Hi,<BR>I just tried to post this &amp; it didn't work, so forgive me if it somehow shows up twice. I am new to this forum, so just trying to figure out how to do this.<BR><BR>My question is regarding a trip to Europe that I am trying to plan for July or August of this year. It will be a surprise for my husband's 30th birthday. We enjoy history, art &amp; architecture, nature, hiking, good food, wine, and experiencing different cultures, cities and small country towns.<BR><BR>I have to use frequent flier miles, so my airport choices are Rome, Madrid, Munich, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels, and Paris. I have been to Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, and London.<BR><BR>On this trip, I would like to go to Venice and the surrounding areas and the Italian Lakes (not sure where yet). I have come up with 2 possible itineraries, and I wanted to get some opinions:<BR><BR>

continued (that's why it wasn't working, I guess)<BR>-------------------------------------<BR>1. fly into Rome (2 nights)<BR>2. stop somewhere between Rome and Venice (1 or 2 nights)<BR>3. Venice and surrounds (7 nights)<BR>4. Italian Lake (3 nights)<BR>5. Somewhere in Austria (3 nights)<BR>6. Southern Germany (3 nights)<BR>7. leave from Munich<BR><BR>Option #2:<BR>1. fly into Madrid (7 nights in Spain)<BR>2. fly Madrid to Venice (7 nights)<BR>3. Lakes (3 nights)<BR>4. On the way to Rome (1 night)<BR>5. Rome (2 nights)<BR>6. fly out of Rome<BR><BR>I guess another option could be to do Option #2, but to leave from Munich instead of Rome (although I really do love Rome - even though we have already been there).<BR><BR>I know that it is all a matter of personal preference, but I was hoping that I could get some help brainstorming because I can't talk to my husband about this &amp; he is usually the one who I bounce ideas off of.<BR><BR>Thanks for any input,<BR><BR>Ciao,<BR>Molly<BR>

Hi Molly,<BR><BR> I like your option No 2.<BR><BR> May I suggest stopping off for a few days in Florence between Venice and Rome? You can drive through the Tuscan countryside or take buses/trains to some of the smaller towns.<BR><BR> See www.trenitalia.com

Molly---You didn't say whether you will travel by car or train. Your interest in small towns makes me think you might be planning to go by car, because that's the best way to see them. IF you are going by car, I'd advise you to reverse the order of your first itinerary and fly into Munich, then out of Rome. Maybe it's also because I enjoy the Austrian and German Alps more than Spain. Anyway, here's what I'd do:<BR>-Fly into Munich, rent a car if that is your plan, and drive south toward Innsbruck. Stop in southern Germany at one of the smaller villages near Garmisch. Stay a couple of nights, visit Neuschwanstein castle and the other interesting sights in the area.<BR>-OR, for the first two nights, drive southeast toward Salzburg and stay in a neighboring village. Visit Konigsee, Salzburg, and other sights.<BR>-From Salzburg or Innsbruck, go south to the Dolomites, probably Cortina d'Ampezzo or a neighboring village. Stay there 2-3 days.<BR>-From the Dolomites, go south to Lake Garda for your lake experience. My favorite little town, not so touristy or costly as Riva but on the scenic north end, is Torbole. Stay there a few nights, and drive around the lake if you have a car. You could also go to any of the small villages along the lake, or all the way to Sirmione on the south end, for your stay there. While in the area, you could easily visit Verona, Vicenza, and Padua.<BR>-Head for Venice. If you are driving, either turn in your car (recommended) or park it at Piazzale Roma. I'd suggest maybe a day or two less in Venice, and a day or two more around Lake Garda and the neighboring cities.<BR>-Then head for Rome. If you did check in your car in Venice, take the train to a halfway point between Venice &amp; Rome. I'd suggest Florence or Lucca. Stay and enjoy that city a few days, then on to Rome for your final few days and departure.<BR><BR>Starting in Munich will mean you will have lower auto rental costs. You will still have a dropoff fee if you leave the car in Venice or Rome. Going by train, you can just about follow the same itinerary I just named, but a car would let you get out into the countryside, especially around the Dolomites and the lake area. You can email me if you want more specific suggestions on places to go. Good luck.

Molly,<BR><BR>Wayne's advice and itinerary is a great plan. We did that trip almost 15 years ago (Lake Garda into Germany, however) and every spot he has suggested are beautiful spots. You won't be sorry. We stayed at the southern end of Lake Garda and loved the hotel and town. We are planning a trip to Bavaria again in August, also. We have been to Spain, but for the sites and beauty, I would stick with Germany. It sounds like a great trip. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the quick and informative replies. It gives me lots to think about &amp; research.<BR><BR>I prefer to rent a car, but I am going to look into car and train options just to make sure. I enjoy the flexibility of a car &amp; the ability to go off the beaten path. We rented a car for a week in Tuscany once, and it was probably my favorite trip ever.<BR><BR>I didn't realize that it would be cheaper to rent the car in Germany &amp; return it in Italy - thanks for the info Wayne.<BR><BR>What I am imagining in my mind for this trip is something fun, yet relaxing also. With beautiful natural scenery and also some &quot;touristy&quot; types of sightseeing. Italian food and wine is also an important component<BR><BR>Thanks again!<BR>Molly

Personally, I think it is too much hopping around. All that packing and unpacking. We spent 18 days in just Italy and didn't even scratch the surface. Don't forget that the travel in between places is going to chew up a lot of time, especially when airports are thrown in there. I would fly into Rome and do 3 nights (allowing 1 night just to get over the jet lag before packing up and moving again). I would train it to Florence for another 3 nights, Venice 2 nights, Lakes for 3 nights and then fly from Milan to Barcelona or Madrid. Spend the rest of the trip in one or two places in Spain.

In July and August, I'd stay north as much as possible.

Hi again~<BR>I think I am becoming obsessed with thinking about this trip! Thanks to everyone for the replies to my question. <BR><BR>I am still unsure about what to do because I think all of the ideas sound great.<BR><BR>I tried to find a way to get some ideas from my husband without giving away the surprise...started a hypothetical travel conversation. I know that he really wants to go to Venice, and he also mentioned Spain and the Amalfi Coast. His favorite place that we have been are the hilltowns of Tuscany. He mentioned that he would love to go to the white villages (he called them hilltowns) of Spain.<BR><BR>(continued)

Hmmmmm....<BR><BR>So, one thought would be to:<BR>- start in Rome, rent a car &amp; drive through Tuscany (or Umbria?)<BR><BR>-to Northern Italy. Do one of the Lakes, Verona, maybe some other places &amp; end up in Venice. <BR><BR>- Then we could fly from Venice to somewhere in Spain (Any ideas for airline websites where I could find out who flies from Venice to various places in Spain?)<BR><BR>- end in Madrid &amp; fly home from there<BR><BR>I know this is rather vague, but I am still trying to sort this all out in my head. <BR><BR>We can probably travel for about 2.5 - 3 weeks total. I would like to keep the trip as inexpensive as possible - I don't mind staying in 1 star places, but I need an ensuite bathroom!<BR><BR>Thanks again for helping me to brainstorm!<BR><BR>Molly

Any more ideas?

I'd still stay north. I would start in Venice and work my way north to the Mosel River, then leave out of Frankfurt, Brussels or Amsterdam.<BR><BR>Venice--5 nights<BR>Lakes/Mtns-3 nights<BR>Somewhere in Austria--2 nights<BR>Romantic Road/Munich--6 nights<BR>Rhein/Mosel--4 nights<BR><BR>You could substitute a various other cities depending on your interests, and you'd have a better chance of not getting heatstroke.<BR>

Hi Rufus,<BR>Thanks for the advice. I am considering the weather aspect of the trip. We have been to the Rhine and Mosel areas in July, and the weather was very nice. Have also been to Rome in the summer, and suffered through the heat, but enjoyed it immensely!<BR><BR>I am going to go to the library and read some of the travel books to try to get more ideas.<BR><BR>Thanks!

Since you've already been to the Rhein/Mosel, check out Franconia if you haven't been yet--Bamberg, Coburg, over to Wuerzburg, and down to Nurnberg, etc.

Hi~<BR>I haven't been to all of those places, so I can't comment on the whole itinerary, but if I had to chose, I would go to Spain (have been dying to go there!).<BR><BR>If you do go from Rome to Tuscany, you should stop in Orvieto, if you have not been there before. It is a gorgeous town! I remember the wine being very good - actually, it was great everywhere it Italy! And we ate some wonderful foods there with truffles, which taste amazing!<BR><BR>Have a great trip!

Thanks for all of the replies. I am still trying to figure this all out &amp; also waiting for some FF miles to post so that I can book the tickets.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks