PalenQ

And of course a popular thing to do in Munich is to take the S-Bahn.bus to nearby Dachau inthe suburbs - the old Nazi concentration/death camp:

https://www.google.com/search?q=imag...w=1745&bih=863

girlonthego

One note that Munich is pretty much closed on Sundays. So plan to not be in Munich on a Sunday or make Sunday a travel day. We had two days in Munich and one was a sunday.
We loved Salzburg and did not have enough time there. I think if you plan two days, then you are traveling one, so if you can plan three and then have two full days in places, you will be happier.

5alive

I would lean toward two cities, but if it's just the two of you and you travel light, then 3 cities can work. But, you mentioned your family is going. How many and approximate ages?

I know everyone advocates for trains, but if there are 3 or 4 of you, you might consider driving for one leg of the trip.

One reason I suggest this is that I have an idea for you. Why don't you drive from Prague to Cesky Krumlov and instead of going back to Prague and then leaving for Vienna another day... just keep going onward. This works best with a car because you have a trunk for your luggage.

There are both Avis and Budget rental car near the old town of Prague, so get the car the morning you check out of your Prague lodgings. You will have a drop fee for the car.

And whether you agree with the car idea or no--two other ideas for Austria:

Also, we went to Klosterneuburg Monastery about 30 minutes or so from Vienna. Check out the pictures. Not a castle, but it really has a medieval sense of place. My cousin who lived in Austria told me I should have gone to Melk.

PalenQ

Yes a day trip from Vienna to Melk - see famous abbey - then take boats down lovely vineyard-laced Wachau Valley to Durnstein, cute wine town and take bus to Krems - nice larger city with trains back to Vienna.

Wachau Valley:

https://www.google.com/search?q=wach...w=1745&bih=863

Very easy excursion to do -buy all-inclusive train, boat and bus tickets in Vienna.

kloncx2

Thank you all for the tips to make our trip awesome. My husband and I will be traveling with my son and his girlfriend who are both 23 and my daughter who is 11. She is a trooper, and is up for anything. My children have been traveling since they were infants so they are used to hotels, trains, etc. There is so much to decide! We will all sit down over thanksgiving to come up with a game plan. I think we will knock a day off Prague and tack on to Austria or Munich. We are all getting so excited.

PalenQ

by June things could change - there is no need to book anything that is non-refundable until a few months before your trip or even later.

Good luck!

5alive

With 5 people, I would suggest you get an apartment, unless perhaps you are staying somewhere only 1 night. You will pay more for two hotel rooms or a hotel suite.

Many apartments on Booking.com were cancellable up to a certain date; typically I noticed 2 weeks to 1 month before the trip, but it depended.

Once you know your dates, I don't know why you wouldn't reserve something you like that could be cancelled. You could always remove a day from your reservation later, as long as it is before the cancellation date.

PalenQ

Yes knock off a day or even two from Prague and add to Vienna- maybe do the awesome Wachau Valley day trip - more fun to me than any museum or palace - and Munich - central Prague is very compact and in a few days you could see everything of major note IMO.

PalenQ

5alive mentions the Klosterneuburg Monastery - never been there but it may be familiar to Sound of Music viewers as several scenes were shot there:

https://www.google.com/search?q=klos...w=1745&bih=863

fourfortravel

PalenQ, Stift Klosterneuburg was not used as a filming location for The Sound of Music. St. Michael's in Mondsee; and Nonnberg Abbey and St.Peter's in Salzburg were among the filming locations.

PalenQ

Oops! thanks for correcting. Got Nonnberg mixed up with Klosterneuberg.

Kamara

Hi kloncx2,

Me my wife and 3 children are planning a trip almost like yours on Aug. 2018. we will will land Prague by air train to Vienna and train to Budapest.
Can you please post some info when you come back from your trip.
We booked all our places to stay Airbnb and we found a lot of good places in good prices.

Have a good trip.

PalenQ

Book your trains as soon as they come on sales for discounted tickets - also sold in first class. www.seat61.com is the guru for talking about that.

You could also take hydrofoils Vienna - Budapest

kloncx2

I will definitely post some info once we get back?

kloncx2

Does anyone know if there are any glassblowing classes in Prague or Vienna. We were hoping to do more than just a tour.
Thanks!