Okay, this is the deal. I only have 7 days off work. Leaving Thursday, July 29th, 2004 from Detroit returning Saturday, August 7th, 2004. Both my Mother and Boyfriend have never been to Europe, I have been but only to England and France, my Sister has seen it all. We are going to Freiburg, Germany to pick up my sister who is studying there and then going to travel. I want to see a bit of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. I want to see Austria, but I don?t think there is enough time.
Where do you think we should go? I don?t care to see Rome, for sure I want to see Florence, and I am undecided about Venice. We need help!!!

Hi jv,

I respectfully suggest that you drop this plan. In one week you can see some of Germany, or some of Switzerland or some of Italy and actually enjoy it.

If Florence is your real reason for going, then do Florence and surroundings.

You might find my trip report helpful, http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

as well as this thread of helpful information

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

As listed you have too many days on the road.

Oh now Ira I have to disagree. Italy is my favorite country in Europe. Also jvrab looks like she is coming from close to the west. They have some incredible mountains there. If I only had a week I would skip nature and head for Italy. A number of people love Paris.
Absorb where you are jvrab pick one city and do day trips.

whoa, slow down...do those 7 days include travel days? Did you already book a flight (open jaw?). I can't imagine more than 2 places in 7 days, especial if that includes travel days. I'm not familiar with the logistics of travelling from Freiburg to these other places, but you also want to limit your travel time while you are there, given your timing. What does your sister suggest?

Italy is my favorite country but Vienna was my favorite city. With where you are picking up your sister Salsburg and Vienna would do beautifully in that time frame.

No, we have not done any bookings yet. I am open to suggestions. The reason I want to see alot is because my Mom has never been outside of Michigan and this is like her dream come true. I am know I will be back, but my Mother probably will not. She wants to see Florence but she loves Art.
The seven days does include travel.

Hi jv,

Take Mom to Florence, even if she does love ART she will like it.

Fly into and out of FLR or PSA. Let Sis meet you there. It is easier for her to get to Florence than for you to go to Freiburg.

I think you should stick to one country. If your special interest is Florence, spend a week in Florence. You can take two trips out of Florence by bus, train or by commercial tour. That can be a very enjoayble trip, while rushing around to see more than one country or to get to distant points within the same country in just one week could be torture.

It sure would be nice if Mom could spend more than 7 days in europe. Expect a day or two to be impacted by jet-lag.

If you left early, could your other sister and mom stay longer? That might take some of the pressure off to see so much in such a short period of time and influence how you develop your route of travel.

If the seven days includes travel, that would mean approximately five days to tour. I would personally do three days in Florence and two in Venice. Fly into Florence, take the train to Venice, and fly out of Venice.

Florence is wonderful for art lovers and Venice is one of the most magical places in Europe. That would be my suggestion.

Also, if you have to fly thru Paris for your airfare booking, I would add a day, if possible, and spend one day and night in Paris before returning home. At least you would get a taste of it.

Good luck in your plans.

I agree with Ira, meet mom in Italy. Maybe fly directly to Venice, spend a couple of days there and spend the remainder in Florence (take the train). Don't knock yourself (and mom) out by moving around too much. You'll be exhausted, especially after the long flight.

I meant to say meet your sister (not mom) in Italy.

If your mom really wants to see Florence, she's not going to want to leave once she gets there. Spend as much time there as possible.

Yes, My Mom and Sis are going to take off from Italy and see Paris and then onto London! Mom will be in Europe a total of 16 days. Myself and my Boyfriend are in our 20's so our vacation time is VERY limited.
But one question I have is if we do choose to stay in Switzerland, where do you suggest. I would like to see someplace that is on the way to Italy.

I don't know much about switz, but Venice is the most romantic place on earth. Please don't miss it with your boyfriend.

jvrab I tool my mother it London a few years ago. At 75 we moved at a different pace. She had to read the London Times cover to cover before we left each morning. Some mornings she wanted to say the rossary. I boiled it down to her being a bit nervous about a new country. You don't want your mom to experience Europe entirely through a train window. If she is older she might have rituals the way my mom did. Florence will be plenty and it is an excellent idea for your sister to meat you there.

Dear jv,

It appears that you, Mom and Sis are on different schedules. How about telling us the whole story? We could help you better.

It is a rather short time but we did Switzerland, Austria and Germany over 10 days and had a wonderful time. We flew into Zurich and stayed by Lake Lucerne and spent couple days there (went to Zermatt etc). We then drove to Germany (Bavaria) and really loved it. Stayed in Rotenburg one night. Then on to Austria and stayed in Innsbruck and then moved on to Vienna. If your mom is an art lover, there are some incredible museums there. Vienna is a wonderful city as well. Between Innsbruck and Vienna, if I remember right, is Melk which is lovely. It was a wonderful trip but even with 10 days was quite accelerated. 7 days including travel will make it even tighter.

"It appears that you, Mom and Sis are on different schedules"........not to mention Art, whoever he is.....

looks like you've got 7 days, excluding travel days. pick two cities (at most), maybe with a scenic train ride between. appears florence is one of them. if it were i, venice would be the other.

Only 7 days for Three Countries!!!
It remind me of an old travel Joke:
If is Tuesday must be Lienchstein!!!

Since Freiburg is so close to Swiss border, I wouldn't spend time in Germany, you'd be backtracking and like you said - you'll be back someday. You could stop in Switzerland (Zurich or Lucern? I've never been, sorry.) From Switz., the route would take you thru Milan, so it might make more sense to do Switz/Milan/Florence instead of Venice/Florence (gotta love Venice though). You should search Fodor posts on Switzerland. If your sister has seen it all, she can probably help you decide as well. Maybe she can meet you over the border in Switz?

You'll definitely get the most out of your time if you fly in/out of diff. cities. Then you & boyfriend can fly out of Florence, while mom & sis continue on to Paris.