Need help planning
 

Hello,
My husband and I are planning on going to Europe in July for his 70th birthday. We're going to bite the bullet and "Just Do IT" I have swapped our time share and the only available lodging for a week is near Salzburg Austria. Our plane however arrives in Munich Germany on the 24th. We don't check into our resort until the 28th . Would like to spend the day and night of the 24th in Munich, (I have made accomodations at a local hotel) Get up early the next day and board a train to Luzerne. We have reservations for a dinner show in lucerne the night of the 26th. We would need to find lodging in Lucern for the night of the 26th. Would like to go to Mt. Piletus (sp)on the 27th. We would need to return by train to Salzburg the morning of the 28th and check into our resort. Remain in Salzburg for 3 days and then go on the 30-31 to Vienna. Stay in Vienna a day or so and head back by train to Salzburg on the 3rd. From Salzburg, back to Munich to catch our plane by the morning of the 4th of August. Does anyone have any suggestions on this itenarary? We are fairly flexible except the night of the 26th in Lucern. What rail passses to purchase, etc? This is our only chance of going to Europe and the Munich tickets are a gift. (Unable to get a resort in Munich and the Salzburg area is the closest) Our son is in Iraq right now and there may be a chance we can meet up with him too! We would love any suggestions to help us! Have a blessed week!

My first suggestion would be to re-post with a title that more clearly indicates what help you are needing -- be specific in the title.

Hi Deb;

With Lucerne as the only unmovable date
this gets interesting. I think the best train connections to Lucerne make the journey in 6.5 hours.

Thats a long way to go for one night and might make doing anything else that takes a couple of hours seem daunting on such a short trip.

It's even longer getting back to Salzburg.

Salzburg - Vienna is 3 hours each way, too.

If Lucerne is a must (it would easily be the thing I would drop because of its positioning) then I I would suggest staying somewhere closer to Salzburg than Vienna - like Innsbruck, or Garmisch

You really are moving around a lot for only 10 days in the area - and for very short stay, with back-tracking. These are not things that most experiences European travelers will recommend.

Any chance you can get rooms at the "Edelweiss" resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen since your son is in the military? Meet him there?
http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/home.html

Yes, we have decided after learning how far Lucerne is from Salsburg to drop this destination. However, now we are wondering if we could instead go from Munich to Prague, Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Salsburg, and return to Munich and fly home. Would not be backtracking this way.

Munich to Prague is about 6 6.5 hourss.

Prague to Vienna is 4 - 4.5

Vienna Salzburg 3 hours

Doable but still a little excessive.

There is lots to do around Salzburg and Vienna that could keep you busy for 10
days, but throwing in Prague if you keep stays in each city to about 3 days should work out.

A fine choice, too.

Luzern, Prague, etc. It's all a bit ambitious. You would spend a lot of time in trains.

Why not extend you stay in Munich and take a day trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze(when it's a a clear day and you can see the mountains). The two of you can do this on one Bayernkarte ticket for less than $25. Another day trip might be to Prien (although you will cover this train stretch later again as part of your trip to Salzburg), and take the boat to visit King Ludwig's palace on Herrenchiemsee island.

Although it will take you a bit longer, but could also visit Neuschwanstein (Fuessen)in one day from Munich, although I personally like Herrencheimsee better.

For schedules check www.bahn.de

Hi Deb,
>we are wondering if we could instead go from Munich to Prague, Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Salsburg, and return to Munich ..<

All in 11 nights?
Sure, but why?

You will lose at least 1/2 day each time you switch cities - that's 20% of your vacation.

Would you mind if I suggest keeping this simple?

Arrive in Munich and stay in Munich.
You can see the city, visit Dachau, Fuessen, Garmisch, etc.

Arrive in Salzburg. Stay in Salzburg.
See the city, visit Berchtesgaden and the Salzkammergut region (a car would be useful), Herrenchiemsee, drive the Alpenstrasse, etc.

Go back to Munich the night before your plane leaves.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))
If you cannot do this with a car, let me know.

Hi I notice from your other post that "We have a resort for part of the trip in a place called Bad Gastein".

It is 1:36 hr by train. 18E
See www.bahn.de

You can see your location at www.viamichelin.com

((I))

Thank you all for taking time to offer such great suggestions! I will look each one over carefully! Could someone offer a suggestion on which train ticket to purchase? Thanks so much!

Deb;

Try this - its the German Rail site;

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You can enter the city locations in English - it may prompt you to pick a particular station in the city - usually the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station)is the best choice unless you have more specific information on which station you might need.


There are so many options, virtually hourly, that it's hard to recommend one specific train that would be best in your situation.Usually that will be the one with 0 connections (direct, and almost always the fastest) or the fewest possible connections, that is leaving closest to when you want to go.

Here is an example for July 28 - a 6 hour 24 minute 1 connection train from Munich to Prague

Sa, 28.07.07
Sa, 28.07.07
dep 10:21 arr 16:45 6:24 1 ICE, RE, R
Advanced booking not available


You usually can't book European trains this far in advance and there is no need to. I am not usre of when the "window" for booking opens - perhaps others can advise.

Have fun.