Hi, we will be travelling to Europe this summer and are trying to finalize some plans. Any advice or suggestions appreciated.<BR><BR>Frankfurt - 3 days/3 nights (must to visit family)<BR>Prague - 4 nights/4 days<BR>Cesky Krumlov - 4 nights/3 days (hope to spend a day in Cesky Budjevice and the Danube (Krems and Melk area)<BR>Venice 3 nights/2 1/2 days<BR>Munich last day (to catch flight home).<BR><BR>Also, any idea how long it takes to drive from Cesky Krumlov to Venice? We are estimating 6 hours? Thanks. <BR>Venice

Tina:<BR>I can't offer much pratical advice, as I haven't been that area of europe yet, but I've been doing some planning (leave in a month) and can make a couple of comments. <BR>First of all: Venice? Do you mean Vienna? It's a much longer haul all the way to Venice, and doesn't fit in well with departure from Munich. Also, based on what I've read, you might want to knock a day off Cesy Krumlov, especially if you were budgeting your time to visit the Danube towns from there, as they are actually outside Vienna. Hopefully someone with more experience can comment further. Good luck.

I also think something about driving to Venice sounds a bit unusual. If you want to drive all the way from Cesky Krumlov to Venice, that is a pretty long drive, certainly more than 6 hours because it's around 500 miles. If you really meant Vienna, your estimate is about right. As Mel commented also, I wonder whether 4 nights in Cesky Krumlov is too much unless it is simply a convenient place to go to other spots on day trips. Going on day trips across the border to Austrian cities along the Danube could be rather inefficient.

Tina,<BR>I think Venice is a bit much. You're going to lose the better part of a day, seven hours or so, to get there from Cesky Krumlov; you'll lose another six hours driving from Venice to Munich. You might want to reduce the number of days in Cesky Krumlov to allow 2 1/2 days in Venice. Consider, too, that Czech roads are not on a par with German and Austrian roads. The drive from Cesky to Melk, while only about 100 miles is a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive because of less than ideal roads and traffic. Visiting Melk would mean yet another day with a good portion of its hours devoted to driving.

Thanks for your suggestions. Yes I did mean Venice. My husband and I have always wanted to go there. Do you have any alternate suggestions if we skip the Danube towns? The Frankfurt, Prague portion is pretty much set in stone as is the Munich the last night. We have already spent time previously in Munich and are just using it as our departure. Also, we were considering using Cesky Krumlov as a home base for those 4 days. We will be there in August and were hoping to catch part of the International Music Festival. We wouldn't get in to town until late Saturday afternoon and were planning on leaving Wed. morning for Venice. The plan was to spend perhaps Tues. along the Danube, Melk, Krems & Durnstein. Any alternate itinerary suggestions are welcome since we were not aware of the distances. Should we perhaps leave Tuesday and drive and spend additional time in the Dolomites or somewhere else in Austria?

Tina, I love Cesky Krumlov but 2 days should be adequate. I agree with Wes that Venice is too far. Drive down to Austria and spend 2 nites on the Danube, staying in either Melk or Durnstein, and then hit Hallstatt enroute to another 2 nites in the lake<BR>region of the Salzkammergaut near Salzburg. I like St. Gilgen on the Wolfgangsee, but there are many good choices. Munich is only 2 hours from here. This makes geographic sense, and that region of Austria is one of my favorite European destinations.

Hmmm. I really think you should consider saving Venice for another trip. Per your other post, I think Budapest would be a better option. However, if you have your heart set on Venice, one alternative that might work would be to stay in C. Krumlov for 2/3 days, then drive to the Danube towns for the day, spending the night there. Then drive into Vienna, ditch the car, and fly to Venice. As I understand it, you will have zero use for a car in Venice. Then fly into Munich before your flight home. It's definitely a more expensive option, but it makes your schedule a little more reasonable.

I agree that one or two nights in Cesky Krumlov is more than adequate. CK is a lovely picturesque town, but it is tiny and easily walked in a day. I second the suggestion to see Hallstadt-- simply breathtaking! It is picture postcard pretty and certainly worth one or two nights stay. Try to book a room with a balcony that opens on to the lake and get up to see the sunrise in the morning when the lake is misty; it is magical. Take the funicular to the top of the mountain and dine at the restaurant. I passed through Melk, Krems & Durnstein and they are nice little towns as well, but not as special as Hallstadt or Cesky Krumlov in my opinion. Good luck!