I am traveling with my mother (whos is in her mid 50s) in early May... we are flying into Venice and out of Vienna (9 days).... I can't seem to find a viable route (between trains and planes)from Venice to Vienna.... we'd like to see another city in between and she isnt interested in Germany.... any ideas or suggestions or recommendations are welcome!!! and appreciated!

thanks!

Hi JT,

Check www.trenitalia.com

With only 9 days, I wouldn't recommend a third city.

You might want a daytrip to Verona or Padua from Venice or a daytrip to Melk from Vienna.

JT- I agree, I wouldn't add a third city. Does your 9 days include your flight over and back (so 7 nights in Europe then?) If that's the case, then perhaps you should do 3 nights in Venice and 3 nights in Venice and one night "on the way" to the other city, so you don't feel like you have wasted a day getting between the two cities.

nope 9 full days- 11 days trip.... we typically do 3 cities because we've been to venice before....

i chkd out trenitalia but its 8 hs to vienna.... i just assumed we could travel to trieste or another city "on the way" to vienna but that section of almost e europe doesnt seem to have the train infrastructure im used to in the more western cities...

What about Switzerland? Maybe the Lake Como/Lugano area?

im up for ideas.... i was now thinking venice- salzburg vienna.... or venice.. vienna with a day trip to bratislava.... i've spent some time in switz and its quite beautiful... have you been to bratislava? worth it? safe?

Bratislava is very nice but also very small. For me one day was plenty. Also quite safe

ok good to know about bratislava... im always hesitant when traveling with mom... shes very non fuss but i would never "endanger" her in any way.. .meanwhile i'm in my mid twenties and nothing phases me

thanks for the advice! keep it coming!!! my next thing is to find a reasonable hotel in a central part of vienna...

Hi JT- I found this link of travel to Bratislava. I have never been there myself, but it's very detailed, so you might want to check that out. At least it's a start!

http://www.bratislava.info/
http://www.bratislavahotels.com/brat...-prague-travel

How about going to Vienna via Slovenia?
It's a beautiful country between Italy and Austria. We were there in Sept. 05, arriving in the capital, Ljubljana via train from Venice. Nice city, small enough to see in one day.
Any route you take, it sounds like a fun trip!

Hi J,

We took the day train from Venice to Vienna in late April.

It is a very beautiful ride.

hrm slovenia huh.... how long would you estimate it takes from venice?

again my largest concern is safety and convinience w my mom.... ihad read mixed reviews on other sites re: slovenia... but fodors seems to always know more.

has anyone traveled in slovenia that can recommend hotels and sights?