KN2011

I am trying to work the best Itinerary to suit my (Rome) and my husbands (Any part of Germany) must see destinations. It is still in very early stages as the trip is in March next year, but i am having a great time planning.

Day 1 Flight to Frankfurt
Frankfurt (A few day trips planned in this area ie Heidelberg, Wurzburg)
Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Day 8 Frankfurt to Luxembourg
Lux
Lux
Lux
Day 12 Lux to Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris
Day 17 Paris to Milan (early morning)
Day 18 Milan to Venice (in the afternoon really want to see the Last Supper)
Venice
Venice
Venice
Day 22 Venice to Florence
Florence
Florence
Day 25 Florence to Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome
Rome

All suggestions welcome

Thanks

KN2011

Sorry i forgot to add that we will be doing travel by Train.

kfusto

Not sure what kind of suggestions you are looking for since you do not say but kudos on planning an itinerary that does not having you moving around at a feverish pace.

I personally much prefer Munich to Frankfurt so I would fly into Munich and spend those nights there and plan my daytrips from Munich.

Your itinerary has you staying in all cities and I personally enjoy the mix of city and countryside so that is something I would change.

You might check out cheap flights on whichbudget.com and avoid some of the longer train trips.

Paul1950

I wouldn't stay in Frankfurt itself. It's not particularly interesting as a destination--compared to other possibilities.

Do you have a particular reason for spending a full 3 days in Luxembourg. I only ask as it's the same amount of time that you allow for Venice, which seems a bit out of proportion. Unless you have something particular to do in Luxembourg that takes 3 days, I'd cut it to 2 days and add a day to Venice.

Are you flying from Paris to Milan? Ryanair does it pretty cheaply, and a lot faster than train. Provides another option: You could take the morning flight Paris to Milan; see the Last Supper that day; and head to Venice in late afternoon or early evening.

KN2011

Thanks you have given me a few things to think about.

I was concerned about the Paris to Milan trip and thought to break this up in Lausanne for a couple of days but i dont really want to move around evey couple of days (well anymore so than i already am). The flight idea sound perfect.

Another thought i have had from your replies is maybe breaking up Frankfurt to one or two days Frankfurt and then moving to Trier (which i understand is smaller) and seeing Luxembourg and taking a Rhine river cruise from their.

I allowed Luxembourg three day to see Vianden, Echternach and Lux city. i thought this would be a nice chance to do some hiking in country which we do like to do.

This will be our first trip so we can do almost anything i am just excited about Italy and my Husband is the same about
Germany so i am trying to achieve an itinerary that gets us from almost top to bottom without feeling like we are on a trek.

ira

Hi KN,

Why Frankfurt? Have you considered Munich.

Have you thought of substituting a stay in Alsace (Strasbourg, Nancy, Colmar + little towns) for Luxembourg?

Enjoy your visit.

thursdaysd

Lux doesn't seem to get much respect, but I really enjoyed my time there. Lux City deserves a full day, and the countryside is pretty, endowed with castles, and good for hiking. I agree that I can't think of good reasons to spend all that time in Frankfurt.

Palenque

Most folk would more enjoy basing in a smaller more romantic town than Frankfurt (Manhattan on the Main because of its skyscrapers, etc) - say in the Rhine or Mosel areas - Cochem is a somewhat small and cozy town on the gorgeous Mosel Valley - steep inclines covered with vineyards on both sides of the river and great rail connections - actually about an hour or less from Luxembourg - and great hiking abounds - like the few-mile stroll up thru the woods to Burg Eltz - one of Germany's most famous castles - great rail links to the Rhine Gorge, Cologne, etc.

Or base in a place like Heidelberg - one of the few German towns not decimated in WWII - another great base.

Anyway for your research on European trains these fine sites contain tons of great info: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com - they also cover railpasses and the only pass you would consider for your proposed itinerary would be a Eurail Selectpass good in Germany, Benelux, France and Italy.

KN2011

Hi Ira

You asked

*Why Frankfurt? Have you considered Munich.*
I haven't been before so when i was doing research i found that Frankfurt had the major airport (im flying from Australia) so i thought there was a good chance i would either fly in or out of there. I know that is terribly simplistic but it just made the most sense. I didn't intend to just be in Frankfurt that whole week, i thought that Frankfurt was a main train terminal and i could get to Heidelberg, Warzburg, Nuremberg and other towns quite easily.

Also
*Alsace (Strasbourg, Nancy, Colmar*
Havent heard of them yet but i will certainly have a look. To be honest i have not seen a place i haven't wanted to go yet. I did have an itinerary that included Munich and Salzburg and Vienna and Zurich and just about everywhere but i had to slap myself and get back to basics because we just wouldn't have enjoyed ourselves.

I like the idea of Luxembourg simply because it is small and not many people have it on there 'list' so Lux in between Germany and Paris seemed like a good idea.

Well most people agree that the week using Frankfurt as a base isn't appealing so i will re think it hmmmmm

Thanks

dfr4848

I'll add to the Munich chorus. It's a wonderful city and one of our favorites. Certainly prefer it over Frankfurt. Can also do some nice day trips like Ludwig's castles.

Might think about 2-3 days in Belgium (Brugge, Ghent) instead of all the time you have in Lux. Really nice respites from large cities and very enjoyable. Overnight(s) in Brugge allows you to really enjoy the town when the daytrippers
leave.

Alsace also a good idea.

I assume you're considering flying into FRA or MUC then out of FCO (?). We did that a couple of years ago and worked very nicely. Keeps you from backtraking and air fare was the same.

Really like that you've got time to enjoy the places you've chosen.

KN2011

Thanks Palenque

Very helpful Information and links

I like the sound of Cochem.

Appreciate all your suggestions, i will re think Frankfurt

KN2011

Thanks dfr4848

I am flying into Germany and out of Rome.

Munich has a fan base so i will look at it again, as i said at one stage i was going there and Prague and blah blah blah then i was lethal and chopped it all out.

Thanks for your response

dfr4848

KN - think we posted at the same time!

But I wanted to mention that if you find prices and schedules work best for you to FRA rather than MUC, you can take a mainline train directly from FRA (airport) to Munich rather than a connecting flight. At least it's better sightseeing than at 30,000ft. [If course, you decide not to spend time in Frankfurt - and there are some really nice towns nearby like Mainz]

KN2011

Well after 24 hours on a plane from AUS i think the train would be the way to go.

Looking at some info on Munich my trip will be six months long soon ha ha

Palenque

the rail system in the whole Frankfurt region is so great with such frequent trains that basing anywhere within the area would be just as convenient as a base than Frankfurt itself - places like Heidelberg may even be better actually depending on where you want to go.

I recently stayed for a week or so in Darmstadt, just south of Frankfurt and did day trips - i rarely went into Frankfurt to connect but say to Mannheim, a major rail junction, etc. (Both Darmstadt and Mannheim are not what most tourists will like however.)

tcreath

Sounds like the makings of a great trip!

I agree with the others on Frankfurt. We just fly there and then head out. The trains in Germany are great so no reason to stay in Frankfurt. And I second the suggestion of Cochem. We based ourselves there last year and loved it.

I really enjoyed Luxembourg, but its small so I don't think 3 days is really needed. We daytripped to Luxembourg city and a few smaller towns from Cochem. It was a long day but we had a great time. I would take at least a day off of Lux and add it to either Florence or Venice.

I absolutely love Rome so I'm glad you'll have sufficient time to spend there!

Happy planning!
Tracy

kfusto

Just a thought but there are direct trains from FRA to Heidelberg throughout the day and it is only an hour trip. Wurzburg is 1:25.

Both would be relaxing and wonderful cities in which to rest up from travel and begin your trip.

Mainhattengirl

See, no one ever stays here long enough to explore it and find out all the wonderful things that Frankfurt offers. Every time someone says they are staying here, a chorus of posts come in about how they shouldn't stay here. Sad really. Every time I pick up a guide book or look on a travel website, I am amazed at the incorrect and lack of information that is written about this city.

Frankfurt is truly a vibrant, fun city with a very long and rich history behind it. There is a common belief that the whole city was wiped off the map and nothing of interest was left here. So untrue. Granted, the direct city center burned down pretty badly, but the rest of the city is filled with beautiful turn of the century buildings. We have 800 year old churches, a gorgeous Opera House, daily markets in all of the neighborhoods, a lively cafe and pub scene, over 48 parks, dozens of museums, and concerts, fests and cultural events going on constantly.

Frankfurt was home to Germanys' 2nd largest Jewish community, and there is so much history of this to see and explore. A visit to the Holocaust Memorial Wall that surrounds the 2nd oldest Jewish cemetery in Germany, is a must in my book, as is visiting both of the Jewish museums here. I'll tell you something, walking up to this wall and seeing all of the names on it, is a very moving experience. Watching people find their relatives names on it, relatives who have no gravestone because they were dumped in some mass grave somewhere or cremated or just plain disappeared, this becomes a spot for them to grieve. This is a city who gave these people back their names and thus is helping to keep their memory alive.

Staying here does make it very easy to visit other towns, like Heidelberg, Würzburg, Seligenstadt, Mainz, Bad Homburg, Büdingen, Königstein, or Wiesbaden to name just a few. Not having to pack up your bags and move every day saves time and money.

ira

Hi MN,

MH has done a great job of rooting for Frankfurt.

I forgot to mention that Strasbourg is only 2:15 hr from Paris on the TGVest - 22E PREMS fare.

Palenque

that said Frankfurt, though the multi-faceted vibrant city it is will not fulfill the romantic notion of Europe etched in our minds's eyes - Heidelberg and smaller Rhine or Cochem on the Mosel however will.

I have spent several days off and on in Frankfurt and yes it has a lot of interesting things - but old-world looks is not one of them and that's what most Americans at least are looking for in their first place to stay in Europe.

But if you like Manhattan then yes you will like Frankfurt over a Heidelberg, etc.