Road, Wine, Beer - romantic Europe trip
Apr 8th, 2007, 06:33 AM
#21
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello kvilia -
My main concerns with your itinerary are your first and last days.
On the first day, you don't allow any down time for jet lag. When we arrive in Europe, it's usually with 1-3 hours sleep (if lucky). We're usually pumped with adrenaline, but that starts to fade quickly by early afternoon.
I try to plan my itinerary on the first day so we sightsee a bit in the morning, then check into our hotel as soon as room is ready, take a 2-3 hour nap, then a shower. We're ready for an afternoon/evening of walking, eating & drinking, which usually leads to a decent nights sleep.
Your first "down time" will be at 6:00 pm. You're sure to be exhausted by then. I hope your mind will be alert enough to drive and navigate (and not get into snits with the wife about directions... patience, man)
Then your last day, Tuesday, has me nervous just reading the itinerary! Please calm my nerves and think about driving to Cologne Monday, so you're close to the airport for your Tuesday morning flight. Do you really want to go to bed at 8:00 pm on your last night in Europe?
Maybe if you do a little less in Cologne on your first day in country (to allow for jetlag), you can pick up what you didn't see on Monday, May 7th.
Now the rest of the itinerary... I think it looks fine. We always travel by rail, so I can't comment on the amount of driving, dealing with traffic, getting gas, looking for parking spaces, etc.. that you have allowed for.
We'll be doing the Rhine & Mosel for the first time this October, so I look forward to hearing about your trip when you return.
My husband and I spent an evening in Vianden, at the Hotel Victor Hugo. We had dinner at Auberge, which is a restaurant across the street from the hotel. Is that the same one you were thinking about maybe having lunch at?
Vianden is nestled in a little valley, along the River Our, with a wonderful medievel castle perched over the town. I think you will find it a very romantic spot. My husband and I fondly refer to Vianden as a place where people come to eat, drink and make love. So enjoy yourselves.
I'm glad to see you're doing 2 nights in Brugge. I'll second beanweb24's recommendation about De Garre. We much enjoyed our libations - it's located down a skinny little alley, very easy to walk past and completely miss.
If you plan on a walk through the Red Light District while in Amsterdam, I personally think you should first walk through there during the day, and take a look at some of the oldest and more interesting architecture of the many canal houses. It's actually a very beautiful neighborhood. (You still might see some women in the windows - it is a 24 hour business.)
Stop in at the Amstelkring (Our Lord in the Attic), which is one of our favorite museums, and walk around the Oude Kerk, particularly by the OZ Voorburgwal. Then go back to the RLD at night, so you can really appreciate the full effect of the change in the neighborhood. It's pretty surreal - particularly around the Oude Kerk.
I can't comment on the Erotic Museum, but my husband and I have visited the Sex Museum, on the Damrak, twice! It's only a couple Euros - and educational, tittalating, and hokey, all wrapped into one.
I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time exploring BeNeLux and Germany. Peace, Robyn
>-
My main concerns with your itinerary are your first and last days.
On the first day, you don't allow any down time for jet lag. When we arrive in Europe, it's usually with 1-3 hours sleep (if lucky). We're usually pumped with adrenaline, but that starts to fade quickly by early afternoon.
I try to plan my itinerary on the first day so we sightsee a bit in the morning, then check into our hotel as soon as room is ready, take a 2-3 hour nap, then a shower. We're ready for an afternoon/evening of walking, eating & drinking, which usually leads to a decent nights sleep.
Your first "down time" will be at 6:00 pm. You're sure to be exhausted by then. I hope your mind will be alert enough to drive and navigate (and not get into snits with the wife about directions... patience, man)
Then your last day, Tuesday, has me nervous just reading the itinerary! Please calm my nerves and think about driving to Cologne Monday, so you're close to the airport for your Tuesday morning flight. Do you really want to go to bed at 8:00 pm on your last night in Europe?
Maybe if you do a little less in Cologne on your first day in country (to allow for jetlag), you can pick up what you didn't see on Monday, May 7th.
Now the rest of the itinerary... I think it looks fine. We always travel by rail, so I can't comment on the amount of driving, dealing with traffic, getting gas, looking for parking spaces, etc.. that you have allowed for.
We'll be doing the Rhine & Mosel for the first time this October, so I look forward to hearing about your trip when you return.
My husband and I spent an evening in Vianden, at the Hotel Victor Hugo. We had dinner at Auberge, which is a restaurant across the street from the hotel. Is that the same one you were thinking about maybe having lunch at?
Vianden is nestled in a little valley, along the River Our, with a wonderful medievel castle perched over the town. I think you will find it a very romantic spot. My husband and I fondly refer to Vianden as a place where people come to eat, drink and make love. So enjoy yourselves.
I'm glad to see you're doing 2 nights in Brugge. I'll second beanweb24's recommendation about De Garre. We much enjoyed our libations - it's located down a skinny little alley, very easy to walk past and completely miss.
If you plan on a walk through the Red Light District while in Amsterdam, I personally think you should first walk through there during the day, and take a look at some of the oldest and more interesting architecture of the many canal houses. It's actually a very beautiful neighborhood. (You still might see some women in the windows - it is a 24 hour business.)
Stop in at the Amstelkring (Our Lord in the Attic), which is one of our favorite museums, and walk around the Oude Kerk, particularly by the OZ Voorburgwal. Then go back to the RLD at night, so you can really appreciate the full effect of the change in the neighborhood. It's pretty surreal - particularly around the Oude Kerk.
I can't comment on the Erotic Museum, but my husband and I have visited the Sex Museum, on the Damrak, twice! It's only a couple Euros - and educational, tittalating, and hokey, all wrapped into one.
I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time exploring BeNeLux and Germany. Peace, Robyn
>-
Apr 9th, 2007, 05:08 AM
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once again I'd like to thank everyone for taking time and offer some suggestions. I believe everyone liked the schedule but expressed concerns over the intensity of the trip.
Well, I wish I had unlimited vacation time but as you're very well aware, life in the States is quite stressful and we don't have a luxury of long vacations Europeans do enjoy. That's why I have to squeeze my trip in such a narrow time slot. Driving should be fine especially to allow reaching the places we would not be able otherwise, and parking options have been already investigated. First day in Koln will be tough but we did the same in London, and it helped tremendously to adjust to the time difference. Last day seems a little weird, I know. Unfortunately Priceline has been utilized to make Amsterdam booking, so not much can be done. On top of that I HATE flying and trying to exhaust myself before I get on the plane.
At last, I made this schedule to feel comfortable and not stressed. We won't hesitate breaking the scedule if we need to, and we'll definitely plan on having a romance since none of what we're planning will have any thing to do with our normal routine.
P.S. Wolfmisc, I'm planning on tasting a numerous amount of beers in all 4 countrise we'll have visited (no worries, not drinking and driving). I'm not sure I have enough knowledge arguing with you about Belgian beer but American budweiser?! Please give me a break!
Well, I wish I had unlimited vacation time but as you're very well aware, life in the States is quite stressful and we don't have a luxury of long vacations Europeans do enjoy. That's why I have to squeeze my trip in such a narrow time slot. Driving should be fine especially to allow reaching the places we would not be able otherwise, and parking options have been already investigated. First day in Koln will be tough but we did the same in London, and it helped tremendously to adjust to the time difference. Last day seems a little weird, I know. Unfortunately Priceline has been utilized to make Amsterdam booking, so not much can be done. On top of that I HATE flying and trying to exhaust myself before I get on the plane.
At last, I made this schedule to feel comfortable and not stressed. We won't hesitate breaking the scedule if we need to, and we'll definitely plan on having a romance since none of what we're planning will have any thing to do with our normal routine.
P.S. Wolfmisc, I'm planning on tasting a numerous amount of beers in all 4 countrise we'll have visited (no worries, not drinking and driving). I'm not sure I have enough knowledge arguing with you about Belgian beer but American budweiser?! Please give me a break!
Apr 9th, 2007, 05:32 AM
#24
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do have a good trip Kvilia. As you can see, several Fodorites gave you suggestions and thoughts and as far as I can tell, you were unable to do any of them as your schedule was already set and you liked it that way.
Perhaps it might be interesting to see how much of this you can do.
Perhaps it might be interesting to see how much of this you can do.
Apr 10th, 2007, 04:13 AM
#25
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You will love the Sint Niklaas B & B. We stayed there when it just opened. Yes - I can say that the breakfast was one of the most elegantly presented and tastful of any I have ever had. We rented bikes and rode through Brugge and along the canal to the town of Dam. Also you don't allow too much time for Keukenhof and the surround flower fields. Just remember to allow time for the "unscheduled" discovery.
Apr 10th, 2007, 06:24 AM
#26
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would include the Rijkmuseum [I'm sure I've misspelled it] in Amsterdam. It was my favorite. As for beer in Brugge, I'd also recommend Den Dyver, for which you will need reservations. There are other options, but the beer parings with dinner [of which I believe we had three choices of meals], was excellent -- both the food and the beer choices. It was one of our best dining experiences among our travels.
Aug 7th, 2007, 04:52 AM
#27
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
kvilia,
We have a relatively ambitious trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria planned for the late part of this month. We too will be driving to have more flexibility in our schedule. I was wondering how your trip went (in general) and how your itinerary worked out. Was it too aggressive as other fodorites suggested?
We have a relatively ambitious trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria planned for the late part of this month. We too will be driving to have more flexibility in our schedule. I was wondering how your trip went (in general) and how your itinerary worked out. Was it too aggressive as other fodorites suggested?
Aug 7th, 2007, 08:39 AM
#28
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where do you plan on parking your car in Köln?
Here's an alternative: take the S-bahn from the airport directly to the Dom. Then you can take the S-bahn to Neumarkt, but with such little time, I suggest a walk along the Rhine or the shopping area near the Dom. Be sure to try a kölsch beer while you are there. Then rent your car in town and save the airport pick up fee.
Yes, there's a place to get breakfast at CGN. www.koeln-bonn-airport.de will tell you everything you need to know.
I don't have the details, but you can also take the bus to Keukenhof - much easier than hassling with the car. Do a search, I've seen the info posted previously.
Be sure you have excellent directions to CGN from AMS. You'll be driving on some of the busiest autobahns in Germany and according to Michelin, there is construction. I also suggest you take or rent a GPS. You don't have time to get lost!
Have a great trip.
Here's an alternative: take the S-bahn from the airport directly to the Dom. Then you can take the S-bahn to Neumarkt, but with such little time, I suggest a walk along the Rhine or the shopping area near the Dom. Be sure to try a kölsch beer while you are there. Then rent your car in town and save the airport pick up fee.
Yes, there's a place to get breakfast at CGN. www.koeln-bonn-airport.de will tell you everything you need to know.
I don't have the details, but you can also take the bus to Keukenhof - much easier than hassling with the car. Do a search, I've seen the info posted previously.
Be sure you have excellent directions to CGN from AMS. You'll be driving on some of the busiest autobahns in Germany and according to Michelin, there is construction. I also suggest you take or rent a GPS. You don't have time to get lost!
Have a great trip.
