atimmons

This is a general idea of what we have in store next week:

12/24: Arrive Munich airport 9am. Luft. Bus to hotel. Check in Platzl Hotel 11am.

12/25: Remain in Munich sightseeing.

12/26: In Munich til 3pm. Rent car and head for Interlaken Switzerland. Late check-in at Best Western Chalet Hotel Oberland.
12/27: See Interlaken area.
12/28: Interlaken area until 2pm. Then Head for Innsbruck for check in at XYZ? Hotel.
12/29: Innsbruck til 4pm. Head for Salzburg (Goldener Hirsch)
12/30: Salzburg til 4pm. Head for Vienna. Check in the SAS Palais Hotel.
12/31: Vienna
12/1: Vienna
12/2: Vinna til 2pm. Then back to Munich. Return Rental Car.
12/3: Luft. Bus to airport. Fly out of Munich 10:25am in morning.

Please critique and give me your feelings. It's just me and my wife. Thanks for your time!!
Andy Timmons

Grinisa

Since this is only your second trip to Europe, I need to ask if you are comfortable driving there at night. Your drive from Munich to Interlaken will take nearly five hours, over the Alps. Since you are starting this drive at 4pm in Dec. you will be driving in the dark and missing some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world, not to mention navigating the mountain roads in an unfamiliar rental car. Same with your drive from Salzburg to Vienna. While not as scenic or mountainous, it's still going to take nearly four hours of driving in the dark. In both places, you will have to find your hotel at night. Maybe not so difficult in Interlaken, but I wouldn't want to do it in Vienna.

atimmons

Grinisa,
Point well taken. I think I may bump our departure times so that we do get to see some of the scenery that you're speaking of. Barring the late departure times, did all else seem reasonable?
Thanks
Andy

RAR

I would cut Interlaken out and spend more time at the places you have chose. Ie Munich and Vienna.

atimmons

RAR,
Interesting that you mentioned that. I was just cutting Innsbruck out as I saw your post. Here's my ammended version:

12/24: Arrive Munich airport 9am. Luft. Bus to hotel. Check in Platzl Hotel 11am.

12/25: Remain in Munich sightseeing.

12/26: In Munich til 12pm. 12pm Rent car and head for Interlaken Switzerland. Check-in at Best Western Chalet Hotel Oberland.
12/27: See Interlaken area.
12/28: Interlaken area until 12pm. Then Head for Salzburg for check in at (Goldener Hirsch) Hotel.
12/29: Salzburg all day??
12/30: Salzburg til 12pm. Head for Vienna. Check in the SAS Palais Hotel.
12/31: Vienna
12/1: Vienna
12/2: Leave Vienna early. Back to Munich. Return Rental Car by 12 noon (7-day rental).
12/3: Luft. Bus to airport. Fly out of Munich 10:25am in morning.

Please let me know of any other ideas or helpful suggestions. This forum is awesome!
Andy

Surfergirl

Yes, Salzburg all day!!

atimmons

Surfergirl,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Btw.. any recommendation as to which hotel to stay at while in Salzburg? I've heard good things about Goldener Hirsch and am on the verge of booking it via orbitz.com.
Thanks in advance.
Andy

Sue_xx_yy

I tend to second RAR. As much as I love the Berner Oberland area, I'd spend the time you have available between Munich-(Innsbruck)-Salzburg-Vienna. I've left in Innsbruck since it seems you want mountain scenery. Point to consider: I have no experience with winter driving conditions in Austria, but if it is like where I live, I'd be prepared for delays. Bon voyage.

Risha

Sounds too much like "If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium. Cut it down by at least one city.

Patrick

Driving Munich to Interlaken is the better part of 5 hours if conditions are good. Driving from Interlaken to Innsbruck is a good 4 and a half hours, again IF the conditions are good. Driving from Munich to Innsbruck is less than two hours.

So by cutting out Interlaken you'd be cutting out about 8 hours of driving time (not counting more driving time in the Interlaken area). That's almost a day of your limited 10 lost.

I agree, cut out Interlaken this trip. You'll need more than a day and a half to even begin to touch on it anyway.

Michael

If you cut out Interlaken, why not take the train rather than drive? If you are not familiar with driving in snow conditions and if you want to see the scenery instead of paying attention to the road, the train might be a better option. If need be, do you know how to put on snow chains? This is not a sarcastic question as I learned today that a new member to our ski cabin jacked up the car when he tried to put on chains.

RAR

Munich-Innsbruck-Salzburg-Vienna makes much more sense given the time factor. Interlaken is way out there.

laverendrye

When I was younger, I often drove in the Alps in winter, both day and night. Mountain driving in winter can be stressful, and if you're not used to it, can be dangerous. In hindsight, I would not do it again unless absolutely necessary.

Relax, take the train, and as RAR and others suggest, stick to Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna. There's more than enough things to do and see there in only 10 days.

atimmons

I hear that Munich is mostly closed down on x-mas day and the day after considering its a holiday also. Consequently, we think we'd like to be at a resort ski are for that time. We've picked up an extra day for Munich at the end of the trip. Please give me your suggestions. Here's my ammended version:

12/24: Arrive Munich airport 9am. Luft. Bus to hotel. Check in Platzl Hotel
11am.

12/25: 6am head for Interlaken Switzerland. Check-in at Best Western Chalet
Hotel Oberland 12pm.

12/26: Interlaken all day.

12/27: Interlaken area until 12pm. Then Head for Salzburg for check in at
(Goldener Hirsch) Hotel 7pm.

12/28: Salzburg all day.

12/29: Salzburg til 12pm. Head for Vienna. Check in the SAS Palais Hotel 5pm.

12/30: Vienna
12/31: Vienna

12/1: Leave Vienna early. Back to Munich. Return Rental Car by 12 noon
(7-day rental).

12/2: Munich

12/3: Luft. Bus to airport. Fly out of Munich 10:25am in morning.

Thanks for the input.
Andy

RAR

Last post here, just want to say 5 cities in 10 days, including jet lag factor, is 2 cities too many.

jheim

Hi,

Have to agree with the others . . . too many cities, too far apart, too short on time.

Personally I would do Munich and perhaps Garmisch (for my mountain/resort town), then on to Salzburg and Vienna.

Far less driving, similar scenery and encompasses what you find with the broader itineray.

Have a great time.

bob_brown

Having covered the same ground, and knowing what is there to be seen, and also knowing the time of year you are doimg it, and the day/night conditions, I think it is silly.
You are spending a high percentage of your time on the road for one thing.
Secondly you are proposing to drive a very long distance at night that will take you all night just about it.

Granted Interlaken does not have much to offer, but you are leaving precious little time for Salzburg, and very little time for Vienna.

Given the hours of daylight, you will see nothing of the "Interlaken Area", which needs daylight to see it.

All in all, I don;t know who hatched up the schedule, but I would not do it and I don;t know what you are unless you count the success of a trip like my Dad used to:
miles covered per day
miles per gallon of gas (or k per l)
number of hotels slept in
cities visited
total miles traveled.

ChatNoir

Just go to Munich, Salzburg (and local mountain/lakes areas) and Vienna. Use the train instead of a car.

cparris

I am not sure if you can change your plans at this late date. I would fly into Munich and go directly to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area. It is much closer than Interlacken with alot to do (and a ski resort). I would go to Salzburg next, then Vienna and see Munich at the end.

Bob1

Too many cities, too much driving. It gets dark early in the winter. I would skip Interlaken. Not that much to do if you do not ski or want to hit the casino.

Go from Munich to Gamisch. Great area and very close. Then do Salzburg/Berchtesgaden and finish with Munich. Better trip, less car driving and more fun.

Have a great trip! Just remember...it will be dark at 4pm!