Seeking Advice For Time In Europe

We go on a river cruise yearly or at least every other year. We either extend pre or post cruise for time on our own, but we no longer rent a car- we use the train all the time now. River cruises are easy and we love them. We learn so much on the morning excursions- esp if you take a line like Tauck or Uniworld that is all inclusive and gives you a true tour of the town with history, cathedrals, surprises, etc. Many river cruises only give you a town orientation and only a little bit of a tour. Touring via river cruises or on your own are VERY different. It really depends on what you want. We also tend to like the towns along the Danube over the ones along the Rhine as you mentioned doing. We've been on most all the lines and our order of preference is Tauck, Scenic, Uniworld (those are all inclusive incl all transfers, tips, excursions, history, port charges, unlimited alcohol, and the best food), AMA, Avalon, Viking, Gate 1.

It is nice to unpack once. You could always do a week long cruise and extend pre or post on your own like we do.

We do love Lucerne. Strasbourg and the Alsace region is also stunning. Whatever you decide will be amazing. If you choose an all inclusive line like Tauck, you will learn and see a lot !!

Happy Planning.

Thank you for your reply. The unpacking once idea is definitely a big plus. I love that everything is basically cared for. One of my concerns (warranted or not) is missing out of the food and sights. The River cruise has some in the itinerary but you need to pick and choose based on the availability time. Looks like most of the time we need to be back on the ship for dinner/sailing. In your experience, is spending around 3-4 days around the Alsace villages to much? We were going to use Kayersberg as a home base. From there take a day to Strasbourg.

I'm a fan of immersion, but I think that driving adds complexity to what will already be a life-changing trip for you. My recommendation would be to do it yourself but plan an itinerary that takes advantage of the tremendous rail system in Europe.

What is this "unpack once" thing you speak of?

Perhaps I'm doing it wrong. I actually do unpack once, too: When I get home. 😎

Seriously, is everyone else actually unpacking their bags when they get to Venice, repacking 3 days later when they move on to Florence, unpacking there, then repacking two days later when they head for Rome, etc., etc.? Pack/unpack every time you move on? Seems like that would be a lot of time wasted - I could put that time to better use eating gelato...

All kidding aside, this is an area of Europe that would seem to be perfectly optimized for rail travel. There are definitely places where I think it's nice to have a car (and I have driven around some of the places mentioned above) but it's probably not an ideal "road trip" region IMHO.

FWIW, I'm headed to Alsace for a few days this coming September, and rail travel there looks pretty appealing to me for hooking together destinations. Specifically, to get out to/from/between the Wine Towns near Colmar, I'm planning to take the shuttle bus, rather than driving or taking the train (I will be taking the train from Strasbourg to Colmar, then on to Switzerland). I love me a good road trip as much as anyone, and I am not shy about driving overseas, but in every place mentioned above, I'd be thinking train train train (though not unpacking and repacking so much). Of course, do what you feel is best for your style, but for me, trains seem ideal for stringing together destinations there.

Thank you AbbyO and David. I think the unpack once was in reference to a river cruise:)

Is driving in France much more stressful than in the US? I thought having a car in the Alsace villages would be generally more flexible. Sounds like I might mistaken. I see post on this forum that go both ways regarding car rentals. Some say it’s better while others agree with you both. The rail system does look great. Are there a lot of travelers using the system with suitcases in tow?

That depends if you only have ten days. You wont see many places in ten days on your own. If you have more time, then yes you can see more and spend more time at each place you visit. If you only have ten days, the cruise will take you a long way, and since cruising is mostly at night, it's efficient.

If you take the cruise, look at how much the extension costs versus doing it on your own. We did Luzern on our own for 1/3 the cost of the cruise's optional extension. And yes they worked with us on return flights.

Is driving in France much more stressful than in the US?

Generally, no, not really. But it depends on where specifically in France. Driving in New York City? Fuggedaboudt! Driving in Paris? Mon dieu, non merci! (I've done it a couple of times, I found it quite stressful). Normandy, the Loire Valley - a drivers paradise. In general, driving in the old historic centers of almost any city (even small cities) can be challenging - the streets were narrow back in the middle ages, and still are, but now they're crowded too (and often illegal to drive through).

I thought having a car in the Alsace villages would be generally more
flexible. Sounds like I might mistaken.

Again, that depends. Rural areas can be an absolute delight to drive around. And getting between towns should be no problem, the issues are when you reach your (popular) destination. But if you're in the wine country, especially during "wine festival" season, expect it may (probably will) be crowded in places. And besides, you like wine? When you start sampling any, pretty quickly you're done driving for the day. Along the Route du Vins (around Colmar, just south of Strasbourg), I figure I'll let someone else do the driving, and I'll sample the local produce.

Are there a lot of travelers using the system with suitcases in tow?

Well, suitcases...big, hard-sided, classic Samsonite monoliths? I think most people have figured out that smaller, more forgiving containers make for easier travels. But yes, of course, you'll see plenty of tourists (French tourists and international visitors) on the trains with some sorts of bags. You'll see people moving smoothly and comfortably with their small, light bags, and you'll see others who are very obviously still in the process of learning the advantages of traveling light as they struggle with big, heavy, awkward steamer trunks...

Car rentals are neither inherently good nor bad. It mostly depends on where you are trying to go, and other variables. Some places are easier/harder, more/less efficient if you have your own car (for example: I think Normandy, or western Ireland are easier/more efficient by car, because the public transit systems there are not efficient for tourists; along the Rhine, or in Switzerland and much of Italy, trains are perfectly fine, easy, efficient). There are always exceptions. Personally, I pick and choose the best ways to get around based on my needs, preferences and what's available, often combining both car and rail on the same trip. To connect the places you mentioned (Amsterdam, Basel, Strasbourg, Lucerne) I'd take advantage of the fine rail systems in all those places. The only places mentioned where I would look elsewhere would the "wine villages" and in that case, those are popular enough that there are dedicated services set up to take people (people who have been drinking...) around them.

The rail system does look great.

It is - in some places. One quickly comes to appreciate that! In those places where it's not, there are other options.

I hear you on the food. I responded above about the RiverCruises. Again, if you go with TAUCK - you will not miss that. They have the BEST European breakfast of all the lines. Lunch is often in the towns. Dinner is all regional specialties with lots of choices (plus, you can always get chicken, steak, fish, etc) - but the main menu is regional of where you are and the dining is 5 star. Plus - when you are in the towns, you will get amazing excursions full of history - as good as if you hired a private guide for the day as they use the local guides. We have been on all the lines and we never feel as if we aren't immersed in the town when we go on the better lines. Again - we always add time pre or post cruise. You will see the highlights of a new town each day and see and learn a lot. We always arrive a few days early to see stuff on our own. When it's over, we typically stay one day where the cruise ends and then take a train to somewhere else- our goal it to get to a town with a big international airport to get a direct flight home. Scenic and Uniworld are similar to the Tauck experience, but we find the excursions, food, and surprises along the way best with Tauck. You really can't go wrong with whatever you decide. Once you travel with Tauck, you get a FREE pre or post night hotel also. All transfers to airport, hotel, train station are included with the all inclusive lines like Tauck, Scenic, Uniworld.

And since you've never been to Europe - I highly suggest you buy the RS book EUROPE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR - it is on this site, but sometimes cheaper on Amazon - you will learn all about how to get money out, how to use a CC, how to use the train.

Also, here on the site, go to the TRAVEL TIPS SECTION and read everything.

Thank you all for your detailed responses. Very helpful. One last question on river cruises. If one buys the CFAR, and the river cruise is modified due to high/low water, can you get your money back if you decide to back out? I realize that it’s a last minute call sometimes, but I would rather go to plan B on my own, versus being bussed around. I couldn’t find an answer to this specific scenario on the forum. Hopefully this makes sense.

River cruises are wonderful and you don't have to change hotels, find parking, etc., however, they can be expensive.

Still, doing a Rhine or Danube cruise can be super.

Renting a car in France or Germany is not a big deal, except that if you rent in one country and drop it in another, you will pay a lot.

Also, renting a car in Italy usually results in a large ticket that you get in the mail after you get home.

One of my concerns (warranted or not) is missing out of the food and
sights

Our first European adventure was an ocean cruise in 2014 and it was he right decision at the time for us. I was concerned though of the lack of time in each port, but a friend gave me very good advice. He said there was no use stressing because there are pros and cons to all methods of travel and to enjoy it for what it is; a snapshot of various places. He said to make a list of what you liked a plan for future, longer trips to those locations...and so we did.

If you get the CFAR insurance and you don't want to go because of water levels, then I would imagine you could cancel, but that's a question for your insurance provider. We've been on a few cruises with water level issues and it didn't change our trip at all. We still saw everything and sometimes more as we were put up in 5 star hotels in the towns for a night or 2. It typically is only for 1-2 days, till they can get you around the bad areas. We have had both too high and too low levels of water. We are also always compensated by the river cruise line very appropriately when this has happened. We've never missed a town or a stop. And the motorcoaches are super nice.

The train system throughout Europe is far superior in general to what we're used to in the US. As a first-time traveler in Europe, I think it would be much simpler for you to use the trains or local shuttles than to drive yourself if you don't do the cruise. Speaking from experience, the driving directions, figuring out the local traffic signals & rules, finding parking, figuring out where to get gas all can add to the adventure, but also add stress. So does getting that parking ticket once home (as someone else also flagged; not understanding the signage meant we parked illegally in Italy). The trains run frequently, you can hop on the next train if a village is less interesting than you hoped and explore the next one. You'll do more walking than if you have a car, but you want to have good walking shoes anyway (cobblestones). You'll have a great experience - both Strasbourg and Lucerne are beautiful!