Zeekachu

my family and i will be going on a trip from Zurich to Vienna for 16 days, so i would like you guys to look at my trip and give me some advices if needed, if you please

Zurich - Interlaken - Europa Park - Munich - Salzburg - Zell Am See - Vienna

the reason i chose Zurich is because Zurich is closer to Europa Park than Munich and also it is better to go to Zurich - Europa Park - Munich - Salzburg than Munich - Europa Park - Munich - Salzburg

and since I'm in Zurich why not visit Interlaken since a lot of ppl recommend this town.

1st day : arrive by plane from my country to Zurich and rent a car to Interlaken then rent a hotel.

2nd day : go sightseeing in Interlaken.

3rd day : Continue Sightseeing Interlaken.

4th day : travel to Europa Park and rent a hotel.

5th day : Continue staying at Europa Park.

6th day : travel to Munich and have a short break then continue traveling to Slazburg and rent a hotel.

7th,8th,9th,10th,11th,12th day : sightseeing in Salzburg and Zell Am See. ( i will just rent a hotel in Salzburg since Zell Am See is like an hour and half far )

13th day : traveling to Vienna and rent a hotel.

14th,15th : sightseeing in Vienna,

16th day : travel back to my country from Vienna.

so what do you think?

what best to use in switzerland a car or train and also i'm more into country sightseeing that is why i need a car

also how much is the border fee in Germany and Austria , can i pay it at the borders? or can i pay it at the rental car agency?

can i use the car to drive through these countries or i can only cross one border?

also can you recommend good hotels

annhig

personally i would take some time from Salzburg [and possibly Interlaken] and add it to Vienna, where there is loads more to see than there is in Salzburg. At the moment you have 7 nights in Salzburg and 2 in Vienna - IMO you really want it to be 4/5.

there are no "border fees" at the German and austrian borders. what there are are fees for using the motorways in Austria, [a vignette] for which you need to pay a fee. you can buy them at the border in shops, I think.

you can travel through as many countries and cross as many borders as you like so long as you have the right papers, [exluding some eastern european ones where you should tell your hire company you are going] but you will face a heavy drop-off fee for the car if you pick up in one country, and drop off in another.

for hotel recommendations you can search this board for for the various cities where you will be staying.

nytraveler

First you need to make your hotel reservations before you go - or you can waste a lot of time finding a place you like within your budget.

Second, Interlaken is a place to stay - not a place to tour. From Interlaken you take a train up the Jungfrau or ride a steamer on lake Brienz or Lake Thun (and see the small cute towns reound the lake) or take a train up into the alpine villages and do some hikes from there. It;s fine to stay in Interlaken - but not actually that much to do.

Third, Salzburg is quite a small city and you have way too much time there - agree to add time to Vienna - which has at least 5 times as much to see/do as Salzburg.

Sorry - have no clue what europe Park is or why one would go there.

Zeekachu

@ annhig

thanks for your advices.

@ nytraveler

Europa Park is the largest them park in Germany and second most popular theme park resort in Europe, click the link for more info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa-Park

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( TBH this is our honeymoon so i want it to be a good trip )

so now after reading your opinions i talked to lot of my friends about the trip and they gave me these tips :


1. Change the trip to this : Vienna - Freilassing - Salzburg - Zell Am See - Munich - Europa Park - Zurich - Interlaken.


2. stay at least 3 days in Vienna.

3. use the train to travel to Freilassing. ( it takes 3 hours to go to Freilassing from Vienna by train )

4. rent a car from Freilassing. ( a german city which is about 90 km from Zell Am See )

5. drive to Zell Am See and rent a room in Zell Am See Grand Hotel for at least 5 days.

6. travel between Salzburg and Zell Am See.

7. travel to Munich and visit the Munich Tower and Olympic Park.

8. travel to Europa Park and stay for at least 2 days.

9. drop off the car in Freiburg. ( a German City )

10. use the train from Freiburg to Interlaken. ( it takes 1 hour and 30 minutes by train )

11. stay at least 2 days in Interlaken.

12. get a swiss pass.

13. use the train to visit the mountains and lakes.

14. use the train to travel from Interlaken to Zurich airport. ( it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes by train )

so i divided the days to this

Vienna: 4 days
Zell Am See and Salzburg: 5 days
Munich: 2 day
Europa Park: 3 days
Interlaken: 2 days

i won't stay in Freilassing, Freiburg, and Zurich, i will just rent a car from Freilassing, ride the train from Freiburg and take off to my country from Zurich.

so now guys what do you think about this route?

annhig

Zeekachu - better. you are picking up your car and dropping it off in Germany, which is a good idea.

I did know what europa park was, but it wouldn't be my choice, when you have the real live theme-park of the alps to play in - those 3 days could be added to Vienna where you still have too little time, IMO, or to Munich where there is also lots to see.

but this is your trip not mine!

Zeekachu

@ annhig

your point is worth thinking, and after some time thinking since its our honeymoon

its better to minimise the trips, so i will cancel my trip to Switzerland and Europa Park.

so my new plan is

Vienna - Freilassing - Zell Am See - Salzburg - Freilassing- Munich

and divide the days as follow:

Vienna: 6 days
Zell Am See and Salzburg: 5 days
Munich: 4 days

according to my friends renting a car from Germany is much cheaper than Austria, thats why i will rent a car from Freilassing, and also they said that i don't need a car in both of Vienna and Munich, the train is much better.


with this, my trip i think is more efficient and easy, dont you think?

annhig

Zeeachu,

oh, the responsibility!

honestly, I think that you will have a much better and more restful time [assuming that's what you want!] with your latest itinerary. There is loads to do in and around Vienna [eg a day trip to Melk, and another to Baden] and the same with Zell and Salzburg.

next task - get a couple of good guide books and start planning!

Aramis

I think you will probably find that you want more time in Salzburg if you only do it as a day trip from Zell. On that basis, I would consider staying for a couple of nights in Salzburg. Adjusting your proposed itinerary a little, then;

Vienna 5/6 days
Salzburg 2 days
Zell 4 days
Munich 3/4 days

This will save you on car rental costs, too, since you don't need to pick up the car until you are leaving Salzburg (2 less days) and you won't be driving as far (gas).

Pegontheroad

First of all, I want to say that your itinerary as it now stands looks great. I will never forget my first visit to Vienna. What a fabulous city!

I always recommend that travelers get a guidebook or two before you make any decisions. You'll find all kinds of good information there, including recommendations for hotels and restaurants at all price levels. When you see a hotel that you think you like, check it out on Trip Advisor to see the recommendations of other travelers.

A guide book such as Frommers or Fodors will also list the subway/underground/Ubahn station near your desired restaurant, hotel, or sightseeing destination. It will have loads of other useful information about your hotel and its amenities.

I arrange my trips so that I do not have a car in a major city such as Vienna or Munich. Parking is difficult to find, and often very expensive--as much as $25 for 24 hours. As I recall, Salzburg was easier, as there was parking on the street outside my hotel since the hotel was not in the city center.

When I've stayed away from the city center, I have sometimes been able to park free on the street. Your guidebook should give information about parking.

I generally pick up and drop off my rental car at the airport, so that I don't have to drive in the city. I believe it's generally a little more expensive, but worth it.

I agree you'll enjoy the trip more when you don't have to change hotels every couple of days. I suggest that you make your reservations before you leave so that you will not have the bother of trying to find a hotel when you arrive at a city.

Be aware that when you reserve a room, if you don't show up, the hotel will charge you for that first day.

I hope you have a wonderful and relazing honeymoon.

Zeekachu

@ annhig

very true, and thanks for the info.

@ Aramis

nice point and worth thinking.

@ Pegontheroad

about getting the car from the airport, its really better but since i'm gonna pick it up from Austria and drop it off in Germany, it will be more expansive then a pick up and drop off in the same country.

and also thanks or the heads up.

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for now i only know these places that are worth to visit

Vienna: Stephnsplatz, Danube Island, Old Danube, Hofburg palace, Belvedere, Kahlenberg, schonbrunn palace, Donauturm, Melk, Baden.

Salzburg: salzac river, Wolfgangsee Lake, Salzkammergut lake and Aerial tramway, Hellbrunn, Mirabell Palace, Lake Fuschlsee, Hohensalzburg Castle.

Zell Am See: Aerial tramway, kaprun, Krimmler Wasserfalle, Alpine coaster, summer coaster, hochgebirgsstauseen kaprun.

Munich: i only know these three places for now, marienplatz, olympic park, sea life.

so any recommendations? and also are the days enough for each city?

nytraveler

There are tons of other places to visit in all of the places you have listed - from incredible palaces and castles to wonderful museums to unique activities (the Spanish Riding School exhibition in Vienna).

You really need a couple of good guide books. For sights the Michelin green guides are the most comprehensive and help by telling you how long it takes to visit each sight.