March/April '09 Trip help

First, the route: Your route has a logical geographical sequence, you've obviously studied the map (not everyone does!). The only thing I noticed is minor: you could think about going Munich - Prague - Dresden - Berlin; that would eliminate the small amount of back-tracking in the Munich - Dresden - Prague - Berlin legs--you'd be going to Prague before Dresden instead of after, if you look at the map you'll see what I'm getting at.You have 8 weeks for this, that's about 56 days for 14 destinations, plenty of time (must be nice, I'm jealous).

You asked for suggestions about # of days. You have 8 weeks for this, that's ~56 days for 14 destinations, plenty of time, 56 / 14 = an average of 4 days per location. The # of days depends, of course, on your interests and preferences, but since you asked for opinions, here are mine: because you have 56 days I'd add Paris and give it the most # of days (unless you've already been to Paris and don't want to go back). Rome has so much to see that it should also get a lot of days. All other places would get the # of days your interests and research suggest is right for you. Travel time between some of the destinations is significant and should be allowed for between all destinations but especially between the following destinations allow 4 to 8 hours of travel time:Granada - BarcelonaBarcelona - Rome (to the airport, waiting, flying, into Rome)Venice - MunichMunich - PragueHamburg - Frankfurt

I think the basic itinerary is good. I would be hesitant to add any distinct destinations to the list (Sorry, Kent, but let's save Paris for another time), But I would definitely look at what is along the way since you have plenty of time. For example, I am sure that Hamburg to Frankfurt probably includes some time along the Rhine or Mosel, both are on the way and could include a few hours in Koln and maybe even a night along the river in Cochem or St. Goar. Same for Florence to Venice...maybe a quick stop in Ravenna, even Venice to Munich, maybe a night in the mountains of Austria or Switzerland. Basically, you have a route of major points, now fill in the spaces in between. One method is to look at train times between these cities, if it starts to stretch out over 6 hours, consider someplace in between that looks interesting to eat a meal and spend the night. We have found some of the best times and interesting sights by doing this.

Hi Paul: Glad someone else jumped in to share their opinion and help Amber--no right or wrong answer here.Here's the basis for my thinking on adding Paris: if someone has two months in Europe and hasn't been to Paris before, Paris is a good place for them to go. She didn't say whether this is a first trip or whether she's been to Paris before, if she's been there before that would change my advice.Adding Paris gives her 15 destinations in 56 days instead of her original 14. I know of at least one travel expert (guess who?) who thinks a person who has two months in Europe for a first trip could do 30 destinations, so I was comfortable advising 15 destinations in two months.

I'm having a really hard time finding a flight/route from Venice to Munich. I've tried many different websites. Perhaps there is a better city near Venice that is reachable by rail...

~New updates on the trip:~

New dates: 5th March '09 - 28th April '09

Thursday, March 5th - Fly Houston to Madrid.

Tuesday, March 10th - Madrid to Seville

Friday, March 13th - Seville to Granada

Monday, March 16th - Granada to Valencia

(Note: We are spending a good amount of time in Valencia because we want to experience the 'Las Fallas' festival, held annually March 15th-19th)

Friday, March 20th - Valencia to Barcelona

Tuesday, March 24th - FLY Barcelona to Rome

Sunday, March 29th - Rome to Siena

Thursday, April 2nd - Siena to Florence

Sunday, April 5th - Florence to Venice

***Wednesday, April 8th - Venice to Munich
(Having a hard time figuring out best method of transport for the last leg of our trip)

Sunday, April 12th, 2009 - Easter and my 21st birthday in Munich! :)

Monday, April 13th - Munich to Prague

Friday, April 17th - Prague to Dresden

Monday, April 20th - Dresden to Berlin

Friday, April 24th - Berlin to Hamburg

Monday or Tuesday, the 27th or 28th - Hamburg to Frankfurt

Tuesday, April 28th - Fly Frankfurt to Houston.

You have 3-5 days in every city except for Frankfurt, so may I suggest you give this city at least 1 or 2 days? It truly does have a lot to offer, whether your interests are historical, cultural, architectural, art or museums.

For rail connections, check out the German national rail website at www.bahn.de . It will give you a comprehensive look at all the rail links between Venice and Munich. It only allows bookings out to 90 days, so it's early yet for your trip. But if you enter a day of the week that's the same as the one on which to travel, you'll get an idea what's available. A quick check shows 7 daytime trains (7-8 hr-runs) and two overnight trains. On the bahn site, you'd be able to purchase tickets on 5 of those 9 runs via the web, including a bargain of 29 Euro (sitting up) on one of the overnight trains. You won't find any discount carriers flying the route direct....I guess it's a little too short a run for them.

I love Frankfurt very much for it's museums, and it's apfelwein! For the Berlin-Hamburg-Frankfurt part of our trip, things are subject to change. My aunt lives in Hamburg, my uncle in Frankfurt...they commute to see each other, depending on their work schedules. So our time in Hamburg and Frankfurt truly depends on their schedules and how that works out. We more than likely will go back to Frankfurt that Sunday with my uncle after a weekend all together in Hamburg with my aunt, too. That'll give us some time in Frankfurt. Somewhere in their I'd love to fit in Heidelberg since it is so close to Frankfurt, but I am not sure yet.

As for the issue of Venice to Munich, I think an overnight train would do us well. I've been forced to use a discount air trip from Barcelona to Rome just for times sake.