musictub

My husband and I are planning a trip to Germany for our 40th anniversary. We've never been there and were considering a car trip including Austria and Switzerland for a two week trip. I started looking at Rick Steve's tours and wondered what your thoughts were on tours vs on-your-own visits.

spirobulldog

Try reposting this on the correct forum/board and you will get more help

Just click on Change Forum and then retype/repost

HappyTrvlr

Put this on EUROPE Forum.

musictub

ggI putposellly put my question on US forum to get responses from Americans who have traveled to Germany.

spirobulldog

So we are just going to start posting at random? This is nothing but confusing. Keep it on the board/forum where you are traveling-like this site is set up and intended on using.

I've been thinking about going on a cruise to Alaska. I think I will post it on the Airline Board and Africa Board. Perhaps some of those people might answer.

Tomsd

Ach Die Liebe. Was is Los?

Anyhow - you really will get better response on the German page.

Have been to Germany - and liked it - but also - like pretty much all of Europe. If you can get down to Bavaria - where most Germans say they would like to live - it would be a bonus, and cross into Austria there?

And Rick Steeves has some good ideas - as do many of the other travel sites/books/videos.

Gut Gluck.

Katie_Bug

I understand sometimes it is hard to know where to post what question. That being said; the answer depends on how you prefer to travel, what your likes & dislikes are. Are you comfortable going to a foreign country on your own? Have you gone to other countries before on your own or with a group?

Rick Steve's Tours has an excellent reputation and they can do all the planning for you so all you worry about is showing up. To travel on your own you will be planning your trip and this is very possible with a bit of homework. Some people like to first go on a tour than return on their own.

The trains run pretty much like clock work in Germany and many other countries & it is much different than here in the United States with the options you have for train travel. One thing I would caution you is the German Autobahn can be very intimidating to drive on, because of the fast speeds.

To do a trip without a tour I would encourage you to plan & plan for any unforeseen reasons just as you would here in the States. A Euro Rail Pass is a wonderful way to see many countries and they offer different time frames for you to travel in. I would also look into For Rent By Owner VRBO.com this is a wonderful website where you can find accommodations less expensive than a hotel & you can cook your own meals.

Good luck to you and happy travels
Katie

janisj

musictub: "ggI putposellly put my question on US forum to get responses from Americans who have traveled to Germany."

Sorry - but it doesn't work that way. One posts questions about Germany on the Europe Forum, tagged for Germany . . . and there is where Americans who have been to Germany will respond.

Or -you can click the yellow triangle and ask the editors to move this thread over to Europe for you.

Or you can be stubborn and leave it here . . .

happytrailstoyou

musictub,

I'm sure there are good escorted tours of Germany, but we don't like escorted tours. In Europe we travel by car, train, or bus.

Rick Steves' books give great information about how to get from place to place. It has been a long while since I've been in Germany, but before going there (or booking a tour) I would study what Rick has to say and I would check out all the recent guidebooks for Germany from our well-stocked Seattle Public Library.

The best way for you to travel in Germany is the same way you have enjoyed traveling in the USA and in other industrialized countries.

HTtY

PS I wonder what prompts people to make potentially hurtful comments such as this: Or you can be stubborn....

nytraveler

You post questions in the area they are about - not the area in which you live.

Americans who travel to europe use the europe board - in mobs. Plus you can get info from others who have been there and probably have a lot to offer.

IMHO not being willing to look there but insisting on comments here makes it seem like you may not be comfortable with a trip to europe - where everything is different.

NewbE

<One thing I would caution you is the German Autobahn can be very intimidating to drive on, because of the fast speeds.>

This was not our experience at ALL, and we lived there. We found the Autobahn to be generally clogged with truck traffic and very prone to major slowdowns.

musictub

Thank you to those who provided helpful feedback. It's disappointing that some responses were so rude. I intended to use the German forum for more specific questions about the country.

janisj

"Thank you to those who provided helpful feedback. It's disappointing that some responses were so rude. "

They weren't rude -- you were actually. When it was first explained where you should post this -- you got snippy. Instead of "Thank you, I'll do that" - you posted essentially "I did it on purpose and get out of my face"

Usually the editors move threads that have been posted in the wrong place (like this one). So don't be surprised if this one isn't shifted.

Tomsd

You can essentially arrange your own tour with enough research and suggest you check out the various Euro-Rail passes as you are traveling to several countries.

You can get a discount as two people traveling together. see: http://www.eurail.com/eurail-passes

In one of Rick Steves books/web pages - he also has a map that shows point to point charges - but if you are gonig to be using the trains for 5 or 6 legs - having a pass makes it easier.

Be sure to check out the reservation requirements for the express/fast trains if you use those.

Amy_D

I am moving this to our Europe-Germany board to better fit with our Forums layout.

nytraveler

Thank you Amy.