Vienna, Venice, Prague, Salzberg in February of 2009 - Need your help!
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:45 AM
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Vienna, Venice, Prague, Salzberg in February of 2009 - Need your help!
Hello everyone!
This is my first time posting and it's just sort of a stab in the dark so please forgive me for any and all ignorance I display.
I'm currently in Kuwait and I'm planning a two week vacation to Europe in February of 2009. The places I'd like to see while there are Vienna, Salzberg, Venice and Prague.
So, does anyone have any suggestions for how long I should stay in each place or on the order I should visit? I'll be there with a good friend of mine, we're both female and in our mid-twenties. Here are my questions:
In everyone's experience, would you say that I should go in early Februrary or later February?
What airport would be the cheapest to fly into? I'll be departing from Kuwait (KWI) and I don't really know where to even begin looking.
Are there lots of big airports I can look at and I can take a train into the places I want to go? Would it be cheaper that way?
Should I get some sort of a two-week train pass to get around to all my destinations? Does that even exist?
Does anyone have any hotel recommendations? I'd like to stay somewhere near a cultural center and not be too far on the fringe.
I'm completely new to Europe travel and I'd like to do this relatively cheaply but without sacraficing too much in the way of comfort. I'm seeking a well-balanced vacation for as little as possible.
I appreciate any and all suggestions, advice, tips.
Thank you!
This is my first time posting and it's just sort of a stab in the dark so please forgive me for any and all ignorance I display.
I'm currently in Kuwait and I'm planning a two week vacation to Europe in February of 2009. The places I'd like to see while there are Vienna, Salzberg, Venice and Prague.
So, does anyone have any suggestions for how long I should stay in each place or on the order I should visit? I'll be there with a good friend of mine, we're both female and in our mid-twenties. Here are my questions:
In everyone's experience, would you say that I should go in early Februrary or later February?
What airport would be the cheapest to fly into? I'll be departing from Kuwait (KWI) and I don't really know where to even begin looking.
Are there lots of big airports I can look at and I can take a train into the places I want to go? Would it be cheaper that way?
Should I get some sort of a two-week train pass to get around to all my destinations? Does that even exist?
Does anyone have any hotel recommendations? I'd like to stay somewhere near a cultural center and not be too far on the fringe.
I'm completely new to Europe travel and I'd like to do this relatively cheaply but without sacraficing too much in the way of comfort. I'm seeking a well-balanced vacation for as little as possible.
I appreciate any and all suggestions, advice, tips.
Thank you!
Nov 25th, 2008, 05:25 AM
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Welcome to the Europe board!
I would suggest flying open-jaw, maybe into Venice and out of Prague, and training between locations. The train rides between most destinations (with the excpetion of Salzburg to Vienna) will be longer, but there may be overnight train options. Check http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml for train schedules and prices.
I think maybe 3-4 nights in the larger cities and 2-3 nights in Salzburg should suffice, but it depends on what all you want to see in each location.
I would probably suggest late February. February will be cold...I was in Vienna, Salzburg and Munich in February a few years ago and it was snowy and cold but very beautiful.
Happy planning!
Tracy
I would suggest flying open-jaw, maybe into Venice and out of Prague, and training between locations. The train rides between most destinations (with the excpetion of Salzburg to Vienna) will be longer, but there may be overnight train options. Check http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml for train schedules and prices.
I think maybe 3-4 nights in the larger cities and 2-3 nights in Salzburg should suffice, but it depends on what all you want to see in each location.
I would probably suggest late February. February will be cold...I was in Vienna, Salzburg and Munich in February a few years ago and it was snowy and cold but very beautiful.
Happy planning!
Tracy
Nov 25th, 2008, 06:05 AM
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Hi SD,
Oddly enough for a newbie, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg and Venice is doable in 2 weeks.
(We usually get 7 countries in 2 weeks)
Fly into Venice - 3 nights,
Train to Salzburg - 3 nights
Train to Vienna - 3 nights
Train to Prague - 4 nights
Fly back
Train schedules are at www.bahn.de.
You can also get ticket prices for Austria.
Ticket prices for Italy are at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
For Vienna to Prague see http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp
You won't need a Railpass. Your tickets will be about 175E.
February is cold, whether early or late.
In Salzburg, I can highly recommend
http://www.ammoos.at/main.php?language=en&m=home
It is on the outskirts, about 12 min from downtown by bus.
The bus stop is a 2 min walk.
Get the Salzburg card.
http://www2.salzburg.info/sehenswertes_281.htm
Enjoy your visit.
Oddly enough for a newbie, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg and Venice is doable in 2 weeks.
(We usually get 7 countries in 2 weeks)
Fly into Venice - 3 nights,
Train to Salzburg - 3 nights
Train to Vienna - 3 nights
Train to Prague - 4 nights
Fly back
Train schedules are at www.bahn.de.
You can also get ticket prices for Austria.
Ticket prices for Italy are at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
For Vienna to Prague see http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp
You won't need a Railpass. Your tickets will be about 175E.
February is cold, whether early or late.
In Salzburg, I can highly recommend
http://www.ammoos.at/main.php?language=en&m=home
It is on the outskirts, about 12 min from downtown by bus.
The bus stop is a 2 min walk.
Get the Salzburg card.
http://www2.salzburg.info/sehenswertes_281.htm
Enjoy your visit.
Nov 25th, 2008, 07:00 AM
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Ira's itinerary is good, but I am afraid flight from Kuwait to Venice won't be the cheapest. Perhaps it would be cheaper flying into Vienna, then train to Salzberg, then train to Venice, flying from Venice to Prague by budget flight (for details, please check: www.whichbudget.com).
I have visited Vienna/ Prugue several times in January /February, it could be a bit chilly, the latest one was -12C in early February.
I have visited Vienna/ Prugue several times in January /February, it could be a bit chilly, the latest one was -12C in early February.
Nov 26th, 2008, 04:00 AM
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What wonderful replies!
judyremis: Thank you for the compliment. I've had this online "handle" since I was twelve and never thought to change it because, well, it still makes me smile
ira, tcreath and judyC - Thank you so much for the helpful links and itinerary recommendations. I'm sure you'll see more of me over the next few months as I struggle to put all this together. Yay for struggle!
judyremis: Thank you for the compliment. I've had this online "handle" since I was twelve and never thought to change it because, well, it still makes me smile
ira, tcreath and judyC - Thank you so much for the helpful links and itinerary recommendations. I'm sure you'll see more of me over the next few months as I struggle to put all this together. Yay for struggle!
Nov 26th, 2008, 04:33 AM
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Note that between Italy and Austria there may be large discounts available on train fares in winter.
I say MAY, as these change from year to year.
But I have twice found tickets from Vienna to Venice for 19 Euros -- under $30 US for an 8 hour trip through the mountains. The train was not full at all, mid-week, and the trains themselves were excellent.
Check into the dates of Carnevale in Venice.
At Carnevale's peak, Venice is FULL of people. So much so that one friend reported being swept off her feet by crowds. Some small streets are turned into one-way (pedestrian) thoroughfares, with fines imposed for trying to go the wrong way.
Sthg to be avoided, IMO. Also prices will be at their max, whereas you can get winter discounts a week before.
I say MAY, as these change from year to year.
But I have twice found tickets from Vienna to Venice for 19 Euros -- under $30 US for an 8 hour trip through the mountains. The train was not full at all, mid-week, and the trains themselves were excellent.
Check into the dates of Carnevale in Venice.
At Carnevale's peak, Venice is FULL of people. So much so that one friend reported being swept off her feet by crowds. Some small streets are turned into one-way (pedestrian) thoroughfares, with fines imposed for trying to go the wrong way.
Sthg to be avoided, IMO. Also prices will be at their max, whereas you can get winter discounts a week before.
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