ashcanannie

4 couples will complete a Viking River Cruise at Basel. We have 4-5 days to sightsee before reporting to Heilbronn, Germany for a wedding. Thinking of going to Salzburg. Wondering what might be our best method of transportation. Maybe Ryanair or other carrier? Heilbronn is close to Stuttgart if we're talking airports or fast trains. Thanks!

Dukey1

are you talking about the transportation both ways? There are no budget airlines flying from Basel to Salzburg, at least not direct. Fastest rail timing Basel-Salzburg is at least 6.5 hours

You can check budget flights at www.skyscanner.com or www.whichbudget.com

ashcanannie

That's what I was afraid of...after I posted my question, I looked at Ryanair's site and discovered they didn't go between those two cities. Maybe we'll have to change our destination to Strasbourg. At least it's in the same direction as Heilbronn. Maybe I should check the Basel airport to see their destination cities. We could always fly open jaw back in to Stuttgart and rent a car for the Heilbronn wedding. Ugh...

Michael

Take the train from Basel to Freiburg, rent a car and tour the Black Forest on your way to Heilbronn. Drop the car off at your departing airport. If using a broker like www.autoeurope.com you should be able to avoid a one-way drop-off charge within Germany.

ashcanannie

Thanks, Michael...we were hoping to either train or fly to Salzburg, where there is plenty to do and see without a car. Because there are 8 people with lots of luggage (wedding destination), we'd need two rather large cars. My husband and I are the only ones that have ever driven in Europe, so the other couples are shying away from having to. Hubby and I have driven through the Black Forest when we visited the towns of our ancestors. It's a beautiful area!

Not sure what to do. Am disappointed to say the least that Basel doesn't open up more options for us.

Man_in_seat_61

Airlines, just for Switzerland to Austria? Madness, these two countries are right next door to each other! ;0)

Go to www.oebb.at (Austrian Railways) and book from Basel SBB to Salzburg, a relaxing trip by train centre to centre from €39, with print at home tickets.

The journey will involve a smart modern Railjet train Zurich to Salzburg through the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass, see this video : http://www.seat61.com/railjet.htm#Ra...e_Arlberg_Pass

Cowboy1968

If you travel with lots of luggage, low cost carriers like Ryanair are of not much use anyway.
Even after they relaxed baggage restrictions a bit, you would be faced with a maximum of 2 checked bags (20 + 15 kilos) plus strict restrictions for carry-on. No kitchen-sink style bags on board.
Lots of luggage also would not make changing trains much fun.
But you got direct TGVs from Basel to Paris - and 4-5 days should be a nice time to spend there.
But also highspeed trains are not exactly designed to take lots of luggage easily, esp. not in 2nd class.
If you look for more alpine surrogates for Salzburg, you could check rail connections from Basel to Bern or Luzern. Luzern may require a change, but the overall travel time is so much shorter than the full day trek to Salzburg.

ashcanannie

How about your comments regarding Strasbourg for a couple of nights? None of us have ever been there. Looks close enough for a short train ride from Basel. The tour books don't rave about it but I must remember that we will have just completed the Viking Cruise of 7 full days of touring. Maybe a couple of nights in a less spectacular spot might be fine. From there we could go on to Heilbronn, rent a car and explore with day trips. Thanks for your help!

ashcanannie

BTW: couldn't get the video to play all the way through. I'm sure the trains are wonderful and the view amazing.

Also, have already been to Paris...not that I'd mind going again, but really interested in a new adventure.

Cowboy1968

YMMV, but if I were in your shoes and had to take into account that I was traveling with lots of luggage and with a party that big that you'd need two minivans to accomodate all people plus luggage, I'd probably stay at the last port of call of that cruise in Basel and base myself there.

Downside:
Hotel prices are not exactly low end in Switzerland, but if you compare with costs for longer distance travel to elsewhere plus hotels there, you will save a lot. At least you will save a lot of time and not spend two days just going elsewhere.

Upsides:
First, Basel proper has a nice and lively historic town center and quite a name in the art scene. You'll find more high-end museums than you might expect in a city that size.
Second, Basel is in an excellent location for day trips (by rail, without all that luggage) to, for example, Strasbourg, Freiburg, Black Forest (along the scenic Freiburg-Titisee line) Luzern (seriously scenic town, lake cruises, cable car rides), Bern (also quaint, but a bit less to do than in Luzern), Zurich (not everyone's cup of tea, but a nice mix of little big city, lake cruises, museums, mountains).
Third, if you wanted to explore the byways and hinterland of Black Forest or Alsace, eight people without (!) luggage would at least fit into the largest rental car/ van. So if you rented a van for a just a day, you guys could at least ride all together.