I agree ditch the travel agent. We are planning our 4th independent travel, the last 2 and the 4th using Rick S. Currently most places we are staying are averaging about $85 the only exception is Switz. The advice above is correct in addition I would add the following:<BR><BR>1. As Rick states, look for 2 and 3* inns and B and Bs. His book even states which speak English.<BR>2. Go on to the web site for Euro shell, you can do trip tics with detailed driving instructions for locations you will be driving.<BR>3. When you have the car and know where you will be spending the night, email parking arrangements (Of 12 places we are staying this time, 11 have email).<BR>4. We stayed in Luzern before, it books up quick you may want to consider booking that early.<BR>5. Do not overload on luggage, especially with dealing with the train.<BR>6. If you do not know a any foreign language at all, at least get a pocket book. Rick makes a french, german and something book which would cover you for France, Switz, Germany. Most Europeans will go out of their way to help especially when they see you are trying.<BR>7. If you get lost, do not hesitate to stop and ask for help. We have done it at gas stations, pedestrians and even in the middle of an autobahn asking Italian business men who were also stopped talking on the phone. Everyone we ever asked was great, if not English speaking, once they figure your location, hand signals work out great.<BR><BR>Remember it is an adventure, not just another day at the beach! Everything may not go 100% right, but hey, if everything were perfect, it may not be as memorable. And if you plan it, you will be better prepared, less disappointed and enjoy it more!<BR>Have a great trip.<BR><BR><BR>

You certainly do not need a tour if you are willing to do the research and book your hotels yourself. It is so easy to do that online. Just use Expedia or one of the others. But do not book anything you cannot change at the last minute. Your plans might change because you are not tied to a group. That is one of the pleasures. As far as taking a day tour not in English. If there is something you wish to see and that is the only possible way...go for it. I took a tour in German that lasted from 8am to 7:30pm from Basel Switzerland. I may not have got every nuance of the guide's talk, but I saw everything, met some interesting people, and had a very good day. It was the only way I would have seen that part of the Alsasce, so great!

I don't think there's one right answer. My feeling is it depends on your personality. Having said that... I have never taken a tour and don't plan on it and have done 4 trips to Europe to date.<BR><BR>For me, I'd rather be lost in Paris, than sitting on a tour bus with a bunch of other unadventuresome and insecure tourists!! Being told when to get up in the morning, where to eat, when to do whatever, now that would be a true nightmare for me!<BR><BR>Sounds like you already have your trip pretty much planned. Use your Rick Steves and the internet and go for it! It is *NOT* repeast *NOT* hard to get around, or communicate, and I have never spent $200US a night for a hotel room.

You CAN do it! No tour is going to go to the places you've decided on, why go where THEY want to go?<BR><BR>As has been said, BOOK HOTELS NOW! The good budget places in cities book up early, esp. the Rick Steves choices.<BR>

I'll leave out the derogatory travel agent comments. I use Best Western a lot when traveling in Europe. Take a look. There is a great one right by the Main Train station in Munich &amp; many in Paris as well. I would probably actually skip Munich &amp; do the Mosel instead of the Rhine. Munich is quite a ways from Paris &amp; since you are leaving from Frankfurt the Mosel is in route.

Keep the travel agent to check your rates...particularly airfare. They can often find deals that never make it to the net. Especially an Open-Jawed flight. The itinerary you described is very ambitious, maybe reconsider dijon and Switz and head to alsace and the wine road and then on to germany from there. If it's wine you seek, alsace is great. I did a tour of northern france and a few days in to switzerland last year with my wife and we didn't pay more $60 per night execept for one night and that was in a chateu in the Loire and that was only $90. I speak only the most cursory french and my wife speaks none (english isn't even her first language) and we were able to get by with very little difficulty.<BR>Go for it!

THANKS TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<BR><BR>We are going to plan it and use the board for advice. You guys and gals are great! Please, if you would not find, look at my new post seeking advice on the details of the route.<BR><BR>THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have my rough itinerary posted in a new thread called &quot;Help with Europe intinerary&quot; Please check it out, I would appreciate everyones thoughts.

Find a new travel agent!!! I have almost as much fun doing the research before the trip. The internet has made it a snap so do it yourself and have a great trip!