Thanks everyone - this thread seems to have suddenly picked up life again!

Annhig - I totally understand where you are coming from. I had heard that Dresden was a lovely place to visit and most people mentioned the Green Vault. However, I found quite by accident (would you believe my Windows 7 Desktop background featuring Germany) that there is much to see and do around Bastei Bridge. See the following link:

http://tripideas.org/the-bastei-brid...re-in-germany/

Absolutely lovely! However, we are now committed to spending 2 nights - 3 days in Dresden.

Hi GregY2 - looking forward to reading your trip report.

Sorry guys, but we have now decided on spending the 2 nights in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

While I'm on that subject - I had a quick check of transport between Munich and RodT and could only find a train that required the following 2 changes:

1. Treuchtlingen (5 minute transfer) and
2. Steinach (4 minute transfer)

It's been a while since I was able to do the 100m in under 10 seconds, so can anyone tell me if this schedule is even doable? On a couple of test scenarios, the 4 minute transfer consisted of getting from Platform 2 to Platform 7. I trust they are small stations :-)

Regards, Steve

Treuchtlingen and Steinach are fairly small stations where changes are quick - at Steinach the shuttle train from Rothenburg terminates and IMe should be standing there when connecting trains arrive. I would not worry about either connection.

In Dresden I would with 3 days consider doing a trip to nearby Saxon Switzerland - one of the loveliest river valleys in all of Europe IMO - reddish sandstone cliffs topped by ancient forts, cute riverside towns - boats and trains running the length of it (incuding mainline from Prague)

Steve I see you mentioned the Bastei Bridge and I had not seen that or would have known that you were planning a day in Saxon Switzerland already. Sorry for mistake.

annhig said;

"if Dresden were only the restored "old town", snowflake, i might agree with you. but as you will see from what I've posted, it isn't."

Someone doesn't take too kindly to not being agreed with. Because, I mean, the things annhig posted that should be so convincing are;

"boat trips, bike rides by the Elbe, the Bastion, plus the sights of Dresden"

Don't worry snowflake - the rest of us understood your post.

Consider Bamberg - it is a neat town filled with half-timbered buildings and fabulous beer :-) I would substitute it for Rothenburg.

Also, I would spend more time in Amsterdam if possible - maybe take a night from Bruges.

Hi Palen - no problems,it's easy to miss a few words out of a number of posts. But, yes Saxon Switzerland, the town of Bastei and its Bridge are a must-see for us!

Hi november_moon, thanks for your suggestions re: Bamberg, we will research it.

Regarding Amsterdam, if you could read all of the post you will see I mentioned that we were in Amsterdam for 1 full week in April this year. We had a great time and we love Amsterdam. However, this time around, we are only visiting Amsterdam again because we need an outgoing international airport to get back to Oz. From Bruges our closest choices were either Paris or Amsterdam. We chose Amstersdam because we loved it so much. But, we do not need to stay any longer this trip.

Before a flight I often like to stay in a hotel right at Schiphol Airport or on its periphery - day trip into Amsterdam for the day and put up here at night - take shuttle bus to flight from any of several hotels that may well be not only better but cheaper than equivalent ones inside Amsterdam itself and with trains running to and from the airport and central station round the clock never a problem getting back.

www.accorhotels.com has several - I stay in the cheapest the ETAP, right next to the more upscale IBIS.

Ah, I missed that bit about the week in Amsterdam.

I echo november moon's high recommendation of Bamberg - I was completely blown away by the number of old buildings all lovingly bisected by roaring rivers.

Steve - one reason I love staying at a Schiphol hotel the night before my flight is that staying in Amsterdam often means a long commute to the airport - at least if going by public transit - schelpping bags and all to the main train station to get the airport train, etc. But at the airport just hop on the free shuttle bus and in minutes be at the terminal.

Hi PalenQ,

Sounds a great idea. I'm looking at accommodation in Amsterdam right now.

Another question I have: Whenever I search on day trips from, for example, GP or Berchtesgaden, they all seem to originate from big cities like Munich or Salzburg. We will be visiting those cities of course, but we need to know how to get to places like the Ludwig's castles from GP - not from Munich.

Is there a couple of sites you can recommend for doing these types of days tours? First preference would be to do them independently, but also would consider a local tour operator. Just obviously don't want to travel all the way from GP to Munich just to pick up a day trip.

Thanks, Steve.

http://www.germany-insider-facts.com...l#.UH8OBW_Afq0

RVO buses I believe is the company running many buses on routes you are interested in.

Thanks Palen. Again, the link you provided is superb. Just how many times HAVE you been to Germany/Austria/Switzerland?

You seem to have a wealth of knowledge in these areas.

Thanks again, Steve.

Just how many times HAVE you been to Germany/Austria/Switzerland?

Germany and Switzerland just about at least once a year since 1969 - Austria about every other year. Thankfully I was employed in the European travel industry in various ways and was paid to travel all over - could never have done it for leisure as I do now (and thus travel less!)

Thanks for your nice comments and as I love to say about folks traveling in Germanic speaking areas "Have a Gut Fahrt" - something I've seen on train station platforms and meaning something like "Have a good ride or journey" so have a good fahrt on your trip!

I can assure you, Palen, that I am very aware that a good Fahrt does wonders for the Gut! Whoops, I need to be aware that this is a public forum otherwise this line of humour could be endless. LOL.

Thanks again for all your help and amazing links!

"Gute Reise" [what a german is more likely to say] doesn't have the same ring, does it?

"Gute Reise" [what a german is more likely to say] - does not have the same RING for sure - but again the Gute Fahrt slogan I have seen on numerous train station walls - probably Gute Reise too though that is not so memorable.