Ok, folks-----does this make sense?

22 May - Arrive Zurich 8:40 am
Train (and potentially ferry) to either Friedrichshafen or Lindau (any suggestions?) Spend day in Lake Konstanz region.

23 May - Train from either Friedrichshafen (7:32 - 12:09) or Lindau (7:25 - 11:58) to Salzburg. Spend day in Salzburg.

24 May - Salzburg or environs day trip

25 May - Salzburg or environs day trip

26 May - Move to Munich. Explore Munich.

27 May - Day trip Castles, GP, or Mittenwald

28 May - Day trip Castles, GP, or Mittenwald

29 May - Dachau trip in morning. Explore Munich in afternoon. Take 6:34 pm train from Munich to Zurich airport (arrives 10:32 pm). Stay in airport hotel.

30 May - Depart 10:15 am for NYC.

Does that make sense? And any recommendations on which town to stay in at Lake Konstanz?

Thanks!

There is some criss-crossing on your trip that does not make a lot of sense-- go Zurich to Friedrichshafen to GP to Salzburg to Munich to Zurich; a loop rather than a criss-cross.

We are trying to limit the number of times we change hotels, rather than checking in and out every two days. That was my thought process. Am I wrong in my thinking?

mjk;

No, you are right.

Getting to GAP from Lake Konstanz requires going through Munich. By doing it as a day trip, you are knocking off one hotel "move" in exchange for a little more time on the train on your day trips. You are not really criss-crossing - just dipping down to GAP or Fuessen.

As for staying on Lake Konstanz, Lindau wins over Friedrichshafen, hands down, unless you are really into Zeppelins.

Agree with Aramis. This plan makes much more sense.

Lindau is a very good base and I bet you'll regret not staying longer there

Thanks. I am learning! I am sure we will liek Lindau, but having spent parts of our last few vacations and Locarno and Lake Como, I think one day at the lake will be fine. We are looking forward to some mountains and hiking.

On May 26, I did see that we could take an 8:00 am train from Salzburg to GAP, Mittenwald, or Fuessen that woudl get us there by noon. Should we suck it up and stay at an extra hotel in order to spend a couple of days down there (as opposed to day trips)?

If we did that, we would spend 26 May and 27 May in that region, and then go to Munich on 28 May.