finally_europe

Hi,
I will be in Prague for a course in early September for 6 days. I have never been to Europe, and so I am hoping my husband can meet me there and, together, we can travel to another destination or two. We can spend another 7-10 days traveling before we return to the US. What do you think of trying to take a train to Munich, spending a few days there, and then another train to Interlaken and spending another few days there?

Is that too ambitious?

I have a friend in Munich, so that's why I chose that city. I think the train ride there is only 6 hours or so. I also thought of ending in / flying home from Switzerland, because Interlaken looked beautiful and it seemed to make sense geographically.

I was back-and-forth...thinking I should go to Paris, or the French Riviera, or even Northern Italy (Cinque Terra), but I was getting dizzy just thinking about all the possibilites, and I didn't want to see 8 cities in 4 days if you know what I mean. I told myself these places would have to wait until I can make it back to Europe another time.

Please offer your thoughts, and any ideas you may have for someone who's never been ton Europe. My husband has been backpacking there while in college, which was some 20 years ago. It will be a long time before either one of us can take a trip like this again, as we have 2 little children, and usually not so much money. But because my professional goals are bringing me to Prague to study, I want to take advantage of this opportunity. We are in our mid-late 40's and are fairly active. We would enjoy biking, hiking, + the outdoors, before museums, cathedrals, and shopping.

Thanks again, very much for your input!!

mokka4

I think that's a nice agenda, not overly ambitious at all.
With a hotel or B&B in the Munich area, you can take daytrips from there into the surrounding countryside, after getting to know the city.
And for your next homesite, Interlaken or the environs (Spiez, Brienz, Wengen or Lauterbrunnen) will allow some lovely excursions into the mountains and on the lakes of Thun and Brienz.
You will get DOZENS of suggestions from posters about their "must-see" suggestions. Keep in mind that you can't do everything. Choose a limited number of options (geographic/travel times in mind) to really experience each area.
Happy travels!

iris1745

Here is a little information to download for Prague and Munich. www.inyourpocket.com/czech-republic/Prague www.inyourpocket.com/germany/munich

tower

Finally, I just scanned these old pix of Prague which may give you a feel for the city. As for Interlaken, you won't find too many fans on this forum. I, for one of a very few, liked staying in Interlaken a few years ago, and I can recommend the lodgings in the Swiss pix (Hotel Goldey Swiss) only a short, beautful walk along the promenade on the rivers edge to the Ost railroad station for short trips into the upper elevations.

Enjoy your stay in Prague and your first trip to Europe. You will be back many, many times!..and I think your idea of flying home from Switzerland without backtracking is a good one.

Stu Tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...cenesOfPrague#

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...rOberland2009#

PalenQ

Yup the Munich for a few days and then the absolute highlight of Switzerland IMO - the Interlaken Berner Oberland - the fabled area of rugged glacier-girdled Alpine peaks, a myriad of tiny mountain-climbing trains and thrilling aerial cableways - views from your hotel a\balcony that you need no booze to get intoxicated from, etc. Spend four full days there and the rest in Munich - you could even take an overnight train from Prague to Munich and get a private double and it may also be romantic.

In Switzerland if I were going there for 4 days or so I would even investigate the Swiss Pass that covers nearly all trains in full as well as lake boats, mountain trains beyond Interlaken to storybook places like Grindelwald, Murren and Wengen - the latter three mountain villages all in all being more romantic than Interlaken, to me a fine city but not the mountainous Alpine wonderland of the Switzerland etched perhaps in your minds' eyes - for example in Interlaken you could take cool boat rides on either of the lake bookending Interlaken - then take a train directly to Zurich Airport to fly back home.
Anyway check out these fantastic sites for lots on Swiss trains, passes and alternatives like the Half-Fare Card, Swiss Transfer ticket, Swiss Card and regular fares - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com. and if doing a 4-conseutive-day Swiss Pass which would cover you from the Siwss border to Berner Oberland and around there and back to Zurich Airport then buy it in the U.S. before leaving as savings as I just checked again yesterday are very significant for the exact same pass you can indeed buy in Switzerland - and coming by train from Austria - a tip of Austria by Bregenz you pass thru from Munich by train you'd have the pass and it would kick in from the Swiss border - the conductor activating it on the train for you - you would bnuy a Munich to Buch SG ticket for the German and Austrian portion.

finally_europe

Very good. Thank you, thank you.
@mokka4 - after reading some other forum posts, and listening again to your advice, I will not make the mistake of trying to do too much with too little.

@iris1745 - I appreciate that link. I will even send it to a colleague who is making the same trip to Prague.

@tower - Thank you. I hope, as I shop for my air fare in the next days, that the price to fly home from a different place is not cost-prohibitive.

@PalenQ - Lots of good stuff. A little romance on a train ride, huh? It's hard to remember what that is after nearly 13 years of marriage and 2 small children! I look forward to it.

I found a bike tour group that goes to Grindewald or Lauterbrunnen, among other places. Got very good reviews , so we may try that.

I will post again when I have nailed down some dates and flights. I will ask the travel agent about the Swiss Pass as well.

PalenQ

for mountain bikers in BOB I'd recommend taking your bike UP on the train to Kleine Scheidegg and then wheeling down to Wengen - I walked down (Kl Scheidegg jumping off point to and from Jungfraujoch by train) and there were quite a few mountain bikers roaring past me on a wide well-maintained track that 4-wheel drives could use - what a wonderful walk or bike ride what with the Lauterbrunnen Valley in full view thousands of feet below. Wengen is a perpetual favorite of Fodorites and if you like a perch in the high Alps where yes you can get intoxicated on your hotel or guesthouse balcony without any booze at all - by the snow-capped glacier-girdled summits of the Jungfrau Massif looming high above this cute clean and very quiet mountain village.