My wife and I want to spend roughly two weeks next year to visit Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and parts of Switzerland. I would value the opinion of seasoned travelers if my thoughts make sense. I like the idea of renting a car and driving from Zurich through Bavaria to Prague, drive to Vienna and then Salzburg, and then into Switzerland. We are in our fifties, don't get uptight, travel light,and enjoy driving and seeing countries this way. Is this a good idea or stupid? We are leaving from Boston and could leave and return on direct flights this way. Any observation you have would be welcomed.

I would drive around all of those places, except Prague. Recommend you take the train there and back from Austria or Germany. That's what the US Army recommends because of the number of thefts of cars. Lots of rental cars have an exclusion clause for the Czech Republic. But do by all means go to Prague. It is splendid! As are the others, Vienna and Salzburg. Can't speak first hand about Switzerland.

Alan; I cannot speak from experience just yet. In September we are flying into Frankfurt, picking up a car and after a night in Rothenburg, driving to Prague. Then on to Budapest and then Vienna. The car rental company will only permit manual transmission cars (maybe its the automatics that are stolen). We were in Europe in 1997 when we purchased a car that carried insurance for 90 days but excluded Eastern Europe and limited insurance in Italy!. If you like, keep my e-mail address and if you are still planning to go, e-mail me in the fall.

Alan, <BR>When you say roughly two weeks I presume your talking about 17 days, correct? On that presumption, here are some thoughts. Driving from Zurich to Prague, then Vienna, Salzburg back to Zurich will offer many scenic vistas, but expend too much valuable time. The last thing you need in cities like Prague and Vienna is a car. I'd suggest you consider a night train from Zurich to Prague (about 10 hours), trains then from Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Salzburg, Salzburg to Zurich, then rent a car for a week for the remainder of your trip. I'd also suggest that you pick up a good European map (Michelin has a fairly good European atlas). If you check the map you'll find there are more scenic routes in upper Bavaria (the Deutsche Alpenstrasse, for one) and in Austria's Voralberg than in Switzerland. You might want to concentrate your driving in that area.