Overcoming Planning Paralysis

Since you're asking for personal preferences re: excitement level of the itineraries you're likely to get responses about equal for all three. I've now been to all of those countries except for Bulgaria and Norway but If I hadn't been to any of these places my choice would probably have been number 2. Since I did a trip last summer to Germany, CR, Poland, Austria and Hungary my choice would still be number 2. I enjoyed that trip more than many of my previous trips and would recommend those countries to anybody who will listen. I especially liked Berlin, Prague, and Krakow - all three lived up to or exceeded my expectations after doing mucho research on all of them, none of them let me down.

It's a wonderful dilemma to have, having to make a choice of these three itineraries. Good luck!

For me, it would be #1 or a close variant. Good combination of cities and rural settings. I've been to Amsterdam and don't feel the need to return, and I wouldn't expect to spend as much time in Belgium as you, so I might try to work some days in Copenhagen instead. And rather than fly up the Norwegian coast I'd much rather find a water alternative, either ferry or cruise. And I'd try to get all the way to the North Cape if I could. I guess that Norway coastal time would come at the expense of the Low Countries and/or Denmark. But here I go, turning your trip into mine! :-)

2) is also appealing, though I've visited Prague and Krakow and don't need to return, at least for that long. But I don't see the "enjoying nature's beauty" part in this itinerary.

Hope that's some help. I like your approach to this first-world dilemma you're having!

I'd pick #2--I visited Prague and 3 cities in Poland this past May and while I much preferred the peaceful busy-ness of Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk to Prague, it's really a beautiful city with lots to see and do--5 nights there should do you nicely. I intend to return to Poland to visit more cities at some point, the country really made a strong positive impression on me. I think I'm saving Germany for a trip of its own.

Well they are all so diff. But if u chose #3 definately take a guided tour unless u are just in istanbul.
I have been in turkey 2 x. First independentbin the 70's then recently in a guided tour.
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Hi,

My choice is itinerary #2 but would amend it to leave out Prague, focus those days on Poland. Basically, concentrate on Germany and Poland. The non-tourist towns/cities, at least not by North Americans, in Poland are very interesting. Krakow is a good walking town, interesting, just good to be there. How are you going from SeaTac to Berlin? Change in Frankfurt?

Thanks for all the ideas and advice. Lots to consider. I think all three are exciting itineraries, so it's just a matter of deciding how to pick the one to do next.

I've never talked to anyone who's been to Prague who didn't think it was one of the greatest cities to visit in all of Europe. (Except for the crowds, that is, but I'm hoping it won't be as bad in mid-May as it would be in summer.) The idea of spending more time in Poland is certainly attractive, but it would be hard for me to eliminate Prague.

Seattle - Frankfurt - Berlin and Krakow - Frankfurt - Seattle are the most convenient options, but I have to watch prices to see if there's anything enough less expensive to warrant an extra flight segment. At least with #1 the flight itineraries are simple. #3 is the most complicated, as there are often long layovers involved. I can fly Seattle - Frankfurt - Sofia, but only with an 8 or 9 hour layover, and coming back from Izmir is even worse.

Dick, I've been to Copenhagen, but not the Netherlands or Belgium, and I feel like I wouldn't want to compromise on 5 - 6 days in each of those countries before heading to Norway.

And of course, I've considered other variants on all of these itineraries, and nothing is off the table yet. I thinkI will decide fairly soon though.

Lane I am a regular visitor to Prague and the Czech republic and we are the same age I hit the big 6-0 next march . If you do decide to go to Prague I can help a bit and can even suggest a few areas for a bit of a walk including a really good one with a 40-50 train journey at the start and end .I am back in Prague next month for a week and will be heading there in late March to celebrate my 60th.
Just to give you a flavour this link is to my contributions about Prague of Trip Advisor.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members-citypage/unclegus/g274707

Number 1 looks interesting to me as well. We've recently been to Belgium and were pleasantly surprised at how very much we enjoyed that one: will definitely be doing a return trip someday. I do think 6 days in Amsterdam is much too long so I'd look at splitting it up with another location: Leiden, maybe?

Thanks so much, Unclegus, if I settle on #2 I will definitely be in touch via PM to get your ideas.

Kathy, I was thinking maybe Delft as a second Netherlands homebase, but I will look into Leiden; thanks for the suggestion. And BTW, I think if you start a line with a #, it treats it as a formatting code and creates a large-font paragraph.

Condor Airlines also offers the easy one way fares that Icelandair does that can be combined like open jaws. They offer good fares for your number 2 itinerary (about $1000 RT) and provide food unlike Icelandair.

I think if you start a line with a #, it treats it as a formatting
code and creates a large-font paragraph.

Ah, I typed #1 so that was probably the problem. Thanks for the suggestion, Lane!

Kathy -- that is why the Steve folks have been so kind as to provide an edit button to correct those little problems.

Yes, I know about the edit button. Had tried several times to edit that post to correct the problem but didn't know that the # sign was causing it. Have now fixed the problem (above).

Since you mentioned watching prices on airlines, I'm going to opine on ground costs too.

Itinerary 1 - Ghent (day trips to Bruges, Brussels) and Antwerp (haven't been yet) then split time between Amsterdam and either The Hague and Haarlem (much cheaper than Amsterdam and just as easy for day trips). I've been to Bergen, Flam and Geiranger by cruise ship in mid-June. The best part was sailing into the towns through the fjords. Norway is super expensive. Easy and convenient to get around the Low Countries by train. If you aren't going to cruise the fjords, you'll get scenery that's as good a lot nearer to home. I would put this one as lowest priority. Amsterdam should be high on everyone's list, but it just doesn't justify a "big" trip and I don't think you'll see places that are so different from other Western European destinations.

Itinerary 2 - Looks easy to do by train/bus, and mostly short train rides. I'd add a night to Berlin and take it from Prague. This should be significantly less expensive than Itinerary 1. I haven't been to Leipzig or Poland, but Krakow is very high on my list. Berlin's museums are great and it's a fascinating city of contrasts. Once you're nearing the Czech border, you're going to places that are definitely not Western Europe. I put this itinerary at the top of the list. It's just so easy.

Itinerary 3 - I haven't been to Bulgaria and I don't know that I'd want to try it solo. It's not on my radar, so I haven't researched it. I believe the country is beautiful but I don't know that I'd be able to get around on my own in English and enjoy it. I loved Istanbul and would go back again and revisit the top sights and try to see more. I was on my own (though partly with a friend) for a week in Istanbul, then did the RS Turkey tour which I loved. Friends told me I could fly to Cappadocia on my own and take local day tours. Looking back, I don't regret for a minute that I took the tour. I was surprised that English is not widely spoken even in Istanbul, certainly not in smaller towns.

A couple months ago, I planned a trip for May/June 2016 that included Krakow and a return to Budapest. I enjoyed planning the trip, complete with travel times, potential hotels and budget. It's sitting on my desk. I may not be able to take it in 2016, but there's always next year . . . So if I were you, I'd make a fairly detailed plan for each trip. It will be easier to make a decision when you can compare overall budget, travel time vs. enjoyment time, and other factors like weather considerations (for instance, you may need some winter gear for Norway, or Turkey may be too hot for you.

I, too, vote for the 2nd itinerary. This same itinerary, with or without Prague, is high on my list. I very much want to see Berlin and Krakow, particularly, and will likely do it solo as well. Make note of what Chani says about the easy transportation on the ground. I find this is very important when traveling solo as it keeps the stress level down for me when in transit. However, I'm sure any of them would be lovely. Wray

Hi Lane, all of your plans sound wonderful to me and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. Just wanted to let you know, Prague is awesome and you should go, but I would not count of it being less crowded during your timeframe. I was there a couple of years ago in late April, beginning of May and it was very, very crowded. Sometimes, it was like swimming upstream just to cross the Charles Bridge....that said....GO anyway! And, don't forget to let us know which trip you choose!

I’ve been to Bulgaria a couple of times and one of my favorite trips of all time was last year when we flew into Sofia and then hired a guide to drive us across the country and into Istanbul. The guide plus the hotels rooms cost about $275 a day. The guide was an individual we met on a prior trip in Bulgaria and she was amazing so we used her again. From Istanbul we flew to Budapest for a week and then home. Total about 19 days. I would do it again in a heartbeat and I’m hard to please.

An outstanding Eastern European trip runs sort of like this
1. Arrive Prague
2. Prague
3. Prague
4. Prague
5. Prague to Cesky Krumlov by afternoon shuttle
6. Cesky Krumlov
7. Cesky Krumlov to Vienna by morning shuttle
8. Vienna
9. Vienna to Melk and back to Vienna
10. Vienna
11. Vienna
12. Vienna to Gyor by train (see the archabbey at Pannonhalma)
13. Gyor to Budapest by Train
14. Budapest
15. Budapest/Szentendre/Budapest
16. Budapest
17. Budapest to Eger by Train
18. Eger to Budapest by train
19. Budapest
20. Budapest home

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I thought this thread had gotten buried deep, but then it got revived and I got some really nice feedback, which I appreciate.

I have, however, settled on itinerary #1 this time around, but I am inspired by those who encouraged me to consider the other options, and these will be at the top of my bucket list for my next trip in a year or two.

I've settled on this itinerary, with the guidance of a trip consult at Rick Steves' Europe in Edmonds:

Fly into Brussels
3 nights Ghent
2 nights Antwerp
2 nights Delft
5 nights Haarlem
Fly to Oslo (late night flight, arrival around 11:30 pm)
4 nights Oslo (including that first night)
2 nights Balestrand
2 nights Bergen
Fly to Trondheim
2 nights Trondheim
Fly home

Lane: Please post a trip report upon your return.