Is this Europe visit wise?
 

Hello,
A little help please,
We are early in our planning stage, but want to make transportation and hotel reservations in the next two weeks.
Six of us are planning a 17 day run through Europe. The three of us guys grew up together, now at 48, we are taking our gals with us. Is this wise, should we adjust this plan? We will be leaving June 14th, US to Amsterdam for the first 4 nights.
Then the train to Munich, (ero, 8 day,5 country pass?)but would like to stop somewhere along the Rhine for a day trip, then back on the train to finish the day in our Munich hotel. Is this viable, if so, where can we jump off the train for a few hours, lock up bags, and still get to Munich that night?
3 nights in Munich, then on the train through Switzerland, to Venice. Would this leg be all day on the train, or could a brief stop be made somewhere and then back on the train again. Too much to try a stop?
4 nights in Venice, then a Ryanair flight to Dublin, rent a van and drive to a smaller town for a couple nights, then back to Dublin for our last 3 nights before our return flight to US, non stop from Dublin to LA.
Any suggestions of best day trip spots (car or train) on this route, what may be a better idea, etc.
We want to still be friends when it's over!

If you wanted to visit the western part of Ireland, you may want to fly Venice - Shannon rather than Venice - Dublin.

You could also check whichbudget.com to see if there are budget flights between the places you have mentioned.

I've only been to Dublin of the cities you plan to visit. I thought it was just okay, but I did go in January and had bad luck with a couple of things I'd like to see being closed. I enjoyed some of the Joyce stuff and Trinity.

For train times and schedules try www.bahn.de and www.trenitalia.it. Both have english links so you won't have to navigate in german and italian; and, both allow international journeys. So, you can check your trip from Amsterdam to Munich and then on to Venice. I don't believe that either website will show prices for June at this time, but you can search for an upcoming present date (like next week) to get an idea of prices and schedules.

I am planning to be in Cologne during April. Everything that I've read about it has been positive. Perhaps that would be a good place to stop (or plan a connection through) on your way to Munich.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip.

The Deutsche Bahn English site is at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Too many travel logistics--something will not work. Why spend all of that time in travel. I would fly into Munich and see Bavaria, the Dolomites, Salzburg, Venice, and Lake Como and then back to Munich via the Engadine valley. The other scenario with Ireland is another trip.

I agree partially with bobthenavigator. Save Ireland for another trip and fly open jaws into Amsterdam and fly out of Munich. The Rhine and the Mosel river are nice places to spend a some time.
How many of the 6 people have been to Europe before?
How many of the 6 have traveled together before?

If you still want to be friends when it's over then agree right now not to be joined at the hip.
Have lots of serious planning discussions about what you plan to do and see and where you can split up and meet again if others don't want to follow.
One of the big advantages of traveling in a group is that each person can become knowledgeable about a particular area or site. My husband and I have traveled with two other people and we did this and it was interesting. Of course, we also planned time apart from the other two and that worked really well.
Questions you should be asking:
What time does everyone want to meet in the morning on travel days?
What happens if one couple falls in love with an area and decides to stay a little longer?
You'll be surprised how long it can take some people to be ready in the morning.
Can you agree to just meet up in a city later?
What's your budget?
For hotels?
Cars?
I would want to gauge how well each couple get along with their mate. Nothing worse than a bickering couple.
Have a great trip.

Out of the box -- skip Ireland for a two week hit.

Next, look at a map. The train from Munich to Venice goes through Austria, not Switzerland.

Many Fodorites love Venice. To me it is a grossly overpriced tourist trap. You can pay $5 for a half cup of coffee if you wish while looking at tourists from around the world who are looking at you and taking YOUR picture.

IIWY with 17 days I would do 5 days in Amsterdam and include a trip over to Haarlem where I have lived. Then rail southeast to Düesseldorf or Köln for a couple of days. Have fun in the Old Towns. Then go southwest toward Paris for about 5 days through Brussels. Scoot back up to Amsterdam and fly home with regrets that you didn't get a leave of absence so you could have spent 37 days instead of 17, and have had time to do all that you dreamed of.

Why would anyone bother to look at the other tourists in Venice (or anywhere else for that matter) with all the wonderful architecture, art, museums, churches, etc. in this most unique of world treasures? Of course watching other tourists can be interesting while eating lunch or resting--but in Venice you actually want to walk a few blocks away from "Daytrippers' Alley" where the mass of the daytripping herd congregates each day, and enjoy the less crowded parts of Venice--where coffee doesn't cost $5 for a half cup.

Reminds me of someone who said she didn't like Rome because the gutters were dirty. Why was she looking down at the gutters with all of the fabulous things to see all around the city?

I think that you are going along the right lines, but agree that you are trying to fit in too many destinations. Remember that every time you move, you are effectively losing a day. Add that to the day you will lose through jet-lag, and you have really cut down your time.

i like the "into amsterdam, out of Venice" idea - IMO no better place to end your trip - your "gals" will love it. Try looking at the train routes between these two destinations and see where you can break your journey. munich seems fine to me, or what about Paris?

Three stops max would be best, i think

Regards

Ann

As the others say - you don't have time for all of that. Skip Ireland (Ireland is fabulous but is simply does not work w/ this itinerary)

Open jaw flights A'dam and Venice (either direction) will make your trip doable.

I'll be the contrarian, and say that your plan seems reasonably sound, and I think you will have a great time. There might be some tensions, somewhere along the way, but I don't think you should fear this being anything but a blast for the six of you.

Taking the train from Munich to Vnice would be best routed via Innsbruck, Bolzano, Trento and Verona, changing trains in Verona. I would recommend Bolzano or Trento as your stopover. Neither is in Austria, but Bolzano in particular has a very Alpine/Tyrolean character.

Best wishes,

Rex

"Six of us are planning a 17 day run through Europe. The three of us guys grew up together, now at 48, we are taking our gals with us. Is this wise?

Good lord, fella. What are you thinking? If you have the option, then heck yes, ditch those gals right quick. Go alone and be wild and free!

Agree on several points made above - as experienced when traveling with my brother and sister-in-law (whom we both knew very well - and accept pur differences).

Simplify the itinerary - this will end up like the Bataan death march for at least some of the group

Agree to disagree up front (people will want to see different things and eat in different places - in different combinations) so there are no hard feelings. (Someone may want a bar, someone the opera and someone just to sleep at 10pm)

Talk money now - first how much each couple is really willing to spend (hard dollar number), then how the finances will be handled (each couple must buy own tickets and pay own hotel bills - even if one person makes all resies)

As for meals - if you're eaten out enough together to know you're compatible fine - if not, figure out now if you'll just split 4 ways or each couple keep a total of ther money to put in at the end (and thus requiring cash vs cc)

Make rules up front about no waiting (ie - anybody more than 10 minutes - or whatever - late at the meeting point has to find their own way back to the hotel or restaurant)

Expected eating/sleeping hours (my SIL - though I adore her is a turtle - from waking up to leaving the room takes her at least 1 1/2 hours, meaning they had to get up earlier - or we all had to start later). So - rather than waste 45 minutes in the am and more in the pre-dinner shower we often started earlier - but this is more difficult on a trip with so many moves

Talk luggage beforehand - the people traveling with one 22" rollie don;t want to know about the one with the 30" bodybag (my SIL again - can;t decide what to wear - so take everything)

This couold be a lot of fun - or a disaster - if you're not all superhonest and figure out the basics up front

In order to give you advice regarding how to simplify or modify this itinerary, we need to know what is already locked in. Assume from your post you already have flight to Amsterdam booked. Is return from Dublin booked, is Ryanair flight from Venice to Dublin booked?

Hi G,

>Six of us are planning a 17 day run through Europe....We want to still be friends when it's over!<

You will be much happier if you slow to a walk.

I also suggest Amstdm, Munich, Venice with open-jaw flights.

See www.kayak.com.
Don't bother with railpasses.
There are discount fares, eg, Amstdm/Munich is only 39E and Munich/Venezia San Lucia is only 29E.

You can get all of the stops along the way by clicking on "details".

Follow the route at www.viamichelin.com.

If you want to stop somewhere on the Rhine, buy a ticket from Amstdm to that stop and a ticket from there to Munich.

However, it is unlikely that you will get the reduced fare if you do that.

You can take a cruise on the Rhine from Amstdm.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

A 'run through Europe' is right. Two ideas: 1. Get your group together and talk over the plan and establish a budget. 2. Try a local weekend trip together using commercial transportation.

Two bulls are standing on a hill overlooking a pasture full of cows. The young bull says, "what say we run down and knock off a couple a' them cows?"

The old bull says, &quot;what say we <i>walk</i> and do 'em <i>all</i>?