Hi all and thanks in advance for any responses...

I will be flying into Frankfurt in the middle of Oct., and be there for 10 days. This will be my first time to Europe and I can't wait. I think I will rent a car and drive around. I would like to stop by Paris too if possible.

Any recs, driving routes, things I must see??? I am also open to going to any other countries in the area, but I don't want to be on the road the entire time!

Thanks again!

Check for sure but I don't think that Brussels is too far. We drove from Rothenburg ODT to Brussels and I seem to recall coming near Frankfurt on the way, but I may be mistaken. I think
Brussels is underrated by most travellers personnally.

Since you will be in Frankfurt for a while, I'd fly from there to some other hus)in another country like Paris or Rome, and then explore that area, either by car or by train.
Or, drive down to the Baden-Baden area, from there to Strasbourg (France) and then you have all of France to drive through. You could end in Paris.

I didn't mean for the little facey thing to show up, what I typed was
"hus)"

that's hubs

We got it, Elaine.

Delphi, you've asked a very general question (which a lot of the regulars around here don't necessarily like to respond to), but I'm not afraid to give you an equally general answer.

Go drive around Alsace & Lorraine, up to the Rhine and Model valleys, see Old Trier, then explore the hills & forests of Luxembourg. That ought to keep you busy for a while. If there's any time left over, check out Reims & the Champagne region in France...or Baden-Baden in Germany.

And my #1 piece of advice...get yourself a good map. Actually, several good Michelin maps. And a compass. Enjoy!

Is there anything in particular you've always wanted to see? Do you have any other obligations or just travel for 10 days? The weather here has definitely turned - the rain and cold are becoming more frequent so I don't know if that would affect your choices? You could drive up to Koln, check out Amsterdam, go to one of my favorite countries, Luxembourg; Belgium, France - they are all very doable in different combinations but so much of it is personal preference and where your interests lie. Personally, I would leave Paris since it is a place where you could spend 10 days alone..

Paris is just too far away. I spent a month in just southern Germany with a touch of Austria. It's such a beautiful country and so many cute towns to see. 10 days is not very much time, especially if it's your first trip. I'd be happy to send you my trip report (e-mail me at [email protected]) just to give you an idea of how much there is to see in Germany. Even if you flew to Paris the last couple of days of your trip you would hardly see enough. I'd save Paris for a separate trip.

Ok, thanks everyone...actually here's more info. for ya.

I'm thinking of skipping France...like everyone says that's too far in 10 days and good for a separate trip I think.

So we'll probably focus on southern Germany.

Here's the thing though...my brother really wants to see Venice. So would it be doable to drive from Frankfurt to Venice...and see sites along the way and then drive back up to Frankfurt? (We fly out of Frankfurt and will rent a car as our mode of transportation).

What would I like to see? Personally I'd like to see Munich, the Black Forest, Dacau, Baden Baden, and I'd love to see some of Austria and Switzerland if possible. I know that's a ton...so if this isn't feesible please let me know. I just figured if we're heading down to Venice....might as well eh?

Maybe not?

Thanks again!

Get thee to a major bookstore and buy yourself a good map of Southern Germany and Northern Italy. Hit the library for some guidebooks if you don't want to purchase them. You will possibly be driving through the Brenner Pass into Italy and you will see plenty of Alps...It is a good day's drive from Bolzano to Venice, and you will be leaving your car parked overnight while you visit Venice. Of course then you must come BACK through the mountains to Germany. You might want to dump the car in Germany and use the train to go to and from Venice. It is also important that you arrange for your car rental BEFORE you leave -- like NOW if you're going in October. It is much less expensive than if you wait until you are there. We've used AutoEurope twice and Hertz once and I'm going back to AutoEurope next time.

How about the train to Italy ? Have you considered "open jaws" air ticket-possibly fly out of Italy instead of going back to Frankfurt ?

Thanks again everyone. I leave soon...on the 16th and I am starting to worry. Is it crazy to try and to all this in 10 days (that's including arrival day and departure day) so actually 8 days of no flying:

Arrive in Frankfurt
Look at castles along Rhine
Take Romantic Road
Visit Munich and possibly Black Forest
Visit Innsbruk and Salzburg
Visit Venice and Florence
Drive back to Frankfurt
Fly home

Is this impossible? Will we be on the road forever???? What do you think and any ideas on what to skip/compress/ out of that?

It is alot to include Venice and Florence. I might suggest driving the first night to Rothenburg, then heading to munich, south to Garmisch, next to lake constance, possibly to Strasbourg and Baden Baden and return to Frankfurt. This is very doable in 10 nights.

What about Austria? Do you think we would have time to go to Salzburg and Innsbruk?

If you were visiting Bavaria, then a trip to Salzburg is doable, but Innsbruck might not be worth the hassle.

I would advise against trying to see Paris, Venice and/or Florence during your trip, unless you really like driving more than anything else. If you try to do it all at once, your memories of this trip will be very thin. Good luck.

Frankly and bluntly, it IS crazy to try to do all that in 8 days!

What's the hurry? When do you plan to enjoy yourselves?

I think you know the answers to your own questions, that you WILL be on the road forever and that it IS impossible!

Forget driving to Innsbruck (dull) and Venice. Just driving around Germany as you are is aggressive enough for the time you have.

If you must see Venice, what about an overnight train from Munich? Maybe arrange to leave your car with your hotel there for 2 nights, then catch the train that leaves Munich in the evening and gets in around 7:00 am in Venice. You would have a whole day for Venice, then take another night train back that night. One day isn't a lot, but if you don't have to hassle with driving, luggage, finding a hotel, etc, it's maybe enough.

On the Rhine, be sure to tour Marksburg Castle in Braubach - the only castle that's intact and does tours at that time, I believe:

www.roadstoruins.com/marksburg.htm

Is Innsbruk really that dull? I heard it was beautiful up in the Alps...if we could pick only 1 city in Austria, what would be the best?