I'm planning a trip to Germany/Austria for the first time (me, my husband and our daughter 8 years old). Planning to spend there about 10 days. The itinerary would look like Munich/Salzburg/Vienna or Frankfurt/Munich/Salzburg/Vienna. Could you give me an idea how long it takes to travel from each destination to the next one, and what would be the most efficient and economical way to do it? Also, would appreciate hotel info in those cities (or in between) and most interesting attractions. One more thing I can't figure out how to do: in what order to make reservations - air tickets vs. hotels?

Also is it true that August is not a good time to go there since museums are closed and everybody is on vacation?

Thank you in advance. The information I found here already had helped me a great deal.

we spent about 13 days between Munich and Rome last August. Had no problem with closed attractions or restaurants. We based in Munich and took day tours to Dachau, Kehlstein Haus, etc. drove to Rome and saw some pretty incredible sites on the way. Stayed at the Arabella Bogenhausen in Munich - near a uBahn stop. Ask for an upper floor and one without cooking allowed in the rooms...the odor in our first room was unbearable. Grabbed pasteries every morning just outside the hotel, lunch/dinner at cafe's usually with outdoor seating. Only exception was the Rathskeller and Hof Brau Haus. great trip - we used guided tours for a full day of Munich, Kehlstein and a half day for Dachau. Worthwhile and more relaxing than trying to figure it out on our own.

Unless you plan to sightsee along the way, I would suggest that train travel might be the best for you. If landing in Frankfurt, you might want to stop in Rothenburg on the way to Munich.

I think that August is a perfectly fine time for a trip to these alpine destinations.

Assuming you are flying trans-atlantic from North America, it's time to scurry to find the best deal on air fare you can find, right now, since that is the largest portion of the budget of your trip where you can do well (20-30% of your total trip budget), fair (30-40%) or badly (40-60%) - - assuming your budget for three of you is 5000 to $10,000 for this 10 day trip.

Best wishes,

Rex

Just thought of something - are you flying in and out of the same city? If so, you might be able to rent a car for less than the train tickets. trains were the same price for us as the car rental. If you're doing open jaws on the airline, take the trains.

You should definately find air tickets first. Whether you fly into Munich or Frankfurt will determine you itinerary. You can always find hotels to book.

Any suggestions on where should I look for good deals? Do the hotels there have cancellation policy? I'm trying to figure out what should we do first: reservations for the tickets or book hotels?

I think you plan is fine. I suggest not thinking of Frankfurt as a big tourist attraction in competition with the others. For one thing, it is a long train ride from Frankfurt to Vienna.

The combined cities of Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna offer enough to occupy you for more than 10 days. In thinking of Munich, I am of course including the side trips to Herrenchiemsee and/or Neuschwanstein that attract so many people.

I would seek out hotels that had air conditioning that time of year. The Carlton Opera in Vienna fills that bill nicely. I don't know of one in Salzburg because we stayed at the Pension Sallerhof south of the city and at the Golden Duck in the Old Town.
The hotel we use in Munich, while a good one, is not air cooled.

If you rent a car and return it in the same country, you usually can avoid destination drop charges. I would however caution against renting in Austria because of the tax add ons that make rental cars there more expensive, particularly if you have a second driver.

If you originate your trip in Munich, rail connections to Salzburg are easy.
The connection on to Vienna from Salzburg is also easy because there are many trains during the day.

A car in Salzburg, Munich, and Vienna is a problem. Where do you park it?
I know that the last time we were in Salzburg we stayed at the Sallerhof because of free parking. Then we made the mistake of driving to the city center. We ended up with a $14.00 parking fee. In Vienna, my friend arrived in his shiny new BMW. It was parked for two days while we rode buses and trams around the city.
The same is true in Munich. Some of the residential areas require a parking permit just to leave your car on the street, and the permit is more of a hunting license. You can park if you find a place.

I think you could divide your trip up so that it was a 4 - 2 - 4 type of plan. Four in Vienna and Munich, 2 in Salzburg. Of course there is some loss of time because of arrival and departure.

If you fly home from Munich, be prepared for a long line to get through security. We have flown home from Munich the last two summers and the security line was about 2 hours long.
For trans Atlantic flights, the Germans are quite thorough and xray everything. The guardians at the gate even pat search most of the passengers. (Passengers flying within Europe are not screened as rigorously.)

The length of the train trip from Munich to Vienna is about 4.5 hours on the non change trains. Salzburg is about 1:40 away from Munich depending on the train. If you take the slow train to Salzburg you can buy a Bavarian Ticket and save a considerable amount. For train travel, Salzburg is considered part of the Bavarian net; in fact, you leave on a German train after buying your ticket at the Die Bahn ticket window.

I think you will find plenty to do.
In Munich you even can have Heinz 57 ketchup with your fried potatoes. Americans are branded; the ketchup eaters of the world.

Ah Europe in August.. the wonderful feeling of freedom.. the views of mountains and greenery..the smell of pastries being home made..the feeling of sweat drenching your shirt! Yikes. Bring lots of short sleeve shirts and shorts. August can be stifling, and teh European heat can be relentless.