I'm currently in the really preliminary stages of planning a trip to Munich, leaving Richmond, Va on the 18th of December and returning on the 30th.

Originally, I was thinking of flying into Munich and out of Venice (or vice versa), but the flights and layovers were a bit problematic. Most likely i'd fly in and out of Munich. Proposed itinerary , as follows:

Arrive in Munich and spend 2 nights
Take train to Belluno, Italy to spend 2 nights with family
Take train from Belluno to Venice and spend 3 nights
Take train to Salzburg for 2 nights, possibly 3
Take train to Munich for remaining days before flight home

Does this seem like a doable itinerary for 11 days? I'm guessing, after looking at costs of point-to point train tix, that a Eurail Select Pass is the better option??

Right now, I've been looking at airline prices....REALLY high!! Does anyone have any "insider" info regarding the outlook for prices?

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Make sure you start booking flights and train journeys fast. You are proposing to travel at the peak holiday season throughout Europe - so prices will continue to rise, not sink. Unless things have changed, you have to have a seat booking on long distance trains in Italy, and getting to Belluno from Munich isn't easy - see ttp://www.bellunovirtuale.com/comearrivare_e.html . You'll probably need to change trains in Trento, then at least once more to get to Belluno. A full day of travelling, so you lose a day there. And you'll lose the best part of a day (around 7 hours) travelling from Venice to Salzburg. Your 11 days are now only 9. Most likely you'll find there are no trains anywhere on 25 December which may be one of your proposed travel days if you are landing in Munich on 18 December. Good luck with your planning, but I think you are being a bit optimistic!

flights are always high at that time of year--no bargains..

book hotels early.

visit as many Christmas markets as possible...nunich and saltzburg have fab ones..

I would look carefully at train prices - where are you checking. If Eurail - they are agents and sell tickets at prices that are often significantly marked up from purchase from the actual train company.

Discounts are available (if you can lock in specific trains- that will often reduce costs significantly.

Right now, the best airfare price I came up with was $1,020.00 on US Airways going from Richmond, Va to Munich on 12/18 and returning from Venice to Richmond on 12/30.

This air configuration would eliminate some train back-tracking if I went in/out of Munich..

Question is....how reliable is US Airways?? Lufthansa, which I know is a great airline, runs about $400 more for the same itinerary.

Opinions??