England Scotland Ireland or Germany Switzer Austria

Both offer food, history, tour opportunities, and tremendous culture - ancient and modern.

If this could be a tie-breaker, would driving on the left side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right, as you’d find in the British Isles, make a difference?

Both would seem to offer things to match your interests. Are your children learning German and want to practice their language skills or would they be happier speaking English? Three countries in as many weeks is going to be a quick visit whichever you pick.

Is budget a consideration? Switzerland is eye wateringly expensive. You would need separate vignettes to drive in Switzerland and Austria. It would be easier to hire a separate car for Ireland. Driving on the other side of the road is a non issue - I have driven hundreds of times in mainland Europe and America, which is on the wrong side of the road for me and it’s not a problem. Driving a manual if you are used to an automatic is more of an issue, so ensure you book accordingly.

Three weeks for three countries is very little time particular if driving. You're going to be spending much of your time in the car and if you want to be efficient with the use of your time then much of the driving will be along motorways which don't offer much in the way of views. I would be inclined to spend most of the three weeks concentrating primarily on England with a foray into Scotland. Somewhere like York can easily consume three days, likewise Edinburgh. A well preserved castle can occupy at least half a day and then you have to factor in meals, driving to the next destination, parking etc. I just think it's an expensive way to experience very little.

I could easily spend a week in Cornwall and still only scratch the surface and that's that just a very small part of England. I've driven to Derby from Portsmouth and back in a day just to have lunch with some relatives, a drive of about 3 1/2 hours each way if traffic is favourable and returning via the Cotswolds (which was simply a drive straight through some of the villages without stopping) and that's pretty much a day done. A couple of hours visiting family and the rest of the time driving, primarily motorways. To travel such a distance and be able to stop and visit places, have a tour etc will take significantly longer.

I've spent whole weekends exploring Berlin, Munich, Heidleberg, the Black Forest and that's without travelling anywhere between cities/towns (except the Black Forest) so to envisage a week spent visiting just those four places would be extremely rushed and very frustrating. Germany itself needs at least three weeks to make a visit anywhere near meaningful.

We lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years while working for the US Army from 87-91. Also, we have visited the UK and Ireland several times.

We love the British Isles as well as the Germany/Austria/Switzerland area.

The Alpine region that includes Switzerland, a bit of southern Germany, Austria, northern Italy and a bit of SE France is special, but the Scottish Highlands or Wales is special as well.

Don't be deterred from picking Britain because of driving on the left. British drivers are polite and not aggressive. Germany drivers are a bit aggressive, but follow the rules of the road.

Switzerland is very expensive, probably from 50%-75% more expensive than Germany or Austria.

I suggest purchasing guidebooks for Great Britain and Germany before you make a decision. In any event, you can always go back and do the other if you don't pick it.

Here is our 4 week drive tour of S. Wales and England, with details.
28 days in Britain and Celebrity Eclipse home
https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=599139

welcome back, dlallenhome04

We have heritage in both options

Where?

It might help us know a bit more for suggestions if we knew where in the UK/Ireland/Scotland and Austria/Germany/Switzerland you are drawn to. Both groups are over quite large areas despite many folks thinking that Switzerland and England are small. North Germany to east Austria is a long way. So is south England to north Scotland - or any of Scotland. Adding Ireland even more so.

So, where is your family from?

First off can we stop with the it take 6 weeks to see a small farm village in the Alps mentality?

No. Because it's very helpful for people who lack knowledge of how much can genuinely be seen and experienced in such a tight timeframe. American's are used to driving long distances with comparitive ease and many seem to think that such driving will be similar in Europe.....it isn't.

Yes, we know that many American's lack sufficient vacation time to take things leisurely. Yes, we know how expensive a trip to Europe can be (it's the same for us going the other direction) but if people genuinely believe that they can see even the highlights of the countries listed above in three weeks is seriously misguided. Sure, I could easily spend a week in York but spending less than a day is hopelessly pointless, you're not going to see anything in any meaningful manner and it would be a frustrating and fruitless waste of time so why do it? You're actually wasting money because you've come all that way and you're not actually experiencing much of what you came to see.

We'd all love to spend out time travelling but we can't so we have to decide what's more important to us in terms of where we go. There are lots of places I haven't been to and most likely never will but I accept it. There are places that I return to many times because I love them and sometimes familiarity and knowledge of a place, restaurants, bars etc is better than winging it in the hope that you won't be disappointed.

You can’t go wrong either way. And don’t let people deter you from Switzerland because it is “expensive.” That may be true, but it is worth every penny. My children absolutely loved it. It really depends on what you think is expensive. If you are from somewhere like New York City where things are already pricey, it’s not going to feel that hideously pricey to you.

I love both places so for me this would be a tough choice, but in the end I think UK would win out. Book an automatic if you choose UK and you'll get used to the left side of the road. I guess the question is what do you really want to see this trip? That might help you decide.

We did a three week tour of England, Scotland and a tiny bit of Wales by car; did not feel rushed and were extremely happy with our trip. Yes, you will not be able to see everything, but you will get a nice overview of the countries and culture. Like most things in life, you have to prioritize what things are most important and focus on those. A car gave us the flexibility to stop along the way when we discovered something that looked interesting. I do think that adding Ireland to that trip would be shortchanging yourself on time spent in England and Scotland. (our trip to Ireland was a different three week adventure) What time period in history is most interesting to your family? Perhaps that could be used as a determining factor. We were especially interested in WWII events in Germany and Austria, so that was a large part of our focus on that 3 week trip. We took several walking tours in Munich, toured Dachau, went to Nuremberg and visited Eagle's Nest. Salzburg was a favorite city on that trip and there are quite a few Stolpersteine plates in the sidewalks there. The Highline 179 Suspension Bridge in Reutte, Austria along with the castle ruins might be something that your kids would enjoy. We have not been to Switzerland, so I can't speak to that. You can't go wrong with either of your choices, so I would probably give my children some travel books and have them compile a top ten list and see where your family's interests intersect. Do be aware of the high drop off charges if you rent in one country and drop off in another. Also, check opening days and times of rental agencies. Not all are open 7 days a week. Enjoy the planning!

I'd go with either as they'd both be fun, BUT I agree that England/Scotland/Ireland is too much. I'd limit it to England/Scotland and maybe some Wales with a good week's worth of time in London then the other 2 weeks between England, Scotland, Wales.

Do Ireland as a separate trip another time when you can do both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Since we also don't know your whereabouts, I'll add that Switzerland is jaw-dropping even if you are used to mountains. I live in the edge of mountains and I'll say that the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the mountain hiking areas on either side are just fabulous.

Three weeks is plenty of time for a great vacation and either choice you make will be the right one. I'd go with Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It's provides the opportunity for more diversity in places you will have an opportunity to visit. BTW - I've visited all but Scotland and read all Rick Steves' travel guides for these countries.

I also get weary of the advice that you must spend a month in Paris, Rome, Berlin, London, . . . . etc. to see it all! Personally I get bored with a location and want to move on after 3 days. I like more variety. I am easily and quickly bored in museums and I don't enjoy shopping. What I do enjoy is culture and nature along with a little interesting architecture. I like to see how people live, what they eat, what their houses look like, what is important to them etc. I love discoveries like the small plots of land, some with very small, simple structures for camping along the Rhine River near Bacharach, Germany. I enjoyed seeing the little gardens and imagining the families coming out from the cities to spend a weekend or vacation there by the river. I am much more energized by things like this than another museum! I think either of your trip ideas would be good, but my choice would be Germany, Switzerland and Austria, or you could swing over into France for a couple of days for another experience. Switzerland is very expensive, but spending a few days hiking in the Berner Oberland region of the Alps is one of my favorite experiences and well worth it.

If it your first European trip, I would choose England, etc, No language problem. Driving on the left is no big problem - just have one of you be the navigator who keeps yelling ‘left, left’. 3 weeks for the 3 countries is plenty of time.

I also get weary of the advice that you must spend a month in Paris, Rome, Berlin, London, . . . . etc. to see it all!

But no-one is advocating a month in Paris, Rome, Berlin, London etc. The OP wants three WEEKS in three separate countries not three weeks in one city.

Depends on your interests and goals. You can do some amazing road trips in Europe...

I've done road trips that covered more than a thousand miles like London-Belgium-Luxembourg-France round-trip and Germany-Austria-Hungary-Romania open jaw...and I've also done equally long (and satisfying) road trips completely within a single country: England, Switzerland, Italy, and Romania.

or you can dive deeper into just 2 or 3 specific locations.

Personally, I would read guide books on both regions and do some family history to figure out who your ancestors were and where they lived. See which draws you and your family the most. Figure out what style of travel is better for your family - fast, cover-a-bunch-of-territory pace, or the slow, soak-it-all-in pace. Include some family history locations in your itinerary, where reasonable. Go to FamilySearch.org or ancestry.com if you need some help.

Have fun!

Have the kids been to Europe before? This would maybe sway my response!