Hello again Fodors forums - always appreciate your amazing insights and knowledge.

Would appreciate your review of my December itinerary travelling to Europe - most of it is locked in/booked but appreciate any feedback on any component. I generally don't travel at this time of year (normally in European summer) - but will be joining family for a portion of it.

Generally I try and avoid one night stays at locations - so, aside from the first night, all nights are two, with three in Prague. Most travel is planned on trains, except for a bus from Munich to Prague (as I've read that the ALX isn't so good, and the bus seems a comfortable option here). For our brief stay in Slovenia (Ljubljana), I imagine we would want to do a day tour to Lake Bled, as it looks spectacular, although we don't have a lot of time in Ljubljana itself.

Thanks in advance for any comments

Day 1 (03 Dec): Arrive Venice at 7am (long flight from Sydney) - travel straight to Tirano (Hotel Stelvio)
Day 2 (04 Dec): Catch Bernina Express to St Moritz; then to Pontresina (Hotel Albris)
Day 3 (05 Dec): Pontresina
Day 4 (06 Dec): Travel to Munich (train)
Day 5 (07 Dec): Munich
Day 6 (08 Dec): RegioJet Bus to Prague
Day 7 (09 Dec): Prague
Day 8 (10 Dec): Prague
Day 9 (11 Dec): Travel to Vienna (train)
Day 10 (12 Dec): Vienna
Day 11 (13 Dec): Travel to Ljubljana (transport TBC - probably train)
Day 12 (14 Dec): Ljubljana - possible day tour to Lake Bled
Day 13 (15 Dec): Travel to Venice
Day 14 (16 Dec): Venice
Day 15 (17 Dec): Leave to fly home

My goodness, this is one fast-paced trip! Honestly, it’s not a trip I would take, as you will be spending such a high proportion of your time in transit and so little actually seeing the things that these places offer. And BTW, I say that as someone known for traveling hard!

Only 1 day for Pontresina? I’d want at least 2 or 3 just for that part of Switzerland; more to see some of the surrounding area that could (at least in theory) be visited as day trips from there.

Only 1 day for Munich? I thought 4 days insufficient for my purposes.

Same with Prague.

And Vienna.

You might be able to see the highlights of Ljubljana and Lake Bled in one very full day … no guarantees on that!

Only 1 day for Venice? Yikes!

Your trip, your call….

For Munich, Prague and Vienna, I am travelling with others - so I don't have the flexibility to change that itinerary. It's two nights in Munich, three in Prague, and two in Vienna - but appreciate that between locations, it's 1/2 a day travel time - so only one "full" day Munich and Vienna, two full days Prague, one full day Pontresina, etc.

While I am normally a slow traveller also, this oddly does seem adequate for me.

I could potentially cancel the Ljubljana portion and go straight to Venice to have more time there.

I'm all about keeping things moving on a trip, and usually spend 3 nights at each location, and still catch flack for that on this site. Be prepared for a lot of pushback. Usually the places we want to travel to require at least two days. If you only stay two nights, you're often arriving in the evening, spending one day at the location, and getting ready to head out the next morning. I know you say things are booked, but I'd seriously consider trying to tweak a bit, even if you lost some $$ on hotel adjustments.

Here is just a suggestion, not knowing what items are must haves vs nice to haves for you. You could drop Munich, and fly from Zurich to Prague on cheap Euro airline, then drop Vienna and fly from Prague to Ljubljana (hidden jewel we only discovered last year) on another cheap Euro airline. Spend more time in a few less places and plan to come back again. Now this does assume you can add hotel nights to the cities you extend.

Your goal is to enjoy the places you go, and I just think you're moving around too much to be able to do that fully.

EDIT: And now I just saw your response, making my suggested edits not possible. You'll still have a great time seeing all the sights, you'll just need to come back again to slow down a bit. Seeing that cancelling Ljub is the only thing possible, I'd do that and save for another trip. Slovenia is incredible and Ljub easily worth 3 days, one day in the city, one day to Lake Bled and one day to the caves to the south.

Not sure what we can do to help you /advice we can give since you say most of it is already locked in. IMO/IME this is way (waaaaaaay) too fast. You have lots of 4, 5, 6 hour travel days so basically one day in most of those places

" . . . although we don't have a lot of time in Ljubljana itself." - nor almost anywhere else.

And in the winter no less . . . with the very short days, potentially some vile weather at least in some places, and potential transport delays.

Seriously?
I have no idea what you want in a trip.
Or why you sought input.
I wish you well, but I'm out.

I should clarify - all but the last hotel in Venice is refundable.

My partner is very keen on seeing the Swiss Alps hence that part. And Munich / Prague / Vienna is a leg with family.

I can cancel Slovenia and spend more time in Vienna or Venice.

I appreciate the advice - I understand some of the travel days are long days and, although I love trains, maybe be a little tiresome.

Perhaps four nights in Venice at the end would be more relaxing

You don’t need to be rude.

Thanks for the advice. I will review cancelling Ljub and extending either Vienna and Venice a night, or two more nights Venice at the end - so it’s not so rushed.

No rudeness intended. Just a response. As I said, I wish you well.

Thank you. I generally respect your advice on this forum as a regular contributor.

I am already looking to modify my plans.

Thank you! And good luck with your effort to modify these plans.