spending christmas in salzburg with kids (one in wheelchair)
 

We are travelling to europe for aprox 6 weeks over christmas. We are planning to spend Christmas and the next 5 days in Salzburg. Then head to Venice, Florence Pisa and Rome before heading to France and down as far as Barcelona. Need to be in London around 26th Jan 2009. Looking for any advice happy to drive or train or combination of both. My girls are 17 and 14 (in wheelchair but can walk short distances) Thanks so much

If I were you I would definitely cut some of this itinerary. It really sounds brutal specially being Christmastime with the limited daylight, weather impacts, and holidays hours. The fact that you are traveling with a person with limited mobility add quite a bit to the need to bring the jumping around way down.

Really, sit down again and narrow it down to max of 4 places you ALL MUST see. Larger cities offer more choices for handicap accesibility. I find the looking for lodging part the most difficult part of traveling with a person in a wheelchair. We often rent a place handicapped accesible (weekly rentals) in a good location and day trip from there. Works great.

I agree with Viajero2, but I think you could do six cities in six weeks.

Car rental with pick-up in Salzburg and return in Barcelona could be very costly. In Italy at least a car is more of a hassle and an expense in the cities than a convenience. Trains are the best way to go in Italy. You can do Pisa as a day trip from Florence.

For longer stretches - Rome-Paris, say - consider the budget airlines. You can see what's available at www.whichbudget.com. Be aware that some budget airlines charge huge fees for luggage over a certain weight.

Can you get to Salzburg a day or two before Christmas? If not, you'll miss the kristkindlmarkt.

Salzburg at Christmas, how glorious...I'm envious!!

I have to say that even though 6 weeks is a significant period of time, I believe you're trying to do too much. Perhaps do Salzburg to Venice to Florence and then base yourself in a Tuscan hilltown and explore that region. Then off to Rome. Provence would be another good area to spend a week to 10 days and explore that region. I'd then hold off on Spain for another trip. But, I am a great fan of staying long enough in areas to absorb them - if you whirlwind your wayt through these marvelous cities - they will be a blur. Sounds like an awesome trip!!

Thanks very much for replying to me. We will take another look at where we are trying to go. Coming from Sydney it takes such a long time to get there, I guess we are trying to fit in as much as possible. We are hoping to arrive in Salzburg on the 23rd to try and make it to the christmas market. Although I agree that Barcelona is out of the way it is one of the girls dreams to go to spain ... so we are trying to get to Barcelona for her. Back to the drawing board for us !!!!