Itinerary Feedback- Is this a realistic itinerary for 36 day trip to Europe?

What a spectacular opportunity for you and your child... it will make such an impact on his life at this age...
I think your trip looks perfect. Some down time as well as plenty of new and exciting places.

I would just be sure to encourage him to keep a wonderful journal... it is really a long trip with lots of experiences and he will want to remember it. And, travel is so intense that it is amazing the things you forget as you are on to the next location. Also, he should have his own camera to record his impressions of the trip. Have a good time!

I think you have done a great job for a first-timer. I can't suggest any tinkering if Germany is a priority. Going straight to Switzerland from Paris is more direct, but if you want time in Germany you have chosen a nice part. I did not check train times, however.

From Interlaken to Florence you will pass through Milan. The Italo trains run from Milan to Florence and from Florence to Venice. These are easier to book online than Trenitalia trains, and are more likely to have discount fares still available. I booked with Ital for our trip from Venice to Rome in October and was very pleased with how user friendly the website is. I cannot say the same for Trenitalia! So take a look.

From Interlaken to Florence is a long journey to make in one day, and I suggest you break it up with an overnight en route. There are two fun possibilities, both of which we have done:

If you are taking the Spiez--Brig route to Milan, you could deviate at Brig, taking the train 10 minutes east to Betten, where you take a cablecar up almost 4000 feet to the car-free village of Bettmeralp. We love this place, and usually spend three nights there on our Swiss trips. but even one night would give you some nice views and a lovely village in which to overnight.

www.bettmeralp.ch

You should get there in time to ride the gondola up the Bettmerhorn for incredible views over the glacier. If you want something more rustic, stay on the train until Fiesch and ride a cablecar up to Fiescheralp, aka Kuhboden ("cowtown") which has a couple of hotels but no village. The cablecar continues up to the top of the Eggishorn which has a view due north to the Jungfrau.

Or, if you want to go the other route, via the Gotthard Pass (which is more scenic than the Brig route which goes through two long tunnels), you would head to Luzern via the Brunig Pass. I know you will visit Luzern later in the trip so you would not stop there. Take a boat to Weggis (1 hour) and ride the cablecar up to Rigi Kaltbad. Either spend the night there or connect to the train up to the summit at Rigi Kulm. The hotel there is where Mark Twain spent some time as reported in "A Tramp Abroad" but it is more expensive than the Rigi Kaltbad hotels. Still, the sunrise from Rigi Kulm is reportedly not to be missed.

The next day you continue from Rigi Kaltbad or Kulm down the other side of the mountain to Arth-Goldau, where you meet the train to Milan. Book this train in advance on SBB and you might save some money. It is about 3 hours to Milan and 2 hours from there to Florence. This option does not break the journey as neatly in half as the first one (Spiez-Brig route) does.

Just make sure, if you use Italo to Florence, that the departure station is Milano Centrale, not any other station.

Thank you for your feedback, Terry Kathryn! I also appreciate the journaling tip and will encourage him to keep one, and try to be an example myself. We just ordered a new battery for his camera:)

Lola- Your suggestions for breaking up the train ride are great, thanks! We may have just picked up 2 nights that I was not counting on. Using one as you suggest and the other in either Lugano or Venice might be the way to go. I will look into your recommendations for this and for the trains, as well.
Out of curiosity (and because I toyed with Paris to Switzerland several times) what would be your suggested route just in case I change my mind? My son took a language experience course this year in school and I would really love to squeeze in a little bit of Germany, if we can. I really appreciate the positive feedback!

Hello Canashaw. I think your proposed itinerary is good. If you wish to be in Germany for a few days, I think going to Bacharach at the Rhine River is a good choice. But I would not want to be in the hotel that is located very close to the railroad in Bacharach. The only change to your itinerary that I can think of is in the trip from Paris to Bacharach. I would not go to Cologne (KOLN) in Germany in this trip. I would ride in an express train from Paris to Koblenz in Germany, and a short train ride from Koblenz to Bacharach, to maximize my time at that part of the Rhine River. Be at Bacharach 3 nights. That would give you 2 whole days at that part of the Rhine River. The first day there : ride in a train from Bacharach to Bingen, and ride on a ferry boat across the Rhine River to Rudesheim for the purpose of riding on the lift (if it still exists) up the hill to the Niederwald monument. And while you are up there you could see the castle ruins that is located to the west of the monument. And ride on the lift down to Rudesheim, and go back across the river to Bingen. Ride in a K-D ship from Bingen to St. Goar. (you might be able to get on the K-D ship at Rudesheim. I do not know). When you are on the ship, you will see medieval castles floating by. Ride in a train from St. Goar to Bacharach. Your second day there : go to and in the medieval castle Marksburg at Braubach. Your boy will like that. A group of 20 people walks through that castle with a guide. The guide will probably talk in the German language. That is O.K. At the ticket office, ask for a free map of each floor in the castle, descriptions of items in the rooms are in the English language. There are two routes for travelling from Bacharach to Braubach. Most people ride in a train from Bacharach to Koblenz, and ride in either a train or bus from Koblenz to Braubach. I think a small trolley train on wheels can take you up the hill to Marksburg, but not on Sundays. The other route is : ride in a train from Bacharach to St. Goar, and ride on a boat across the Rhine River to St. Goarsen, and ride in a railroad train from that spot to Braubach. I found the small German town Braubach to be a delight on a sunny morning. And I liked the views from inside the castle, looking through open windows to hills that are covered with trees, and the hill to the north has grape vines. When you leave Marksburg, ride in the small trolley train on wheels down the hill, and ride in a railroad train or bus to Koblenz (I think there is no bus on Sundays), and ride in another railroad train to Boppard. Walk through Boppard. Boppard is a "touristy" wine town. And ride in a train from Boppard to Bacharach. Bacharach is a charming little Medieval town.

(Edit) In the topic of writing in a travel journal : For me it was necessary to carry my journal book with me all of the time. I wrote in it at the times when I thought of something to write in it, at any place -- in a train, in a train station, in a restaurant. If I did not write about my experiences immediately, I soon forgot what happened. And when I was in a hotel room at night, the time went by quickly, when I was ready to write in my journal book, the time was later than my bed time. Thus, it was best for me to write in my journal book at several times during the day. In a journal book, write the names and addresses of all the places where you ate food, and places where you bought a beverage, and write the names of people who you meet in Europe (European people, and American people, ...). Also too, when I travel in Europe, I carry a very small tape recorder (for dictation). It uses an audio tape cassette. (or bring a digital sound recorder if you have that). I record the sound of European people talking in a European language, and European people talking in the English language. When I am back at my home town in the U.S.A., people can see photographs of people I met in Europe, and hear the recorded talking.

If he has taken a German class it would be great to squeeze something in. I took two of my grandsons to Germany who had also taken german in school and it was fun for them... not that there were any in-depth conversations, but reading signage and menus was fun.

As far as the journal, I knew they would need prompting, so I made up my own as a sort of' fill in the blank' trip log.
Each day had a page with questions.
Where did we stay
Memorable meals
Most amazing site
Route traveled
Surprises, etc.
As well as plenty of pages at the back for sketching and additional journaling, but at least there was a page designated for each day of the trip. I also bring drawing and sketching pens, pencils and usually watercolors. My grandkids are all artsy and have done lots of skething and painting on trips. I just print out all my journal pages and you can have it spiral bound at Staples. I do 2 pages on an 8.5 x 11 sheet so the journal is not too big. Then I keep it in a small drawstring bag along with the pencils, etc. They now treasure those journals, and it is private, just for them.

An above poster mentioned the lift in Rudesheim. My parents were just there two weeks ago and it does still run! And I believe you can still get a K-D boat there as well.

Happy Travels!

Hi Ron- thanks for the great, detailed information about the Rhine area that we are visiting!
Your tip for Koblenz is very helpful, as is the detailed itinerary once we get there. The way you describe the area makes me very glad that we are going to fit it in to our travels. Can you help with where to find an express from Paris? The trains I see all have a transfer, but maybe my understanding of an express train is different than in Europe?
Also, do you happen to know which hotel is next to the train? Thanks again for your advice.

Hi again Terry Kathryn-
How lucky are your grandchildren that you have provided them with such rich travel experiences.?! Your tips for journaling are super. I love the idea of using story starters on the pages. That would definitely help get my son started on writing. Thank you, again.

Hello AKhoosier-
Thanks so much for the follow up on the lift. We will look for it. Looking forward to happy travels, thank you!

I think your trip sounds amazing, and really well paced. I've traveled in Europe with my daughter when she was 12 and 15, and both trips were hands down the best family time we've had. Not only that, but my daughter's interest in and knowledge of European history has really served her well in school.

On our last trip, rather than a journal, I kept a blog. I set it up ahead of time on my computer using Google's Blogger, and then installed the Blogsy app on my ipad mini. Blogsy lets you write and add photos off line, and then post everything when you have Wi-Fi. I love re-reading my blog, and having all the photos which are part of each entry is a huge plus. I think this mode of communication might be much more appealing to your son than straightforward journaling. As an added plus, his friends/family can follow along with his adventure.

Have a wonderful trip!

Hi Ruth,
Thanks for sharing your travel experiences with your daughter. It sounds like your trips were exciting and very worthwhile for both of you,
The feedback from you and the other posters is so appreciated. I was really sweating the itinerary. From your post it sounds like we are hitting the balance we were looking for between seeing lots of new and exciting places, and being able to enjoy our vacation and together time.
The blog is a great spin on Lola's suggestion, and one my son will probably love.
Thanks so much!

On the journals note.. at 13 I was sent to spend summer alone with my grandmother in France.. I was there almost three months I was sent all over france to visit and spend time with various relatives and family friends,, .. we also visited the Netherlands .

I resented the fact that on arrival I was presented with a lovely leather bound journal.. and I was expected to write in it daily. I hated doing it.

I found that journal about 10 years ago.. WHAT A TREASURE IT IS TO ME NOW... all the places we visited.. I had forgotten all the names.. the people.. the sites.. the meals.. the customs I commented on ...etc..

Its a gift to have it now.. even though at the time it certainly felt more like a curse.. I would encourage your child to keep one.. ( but I admit when I took my son( when he was 13) we had enough stress about it that I gave up,, my daughter however was happier to do so )

Hi Pat,
Thanks for your perspective on journaling from a "teen's" point of view. I will make the suggestion and see how he reacts. If he doesn't like the idea, I'll show him your post. Then I will leave the decision up to him and try to discipline myself to journal. At the very least, my journaling will provide us with some record of our travels.