Hi,
Hope someone has the time and inclination to help a totally confused traveler. My fiance and I want to go to Europe in June. We are in our late 60's and this will probably be our only trip and we would like to spend about a month. Most of our past travel has been RVing through the US and we want to know if we can travel in June without making reservations. We are used to spending quality time in a place and moving at will so tours are not for us. We are not fancy people so hotel rooms need to be clean with a comfy bed and food good but simple. A mixture of trains, busses and car rentals would be fine. Unfortunately money is there but not unlimited. We would like to visit a few castles, a few museums, quaint towns, and enjoy panoramic views. That said, we don't know where we should go and we have no idea of cost. My first inclination is Italy and Bavaria but that is a guess.
Any input would be most appreciated. We are overwhelmed.
Thanks,
Marion

This forum can be of great assistance to you at a later stage of planning. but for now, you need more basic help. Go to your local library or book store and get Fodor's (and others') guides to Italy (or Germany or Austria or all three). You can do what you have proposed, in the way you have suggested, and there are folks here who can be of help. But more specifics are required.

before you even head out to the library - click on DESTINATIONS above. There are really good overviews of lots of European cities/regions. Right now your questions/needs are just too vague to really give much useful advice. Read up a bit and then come back w/ just a little more focused questions. There are experts here on about ever nook and cranny in Europe so someone will be able to help you design a good itineray.

Also when you do post again give us ideas about your budget.

Sounds like Marion2 and her fiance are not interested in cities. Look at Rick Steves' guidebooks, especially Europe through the Back Door. Sounds like it's exactly the kind of travel you're interested in. And he has a show on PBS also. You can get videos of his shows as well as his guidebooks from the public library.

Yes, you can easily do what you propose. June is a good time to travel in Europe, because weather is pleasant, but most European schools are still in session, so families aren't yet taking their holidays.

Public transportation is very good in most parts of Europe, so you can get around fairly easily by bus and train. You can travel independently from city to city, then either sightsee on your own, or book local tours when more convenient.

You don't have to plan a detailed itinerary, but it would be a good idea to decide which countries you would like to visit, then start doing some research. Europe is a big continent, with many different countries, so it would be best to settle on a particular region and do your planning from there.

Many Fodorites are eager to help, but it is easier to answer specific questions than general ones.

if you wish to stay in the English speaking Europe, Scotland may be a place for you.

With a month, I'd combine a few apartment rentals in cities with a bit of driving from small town to small town and staying in small hotels. For example, rent a flat in Paris for a week, then get a car and drive though France and Bavaria, staying at in a different charming town every night or two, then stop in a city and give up the car, then take a train or cheap flight to Venice, spend a few days, then take a train to somewhere in Tuscany, tour the hill towns, then end up renting a flat for a week in Rome.

But the first step is for each of you to list the top 2-4 European destinations that you've always wanted to see, then look at the map and see how a route would be plotted.

I would like to visit the US. What should I see?

Me again,
I just want to thank you for responding. I will do as suggested and I will take you up on your offered assistance once I have done that. In response to brookwood. I did "get it" and it made me laugh but my answer to your rhetorical statement is Alaska. If you ever decide to go, I have great info. and would love to share.
Be back when I am better informed.

As you do your research, think about what you've enjoyed in your travels throughout the U.S. Mountains, beaches, the desert, etc? That may help you narrow down what you do in Europe.

Travelling to the larger cities in June, such as London, Paris, Florence, Venice (not so large but very popular), Rome, you should probably get reservations, if only to avoid having to hunt for a hotel room. You could combine reserved-hotel-days with other days or weeks for which you don't have reservations, so you still have freedom in your schedule.

Enjoy your planning!

I would like you to think (hope?) that this will not be your 'only trip'.

This way, it'll help you to narrow your focus on a given area, allowing you to not be tempted to do too much. Trying to see everything in one shot would be a mistake.

I suggest that you start out by following your first instinct (Italy and Bavaria). Concentrate your research on this area and you'll soon realize that your one month will be filled with the most enjoyable experiences (and it needn't be all that costly)...

Try Untours. We used them in Greece and were very pleased. You get a lot of flexiblity without having to do everything on your own.

We traveled in France, Belgum, Germany, Austria for 7 weeks in May and June this past year. We only had reservations for the 1st week. With the exception of our last night we stayed in B&B's, mostly in small towns or small cities. Upon arrival in town, we would go to the local tourist office and with few execptions they were able to find something to our liking within our budget. We had a car, so we were pretty flexable in our travels. Spent several weeks in Bavaria and enjoyed the time spent there.

You sound much like us the first time we travelled - similar interests, very open as to where to go but with a few ideas, and fairly "senior" travellers. (We'd been to Asian destinations but not to Europe). We also went in June, but because we're from Australia we had to go for 3 months to make it economic. We also prefer driving to tours, for the greater independence that offers; and we prefer B&Bs to hotels, for their more personal contact and homeliness.

Based on our experience, I'd say go with your first instinct if it's Italy & Bavaria, and check out some travel guides for those locations. You'll find enough of the things you mention: castles, museums, quaint towns and panoramic views, and a month in just those 2 regions will be comparatively relaxed, not rushed. But also keep an open mind for something different. We had to continually remind ourselves not to fret about anything we couldn't fit in, because everything we did fit in was marvellous anyway!

We began with a similarly limited goal: England and Germany. England because it is where our remote ancestors hailed from; and Germany because I had learned the language. But we purchased an air fare that happened to go to Amsterdam and that included a free side-trip to anywhere else in Europe. We figured this was best used for a destination far away from where we might get to by car. From my short-list of Portugal, Morocco and Romania and my wife's shortlist of Norway, Egypt and Poland, we chose Turkey. (Don't ask!) It was a decision that we never regretted, and that led to that first trip alone encompassing 17 countries.

We've been back many times since. Can't get enough of it. I hope you enjoy a similar experience.

Austria! I think you will find all you seek there.

There is mote to Europe than Central and South ! Balticum and not to forget the Nordics, Bergen and West Norwegian country in particular !

Sounds like a wonderful idea. You will love Italy and Bavaria.

Regarding hotels, you do not have to plan ahead much. Germany, especially, has a very organized tourist information service that can find you a hotel when you arrive in town. There is usually one located near the central train station, and they are also located just off the Autobahn as you enter a big city.

Some people don't like wasting their time looking for a hotel the first time they arrive anywhere, but since you plan to stay several days in each place I think it would be fine for you.

I would suggest that you make hotel reservations for your first and last destinations (after and before flights), and wing it from there.

The train system is excellent, if you don't want to drive. There is a big extra fee associated with renting in one country and dropping off in another, so maybe you want to restrict your car rental to a single country and use trains otherwise. Railpass probably won't be cost effective since you are not travelling city-to-city every day.

How about a route like this, to get you started? You can stay about 6 nights in each region and have plenty of time for day trips and such.

Fly to Venice
Lake District / Dolomites (Como or a smaller town, or Bolzano)
Switzerland (Lucern, Lugano)
Munich and Bavaria
Fly home from Vienna

I would once again urge that you reserve an apartment/flat for 5-7 days at two intervals of your trip. It will give you a chance to do laundry (make sure it has a washer and dryer) and let you have a bit of a break from restaurant meals. On a long trip, it can be a restful relief to be in a homelike setting for a while.

If you really think this will be your one and only trip to Europe you might want to consider the big three; London, Paris, Rome (or Venice). For castles and scenery Bavaria is an excellent choice. Use Munich as a base to get to Fussen to see Neuschwanstein, Linderhoff and even Nymphenburg (in Munich).

With a month to spend you could easily hit the highlights fo 3-4 different places.

Thank you all so very much. I have used this site before but I have never gotten so many fast, helpful responses. You are all amazing. At least now I have some direction as to where to begin my research. I will get back to you with more specific questions. Thanks again.
Marion