Itinerary suggestions?
#1
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Join Date: May 2004
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Itinerary suggestions?
As part of a trip into Europe in early September (Frankfurt arrival with FF tickets) my wife and I would love to work our way into Italy, especially the Lake Como, Florence, and possibly Venice areas. Not sure the best way to travel, rental car, trains, Ryan Air. Since we are fluid and unencumbered with plans, we are open to suggestions regarding places to see, where to stay, that kind of thing. Would love to draw on the experiences of you seasoned travelers!
#2
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Two if's: (1)IF you rent a car, you should plan that you return it in the same COUNTRY (not necessarily city)where you had picked it up, otherwise the drop-off charges can be quite expensive. (2) IF you are interested in cities, train is the way to go, but for seeing some of the countyside between cities, car is the way ( but cars are a nuisance in places like Venice - where you have to garage it - and Florence.
Budget airlines are also an option. There are others than Ryanair. But they sometimes fly form inconvenient airports. For example, when Ryanair says they fly to Frankfurt, they are actually flying to a small airport in Hahn, quite a distance from Frankfurt Rhein-Main, where you will be arriving. So, check the arrival and departure airports on the map!
To plan your trip by train, go to www.bahn.de. This website of the German railroad is very good, even for schedules outside of Germany. If possible, enter the stations in their local spelling, and check the main stations (Hbf. in Germany), S.Lucia in Venezia, centrale in Florence.
Budget airlines are also an option. There are others than Ryanair. But they sometimes fly form inconvenient airports. For example, when Ryanair says they fly to Frankfurt, they are actually flying to a small airport in Hahn, quite a distance from Frankfurt Rhein-Main, where you will be arriving. So, check the arrival and departure airports on the map!
To plan your trip by train, go to www.bahn.de. This website of the German railroad is very good, even for schedules outside of Germany. If possible, enter the stations in their local spelling, and check the main stations (Hbf. in Germany), S.Lucia in Venezia, centrale in Florence.
#3
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So, why Frankfurt if you really want to see Italy. Where do you depart?
How much time do you have? How much after Germany? Are you open to a Venice or Milan departure?
We need much more to answer well.
How much time do you have? How much after Germany? Are you open to a Venice or Milan departure?
We need much more to answer well.
#4
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Thanks for the comments. We will be using Frequent Flyer tickets (trying to use them up before US Airways goes bankrupt again) and frankfurt is a direct flight and available. As is the Munich return (all the gateway cities we would have preferred were unavailable) We will be spending some time in Germany by choice but wanted to extend our reach into the lake como area and definitely Florence. The first idea is to spend some time in the Rhine river area and then get to Milan and up to Lake como or Florence. Not sure of the best way to make the travel between -- car, train...
#5
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Big difference between Como and Florence. Como can easily be included in nice loop itinerary to include Bavaria and departing from Munich. Florence is much further. I would drive this itinerary with pick up and drop in Germany. Do you have 12 nites or more in Europe?