cherrybomb

Planning on Berlin for May after an eternity trying to decide between Krakow and Vienna. Have booked apt for 10 days but haven't gotten plane tix yet.

Quandry: Just do 10 days and keep it at Berlin, or add an extra 4 days and drive some place else and fly out of the 2nd city?

We are mid-30s, YUPPIE DINKS who disguise our bourgeois reality with what looks like trustafarian-hipsterdom, tattoos and 4 hour bleach jobs.

No really, we are into cafes, hanging out, wine, bars, food, wandering around, etc. Oh and it is my 34th Birthday and I really want that hot air balloon ride I never got on my 29th birthday.

Anyhoo, suggestions, thoughts or complaints welcome.

Cowboy1968

Berlin has many low cost connections to almost any major city or holiday region in Europe. Try Air Berlin, easyjet, Ryanair, germanwings, Condor,...
Destinations like Barcelona and Stockholm, Vienna or Budapest, Rome or Ibiza/Mallorca can be reached within 1.5 - 2.5 hours.
When you find a good or even moderate price for your ticket, it will probably be cheaper than the costs for rental car plus gas.

If you just want to see another city in Germany, trains will probably be your best bet.

But May is also packed with public holidays in Germany and a popular time for travel, so wherever you may want to go, I would start to book any flights in between asap.

cherrybomb

Cowboy1968, I'd like to keep it to Germany or at least Central or Eastern Europe. And I like to drive. Also not a big runaround traveler--sorry for not clarifying, but appreciate the start. Vienna/Budapest is a start but fearing Budapest is too Prague-like crowded at this point, could be wrong though.

Also clarification-it will be for end of May, if extended the 1st week in June. Also, preferring locales that are not as warm, hence sticking to the area.

Cowboy1968

No problem.
May is a nice time to travel along the coast of the Baltic Sea via Usedom, Rügen, Rostock, Lübeck to Hamburg. Or make a straight shot for Hamburg and spend the days in one location, plus maybe a day trip to Lübeck.
Southbound motorways will take you to Dresden and the valley of the River Elbe, where they also grow wine. Problem may be to find flights back to the US from there, since there are no direct connections.
The all-time favorite Rhine and Mosel valleys have the advantage that you will be in the vicinity of Frankfurt Airport, which may make finding a flight back home much easier.

cherrybomb

Along the Rhine is a thought that I had--are there hot air balloons?

WillTravel

You could do Dresden quite easily.

I think it's a smart idea to allow a fair bit of time for Berlin. It's certainly worth it.

Myownheroine

I always thought Prague would be a nice counterpart to a Berlin trip. And Prague is fantastic. Great for wandering around.

And you can do your hot air balloon ride:

http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=833

hsv

Hamburg. 90 min. train ride. Good nightlife - including beach bars at the River, great restaurants, lots of strolling along Elbe River and Alster Lake, good cafes on the way, not too many gorgeous sites, but enough to keep you entertained for at least 2 days. Port truly scenic.
And a couple of offers for the ballooning:

http://www.ballons-ueber-hamburg.de/

http://www.ballonteamhamburg.de/

There are more - google "Hamburg Ballonfahrt".

Dukey

If you include Prague you will learn it is definitely NOT like Budapest.

DAX

If you are looking for an economical (19 eur) air ballon ride at check point charlie in Berlin:
http://www.air-service-berlin.de/ind...2-3&lang=2

cherrybomb

Hey Dax--Thanks for the link--off that I found the regular long hot air balloon rides about a 1/2 hour outside of Berlin! Now I have to get the husband to take care of booking.(It is complicated, not the booking, and he is in charge of this one)

I think we are leaning towards Rhine Valley at this point, unless we cross into Poland.

annhig

Hi cherrybomb,

whilst researching our trip to eastern europe [delayed til 2009] I learnt about the Sachsen area of germany. the bit south-east of Dresden looks particularly attractive.

there is loads to do there - after a few days in Berlin, you could head for Dresden, and use it as a base for exploring the area or just tour round. although it won't be deserted it won't be that busy in May and the weather should be ideal.

good luck,

regards, ann

DAX

I second Dresden over the Rhine Valley. I've been to Dresden 3 times and really enjoyed it plus it's only 2 hours away from Berlin. Our Dresden expert Ingo can tell you how to navigate through the Elbe river area.

Ingo

Another vote for Dresden over the Rhine valley. First, it's much closer to Berlin. Second, Dresden is a fascinating city. Third, the Elbe river valley in Saxon Switzerland (National Park) is very scenic, similar to the Rhine Valley and in the backcountry even more beautiful.

I didn't want to be the first to recommend my city and region here. Thanks DAX and annhig for going first ;-)

Ingo

cherrybomb

thanks! I actually decided to nix Rhine and back it with Brussels at another time. Not so sure about Dresden, but, will start looking.

Super excited about the ballon fahrt! Then again, I am also a huge dork with a hot air balloon obsession--I am still smarting over the husband not taking care of that for me before! Of course I will probably get altitude sickness whilst ballooning.