neejas

Four of us will be taking a river cruise through Christmas and returning to Vienna on December 28 this year. We have until January 2nd for return flight back to states. We are wanting to rent a car and drive and see Switzerland, some of us are thinking about seeing Croatia or Romania. Looking for a few more great memories to take back home with us. Any suggestions with the 6 days we have and does anyone know how the roads will be during this part of the year? Thanks.

rex

Ben Haines can tell you at least a little bit about Romania during the Christmas season (there in 1999); he recommended it to someone in 2001 on http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1302150

Best wishes,

Rex

Clifton

I don't know Romania at Christmas, but I think it's certainly one of the most unique countries in Europe. And beautiful as well, but not developed as the other's you've mentioned. There are some truly fantastic sites there.

One concern with a car is the chance that your rental company may not allow the car to cross the Romanian border, even if you're coming back with it. Best to check on that. Coming out of Budapest, we were able to. A car from Austria or Switzerland may be different.

It's also a rather large country really. So you would't see it all, of course. And travel isn't fast, even in the best of weather. Livestock and horsedrawn carts are very common and slow the pace of driving. Still, for the gothic towns and the traditional villages, it's not a trip I'll ever forget.

I wrote a horrendously long report on it, if you'd like to read more.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34543931

Michael has been there more recently and wrote a great report on it.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34658538

I don't know, when I think about it, if 6 days is enough to get to the best of Romania and get back to the Vienna area again, but this might help in your decision making.

ira

Hi N,

Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to spend 6 days in Vienna?

BTilke

If I'm reading you correctly, you don't have 6 full extra days. You get back into Vienna on the 28th and leave on the 2nd (at the latest). In reality, that gives you four full days of leisure (Dec. 29, 30, 31, and Jan. 1) unless your Jan 2 flight is very late in the evening. If Vienna is your starting point, I don't think that gives you enough to enjoy a driving trip to Switzlerand.
Can you tell us what stops are included in your river cruise?
Better short trip options would include, IMHO, Prague, Krakow, Salzburg, maybe even Venice (going by train) but it all depends on where your cruise has taken you.
Personally, I would split the time between Vienna and Krakow, but I am a Vienna fan and Krakow tops of my "must do" Eastern Europe list.

BTilke

TTT for Neejas who recently reposted a similar message