richardab

It sounds like people here perfer Berlin, I may have to take a trip, but I still love Munich and those Bavarian pretzels!

111op

Never been to Munich or the Rhine/Mosel areas, but Berlin is definitely worth a visit. Based on what I've read about Munich, I think that Berlin has more to offer, and it's also interesting to see what the integration between East and West has been like in Berlin.

But if nature visits are also of interest, then I'd imagine that Munich is probably the better choice. I hope to find out soon myself!

richardab

5 hrs on the train isnt so bad considering that for an 1.5 hr flight you may spend 4 hours going to and from and sitting at the airport. make the train an adventure. bring a picnic, book, sleep, have some beer or wine, relax! besides its fun to wach europe go by!

hopscotch

Although you have already decided on Berlin, the Rhine area was pointed out by others. Koeln and Duesseldorf are good cities. Koeln has the Dom. D'dorf has a great Altstadt.

Another option for Munich is to take the CityNightLine train from A'dam. Check it out at http://www.ns.nl/international/inter.../CityNightLine
You'll save a night of hotel expense and a day of travel, plus city center to city center service. For a big German city Muenchen is more pleasant and laid back than Berlin, which is sort of the NYC of Germany.

Wesch

Richardab - clearly you've never sat on a train for 5.5 hours with a very energetic 2-year-old!! : )

Re: Priceline - I have been on biddingfortravel.com and am pretty familiar with how it all works. I have shyed away from PL, mainly b/c of the cancellation policy, but with the great deals people are reporting, it is very tempting. I am a control freak, though, so not knowing exactly where I'm going to be put is a bit disconcerting for me. : ) Maybe I should ease my way into it and try it for a one-night stay somewhere.

Fernweh-thanks for the info...hadn't heard of Basiq Air...will check it out. How far is Rotterdam from Amsterdam, anyway?

Thanks all!

Fernweh

The travel time between Amsterdam and Rotterdam is only one hour by train.
Also check www.basiqair.com for specials.

Wesch

OK...I've got the Amsterdam portion done, and I think we will take Basiq Air to get to Berlin.

NOW -- we would need to return to Geneva airport (our car will be there) after our trip. I started looking at flights, and found none on the budget airlines (I have a few more places to look, but at first try, nothing). Then I started thinking more about this train option, and how we might be able to work in a stop in Leimersheim. That is where my husband's ancestors are from. Leimersheim is pretty far from Berlin, almost to the French border! I have been on the german train site, but it's somewhat confusing (especially for someone who still knows very little about Germany!). Any thoughts/recommendations??

My hubby might say that the train for that long is simply not do-able with our daughter, and that would probably be correct. Just trying to explore all options at this point.

Thanks for all your help.

Ingo

No idea about flights Berlin - Geneva.

But for trains you might have a look at the night train called CityNightLine (Berliner) which runs Berlin - Zurich (via Basel). The train leaves Berlin in the evening and arrives Basel at 8 or 9 am where you can change for Geneva. (plus another 2 hours).

The ride in the CityNightLine train (in a plane-like chair) is available from 29 Euro on (if booked in advance).

www.citynightline.ch
www.rail.ch (for Basel-Geneva)

ingrid

Having travelled with both my kids extensively, I would second the train. True, 2 years is still a little young to appreciate a train, but you're not just sitting around. You can walk through the whole train, visit the restaurant car, take a nap, look out of the window, see cows, cars waiting to let the train pass, etc. Plus, you will start and end your trip both times in the middle of the cities so no long schlepping to the airports.

Carrabella

Dear Wesch,
I've flown several times from Amsterdam to Cologne (where we have relies)on flights started from Australia.
Check out www.ryanair.com - my nephew in Cologne has bought flights to London for next to nothing from this site.
I'll be spending three weeks in Cologne in June-July, and I know there is enough just there to keep me happy! It's a fantastic city, with friendly funny people,who adore kids.In Feb. the Karnival season is as mad and as colourful as Rio de Janiero.
For your child, the Chocolate Museum on the Rhine, with its chocolate fountain would be fun.
The walk across the railway bridge behind the Dom is great for kids too - you've never seen so many different trains. The Hauptbahnhof in Koeln (Cologne) is Europe's busiest, and all trains go over this bridge.

mitchdesj

There are a lot of international trade fairs held in Dusseldorf, if you head that way, enquire about the dates of major trade shows , I know my dh is going to Drupa fair in may and it doubles the prices of hotels for that time.... people reserve years ahead of time
and it literally paralyzes traffic and restaurants....