Help with itinerary
 

My husband and I are planning a first time trip to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Prague. We can spend about 2 weeks. I have read the tour guides and need some suggestions to help hone this trip. Is it too much to cover in this time period? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

Hi Sailorgirl, welcome to Fodors, what do you like to do, intrests, hobbies, what would you like to see, do, participate in?

In terms of the trip, we have no real idea, Germany is enormous and after visiting it for some 3 months I guess I've seen about half of the best bits. Please let us know what your plan is now and we can kick it about a bit.

Hi Bilboburgler! Thanks for responding! We like to do things - more experienced based than sitting and watching. We want to take in major sights, but also want to experience the culture. We don't like wasting time shopping and after reading the travel guides, we are drawn to the scenery of Oberland Interlaken, the Black Forest, the Matterhorn, Vienna, Salzburg and the Prague. Are we trying to take on too much in a short time?

> we are drawn to the scenery of Oberland Interlaken, the Black Forest, the Matterhorn, Vienna, Salzburg and the Prague. Are we trying to take on too much in a short time? ... We can spend about 2 weeks

Just one opinion, but IMO, yes, that is too much for 2 weeks. To see just the major sites, I would guess you would be well advised to plan on visiting at most 4 of these 6 destinations. You might be able to squeeze in a 5th, depending on your specific interests and travel preferences, but I'm not at all sure that doing so would work without detracting from your trip.

As a basic rule, assume that you'll "lose" about 1/2 day each time you change locations -- that's time for checking in/out, getting to/from the transportation center, time waiting for your departure, time spent getting re-oriented to the location and its language, time to get lost, etc. And if you are coming from the US, you should also plan to lose some time to jet lag.

I'm not convinced that you can "experience the culture" in brief visits to any of these locations, but perhaps you mean something different than what I think that means.

If you are willing to pare your destination list, you should be able to have a wonderful trip. And good guidebooks should go a long way to helping you do that.

Hope that helps!

Ok, there is looking at the top of mountains, and there is experiencing the culture. ( I think you need to do these in different places). I doubt if the Black forest will do much of either for you, I'd drop by a wine growing district and take part in a wine festival. The german tourist web site has a list. The least time I'd allow for you sites are

Oberland Interlaken, 1 day
the Black Forest, 0 days
the Matterhorn, 1/2 a day unless you are climbing it
Vienna, 4 days
Salzburg 2 days unless festival is on
and the Prague 4 days

For me you are not seeing much of the countries you are going to and I'd drop much of these and look at some of the nicer places in your target countries. So I could see a nice 2 week holiday in Prague and Vienna with a couple (or 4) of day trips out to spas, the danube, the lake at the east end of Austria etc. That has far less travel and a better use of time. It is worth visiting villages and just chilling out in Austria's special farmer's inns.

I am still honing this itinerary after discussions with my husband and some friends. Here is what I have:

Prague
Munich
Salzberg
Fussen - Neuschwantstein
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Oberland
Lucerne

Now I need to figure out the best way to get from place to place. Drive? Train? (I still think I have at least one-too-many destinations, but I have to put it on paper. Can anyone help with the logistics? Thank you in advance!!!

Did someone say "logistics"?

The most direct routing would be Prague - Rothenburg - Salzburg - Munich - Fussen - Berner Oberland - Lucerne with an open jaw into Prague and out of Lucerne. That kind of flight arrangement is probably not going to be easy (connections) or cheap to arrange.

Really, you can't get into logistics and efficiency options until you endpoints are known. Are you that far in the planning yet?

ttt

I'm listening to your comments, and really do appreciate your input. After plotting out a map today, I have decided to fly into Prague, then train to Salzburg, train to Munich, train to Luzern, go to Berner Oberland and then fly home from Zurich. I have deleted Rothenburg from my plans and will save it for my next trip. I think it makes sense to rent a car in Munich for some side trips, although I have read that Neuschwanstein might be easier to reach by train or bus. Likewise in Switzerland.

Does my plan make sense or does anyone see something I should change? Also, what does ttt mean?

Thanks again!

In the Berner Oberland and in Switzerland in general a Swiss Pass can be cost-effective and utilitarian even with just a few days there - covering trains from Swiss border and right to the Zurich airport - in Jungfrau Region covers in full travel to places like Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, perpetual favorite Alpine villages with awesome views of the majestic ice-and-snow girdled peaks and also valid on lake boats on Lake Lucerne and the two lakes bookending Interlaken - riding a boat on Lake Lucerne is tremendous - like going to Vitznau by boat and taking the train up to famous Mt Rigi or boat to Alpnahcstad and take a thrilling mountain train up Mt Pilatus, etc.

For lots of great info on Swiss trains and passes, etc check out these fine fine sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Passes also give free etnry to 400+ Swiss museums and sites, including some in Lucerne you may go to.

If I were you I would pick up a car when you leave Prague, then drive to Munich (more than an hour closer than Salzburg), then visit Austria and drop the car when you get to Switz. the train is a better choice there for financial reason - since the pass covers more than trains - also fares or reductions for lake steamers or mountain ascensions by cog railway or cable care.

(I would actually do car the whole trip - but then we love driving and I am allergic to train schedules. Our vacation time is limited - it's bad enough I have to deal with plane schedules, I don;t want to do trains too.)