My friend and I are looking to travel from 6/14 thru 7/2 and would like to see the following places:
Salzburg, Zurich (and other points of Switzerland, border towns of France (like Alsace, etc.), ending in Paris.
We are interested in the "local flavor" of museums, churches, castles, local customs, foodie stuff, etc. Not really into the nature/hiking aspect.
We realize this is pretty ambitious and that no doubt a combination of planes, trains and automobiles will need to be rented, but are hoping someone out there in "cyberspace" might have been equally ambitious (and successful) in the past and might have a few pointers for two women that want to do a road trip through these parts of Europe on a shoestring budget. We are not hostel-bound but moreover interested in local pensions or B&B types of places along the road from point "A" to "B" which are not "chains" and will give us some "FAVORABLE AND HAPPY" local experiences. Customer service being the driver at these accommodations along with clean rooms.
We are leaving out of L.A. and plan to take non-stops into a major international airport (suggestions here welcome as well) b/c we are finding that major international airports have the lower fares and more frequent flight availability.
Thanks for any help you can lend!