Slow down a bit. Rushing from city to city often means you are not really seeing what you are seeing.
Don't buy any rail pass until you figure out the point-to-point prices. Passes are far from automatically being a bargain, and can be an extra nuisance (and cost) where reservations are required.
Fly into one city and out of another using a multi-destination search site.
Look at skyscanner.com or whichbudget.com to compare short-hop flights to trains, remembering that the sooner you buy the cheaper the tickets will be.
Here's a bonus suggestion: Slow down a bit. Rushing from city to city often means you are not really seeing what you are seeing.
Aug 5th, 2014, 04:34 PM
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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, including AT LEAST two or three hours on either side (for getting to/from the train station or whatever, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, obtaining currency, and getting oriented). Then see how things fit together. You might end up deciding to cut a destination or two....
Aug 5th, 2014, 04:36 PM
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Agree not to buy any rail pass. Some of those trips should be flying rather than rail (which might be many, many hours).
Start with bahn.de now to determine the time of trains from one place to the next (get a good MAP to determine best initial order - unless rail schedule indicates otherwise).
I think you may well want to fly at lest one of those legs (into Istanbul).
Separately - you are covering a LOT of territory in the time you have. Are you going to have to return to your starting point or can you get open jaw tickets.
Start with bahn.de now to determine the time of trains from one place to the next (get a good MAP to determine best initial order - unless rail schedule indicates otherwise).
I think you may well want to fly at lest one of those legs (into Istanbul).
Separately - you are covering a LOT of territory in the time you have. Are you going to have to return to your starting point or can you get open jaw tickets.
Aug 5th, 2014, 04:58 PM
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Just because a city is cheaper to fly into or out of does not mean it will make your trip cheaper. It may actually make it cost more if getting to the next city is expensive. You have to look at the whole, not just the pieces. Were Oslo and Copenhagen part of your originl plan? How much are flights from say, Oslo to Amsterdam and from Istanbul to Copenhagen?
