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Germany - Poland - Italy itinerary help requested

Germany - Poland - Italy itinerary help requested

Old Jan 30th, 2015, 09:18 PM
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Germany - Poland - Italy itinerary help requested

So after nine nieces the first of the nephews age up this year for their HS graduation trip to Europe. (Yes, parents were good Catholics in the time prior to cable TV.) Previous niece trips have been Paris plus add on of London, Amsterdam, or Madrid/Barcelona. All were delightful but thinking of changing that pattern. These guys' maternal heritage is purely Polish and Italian, respectively, so thinking about Poland and Italy. One of them has been studying German (and great grandparents on our side were Swiss German) for a couple years and is apparently pretty competent with it and is interested in WWII history.

I have a contact in Mainz who is an expert on military history, thought about beginning the trip by flying into Frankfurt and taking advantage of that, then moving on from there. Would appreciate hearing your suggestions for how to construct a roughly two week itinerary starting late June. (Trying to mesh with SO's academic session in Salamanca which begins July 11/12. He would go on to that while I and nephews return to US.) Thinking open jaw flights from US into Frankfurt and back from Rome would work well. Could also do return leg from Warsaw. Typically enjoy staying in an apartment in one city for a week or so, willing to consider shorter durations but not into the "Tuesday must be Belgium" style of travel.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions about places to visit as well as practical info about what to see where and options to transit between cities (train vs. fly, etc.)
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Old Jan 31st, 2015, 11:48 AM
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Should add that the end date of 11 July is not set in stone - could be a bit earlier.
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Old Jan 31st, 2015, 12:02 PM
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Hi Seamus, two weeks is not a lot of time for Germany, Poland and Italy. Could you throw out a possible itinerary so posters here can get a better idea of priorities? If it were me I'd probably skip Germany and spend a week in Poland and a week in Italy, but that's just because of my own interests. Logistically Poland and Germany might make more sense.

I always check skyscanner to see flight schedules between cities.

If you're going to Poland, do not miss Krakow.
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Old Jan 31st, 2015, 02:39 PM
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Thanks, Leely. I also have doubts about packing in too much, thus my request for help planning. Guess it would also be an option to use Warsaw and Rome as the open jaw cities for flights from/to the US and just omit Germany if necessary to avoid transit craziness.

Krakow would be good, as SO has some academic connections there. Would you recommend it over Warsaw? Looks like too far for a day trip from Warsaw. Maybe start in Warsaw for a few days, then a couple days in Krakow en route to Rome?

In Italy, clearly we would be limited but thought Rome would be good for a week in an apartment, with a possible day trip.
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Old Jan 31st, 2015, 03:35 PM
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Is the Italian line from Rome or someplace withing reach of Rome? If not, any consideration of taking them to the part of Italy where the family originates? Italy is quite diverse.
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Old Feb 1st, 2015, 11:07 AM
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Seamus, we spent two days in Warsaw (first day was arrival) and almost six in Krakow (left at night on the overnight train to Prague). I can't see daytripping from one to the other, but perhaps I'm wrong--others here would know better. In my limited experience Polish trains are pretty pokey.

I could have used more time in Warsaw and we really relaxed in Krakow, so I think others wouldn't necessarily split the days like we did. And your teen nephews probably have vastly different interests than I do! But I can recommend the Michelin Green Guide to Poland; it will give you and the boys a good idea of historical points of interest.

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is excellent. We didn't have time to go to POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews; it had just opened a few months before we were in the country and I didn't know much about it.

The Museum of Krakow Under the Occupation,housed in Schindler's factory, is extremely interesting.
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Old Feb 1st, 2015, 11:18 AM
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Sorry, hit submit too soon. While in Krakow taking a day to tour Auschwitz-Birkenau is very worthwhile. Instructive, sad and unforgettable.

If you are connected to academia, you might want to tour the Collegium Maius at the Jagiellonian University.

And Krakow of course has a castle, beautiful churches, a delightful square, and much more. I would try to visit both cities if possible.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2015, 01:36 PM
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Thanks, Leely - heard today from a friend who has spent lots of time in Poland, and she recommended Krakow over Warsaw for our short time frame. So now back to thinking about Frankfurt - Krakow - Florence/Rome...
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