Two week Europe itenirary help

Old Dec 17th, 2017, 06:28 PM
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Two week Europe itenirary help

Hey guys!
Just arrived back from our two weeks in Scotland, London and Paris! We are planning for next year and we know that we will be going in the winter and I need help determining which countries make sense for the two weeks we will be there (thanksgiving onwards). So far, we know we want to go to Amsterdam, Brussels, Germany. We also have considered Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Germany. Here’s what I am confused about, currency, train routes and realistic duration we would need in each country. We really also wanted to do Ireland but it seems it’s so far out by itself that it’s hard to get to other countries, we don’t mind going to Paris again but it’s quite a bit of travel from Ireland to Paris then other countries. As always, we will have our almost 5 year old ( by then) with us, she’s used to traveling as we have done three countries on our last trip and did Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome earlier this year. Thanks
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Old Dec 17th, 2017, 06:47 PM
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No need to consider Ireland as an outlier. There are cheap flights from Ireland to the continent with Ryanair. Keep in mind that many of this airlines airports are outlier; for example, the airline does not fly to Vienna but to Bratislava which is about 30 km. from Vienna.
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Old Dec 17th, 2017, 07:26 PM
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are there luggage restrictions? We travel with one carry-on and a backpack each. That’s my only worry that they’re going to say we have too much luggage and charge me extra fees.
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Old Dec 17th, 2017, 07:40 PM
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They are strict on luggage, and they charge for luggage in the hold. But even with that, the total cost tends to be lower than with other airlines. Best would be to check their site. Another possibility is Easyjet.
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Old Dec 17th, 2017, 07:55 PM
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None of those are places I would be wild about visiting in late November, unless you are into Christmas markets, in which case I would look at Austria and Germany. Otherwise I would head south of the Alps.
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Old Dec 18th, 2017, 12:13 PM
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Does Germany need to be explored on its own? Being that it’s such a big country and 5-6 nights may not be enough?
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Old Dec 18th, 2017, 01:19 PM
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Of course to see much of 'Germany' you'd need a few weeks but 5-6 days you can easily see parts close to Benelux - hit some Christmas Markets but you could easily go to say Berlin or Munich and spend the whole time and fly out of one of those.

If trains book long-distance German train tickets at www.bahn.de/en for nice discounts over full walk-up fares. Don't think discounts much available on Belgian or Dutch trains except high-speed Thalys trains you do not have to take.

For everything you want to know about trains in those countries: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

There is a Benelux-Germany Railpass too that may be of interest as you seem to be taking so many trains but would not be worth it unless going deep into Germany. 20% off before end of year however.

Bruges even in November may be a great base for a few days - hop over to Gent by train for a day. Antwerp is not a dreamy old city but one with fascinating turn-of-century architecture and in many ways a fascinating city.

Dreamy Bruges: https://www.google.com/search?q=brug...w=1920&bih=949
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Old Dec 18th, 2017, 04:33 PM
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"starzizzle on Dec 18, 17 at 4:13pm

Does Germany need to be explored on its own? Being that it’s such a big country and 5-6 nights may not be enough?"

Patience zizzle - the force is strong in you.....

I have been to Germany 13 times and, health willing, will more than double that before I depart. So, no, I guess 5-6 days is not enough but you don't have to do it all at once.

You have travelled in winter in northern Europe so you know what you are doing in that regard. I suggest you decide how long you want to stay in any one place (2 nights? 3? 4?), how far you want to travel between overnight places 1-2 hours by train? 3? Car? Plane?) and then identify places that interest you that fit within your personal style and desires. Is it Munich, or Berlin, or a smaller city that fires you up in Germany?

If you really want to see Prague, then Berlin and Dresden fit in nicely. If it is Vienna, then Munich and Salzburg, or Budapest if you stretch east.

Amsterdam fits nicely with Brugge but involve some distance travel to reach the more popular parts of Germany.

My suggestion is pick a few places you really want to see and then strat filling in the gaps to make it work.
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Old Dec 18th, 2017, 05:08 PM
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It really depends on what you want to see. I think when you move around to so many places you can only really see a few (touristy) sites. You can do that with 3-4 days in each city but it's like a sampler and hopefully you'll return to visit for a longer duration next time. I went to Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, Prague, Dresden, and Berlin during a 4-week trip. I was much younger then and it was a fast trip. Lots of train time and moving around but I liked the pace.

Here are a couple of trip reports I wrote:
Amsterdam and Brussels
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2014/...th-africa.html

Germany (Munich, Dresden, and Berlin)
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...nd-berlin.html

Czech Republic (Prague)
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...utna-hora.html

Austria (Salzburg and Vienna)
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...nd-vienna.html

Hungary (Budapest)
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...d-amusing.html

Hope they help with planning!
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Old Dec 18th, 2017, 06:36 PM
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Lindygurl, I so agree with you! When we went to parts of Italy and now Scotland and Paris, it was like sampling the places I would visit in the future for couple weeks at a time, for instance I will definitely go to Paris again but stay in a less central location just to get the feel of the city more, Scotland, I’m not sure... maybe if I had more days to explore I would have enjoyed it more but husband fell in love wirh it. So yeah, couple days in each city definitely gives you the feel of whether you will visit again or not, generally I try to stay atleast 3 nights in each city I visit. I also like the pace and 2-3 hour train rides don’t bother me as it gives you a chance to soak in the scenery.
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