What is your favorite itinerary?

Where have you been already?

My favorite is usually my last big trip.

Ours was 4 weeks long flying into Paris and using two rental cars- one in France - St. Pierre de Corps dropping in Strasbourg and picking up a German car just over the border from France and dropping back in Munich.

France: Paris-Loire Valley-Burgundy-Alsace

Germany: Frankfurt-Rothenburg-

Austria: Ramsau am Dachstein-

Slovenia: Lake Bled

Back to Austria: Zell am See

Back to Germany : Munich fly home

I've got a train-based Berlin, Wroclaw, Krakow, Budapest, Salzburg route all mapped out that I haven't had time to do yet. It uses nonstop flights from Seattle, in and out of Frankfurt. It's all 3 night stays so it takes about 16 days.

I'm fond of the type of trip Susan described--catching regions of several different contiguous countries. I'm all about variety, and covering limited ground allows me time in some smaller cities. After my first (long) trip to Europe, I gave up hopping from capital to capital.

This year's trip will hit central and northern Spain plus as much of France as time allows.

And here's one I did a few years back that was awesome - my favorite so far. Flew into Frankfurt. Heidelberg for a day or two to recover and get ready and then...
Dubrovnik (6 nights) with day trips to Bosnia-Herzogovina and Montenegro, Zagreb (2 nights), Ljubljana (3 nights), Vienna (3nights), Cesky Krumlov (2 nights), Prague (3 nights).

Heidelberg to Dubrovnik was a flight. Dubrovnik to Zagreb was a flight. Zagreb to Ljubljana was a beautiful train ride. Train to Vienna. Shuttle from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov. Shuttle to Prague.

Another favorite of ours again 4 weeks by car renting and returning in Germany:

Fly to Munich rent car and drive:

Germany: Mittenwald

Italy: Dolomites-Verona-Lake Como

Switzerland: Gimmelwald

France: Burgundy- Alsace

Germany: Visit friends Frankfurt-Rhine area- Mosel area- drop car in Koln and train to Dusseldorf fly home

Do you book your accommodations ahead or as you go? What is your favorite kind of place to stay? What are your recommendations for Alsace and the Moselle?

Kathleen, I have no recent experience in your target areas, but I traveled through Europe from late May till mid-October last year. I had only the first hotel booked. A few times I arrived in a city with no hotel booked, but I quickly decided that was too stressful for me. Decades ago (pre-internet) the tourist offices were located right at the train station, and the traveler could get immediate hotel assistance. Now the T.O may be more than a mile from the station.

So I ended up trolling the internet for a room, usually 24 to 48 hours in advance. Doing that and also wanting an air-conditioned 3-star near the train or bus station meant that I usually didn't get the most exciting spots or the cheapest. But I always found something--most quite nice though not fancy, and I was only forced up into the 4-star category (to get a/c) a few times. It would have been easier if I hadn't been so insistent about a location close to the bus or train station, but I tend to stay put for 3 or 4 nights, even in small cities, and take day-trips.

Whether this is a viable approach depends partly on your personality (flexibility and tolerance for risk) and budget flexibility. You need to have done some research to avoid attempting a last-minute booking in a city hosting a major event.

The last-night hotel obviously needs to be booked well in advance so you have no concerns about getting to the airport on departure day.

I always book ahead. I love the search for the best places, but I start 9 months ahead and it is fun for me. We also travel with our daughter so we need a triple room or two rooms so I don't want to have to do that on the fly.

In Alsace we have stayed at two different places on two different trips with a car:

Eguisheim at http://www.hameau-eguisheim.com/

Itterswiller http://auvieuxpressoir.fr

On the Mosel River we stayed at www.mosel-landhaus.de

it is just up the road from Belstein so we would eat and enjoy Beilstein each night after the tour buses were gone.

We use small B & B's as a home base with a car. We prefer small villages.

My favorite itinerary was my last trip to Europe. It was 5 weeks starting in Brussels and ending in Budapest.

Brussels - visits to Bruges, Gent, Antwerp

Germany - Cologne, Bacharach, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich; visits to Boppard, St Goar, Budingen, Potsdam, Regensburg, Passau

Czech Republic - Prague and Cesky Krumlov

Poland - Krakow, visit to Auschwitz

Austria - Vienna, visits to Melk, Krems, Bratislava

Hungary - Budapest, visit to Szentendre

All transportation by train except for shuttle to Cesky Krumlov and bus from there to Prague.

Every itinerary has ups and downs, some places that are magical and some that aren't quite so special. I'm going to give my answer based not on which trip included my favorite magical places, but which trip involved the best overall travel flow, the least hassle getting from place to place, and the best mix of experiences.

fly to Copenhagen on Icelandair via Reykjavik
Copenhagen (4 nights)
train to Kalmar (2 nights)
train to Stockholm (4 nights)
overnight ferry to Tallinn (1 night)
ferry to Helsinki (4 nights)
fly to Reykjavik (5 nights)
fly home

I left out the one night in Aeroskobing between Copenhagen and Kalmar, which was lovely but sort of messed up the beauty of the itinerary.

My all time favorite itinerary is a car, a map, some money and no reservations:)

However, some of my favorite trips have been

Istanbul and Greece (Athens & Nafplio) public transportation
London (1 day) Cotswolds,Wales, York, Whitby, Edinburg, and a great road trip in northern GB (car)
Romania & Budapest (road trip through Romania, left car at border, train to Budapest)
Castle tour of Germany with grandson (car)
Christmas Market tour through Germany and Austria (car)
Paris and Normandy (car) Mont St. Michel

I also have been to Europe 6 times. I have traveled all over by train and by car. This last September, we took a RS 17 Day Best of Italy tour and I must say it was the best vacation so far. We saw so much of Italy and did far more than I could have done on my own during that same period of time. It was my first tour and I was very surprised how much fun it was. My wife had a great time and there was very little stress as everything thing was taken care of. I thought the free time was about right and having traveled in Europe on my own, I had no problem utilizing the free time.

If you haven't been to Italy and don't want to go on a tour, I would look to going the the areas covered by the tour. We had sure a great variety of sights from lakes, to mountains, coastal towns, hill towns, and historic cities. I had been been to Italy before, but never saw it like I did on the tour. And I have to say, the Italian people were some of the friendliest people on any of my trips.

We did do Venice, Florence, Siena ( a couple hill towns) CT, and Rome. Along with the Dolomites, Verona and Lake Como on another trip. We haven't done much Tuscany, Umbria or south of Rome, so those areas are on my list.

I'd also really want to do Provence, Dordogne, Brittany and Normandy. Still many countries we haven't been to.

I prefer to mix up countries for diversity and mix some cities with lots of small villages. I also don't want too much travel time between locations.

We love France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria. We tend to redo countries with different new locations. We should break out of our favorites to see more....but we love those counties!

My favourite itinerary would last 100 days on the ground, ie flying out on day 101 to SFO. The countries visited would include France, Poland, Germany, Austria, CR, Hungary, Finland, Belgium, Serbia, and England (must not forget that) using discount carriers, day trains, night trains, ferries, the Eurostar, buses, a few adv. discount tickets, rail Pass. heavy on the historical sites with ample down time factored in, zig zag traveling, staying in reserved small hotels and Pensionen mainly, a couple of hostels, university dorms, and a couple of hotels for splurging. Most lodging will be booked (a necessity, since if you don't do it, someone else will), a few places on a whim as regards to lodging, towns where I just blow into.

Our favorite trip that meets your multi-country criteria was Bruges-Luxembourg-Rhine & Mosel in Germany- ending in the Netherlands. We loved wandering through Luxembourg, and Amsterdam is now one of our favorite cities.

If you're willing to consider a different kind of trip, we loved exploring Sicily. Plenty to keep you busy there for 3-4 weeks.

And far out of your comfort zone but absolutely fascinating would be a trip to Turkey -- a few days in Istanbul, then Cappadocia, Ephesus & the lovely Turquoise Coast.

How about flying into Paris, stay a few days, then take the train to Avignon. Get a car. Spend a few days in Provence and a few days in the Dordogne. Fly from Bordeaux to Brussels. Get another car and explore Belgium and the Netherlands. Return the car in Brussels. Fly to Prague. Fly home.

Or

Fly to Dublin. After a few days there get a car and explore Ireland. Fly to Edinburgh. After a few days get a car and explore. Fly to Prague. Fly home.

With scenario #1 you spend time in Paris, which you love, but you also see new places. With scenario #2 you go to places you've been wanting to see and it's all new for you.

Hey Susan and Monte,

Favorite itinerary? Hmmm....This should surprise you:

Fly to Munich, head to the Berchtesgaden area, the the Ramsau am Dachstein area, then the Dolomites (Alta Badia), over the Gardena Pass and then down and around Bozen/Bolzano heading over to the Sud Tirol (meaning the Vinschgau/Val Venosta, just west of Meran/Merano), a drive over the spectacular Timmelsjoch Pass into the stunning alpine scenery of the Oetztal in Austria, then to Hall in Tirol and eventually back to Munich airport.

Paul

I think it is interesting to hear about everyones favorite itinerary. It often is a struggle to come up with a smooth, easy trip lacing together places you want to see.

What is your favorite trip Andrea?

Yes, Paul, no surprise! But those places are amazing! We love them, too.

I've enjoyed all my trips. These are the trips I've taken so far -

Black Forest (Sankt Peter), Fussen, Munich (daytrips to Dachau & Salzburg), Rothenburg, St. Goar, Amsterdam, Paris, London.

Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris.

Kilkenny, Dingle, Galway, Dublin.

Rome, Siena (hill towns), Florence, Lucca, Vernazza, Varenna, Venice, Verona, Schliersee (Bavaria).

Barcelona, Provence (Arles), Canet-en-Roussillon (near Perpignan), Paris.

Chipping Campden (Cotswalds), York, Edinburgh, London, Bayeux, Mont St. Michel, Amboise, Burgundy (What town is Patrick's place in? And another town near Beaune. The name escapes me right now), Provence (St. Remy), Paris.

Next trip is Venice, Verona, Siena, Pontassieve (Tuscany), Varenna, Milan, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, St. Johann im Pongau, Hannover and yet to be determined places with my German family. Possibly Lithuania.

The trip after that is Paris.

Our second trip to Italy we spent one week in each of 4 places, Venice, Spello in Umbria, Sorrento and Rome. (Actually 9 nights in Rome at Christmas.) It was perfect pacing, all by public transportation, and good opportunity to immerse in the locale plus experience surrounding areas as we had time.

Currently, I'd say any trip that did not require a car and with minimum time in big cities is perfection. Last fall, two weeks in Switzerland splitting time between Zermatt and the Berner Oberland were heaven.

Future favorite plan: two weeks Switzerland (splitting time between two mountain locales), two weeks Val Gardena in the Dolomites, 1 month Venice, one-two weeks in Paris.

Wow, Laurel, that sounds absolutely wonderful!!

Hi Susan and Monte..We have been all over but we are in love with France and spend a lot of time photographing there. Our present circular itinerary which includes mostly little villages starts in Paris,then we get our car at 0rly, drive to Montreal...a tiny historic village close to Avallon, stay for a while to shoot Burgundy in the Fall,and then we drive to L'Isle sur le Sorgue stopping on the way outside ofSt. Julien de Civry... Now that is a small village!! It is south of Charolles in southern Burgundy more or less . We then stay in Isle sur le Sorgue for a bit which is our base for Provençal villages before driving down to Collioure.. We can drive into Spain from there to some villages. Next we drive up to Carcassone, then on to Belcastel, and Sauveterre en Rouergue in the Aveyron . Last trip we splurged and stayed in one of the cadoles in Iguerande, France. These are amazing houses build by Patrick Bouchain overlooking the countryside in Aveyron..southern Burgundy. We stay again in St Julien de Civry, get back on the A6 to Montreal to stay again and up to Orly and Paris and home.

I love hearing about the best trips you have taken! It makes me consider a lot of ideas.

Thanks!

One of my favorites:
Flew into Frankfurt and drove Rothenburg-Schwangau-Munich-Salzburg-Hallstatt-Vienna-Budapest-Arad-(Hunedoara-Alba Iulia)-Cluj-(Sighisoara)-Brasov-Bucuresti!!

Other classic trips:
Flew into Zurich, stayed in Bern area the entire time (actually Munchenbuchsee) and visited Bernese Oberland/Lauterbrunnen/Murren, Luzern, Zermatt, Montreux/Lausanne. That was pretty sweet! Love Swiss trains and long summer days.

Flew into Genoa (had to deal with train/bus strike...but then train/bus travel to)-Santa Margherita Ligure (Portofino, Cinque Terre)-(Pisa)-Florence-Rome-Sorrento (Pompei, Amalfi)-Venice (night train with a toddler!!)-Milano-Torino (could have done without the night train from Napoli to Venice and wish we would have had time to visit Valle d'Aosta)

From London drove to (Blenheim Palace and Oxford)-Cotswolds (Stratford upon Avon)-Bath-(Wells/Glastonbury)-Trowbridge/Steeple Ashton (Family History/Genealogy)-(Stonehenge/Avebury)-London

For an EU "field trip" of sorts:
London-[Eurostar]Brussels-Luxembourg-Strasbourg. Visited European Commission, Parliament, and Courts of Justice in a fairly quick trip. I would have liked to fit in Bruges, Trier, Rhine/Mosel, and Colmar and Black Forest and added The Hague and Amsterdam....next time!).

Which child do I love the most? I love them all equally.

Good analogy Bruce. I feel that way too.

My favorite itinerary is one with:
1. places I've never visited.
2. short travel legs between stops.
3. no backtracking.
4. a logical track from beginning to end.
5. flying open jaw.
6. a minimum of one night stops.

Bonuses include:
1. Festivals, fairs, local events to attend.
2. Good value for the cost of lodging and food.

This really could apply to any place. I figure once I've seen everything once, I can start revisiting places I've visited before. My next itineraries are Northwest France (Paris, Brittany, Normandy, Loire Valley) and a North Ireland and Northern Ireland loop (from Shannon to Dublin or reverse). Hopefully they will happen as soon as this year.

I agree Brad!

For me lacing the destinations together is a challenge. There are certain places I want to see but I also don't want hours between them or even flights between them if I can help it. I love renting a car and keeping it the whole time we are gone and staying no more than 3-4 hours apart (preferably 2 hours) and staying put for at least 3 nights in each destination.

Our current plan is flying to Nice (1 night arriving late)- staying in provence for 4 nights, drive to Carcassonne 1 night- drive to Beynac for Dordogne (5 nights) fly out of Bordeaux to Edinburg spend a week in Scotland (Isle of Skye etc) and then fly to Ireland for a week- into Shannon and out of Dublin then home to US.

That really doesn't meet my criteria! But, it is where we want to go. So, I'm still thinking...... And, I'm really not sure if I'd be happy with the effort of such big moves. It is so nice to just get in the car and move on for a couple of hours. And, we really like driving and seeing the countryside. I also prefer to mix up countries on one visit. I enjoy the diversity of change. Hmmm..... so much to think about.

Thought I could just take an itinerary from this post that sounds good!

It's usually a toss up between my last one and my next one.

I of course prefer to fly open jaw. And visiting cities that are in close proximity to each other--not to far apart.

We like flying into Venice and taking fast trains to Florence (with side trip to hilltowns south of there) and flying home from Rome.
We very much enjoyed flying into Budapest and taking trains to Bratislava, Vienna and Prague--a very smooth itinerary.
We've also flow into Munich a number of times and have taken in the Austrian Alps and ended in Venice. Another direction is to go east out of Munich to Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest.

We've also traveled from Amsterdam south up the Rhine River 3 times--ending in Munich.
Visiting London and taking the Eurostar down to Paris is a good beginner trip--with a side trip to Amsterdam or Barcelona--both of which has great train service from Paris.
In August, we flew into Copenhagen for a few days and took a Baltic Cruise to Germany, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm and back to Copenhagen. Then we flew to Oslo and took a Norway in a Nutshell train/ferry to Bergen, Norway. It was a trip of a lifetime for a very fair price, and we absolutely loved St. Petersburg for 2 days of tours.
We're flying in 4 weeks to Rome and staying 3 days before getting on a 12 day cruise to Naples, Malta, thru the Grecian Isles to Turkey and back to Venice. I see inside cabin rates as low as $737--a bargain. Mixing in a cruise with a road trip is very thrifty.
We also like taking in 2-3 cities close to each other and then using a European budget air carrier to take us to another country in a completely different direction. Budget airlines bring a whole new element to European travel--cheap.

We have loved all our trips-the good and the " good" stories. The one change I have made in planning our itineraries has more to do with climates and packing. I now try to keep us in the same climate the whole trip. We now stick to the carry-on luggage and trying to combine a cool wet itinerary with a hot dry climate has not been very successful. We've combines London with Italy and Greece and ended up lugging stuff. This upcoming one is Ireland, Scotland and London.

Later this Spring, husband and I will repeat with our daughter a trip that we took several years ago with our son, with only minor changes reflecting the different interests of the "kids" (son is now 20yo, daughter is 17yo).

We start in Barcelona, then visit Girona and Figueres (the Dali museum) on our way to southwestern France. Several nights in the Languedoc visiting the "Cathar" castles. Then on to more time in the Dordogne, which we parents have been to several times, and really love. Then drop off the rental car in Brive and take the train to Paris for several days to finish off the trip.

My goal on our trips is a mix of cities and countryside, beginning and ending in cities where we do not need a rental car.

I have loved most of our itineraries, but it depends on what you like to do.

Another fun route was the Italy trip where we began in Venice, spent time there, took the train to Florence for several nights, then took the train to Bologna (one of my favorite cities). Then picked up a rental car, and drove to Ravenna (love the mosaics), then on to San Marino for the night. Then four nights in Urbino, taking day trips in the area and enjoying Urbino itself. Then another four nights or so in Macerata, a little further south. Then we drove to Rome, finishing our trip with time there.

A less-traveled itinerary was our central Europe trip. We began in Prague, then picked up a rental car, visiting several castles on our way to Telc. Then drove to Olomouc for several nights. Then a lot of driving to eastern Slovakia, for two nights and a visit to their favorite castle, Spis. Then south into eastern Hungary, a couple of nights in gorgeous Eger. Then back west, visiting the towns of the Danube bend, spending one night there, then dropping the car and ending our trip in Budapest.