Travel_To_Eat

To me it's the opposite. So many threads people start to get ideas about places they don't know because they don't know. Most people who respond just ask OP for what they want to do. Sometimes people don't know and are looking for ideas which is the point of such threads.

Last few years I mostly travel to Europe on points (business class) and sometimes I let the business class availability decide my destinations. Have had great trips every time and to some places that I was not aware of or not on top of my list. Never a regret.

Traveler_Nick

Usually you have a vague idea of your interests.

If you like art for example you might pick Madrid over Seville . You might pick Barcelona if you like Picasso.

Something you'll see is people going to Florence and then complaining they don't like art. Well it's too late after you've booked.

Travel_Nerd

Right. Exactly. There is a lot of "what should we do?" If one has no clue what to see...Why are they going if dont have at least some idea as to the "why" behind it? I realize some are overwhelmed, and maybe even this OP as well. And some cities come up a lot in itineraries such as Zurich and even Frankfurt. Recognizable names, but... not exactly the "better" of cities in both their respective countries in terms of landmarks. And had one read a bit before booking, they might have not even given them a second thought and instead decide Lucern or Munich is more their interest.

bilboburgler

we are certainly getting more two city or multiple city trips in very short times, almost like a game. Tik Tok perhaps?

Jean

If TikTok and Insta (and, sadly, The Amazing Race) are your only "exposures" to foreign destinations (as opposed to old-school travel guides, articles, etc.), your idea of visiting these places can be reduced to hitting a few iconic sights, taking selfies and moving on. People can travel (and spend their money) however they like, but the lack of research based on interests and logistics can be surprising... at least to me. I just value my travel time and budget differently.

Travel_Nerd

I mentioned something similar on another thread. And I have to wonder if people see a short reel on social media - which are often 90 seconds or less - and they think they can do it, too (that the trip was a whirlwind). Those reels do not explain the logistics behind the point to point, nor do they explain the research the social media person did behind it, if they did any.

And with more and more people using AI (and someone even said it was "efficient") for itinerary planning, I only think we're going to see more of posts like these.

And, so often they have made up their mind and post their itineraries accordingly. Feedback is sometimes seen as negative and critical rather than as it is intended, which is constructive. And I admit I wonder if they are truly seeking help or if it is for another reason (validation? confirmation?).Which I guess may make some sense - only project the positive on social media, why wouldn't that need to happen on a travel forum that existed well before MySpace be any different, too (not to mention that the guidebooks have been around for several decades).

I guess maybe now we say, "Your trip. You do you."

Christina

ok, I ski a lot and I would scratch that whole "ski for a day" thing out of the itinerary. First, if that is a big deal, that implies that you ski a lot at home and then just have to try Zermatt to say you've been there. If so, you can ski at home and it isn't worth the time/trouble and expense to do that for one day. I know the ski resorts in Australia aren't near Adelaide (Thredbo is the biggest, I think), but you can be doing a few days or week there easily as it's not a long drive from Canberra which is a short flight from Adelaide. Of course your seasons are reversed so you don't ski in our winter, but have you thought about all the ski gear you will have to pack just for this one day? I don't mean skis/boots/helmet as you can rent those, but actual clothing? I guess you can use a ski parka for a winter coat and base layer alway6s comes in handy, what about pants, but still. And the lift and ski equipment for the day will cost probably about 50-75 euro each (or 150 euro total maybe) per person.

I just don't think that would be worth it myself. If your kids don't actually ski at all and just think it would be cool to say they skied Zermatt for a day, I wouldn't do that, either. Because then you'd have no proper ski clothing. I'm kind of picky about that, maybe you aren't. I mean I have ski gloves I wouldn't wear walking around in Winter, and various masks/balaclava, etc. I would never wear my ski parks around as a regular jacket, and you do need special ski pants. And you can't ski without lessons.

Ski resorts are extremely expensive during the holidays, also. I don't know if you plan to stay in Zermatt for that one day trip or visit it from another location as a day trip. I didn't think that was possible, but really don't know. I know it is too far by train from Zurich or Geneva by train (3-4 hrs one way). Zermatt itself is car-free.

Green83

My family lived in Germany in the 1990s and recall perilous long drives through the Swiss Alps in the winter. We also spent a week in Zermatt, which was beautiful but isolating because cars aren’t allowed. Consider the challenge of driving the Alps in the winter when you map your route.

It appears that Paris, Lyon, Annecy, Chamonix, Strasbourg and Alsace villages, and the neighboring German villages are a possibility, especially at Christmas time.

happy_traveler_too

Since you’ve included many different countries on different continents perhaps you should think of boat/ferries as well. As others have said there really is no right or wrong way regarding traveling through Europe but I too would get a large paper map so you can have some sort of physical perspective of how it’ll look on paper. Pun intended. Good luck!

TravellingTofu

On the skiing front, I'd like to add that France really is the best destination for European skiing- it has some of the cheapest packages for ski lifts, the largest resorts, the cheapest resorts, the best snowfall, and the highest pistes.

happy_traveler_too

Not everybody who goes skiing in Europe does downhill. Many prefer cross country, or Nordic style skiing which, even though it’s more full body intensive, is less dangerous than downhill. I’d also disagree with the “France has the best European skiing”. That’s a broad and incorrect statement. Highest pistes? Not really. Zermatt/ Matterhorn is the highest and has the largest height differences overall. France does have a couple in the top ten but your statement is incorrect.

TravellingTofu

My statement isn't incorrect. France has the most ski resort in official european rankings, and the best snowfall in most Alpine resorts compared to the increasingly terrible ski conditions in the Pyrenees, and even Switzerland and Italy.