Hello all!
My mother and I are making the final plans for our trip this September. Before anyone says anything, we will be in Munich a day or so before Oktoberfest, not during. We are renting a car for the entire Germany and Austria portion, then taking the train to Venice from Salzburg. We are not sure if we want to spend 2 or 3 full days in Venice or not, so advice is appreciated on where we could trim time off. I have driven in Germany before and found it much more relaxing that driving here in Dallas (it's still the lawless Wild West on the roads here) so I'm not worried about that at all!
Here's our itinerary
Monday: flight out of DFW
Tuesday: arrive Frankfurt 9am, rent car and drive to Rothenburg (arrive by 2). Possible quick nap then Night Watchman Tour (we've done the quick nap before and it hasn't hurt us)
Wednesday: stay in Rothenburg through lunch, then drive to Munich
Thursday: walking tour of Munich
Friday: morning at Dachau, then drive to King's Castles area (not sure if we could fit more in to this day like a quick stop at the Ettal Monastery, etc. It's a 1.5 hour drive from Dachau to Oberammergau
Saturday: Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein, and Linderhof
Sunday: Oberammergau and possible alpine coaster, then drive to Salzburg (about 2 hours)
Monday: Salzburg
Tuesday: Berchtesgaden/Salzburg
Wednesday: train to Venice
Thursday: St Marks, Doges, Campaneli, gondola ride, dinner
Friday: Accademia area, maybe trip to one of the islands, explore canals
Saturday: flight home