My sister and I have a 15 day Eurorail first-class ticket. I will meet her in Amsterdam on 7 Aug. We go to Bruges for 2 days and from there no plans. We want to eventually go to Austria (Hallstatt) and/or Prague via Germany, but nothing is concrete. If anyone has been on this route and has any recommendations regarding what route to enjoy based on personal experience (I've covered Rick Steve's, but trust this board based on past) please let me know. I'm open to suggestions. Our only limitation is she has to be back to catch a flight from Amsterdam 22 Aug. Hope to hear from you. You've been a great help in the past. Thanks.

Assuming you have a regular Eurailpass you are wasting your assets by hanging out in Bruges for two days. It's worth an afternoon, maybe a day.

I would go for maximum mileage from your pass. Head south to Paris, Orleans, Blois or Amboise, Beaune, Strassbourg, Heidelberg, Nürnberg or Dresden, Vienna, Graz, Tyrol, Venice, . . . well I guess we've run out of time.

Buy a copy of the <i>Thomas Cook European Timetable</i> if you can find a Thomas Cook Wagon Lits travel agency, as soon as you arrive.

I second the recommendation of getting a Coo Timetable...worth its weight in gold for schedule information all over Europe.

You might consider going to Prague via either berlin and Dresden or via Nurberg.

Have a great trip.

When we had our railpass a few years ago, we took Rick Steves advice of sleeping on the train so we could enjoy the days at our destinations. In theory, it's good advice - but it's also exhausting. Allow yourself a few days in smaller towns for some down time...

Have you thought about the Rhine/Mosel River areas? I actually drove through this area of Germany, but the trains run right along the Rhine River. There are great castles to explore and wines to taste.

I wonder if it is too late to get your money back for this high-priced rail pass - - FIVE HUNDRED and EIGHTY-EIGHT dollars! per person! That's a lot of money. You can cover the ground you want to see for less than half of that, most likely.

Starting from Amsterdam, you could fly smartwings.net AMS-PRG for as little as 48.95 euro (taxes brings ito to 73) - - and then make your way back instead of traveling by ground (train, presumably) both directions.

Bruges is not &quot;on your way&quot; to CR/A/D - - but it's a pleasant enough place to get acclimated to Europe timezone, etc. It's a footnote to your travel plans from a transportation planning standpoint.

Since you are likely to spend a solid week of this 15 days IN Germany, I would think that you would benefit from at least a one week car rental - - you're 21 (or older?) - - I know there are enlsittes in the Army under age 21; not as sure what are the requirements to enter the Air Force.

How long are you in England? I trust you know that there are lots of very cheap flights to and from many parts of Europe on Ryanair or Easyjet, etc. See www.whichbudget.com if you aren't already familiar with it.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi diane,

I also think that you might want to get your money back.

Is your pass good for travel to Prague?

Try entering a proposed itinerary at www.railsaver.com to see if it actually saves money.

Furthermore, two people travelling together should have a discounted flexi-pass,, not two single passes.

Hi Diane,

You did OK. Fifteen days of unplanned, carefree transportation for less than $40 a day is a good deal. (Given your timetable, maybe ten days would have been enough, though.)

I would head for Paris, then

south to Lausanne/Montreux, then

follow the Alps east to Vienna via Lucerne,

loop through Chur up and over to Tirano and Como/Lugano,

back north through Locarno/Centovalle to Zurich, then

east to Austria, and then on to Prague (where your pass may not be valid).