Message: <BR>Would appreciate feedback on my intial plan to use 21 days as outlined below. Have not been to any of these cities. Plan fly in to Venice and out of Prague and will use trains for intercity travel. Nagging feeling that one city should be cut to reduce stress and intercity travel time. Daytrip suggestions welcome. Should I spend one more nightin Venice and daytrip to Verona and add a day to Salzburg or Prague? Or is this schedule about right?<BR><BR>Day 1: Arrive 1030 AM in Venice<BR>Day 2: Venice<BR>Day 3: Venice<BR>Day 4: Venice<BR>Day 5: Morning train to Verona<BR>Day 6: Verona <BR>Day 7: Morning train to Salzburg<BR>Day 8: Salzburg<BR>Day 9: Salzburg<BR>Day 10: Morning train to Vienna<BR>Day 11: Vienna <BR>Day 12: Vienna <BR>Day 13: Vienna: Daytrip to Melk<BR>Day 14: Morning train to Budapest<BR>Day 15: Budapest<BR>Day 16: Budapest<BR>Day 17: Budapest<BR>Day 18: Morning train to Prague<BR>Day 19: Prague<BR>Day 20: Prague<BR>Day 21: Prague: Daytrip to ?<BR>Day 22: Morning flight to USA <BR><BR><BR><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>

Rick,<BR><BR>We have been to each of these cities twice and have made a similar trip<BR><BR><BR>1. Shorten your stay in Venice from three days to two days.<BR><BR>2. Increase your stay in Vienna from three days to five. We have stayed there a week before and it is one great city. (You'll pick up the two extra days by cutting one day each in Venice and Budapest)<BR><BR>3. Decrease your stay in Budapest from three days to two<BR><BR>...and instead of going from Salzburg to Vienna and then to Budapest and back to Prague through Vienna do this:<BR><BR>Venice to Salzburg to Budapest to Vienna..to Prague. It is much more convenient and eliminates some back tracking on the train.<BR><BR>US

I would suggest taking evening trains where possible, so that you can save yourself some money on hotels and also make up some time, especially, because the train ride from Budapest to Prague is about 7 hours. For a day trip outside of Prague, you might consider Kutna Hora (famous for mining, and minting of money), Terezin (ghetto and fortress), or Cesky Krumlov, but I don't think that 4 days is enough for Prague. You might also consider a day trip outside of Budapest to Godollo or Szentendre, or at least a cruise up the Danube Bend. I don't suggest cutting your stay in Budapest to less than 3 days. Also, you can cut out 1 day in Salzburg.

Rick,<BR><BR>Interesting what happens when you ask for advice. You've got about four different answers on two different posts.<BR><BR>It appears that the old philosopher, Sly Stone was right...diffferent strokes for different folks!<BR><BR>Too bad the dude was usually too strung out on drugs to make his concerts!<BR><BR>US

and, Rick, my $.02 worth is NOT to cut Venice! There is so much to see & do in Venice, you can easily spend 3 full days.<BR><BR>Have fun!