Oktoberfest Trip - 2015
 

Hello!

I need some advice in regards to a trip we are starting to plan. We want to visit the following:

Amsterdam
Paris
Munich
Vienna
Salzburg

This will be our third trip to europe so I feel comfortable navigating, renting cars, booking flights, hotels etc. I guess my big question is how do you think best to set up the order of these cities (Munich will be Sept. 21st and 22nd) to best get us in and out in major airports (We are from the Tampa Bay area in FL). I have been playing around on Orbitz and priceline, but just find this part of the planning frusturating, so wanted to reach out! We are planning on driving from Munich through Austria for Vienna and Salzburg, but aren't sure where would be best to fly in and out of.

If you have general travel advice we would love to hear it as well!

We have 13 days to do it in. I know everyone will have their opinions on how we can't do it in that time frame, etc, but we always spend about 2-3 days in each city when we do a trip and it has been great. We have to work with what we have! I appreciate all your comments, but not if they are negative!

I'd fly to A-dam; take the train to Paris; take the train (or if you think air is better, then fly) to Munich; train to Salzburg; train to Vienna

I would NOT fly between A-dam and Paris; train Paris to Munich takes about 6 hours with at least one easy change; train Munich-Salzburg 2 hrs or less; Salzburg-Vienna 2.5 hours

Up to you.

And I would stay in the Platzl in Munich; yes there are other hotels but for OVERALL location that's where I would stay.

Oktoberfest? You missed it. It was over October 4.

Nuts. My brain fried and I thought this was 2015. LOL

I'd fly to Paris, do a few days there, then fly to Amsterdam. I am seeing 1 way tickets for $62 each on Air France (of course price depends on day of travel and how far out you buy your ticket).

Then either fly from Amsterdam to Munich (I see $160 fares and you're there in 4 hours) or take the train (get your tickets 90 days in advance and they are less than 50 Euro each and it's a 7.5 hour trip). Rent a car in Munich then drive to Salzburg and Vienna then back to Munich then fly from Munich to Paris (I see $63 fares but I picked a Tuesday for travel) then back home.


Also, don't use Orbitz, use kayak or hipmunk.

There is no need to "fly back" to anywhere IMO...look at the possibility of doing an open jaw itinerary and the price differences. If you are going to fly back to Tampa from anywhere make it Munich, not Paris.

Thank you so much everyone for your input! This has already helped so much!

And one more thing: it is cheaper to reach center city from the Amsterdam airport than it is from CDG, and faster, too.

Same with Munich where you are looking at 45 minutes by S-Bahn, about 60+ Euros by cab; there is a periodic bus you can use.

Paris-Munich is about 1.5 hours faster by rail than Amsterdam-Munich and you have to change at least once almost regardless of which route you take.