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Wisdom needed for a itinerary in northern Italy, Bavaria and Prague

Wisdom needed for a itinerary in northern Italy, Bavaria and Prague

Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 10:47 AM
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Wisdom needed for a itinerary in northern Italy, Bavaria and Prague

Dear All,

I apologize in advance for any grammar mistake as French is my first language. My husband, my daughter (16months) and I live in the States, in Orlando Florida. I have travelled extensively through my life since I was 18 years old. I am in my 30's now. We have 2 weeks and 3 days including travel time to spend in Europe at the end of August. And as I am pulling very long hours at work now, I am sustained by the excitement of planning this next trip.

I am frequently torn between visiting a new destination or a old marvelous destination. This trip is about exploring new places.

My pace, I realize is pretty fast; but I am a person that likes to be busy. (I will be so happy to be in Europe that I will probably wake up before my husband and daughter to walk to streets at dawn before the city/village gets overrun by activities). At the same time, I have a a soon to be toddler and I do need to slow down and we want to enjoy afternoon in parks with her or by the lake. We have been traveling with her since she was born (Switzerland and France Internationally and ski resorts nationally) and she has enjoyed traveling with us.

Here we go.

Day 1: fly overnight from Orlando to Milan
Day 2 : Train to Varenna, Lake Como area. Jet lag. Take it easy.
Day 3: Varenna- explore the lake, gardens.
Day 4 Varenna -more exploring or just plain relaxing.

We have never seen Lake Como.

Day 5: train to Venice.
I have been 3 times, but my husband never has seen it. We plan to stay off the major touristy arteries and get lost in this lovely labyrinth. Walk, relax, eat a lot of gelato, play with our daughter.
Day 6 Venice -more wandering...
Day 7 Venice
that night, we plan to take the direct night train to Munich if I can reserve sleeper cabin. Depart 20:57. Arrive in Munich at 6:10am

Day 8th: Munich
We are not staying long as we want to get to the Bavarian Alps as soon as possible. Originally, we were going to rent a car at the train station and drive directly to Mittenwald in the morning. But after reading about Munich, we got pulled in. We were thinking about dropping out bags in the car and then going for Third Reich walking tour. Then having lunch at the Hofbrauhaus. In the afternoon, while my husband tours the BMW factory, my daughter and I would relaxing in the English gardens. Later that evening, we would drive to Mittenwald (1.5 hours)
Sleep in Mittenwald.

We have never been to the Bavarian Alps.

Day 9th: Mittenwald. Hiking. relaxing.
Day 10th Mittenwald.

Day 11th. Wake up early and drive to Fussen (1 hour). This is our visit the Mad King 's Castle day. Sleep in Fussen

Day 12th: drive to Rothenburg ob der tauber (2 hours).
Day 13th Rothenburg ob der tauber

Day 14th: Drive up to Frankfurt. Drop the car. Fly to Prague. Sleep in Prague.
Day 15th: Prague
Day 16th: Prague
Day 17th: Prague

Day 18th: fly back to Orlando.

Thank you for all responses and good travels to everyone,

Charlotte
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 10:59 AM
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I'm impressed. This itinerary seem to be well thought out.

The only suggestion I might have is to visit Venice before Varenna and take the night train from Milan to Munich. I don't think it makes a lot of difference but it's shorter to travel from Varenna to Milan for your night train.

Otherwise it's Milan to Varenna and then to Venice via Milan.

Milan to Munich is 9 hours; 12.5 hours from Venice. So 3.5 hours more on the long trip.

The Venice train departs at 20:57 and arrives at 9:19; the Milan train departs at 21:35 and arrives at 6:30.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 11:02 AM
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By the way - this is not as fast-paced as many itineraries that have been presented here where people don't seem to realize that it takes time to get from one place to another. We had a recent poster who traveled to 14 cities in 15 days!
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 11:03 AM
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Hi Charlotte,

The only concern I have is
>that night, we plan to take the direct night train to Munich if I can reserve sleeper cabin. Depart 20:57. Arrive in Munich at 6:10am [Tour Munich] ... Later that evening, we would drive to Mittenwald (1.5 hours)<

Are you sure that you won't e too tired, after a night on the train and a day of sightseeing to safely drive, especially if it is dark?

Have a great visit.

FYI, "Advice needed for an itinerary" instead of "Wisdom needed for a itinerary..."
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 11:10 AM
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I forgot to mention that we will be traveling with only carry ons. We prefer to as light as possible and do laundry once during the trip. We had only carry on last year when we traveled to France (Paris, les Châteaux de la Loire, et Rousillon ) and Switzerland (Murren) and it worked very well. (and yes it is possible to do it with a baby It makes flying and taking the train easier.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 11:20 AM
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Thank you for your replies.
Adrienne: I will look into landing in Venice, then going to Como and from there doing a night train from Milan to Munich. That is an excellent suggestion.

Ira: yes, it would be a long day after spending the night on the train (our other long day is flying from Frankfurt to Prague; flight is not that long, but driving from Rothenburg, returning the rental car, and boarding a flight adds up). But if we book a sleeper car and well... sleep I was hoping that we would be ok the next day. When we slept on the train going down from Cairo to Awswan in Egypt, we slept like babies. Our daughter sometimes sleeps with us at home. So I think she will be ok. But our plans are flexible. If by that morning we feel like Zombies, then we could always book a last minute hotel Munich and crash.
As far as driving in the dark, hopefully we will still have day light.
Thank you for the correction about "wisdom"

Charlotte
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 12:57 PM
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If you are going to Mittenwald there is no need to go all the way to Munich. Innsbruck is closer and only one hour by train or 45 minutes by car (very steep ascent) from Mittenwald. I understand that renting a car in Germany is much easier but by going to Munich and than to Mittenwald you will be backtracking a lot.

Not sure, also, that the night train is such a good idea. Arring in Munich at 6am makes for a tiring day even if you managed to sleep on the train.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 12:58 PM
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Well, I mean "arriving in Munich"
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 04:52 PM
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I would only caution that traveling with a toddler is a lot different than traveling with a non-mobile baby. You may need to allow more time for baby to do her thing - and she may not be willing to sit in a stroller for long periods. (You do plan on a stroller don't you?)
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 09:17 PM
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I like your plan. When are you going? Englisher Garten is a great place to visit if the weather cooperates. If your little one cooperates there is a Bavarian evening show with music and dances each evening at the Hofbrauhaus.

If you pick up your car at a train station or airport in Germany you pay 19% extra. Contact Gemut.com to get your car from a lot that is close by but not at the train station. Where you drop it doesn't matter so you can drop it at the Frankfurt airport with no penalty.

The drive between Mittenwald and Fussen has several good stops, Garmish, Ettal Monastery,Schlos Linderhof, Oberammergau, Wiesekirche. Have a great trip.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2014, 11:22 PM
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Thank you for your suggestions AisleSeat. We will look at renting a car outside of the train station. Also with the sights suggested between Mittenwald and Fussen, I am wondering if we should travel during the afternoon and check into Fussen the night before visiting Ludwig's castles. That way we can enjoy taking our time during this "hour" drive that could with multiple stops get longer. So we would be spending two nights in Fussen instead one.

Asp: I looked at going to Innsbruck and then to Mittenwald. It looks like it is 5-6 hours by train. I realize that my transition from Northern Italy (either Venice or Varenna) to the Bavarian Alps is not a smooth one. Between the option of flying versus spending 6 hours daylight in a train versus taking a night train (a deluxe sleeper car), I though I would give the overnight train a go. But you gave me some alternatives, thank you.

nytraveler: yes, we will have a stroller ( a very thin and skinny travel one) and an ergo babycarrier. We will see how it goes. Our plans during the day will be fluid; if one parents needs to go back to the hotel with the baby, so be it. It is more important that she is happy than us seing a certain But honestly, I think she will have a blast: the music, the fountains, the trains, the marionettes in Prague...
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 03:34 AM
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I don't see anything wrong with "wisdom needed". I need some, too.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 04:00 AM
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There's nothing wrong with "wisdom needed." It's simply not something you would hear an (American) English speaking person say. One would use advice. I think the OP understood Ira's comment and appreciated the correction of English idiom.

TV - I think your daughter will love the new sounds and sights. Children are so intrigued with new and different things. Particularly in Prague where it's a delight just to walk around and look at the architecture and embellishments on the buildings.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 04:46 AM
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Originality needed! I say "wisdom needed" is perfectly idiomatic; it's just not trite enough, is it.

So many people just love these pat formulas, such as "return in a heartbeat", or "suck up the atmosphere".
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 08:37 AM
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good plan
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 09:40 AM
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I doubt you'll have trouble sleeping on a CityNightLine train but I could be incorrect about that. I do agree, however, that arriving just about anywhere at 6 in the morning can be problematic.

I can understand your reluctance for sitting up in a train for hours, especially with a child.

Overall I think your plan is very doable
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 10:24 AM
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On Day 14, if it's possible to drop the car in Rothenburg, I'd take the train to Prague. Much simpler, I think, than driving to Frankfurt and dealing with the airport. It might take less time overall, too. Or was there something you wanted to see on the drive to Frankfurt?
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 11:09 AM
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jean,

I don't want to see Frankfurt. So you think that taking the train is easier and less time consuming? Would you take a connection through Nuremberg? I will look into it again.

Adrienne, I agree children love new experiences. Like Montaigne said 'les voyages forment la jeunesse" and it is not too early to start.

Bvlenci, I need both wisdom and advice
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 12:18 PM
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Hey bv,

>Originality needed! I say "wisdom needed" is perfectly idiomatic; it's just not trite enough, is it.

So many people just love these pat formulas, such as "return in a heartbeat", or "suck up the atmosphere".<

If you look up the meanings of "wisdom" and "advice" you might change your mind.

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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 12:23 PM
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I agree that taking the train to Prague would be much easier than driving. In Rothenburg be prepared for crowds; that said, try to get there early in the dya.
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