just1dayoutoflife

I have to agree on this one.

My suggestion would be to fly into Munich towards the end of the previous week, do Garmisch in the end of that week, and then spend a few days (whole days would be preferable) in Venice the beginning of the next week, flying out of Venice. That way, you get to be in Garmisch-Partenkirchen when you need to be, and there is no backtracking. Also, from what I've heard of Amsterdam, it isn't exactly the most lovely of cities to visit. You're only in Europe for 7 days, and if you are constantly moving, you will get home feeling as if your vacation was a blur. When i was young, my family would drive an itinerary much like yours from Los Angeles to Minneapolis. It would only take 2.5 days, but we never really visited or saw anything. Also, keep in mind you will be doing all of this with a suitcase rolling behind you. Not Fun. Also, you are pretty much just sleeping in Venice. Ogallala Nebraska is a good place to just spend the night, not Venice.

These guys are seasoned travelers talking above, they know what theyre talking about.

Regardless, enjoy your vacation. I would suggset you keep your itinerary the same if much of it is already set in stone, and if it gets too crazy, you can always stop and settle.

tcreath

Hi,

First of all, congratulations on planning your first trip to Europe! Beware...it can be addicting!

I'm not as seasoned of a European traveler as many people are on this board, but I thought I would give my comments and share my experience. My husband and I just returned from a week and a half trip to Vienna (with a day trip to Germany), Florence and Rome in March. We had originally planned a trip similar to yours (we cut out two other places that we were planning on visiting in this 10 day period) but decided not too after reading some of these posts, and I am so glad that we did. Even the trip we took was too rushed for us, and we aren't artsy museum-lovers either. We generally see the highlights, wander around the city, and things like that. This was our first trip to mainland Europe (we've been to England and Wales) and we thought our itinerary would be fine. However, we definitely lived and learned.

While seeing as much as you can sounds exciting, you really will be spending way too much time traveling. It took longer to travel than we thought it would. Checking out of our hotels, lugging our luggage to the metro stations, riding them to the main train stations, waiting for the trains, the ride itself, lugging our luggage back off the train, finding our way to our hotel, and checking in took almost half a day. With your itinerary, you will be seeing a lot of Europe from a train window, but you won't be truly experiencing it or the places you plan on visiting. While nobody on this board is trying to tell you what to do, we are trying to give you some advice so you could enjoy a better vacation. When we were in Europe there were tons more places that we wanted to visit, but I kept on telling myself that I will go back.

As far as the night train is concerned, I do recommend it. We took a night train from Vienna to Florence and riding through the Alps at night with my husband was truly romantic and the scenery was breathtaking. Just keep in mind that it can be very hard to get a good nights sleep on the night trains. Still, I wouldn't change the experience for anything!

Good luck!
Tracy

tlombardo

Wow...I think I see a pattern here. I guess I will go back to the drawing board. The only thing set in stone is that we are flying in and out of Munich and that we must be in Garmisch on Sat 10/30. Thanks again for all the advice.

just1dayoutoflife

You're biggest problem is that you fly into Munich and have to be in Garmish at the end of your trip. Can you change flights so its into Munich and out of Rome or Venice, with Garmisch on 10/30 in the middle? You can make a much better itinerary, that goes in one direction. Either that or dont go to Venice. Putz around all there is to offer in Bavaria. It would be much more leasurly, and if you rented a car it would be a really fun vacation. Also, with less flying and no rail, you can maybe upgrade your hotels a bit, or what you can spend on seeing the sites. Maybe a sleeper train to Prague or Berlin, if you really are interested in that.

suze

How about?? Land Munich and fly directly on to Venice? Stay 3 nights. To Garmsich Friday and stay 3 nights. Skip Amsterdam and skip an overnight train ride this trip. (IMO) This is a HUGE improvement on the itinary but still covers (mostly) what you hope to see.

tlombardo

I need to check with USAir to see if I can change my tix. We used frequent flier miles for this trip and already have them in hand.

When we came up with this itinerary, I think our main mistake was flying into Munich. We really wanted to do Amsterdam and Venice. I have business in Garmisch and didn't really view that as a "destination to see." Same holds true for Munich. It's not a place that I'm dying to visit, but really just needed to kill time until our night train arrived to take us to Amsterdam. I'll apologize in advance for those that I'm probably insulting because they love either Garmisch or Amsterdam. I'm also getting an extra day in Garmisch on Sunday because all flights were booked until Monday. I'd have much preferred that day earlier in the week...especially since downtown Garmisch will be closed on Sunday (hence the castle tour questions).

SharonNRayMc

Like Singletail, I say if this is how you want to travel, go for it. You will see lots of scenery through the train windows. You will also spend lots of time in airports and train stations. I think what you see through these responses are big warning flags going up: most people find that sort of zip-zip travel is not satisfying for them. (I am one of "those people" I'd take one week anywhere rather than the sort of itinerary you've designed.)

Have you done other such scouting trips in the past where you have covered the same sort of diversity: distance, language and culture? Ultimately only you can decide. Travel is so very personal.

Have a good time. Keep a good travel journal and report back to us.
- Sharon

111op

It doesn't seem like you'd be able to fit Amsterdam or Venice easily in with Munich unless you revamp your itinerary.

If you're not too excited about Munich, what about Salzburg? Further out there's Vienna, the Rhine area, and maybe even Berlin.

Or if the tickets are not changeable, then maybe pick Amsterdam or Venice (my pick would be Venice) and work it into the itinerary. I don't think that it's impossible to fit both, but you probably need to have some very good planning and you'll need to be sure that you can a rushed trip.

Jocelyn_P

tlombardo,

Since you're locked into your plane tickets and you're not really interested in seeing Munich, I'd use some of the time there to crash at a hotel. You will be so tired! Take a few hours to take a nap, eat, shower, and you'll start your vacation with a full tank. Otherwise, it looks like a couple of days before you can even take a shower.

Good luck with your planning.

bardo

Wow. You've gotten some great advice from some very seasoned travellers here. I'll chime in and suggest you save Amsterdam (which I love, BTW) for another trip. The reason the posters here are being so emphatic is a protective reflex - not unlike grabbing someone's arm who is about to walk into oncoming traffic. Whatever you decide, I hope you and your wife have a great time. I suspect you'll already be planning your next European trip on your flight home. Please report back and let us know how it all worked out.

suze

bardo, perfect way to sum up our responses. beautifully said!

SuzieC

mmmm... it really is a protective reflex. Maybe it really is and not so "know it all" anyway. Must ponder that this weekend.
Love the comment that Tlombardo will be planning the next trip on the flight back home...too true, too true

SharonNRayMc

Either planning the next trip, or totally disgusted and worn out. I'm going to give this a think this weekend. I'll be back.

tlombardo, what's your trip objective? What do you like to do? How do you and your husband like to spend your time together? What makes a "vacation" and offers you respite from your daily routine? How do you plan to spend your time at the destinations? (Maybe it's my turn for 20 Questions!)

- Sharon

tlombardo

Well for starters, I'm the husband. Secondly, I'm probably not the typical fodors traveller. I'm more of a top-line, cliffs notes type of traveller. I like to see a lot of different things without the need to be totally immersed in it to get something out of it. Not to say that one way is better than the other, but that is just my way. So far my wife seems to be more like me than not.

As far as my trip objective, it really just started out as a business trip...which still is the reason for the trip. That is where the whole fly in and out of Munich started. It wasn't until after that my wife came on board and we decided to see some places that we both agreed on (Amsterdam and Venice). We're not really the museum-type, but more the wandering the streets and soaking up the atmosphere type. I think of a "vacation" as more of a relaxing time. I can take a vacation by staying home. I see this as a chance to see the world...and as much as the world as I can see in that timeframe. Once again, that's just me. I do appreciate the concern and advice that everyone here offers. My wife and I will definitely reconsider our plans. I also appreciate the very few responses that actually answered my questions.

BigRuss

Naturally, I agree with the posters who think you are exceedingly ambitious. You are also underestimating travel time -- a two-hour Amsterdam-Venice flight is more than 3.5 hours traveling factoring in pre-departure and post-arrival. Perhaps you could help yourself by identifying what you want to see and maybe consider a short 10-day tour through a bunch of places. If you're young (sub-35), Contiki is a good option.

isabel

There is nothing wrong with your style of travel, there are even lots of people on this board who like to see lots of places in short periods of time. I for one, totally agree with you that I can relax at home, when I go to Europe I want to see stuff - lots of stuff. But - and this is a big but -- there is seeing lots of stuff and seeing only the inside of train stations and airports. And with your original itineray that is really all you'd see. Until you've done it you can't imagine how you can eat up an entire day with a two hour flight but you certainly can. What everyone else has told you about that part of it is true. Trust them.

I would definitly can the Amsterdam leg. If you really want to experience a night train see if you can't get one to or from Venice. If you could find one from Munich to Venice you could stick with day one - see a little of Munich (lots of people can sightsee on their first day in Europe, some need a nap, but I never do). If there isn't one then just skip the night train this trip. If you just do Venice and some of Bavaria/Austria you'll still see two very different cultures. And you can visit several places in each area. For example you could do Verona from Venice and there are numerous places in Bavaria/Austria so you don't have to just stay in one place. Have you thought of renting a car at all?

Let us know what you decide to do.

janis

You've gotten some wonderful advice and it sounds like you are mulling it over. But the bit in your last post about "We're not really the museum-type, but more the wandering the streets and soaking up the atmosphere type. I think of a "vacation" as more of a relaxing time" REALLY confuses me. You won't possibly be able to "wander and/or soak up" anything using your original itinerary.

If you really are laid back, smell the roses, soak up the atmosphere types -- all the more reason to re-read everything above and re-think your plans.

suze

Agreeing with janis (and topping this post) "strolling the streets" takes time! Seriously. I am not a museum person either; soaking up local ambience requires time to get settled and find your way around. This seems somewhat contradictory to the "see as much as possible" style trip.

ira

Hi tlombardo,

Munich is actually a pleasant town to spend a day. Terrific knoedeln, great beer.

The train ride over the Alps from Munich to Venice is quite lovely.

The night train leaves at 23:39 and arrives 07:36.

How about
Fly into Munich on Tuesday morning
Take train to downtown and spend the day.

Tuesday night take the train to Venice. Stay in Venice Wed, Thurs and train to Garmisch on Fri?

SharonNRayMc

tlombardo, Can't believe I assumed you were a woman... sorry for the oops.

Wow! I like Ira's suggestion. I think you'll enjoy Munich, Venice and Garmsich. You'll see a lot, be on the move, and still have time to do more than simply travel from place to place.

Last year Ira started a fantastic FAQ of sorts for Italy. Pull up this link, then search through it for Venice: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340.

As you search through find and read BobtheNavigator's options for 3, 5 or 7 day itineraries in Venice. He also listed best times of day and what he felt were good durations for the activities. There are all sorts of goodies for travel to Italy in this thread and I'm sure you and your wife will be able to pick what suits you.

I have also found WGuides (http://www.wguides.com/) to be a fantastic trip-planning resource.

For Germany trip reports... http://www.bensbauernhof.com/tripreports.html

Wish I had some first hand experience so I could address the specific questions in your original post.

- Sharon