Am I Biting Off a Bit Too Much!
 

Need some suggestions for upcoming trip to the Baltics. We have 21 full days which do not include travel to and from Canada. We are flying into Frankfurt thinking of heading to Berlin for 3/4 days. Flying out of Berlin to Tallin Estonia, and then travel to Latvia and Lithuania via rail/car - it depends. My travel partner wants to go to Warsaw and visit Auschwitz. So I am thinking -

Frankfurt - 2 days
Berlin - 4 days
Tallin - 3 days
Riga - 3 days
Vilinus - 3 days
Warsaw - 3 days
Auschwitz - 1 day

We realize that travel times cuts into quality touring time so would you add a day to Frankfurt or pick another place in Poland or visit European Russia. Or.....

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Forgot to mention that we are traveling mid October to first week in November.

Can't say much about the Baltic countries. Seems enough time in each city. But the Auschwitz trip at the end...this is some distance from Warsaw, usually a day trip out of Krakow. Also seems like you need a better "ending" anyway, i.e., another locale for departure.

Ozarksbill

I'd subtract 2 days from Frankfurt.

With 2 days, head straight to Mainz - almost as close to FRA as Frankfurt is. Spend day 1 there relaxing after your flight - the cathedral and the Market Square, the narrow streets of old Mainz along Augustinerstrasse, maybe the Gutenberg Museum or the Chagall windows at the Stefanskirche. Have a nice meal on the square or visit a wine bar in the old town. Then spend day 2 on an outing along the Rhine - Bacharach, St. Goar, Marksburg Castle in Braubach, all are good choices - then the night in Mainz again. It's only a short trip from there To Frankfurt's main station to begin your journey to Berlin.

Hi D,

How are you getting home?

I'm from Poland. 3 days in Warsaw is just too much. There really isn't much to see/do. Krakow is a much nicer city, if you've never been and especially if your plans include visitin Auschwitz. Another place in Poland worth checking out is Zakopane. It's the mountain region, with spectacular views. Have fun!

Thanks Ozarkbill and NJrunr3 re Warsaw, I was on two minds about it and I've read Krakow was nicer. Russ your suggestion about heading out of Frankfurt were my thoughts exactly. Travel partner thought it might be too much - I'll convince him otherwise. ira you have a good point about getting home. The Poland/Auschwitz visit got tossed in at the last moment. My preferred itinerary was the reverse of this other than landing in Frankfurt and skipping Poland -

Berlin, Kallingrad, Villinus, Riga, Tallin, Helsinki fly out of Helsinki back to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Canada. I thought of saving Poland and possibly Ukraine for another trip.

Any input is great - I so appreciate everyone's help.

I can't comment on the specifics of your itinerary, as I have not visited Poland, and have been only briefly in the Baltic countries.

However, as a general rule when planning an itinerary, if you think you are biting off a bit too much, then you are!

<i>We realize that travel times cuts into quality touring time...</i>

It doesn't have to. What we have done on our last several trips is to travel on the last train of the evening that gets us to our next destination. We start the last day by checking out of our hotel. If it's handy to the train station, we check our luggage with the porter, otherwise we take it to the station and stash it in lockers.

We then sightsee all day, and plan so we wind up at the train a half-hour or so before departure. We ransom our gear and board, thereby spending our otherwise wasted &quot;down time&quot; getting from town to town.

To save time travling between cities in Baltic countries, you might like to check buget airline such as www.flylal.com, I used it last summer, quite convenient.

Hi Laverendyre - how long did you stay in the Baltics and which country did you prefer - that may help me focus on one rather than three countries.

Excellent idea Robespierre - it makes alot of sense. Do you purchase your tickets for the next destination when you arrive? It would make sense so as to avoid the queue for purchasing tickets on the day you are leaving.

Thanks JudyC I'll check out the site. Often the flight beats time on the train.

Again everyone - thanks for the tips.