Getting ready to book my next years RS tour. Planning the late June Best of Eastern Europe. Tour starts in Prague and ends in Lake Bled. Right now plans are to arrive in Prague 3-4 days early and leave 1-2 days after the tour. Considering Munich then train or short flight. Also Amsterdam as we know the airport well. Frankfurt and Zurich also in the running. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks.
If it doesn't matter to you and you plan on taking either a train or flight to Prague, I would just fly into whichever city you can find the best airfare to. All of your option cities are great and you will certainly be able to see and explore nice places in them. I went on this tour two years ago, it is wonderful.
I would say the best airport is where your trip starts - in your case Prague. Otherwise fly direct to Europe whichever city you can get without change of planes, see it and go from there to Prague. In my case (Seattle) my choices would be: London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam. But there is enough to see and do and then some in Prague in 3 to 4 days.
Just a crazy idea, but fly into Prague and out of Ljubljana?
We did exactly what Emily suggests last August for this wonderful tour; fly into Prague and out of Ljubljana. Both airports are relatively small and easily maneuvered. Our guide arranged shared rides from Lake Bled into Ljubljana for those either leaving right away from the airport or staying on in Ljubljana. I do recommend staying a few extra days in Ljubljana since you won’t be spending much time there on the tour. I’ve been there a couple of times and it has definitely won my heart! Also, consider arriving in Prague a day or two earlier so as to be rested up for the start of your tour and just because Prague is also a very special city! Enjoy your tour!
We do plan to arrive at least 3 if not 4 days early in Prague and spend 1-2 days before we leave. We did a VIT tour last year and the Best of Scandinavia this year and both trips and before and after stays.
Thanks for the quick replies.
I had the same question as Mark. We were thinking of flying in to someplace like Frankfurt and taking the train to Prague, just to see some of the countryside. However, it looks like a ten-hour train ride, which might be just a little too long.
Besides the very obvious choice of flying into Prague and out of Ljubljana, has anyone else done more like what Mark is suggesting? Just wondering about what airports are a shorter train ride away, but still interesting scenery.
Prior to our EE tour this summer, we flew into Vienna and spent 5 days there. Then we took the CK Shuttle to Cesky Krumlov, spent one night there, and took a bus to Prague. The stop in Cesky Krumlov spared us a long day in transit, and it was a lovely break between our time in the busier cities.
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...
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If you are going to visit Prague,I would fly into Prague, nice airport with a short ride to town.
Mike
I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions. I selected a UA / Lufthansa flight from SFO Via Frankfurt to Prague for my outbound flight and a UA return flight from Munich. We plan to visit family who live near Munich before we head home.
Thanks again. Last bits are the train to Munich and where to stay.
Happy Travels!
At the end of our Eastern Europe trip we took the train to Munich. It was very relaxing and we arrived refreshed. There were 4 of us (2 couples) and we stayed 3 days in Munich at Pension Lindner. I think her name was Marion, was very friendly and helpful. The rooms were very clean and comfy. On our final day we had an early flight so the day before we notified her that we would be gone before breakfast hour started. She started 1/2 early so that we could eat before we left. I would stay there again without hesitation.
We went to the University in Munich to see the very small museum to "The White Rose" Sophie Scholl and her brother, a professor and I think some other students started a resistance movement against the Nazis. The museum is small, one room and when we were there it was free. There was a jug on the desk for donations. It was well done, and informative.
Lots of pictures and captions. I had not heard of this group before, but have now read online about them. It was something different to see and did not take a lot of time.
Have a great trip
Mimi
