For a 2 week trip which countries would you recommend and why...Germany and Switzerland or Germany and Austria. I have been to germany before and must fly into munich, but have not been to the other countries. I like a mixture of cities and country and want to spend 2-3 days in a mountain resort or village

I would choose Austria over Switzerland. Switzerland is beautiful, but I believe Austria is just as beautiful (if not more so), but less expensive and less "modernized". I also think the food is better and more diverse in Austria than Switzerland. You really cannot go wrong with either choice! Happy travels.

people will probably yell at me for this..<BR>but i found switzerland a bit boring..<BR>unless you are really into skiing or whatever..<BR>and the juicy-history-factor is just not there like it is with austria and germany.<BR>go to austria.<BR>vienna is amazing..<BR>i'm going there this march. for the third time.<BR>and i haven't even been to paris yet.

I had been leaning to Germany/Austria. I was thinking of spending 1 night in munich?, then 2 nights in Salzburg, one night Melk, 3 nights Vienna, 1-2 nights Hallstadt, 2 nights around Innsbruck area, 2 nights around Fussen area, and 2-3 nights Munich. Would you change anything? How about the number of nights. Any other places I should stay??

Connie, see my response to your other thread re where to stay, etc.

My vote is for Germany. It offers so much. you can visit the quaint villages in Bavaria, hike the Black Forest, tour ancient casltes, shop in Munich, Heidelberg. The food in S. Germany is fantastic! The Bodensee offers fun cruises, water sports, beaches...<BR>The architecture is what intriques me. I love the half-timbered centuries old buildings.<BR>Mittenwald or Fussen is a lovely mountain retreat.

Living in Vienna and prior to that Munich I have visited all the places you have referred to in your itinerary and think it is a very good one. Perhaps no need to spend a night in Melk - very pretty and if you want to visit the monastery maybe worth staying, but it is only a couple of hours away from Salzburg - perhaps visit there for lunch and mid afternoon then on to Hallstatt - depends also on how much driving you want in any day. Berchtesgarden is also a place you could consider -perhaps replacing Innsbruck as that routing may also be adding miles you may not really want and though some nice countryside (Otztal valley has some specatacualr scenery)Innsbruck I think is a bit behind Salzburg and Vienna from tourism point of view. Ann's comment re Bodensee/Lake Constance is very valid - Lindau is very pretty. Karen is right re:cost of Switzerland, but my wife spent a week recently in Lausanne and felt the food there (although expensive) was of a general quality definitely superior to Vienna - we have eaten well here, but also would have to say 3 of the worst 5 meals I have ever eaten have been here with the other two being Tashkent! Hotels to check out in F&uuml;ssen - Hotel Alpenblick on Hopfensee just outside F&uuml;ssen and Parkhotel in Bad Faulenbach area (like a suburb of F&uuml;ssen). Both have web sites.

I was thinking if we spent 3 nights in Salzburg we could do a afternoon trip to Berchtesgarden. Maybe I should also just stay an extra night in Vienna and take a boat down to Krem and Melk.I wanted to do a bike ride, but if we are in Vienna i could pick the best day weather wise to do that. Do you like Fussen, Reutte or the Garmish area better to stay in??

topping

My vote - Germany/Austria.<BR><BR>I would spend more time in Vienna and perhaps skip Salzburg. Some of the day trips from Munich are great - Dachau, Chimesea (SP?), Garmisch, etc. are all worth some time. <BR><BR>I really wish I had more time to spend in Vienna - the opera, the museums, the food, the pastries - aahh!<BR><BR>Switzerland, although charming, would be third place on my itinerary.

Why do you say skip Salzburg?

Connie - <BR><BR>I would not skip Salzburg. It is a beautiful city and a really fun city to visit. But, I tend to like the smaller cities better than long stays in the larger ones. Of course, I also like smaller, local restaurants over the fancy, expensive ones. An expensive, fancy restaurant over there seems the same to me as eating in an expensive restaurant in the states. I just really enjoy finding the local ambience.

Have you thought about MUnich,Melk,Vienna and then drive into Slovenia.Slovenia is close to Vienna and is a beautiful country,very inexpensive,friendly people.You cab drive from Vienna to the middle of Slovenia in 4 hours.From the JuliaN Alps you can drive back into Austria or into Italy which is better.3 hours to Venice.

Well, I just found some reasonable tickets. We will be flying round trip to Munich and have 16 nights. Now I really have to start planning.

Connie,<BR><BR>16 days can give you one heck of a trip to Gremany. Having been there six times, I can ofer an itnererary that might make sense.<BR><BR>1. Munich 6 days (one day sidetrip to Salzburg)(one day sidetrip to Fussen and Neuschwanstein) (one day Dachau)<BR><BR>2. Strasburg France (two days)<BR><BR>4. Alsasce wine area and Trier (twoone days)<BR><BR>5. Cruise, drive or train down up the mosel to Coblenz. (one day)<BR><BR>6. Cruise, drive or train the Rhien to cologne (one day)<BR><BR>7. Cologne to Rothenburg ob Der Tober (two days)<BR><BR>8. Romatic Strasse (Augsburg, Nuenrburg, Regensburg) (one day)<BR><BR>9. Munich and return home<BR><BR>US

I would reccomend Austria over Switzerland, especially if you are traveling to and from Munich. If you want breathtaking mountains.. take the train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck... Wow!