PalenQ

church bells toiling at unGodly hours may be hard to escape anywhere in towns!

Not sure why locals don't complain or maybe they do

Dayle

Bells, bells, bells. I don't know why. Twice an hour between the hours of 8am and 10pm would be tolerable, but not the ones that ring every 15 minutes all through the night! Been there, hated that.

Itinerary is shaping up and I've actually changed things around:

Day 1: arrive early AM and continue to Delft, Hotel de Emauspoort, walk around and explore Delft

Day 2: early start to Rotterdam, explore a bit if time, continue on to Kinderdikj windmills, stay Delft

Day 3: early start to Haarlem, Amrath Grand Hotel Frans Hals, ck possibility of Keukenhof from here

Day 4: early start to Amsterdam. Have 2 possibilities booked: Hotel Roemer and Hotel Estherea. Both well reviewed, good locations, big price difference...visit Rijksmuseum if afternoon visit works, booked in advance. Canal boat tour based on weather.

Day 5: Van Gogh museum booked in advance, wandering canals.

Day 6: more exploring Amsterdam, churches.

Day 7: day trip to Koeller Muller museum

Day 8: travel by train to Mosel Valley. Stop in Koln to see cathedral. Ck trains/stops/left luggage. Possibly pick up rental car here. Continue to Beilstein.

Day 9: Burg Elz and Cochem via boat

Day 10: Hike, wine tasting?

Day 11: travel to St. Goar or Oberwesel. Two bookings: Hotel Rheinfels in St. Goar and Castle Schonburg in Oberwesel. Looks like a car is really needed for Schonburg, especially for 3 nt stay.

Day 12: visit a couple major significant castles (I like this type of thing), river cruise?

Day 13: more exploring, Bacharach, castles, wine tasting

I have 2 more days before I have to fly back out of Amsterdam. I now there are many excellent options. Any special recommendations for an additional town/area that would not be too rushed for a 1 night visit? Last night will probably need to be fairly close to airport.

Am I spending too much time in the river valley towns? I know this part could be shortened, but I'm finally learning to go a little more slowly....

Now I'll start check train specifics.


Day

PalenQ

Day 3: early start to Haarlem, Amrath Grand Hotel Frans Hals, ck possibility of Keukenhof from here>

Take the bus from Haarlem to Keukenhof - goes right thru the heart of the flower fields.

PalenQ

Or if into a few mile tiptoe thru the tulips (or more likely other blooms) take the train from Haarlem to Hillegom and then walk along side roads thru the heart of the flower fields to Keukenhof.

Can continue by bus to Leiden for a look at that also quaint old town- train from there back to Haarlem.

I did this once and it was an awesome day!

PalenQ

Day 9: Burg Elz and Cochem via boat>

Boats may not be running in May except perhaps on weekends and probably not to Moselkern for Burg Eltz- drive there- could hit en route to Beilstein.

PalenQ

Day 12: visit a couple major significant castles (I like this type of thing), river cruise?>

Marksburg is the only intact authentically medieval castle on this part of the Rhine - take K-D boat to Braubach then shuttle device up to the castle or hike up.