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Vienna and more questions

Have an opportunity to sing in a chorale in Vienna Oct. 24, 25. Both days are pretty full with group breakfast, rehearsal and performance. With their plan, arrive Oct. 23 and depart Oct. 26. This is our second visit to Vienna. Would like to stay one, two or three more days to see more than the first time.

On our first trip to Europe, we spent 3 nights in Vienna; 1 in Villach; then went on to Berchtesgaden, Germany; Venice, Montepulciano, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Orvieto, Lucca, Moncalieri, Italy; then St. Martin de la Cloze, Beaune and Paris, France for a total of 29 days. We have since spent about a month in France. on another trip, as well as time in England and Ireland.

Am thinking of spending time on this trip in earlier October, and am considering Saltzburg, Belgium, Luxembourg, other parts of Germany, Prague, lower Italy, possibly Sardinia. I think husband will be good with only about 3 to 3.5 weeks there, unless I can squeeze four.

Our first trip was with a private tour guide the whole time. (whew) On other trips, we have done some driving ourselves or booked private drivers to the cities and private tour guides.

I need suggestions as to where is best to go with these ideas, what countries and cities are practical to get to; how to travel---should we do some of our own driving or get a guide? We do not speak any of the languages. I think trains would be a little hard for me as I have arthritis and am concerned about carrying luggage.

Help is needed.

Posted by
927 posts

Saltzburg, Belgium, Luxembourg, other parts of Germany, Prague, lower
Italy, possibly Sardinia.

My thoughs...fly into Brussles and then day-trip via train, car or tour guide aound Belgium. On to Luxembourg. Then on to Germany, Salzburg, and on to your commitment in Venna. After Vienna, head to Prague. After Prague, head south to Italy and Sardinia.

I use trains, so can't say much about cars and/or drivers. There have been posts on this site about cars, tours and drivers, so I suggest some searching. You can also post again with a specific request about tours and drivers, etc.

Posted by
29174 posts

If your stops are primarily major cities, trains will get you from place to place a lot faster than a car and you won't have to deal with big-city traffic and parking issues. A car is really better suited to a slower trip, one covering less territory than you appear to be contemplating and focused on moseying along from one small town to the next. You could easily spend every bit of your extra time just in Italy or just in France, which would make better use of a car and avoid the dreaded, exorbitant international drop charge nearly always incurred when you pick up a car in one country and drop it in another.

I can see that arthritis could be an issue when traveling by train. Perhaps others will have suggestions for mitigating its impact.

Posted by
5138 posts

Look for package tours from highline companies like Tauck and see what they do. Copy and edit.

Do not get a car in Europe. Even with arthritis you should be OK with trains since everyone in the know packs lightly and with wheels.