Germany or Italy this October?
Sep 14th, 2010, 07:47 AM
#21
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We are going to Germany in October - a 5 year anniversary trip for us. We will land in Munich, head to Salzburg, and then drive around Bavaria and all it's sights before returning back to Munich for a couple of nights. We will also be driving on our own. Our trip is a total of 10 nights, not counting the flight over. We are VERY excited, as this is our first time to Europe as well. We do plan to go to Italy for our next trip to Europe. We just felt that 10 days wouldn't be enough for what we would like to see in Italy (yes, I know we can make more than one trip to Italy, but would still like more than 10 days our first time there). I'm sure you will be more than happy with either choice. Congrats on your anniversary! 
Sep 14th, 2010, 08:16 AM
#22
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Fly into Venice and out of Pisa. Venice is wonderfully romantic and the best place to celebrate an anniversary. (Search the forum for JillDavis's recent trip report on Venice.)
After a few days in Venice, take a train to Florence. You can stay there and do some daytrips into Tuscany. Or rent a car and stay in a small Tuscan village.
Pisa's airport is an easy train ride from Florence.
Don't try to do too much. Just enjoy Italy and your time alone together.
After a few days in Venice, take a train to Florence. You can stay there and do some daytrips into Tuscany. Or rent a car and stay in a small Tuscan village.
Pisa's airport is an easy train ride from Florence.
Don't try to do too much. Just enjoy Italy and your time alone together.
Sep 14th, 2010, 08:17 AM
#23
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If it were my trip, I would choose a well-reviewed country hotel in Umbria or Tuscany, book for one week, and make short driving trips from there.
With the rest of the days, you could end up in or just outside your departure city, probably Rome but perhaps Florence. Again, you could choose a property just outside the city but with easy access to both the city and the airport. We can give you ideas on this later..
I really do not like to drive in Europe but the driving in Tuscany is a snap:
My sister spent a week here last year and just raved about it; her goals sounded similar to yours. it is just one example of the many, many properties that you could choose:
http://www.lasaracina.it/home.en.php
Or you could base in a town so you do not have to drive for meals....
Agree that the TA sounds like a novice.
Actually, if it were really my trip, I would probably just choose one of the options that Franco proposed above, as he really knows the country in depth..
With the rest of the days, you could end up in or just outside your departure city, probably Rome but perhaps Florence. Again, you could choose a property just outside the city but with easy access to both the city and the airport. We can give you ideas on this later..
I really do not like to drive in Europe but the driving in Tuscany is a snap:
My sister spent a week here last year and just raved about it; her goals sounded similar to yours. it is just one example of the many, many properties that you could choose:
http://www.lasaracina.it/home.en.php
Or you could base in a town so you do not have to drive for meals....
Agree that the TA sounds like a novice.
Actually, if it were really my trip, I would probably just choose one of the options that Franco proposed above, as he really knows the country in depth..
Sep 14th, 2010, 08:18 AM
#24
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While Italy is my all time favorite country to visit (over 20 trips so far, most in fall and winter), Germany and Austria are a close second. They also score higher in excellent public transport (clean, on time, and extensive) and in overall value.
We can spend two weeks in Germany and Austria for half of what we spend in Italy. This has an impact on where we travel as well as the fact that we rely on public transport and will likely continue to do so.
We are headed to Germany and Austria for the 6th time this November and will be there 16 nights. Unlike Franco, we have no issue with the weather as we live in the south and have quite enough of the heat here at home. October IMO is lovely there.
You have already been given some excellent suggestions for Italy.
In Germany, our favorite city is Berlin - it is one of our all time favorite European cities actually with so very much to see and do. And a great value as well. I could easily spend a week there, with a side trip (or 2 nights) in Dresden.
Or fly into Munich, head directly to Salzburg and spend 4-5 nights enjoying this beautiful small city as well as the stunning countryside. The head to Munich and base there for the remainder of the trip. Munich is a great city and an excellent base for day trips as well.
I agree that 10 days is too short for Italy - however, it would a perfect intro to the delights of Germany and Austria.
You could also read up on Vienna and perhaps do Vienna and Salzburg but I personally prefer Berlin and Munich.
We can spend two weeks in Germany and Austria for half of what we spend in Italy. This has an impact on where we travel as well as the fact that we rely on public transport and will likely continue to do so.
We are headed to Germany and Austria for the 6th time this November and will be there 16 nights. Unlike Franco, we have no issue with the weather as we live in the south and have quite enough of the heat here at home. October IMO is lovely there.
You have already been given some excellent suggestions for Italy.
In Germany, our favorite city is Berlin - it is one of our all time favorite European cities actually with so very much to see and do. And a great value as well. I could easily spend a week there, with a side trip (or 2 nights) in Dresden.
Or fly into Munich, head directly to Salzburg and spend 4-5 nights enjoying this beautiful small city as well as the stunning countryside. The head to Munich and base there for the remainder of the trip. Munich is a great city and an excellent base for day trips as well.
I agree that 10 days is too short for Italy - however, it would a perfect intro to the delights of Germany and Austria.
You could also read up on Vienna and perhaps do Vienna and Salzburg but I personally prefer Berlin and Munich.
Sep 14th, 2010, 09:20 AM
#25
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kfusto, weather aside, I totally agree that such a trip would be nice (I'd do in July, though) - I just have to object to the notion that 10 days is too short for Italy. ANY given time is too short for Italy. In order to do Rome alone justice, you'd need one year of continuous sightseeing. For all of Italy, how much? Three years? Four? Any trip can just cover a teeny bit of Italy. So it's pretty negligible where and with how much time you start. You'll have to come back again and again and again and again, anyway.
Sep 14th, 2010, 06:51 PM
#26
Hi PCMom,
I'll give you my suggestions for Bavaria/Austria with 10 days. First, October is our favorite month to travel to these areas. We've done a number of early to late October trips to Bavaria/Austria. Second, driving is pretty easy. I find it more "civilzed" than here in the NYC area. My plan would look like this:
Fly to Munich.
3 nights in the Berchtesgaden area. This is a beautiful area with great alpine scenery.
From here see Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Konigsee, maybe take the Jennerbahn (cable car), Bad Reichenhall, Eagles nest, etc.
3 nights in Mittenwald, Germany. Mittenwald is the "quintessential Bavarian village" surrounded by alps.
From here take the Karwendelbahn (cable car), visit Ettal Monestary, "Mad" King Ludwig's Linderhof Palace, Oberammergau, Visit Garmich and maybe ride the luge in Garmisch and maybe take the Zugspitze (Germany's highest mountain) trip.
3 nights in Fuessen, Germany. We love Fuessen with it's charming old town pedestrian zone.
From here visit Ludwig's Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles plus a mile or so away there's the Tegelbergbahn (cable car) and luge ride. Visit nearby Wieskirche. You could also drive into Austria (border is very close) and take the Zugspitze trip from the Austrian side, as the Zugspitze stradles the border of Germany and Austria.
On the way back to the Minuch area, make a stop at Andech's Monestary.
Last night in either Erding or Freising near Munich airport.
Another plan would be:
Fly to Frankfurt (out of Munich)
4 nights the Rhine/Mosel. We prefer the Mosel.
2 nights in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
3 nights Berchtesgaden area or Fuessen or Mittenwald.
Last night in either Erding or Freising near Munich airport.
We have "trip reports" that you may find interesting at:
Look at days 1,2,3 and 9,10,11,12 for this report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-austria.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ith-photos.cfm
Our photo's are at:
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html
Just some opinions and I hope this helps.
Paul
I'll give you my suggestions for Bavaria/Austria with 10 days. First, October is our favorite month to travel to these areas. We've done a number of early to late October trips to Bavaria/Austria. Second, driving is pretty easy. I find it more "civilzed" than here in the NYC area. My plan would look like this:
Fly to Munich.
3 nights in the Berchtesgaden area. This is a beautiful area with great alpine scenery.
From here see Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Konigsee, maybe take the Jennerbahn (cable car), Bad Reichenhall, Eagles nest, etc.
3 nights in Mittenwald, Germany. Mittenwald is the "quintessential Bavarian village" surrounded by alps.
From here take the Karwendelbahn (cable car), visit Ettal Monestary, "Mad" King Ludwig's Linderhof Palace, Oberammergau, Visit Garmich and maybe ride the luge in Garmisch and maybe take the Zugspitze (Germany's highest mountain) trip.
3 nights in Fuessen, Germany. We love Fuessen with it's charming old town pedestrian zone.
From here visit Ludwig's Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles plus a mile or so away there's the Tegelbergbahn (cable car) and luge ride. Visit nearby Wieskirche. You could also drive into Austria (border is very close) and take the Zugspitze trip from the Austrian side, as the Zugspitze stradles the border of Germany and Austria.
On the way back to the Minuch area, make a stop at Andech's Monestary.
Last night in either Erding or Freising near Munich airport.
Another plan would be:
Fly to Frankfurt (out of Munich)
4 nights the Rhine/Mosel. We prefer the Mosel.
2 nights in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
3 nights Berchtesgaden area or Fuessen or Mittenwald.
Last night in either Erding or Freising near Munich airport.
We have "trip reports" that you may find interesting at:
Look at days 1,2,3 and 9,10,11,12 for this report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-austria.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ith-photos.cfm
Our photo's are at:
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html
Just some opinions and I hope this helps.
Paul
Aug 29th, 2013, 08:58 AM
#27
Join Date: Aug 2013
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If its you and your husband I would suggest the Romantic Road in Germany. There are so many intimate little villages and towns and castles. Besides, in October, it will be so beautiful. Italy is beautiful, but those cities are so expensive and packed full of tourists. I would suggest starting in Baveria. South in Fussen, its right in the beginning of the Alps. I was just looking to book a trip there for October also and found some really great hotels. Hotel Sonne or Hotel Fantasia (the name is funny) but its pretty inexpensive and a cute. You could start there and see the Castles http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/ (its basically what the Disney Castle was modeled after) I would spend a day or two exploring the city and eating all the typical German Foods. Great breakfasts in Germany. I would definitely get a rental car with GPS and then head north to Rothenburg. There are so many places you could book. If you like wine, anywhere you go you will find wine. Good wine. There are plenty of little old farm houses you can find up in the Black Forest that are so beautiful too. It just depends what kind of vacation you want. Like I said, Italy is amazing, but if you are looking at finding somewhere where you can spend your time that is relaxed and getting to know the culture, I would highly suggest Germany. Especially if the hubby has roots there. Also, October in Bavaria means Oktoberfest in Munich. So I would avoid flying into Munich because the prices will be sky high. Maybe fly into Stuttgart or Frankfurt and get a rental. There are so many options and if you have wheels you will be just fine. Black Forest, the Alps, The Romantic Road, Castles, (every city another castle) Oktoberfest (if your feeling feisty) just so much to do and all accessible by car.
