As I read the book Through the back door, I am double guessing myself. My plan is to drive from Frankfurt to Munich through the Romantic Road. Any idea of how long this will take me? hours, days?? I would like to stop and see some of the small towns. I will drop the rental car and take a train from Munich to Venice(stay x 2 days) take train to Rome(stay x 2 days) take train to Paris (2 days), train to London (2 days)and train back to Frankurt. I must return to USA from Germany, my husband need to stop at military base before coming home.
My delema is what type o rail pass I shoul buy? I see they have different types Flexipass, Selectpass and Selectpass Saver. I am not quiet sure what I should be looking for to met my travel plan. Another thing if I have the opportunity of staying 3 days in one of the cities I mentioned before which one do you recommend?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
You don't need one for Italy. P2P will be less expensive. For the journeys you describe above, you will be on Eurostars or other premium trains. You will pay 15E-20E in reservation fees for every run with Eurostars. P2P fare from Venice to Rome is 61.80Euro on the Eurostar. The fare from Rome to the French border is 67.60Euro on the Eurostar and 45.50Euro on the lower-class IC train. The IC train takes 2.0hrs longer as it stops more often. Your estimate fare from the Italian border to Venice is 40Euro. About $215 overall for travel in Italy. Your looking at about $90 in additional reservation fees. The railpass in Italy is not as cheap or convenient as you might think.
Posted by
OP
West Palm Beach, Fl, usa
40 posts
What's P2P?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19273 posts
As for the Romantic Road, you need to research it yourself and see what you like. However, the road itself is not much, just a slow, winding country lane clogged with trucks, buses, and farm equipment and with a 50 mph speed limit. A year and a half ago, I spent 5 days on the road, traveling a few hours every day and spending time in over half of the small towns. I would say Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a must. It's not small, but Würzburg has a couple of good sites, particularly the Marienberg fortress across the river on the hill. The only other small town I think is worth seeing is Nördlingen. Some people like Dinkelsbühl, but I saw it right after Nördlingen, and it was a disappointment by comparison.
South of Nördlingen, I would say there is nothing of particular interest except Füssen, but it is not on your way from Frankfurt to Munich.
As for the route and a railpass. None of the ones you mentioned will cover the EuroStar through the Chunnel (not to be confused with Italian EuroStar), but they all allow you a discount.
All that leaves, assuming that a pass in Italy is not worth having, is Munich to Venice and Rome to Paris. I know you can get a special fare from Deutsche Bahn online for Munich to Venice for less than a railpass day. I can't say about Rome to Paris, but it is sad that there is nothing interesting between Rome and Paris, just worthless wastelands, unless you consider Switzerland worthwhile.
Posted by
OP
West Palm Beach, Fl, usa
40 posts
This is my first trip to Europe, I am totally at the mercy of this site advises. I never been in Switzerland. Do you think is worth it to stop for 1 night?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19273 posts
I think people should try not to jump all over the continent, and should spend more time seeing things where they are.
London will still be there when you make your next trip. If you omit London and spend more time checking out what's between Rome and Paris, you will add very little, if anything, to the cost of that part of the trip and save the cost and time of jumping from Paris to London to Frankfurt.
What's between Rome and Paris? Try Cinque Terre, Milan, Turin, Geneva, the lake district north of Milan, Zurich, Berner Oberland, the Burgundy district in France, the Alsace. There is so much to see on the way.
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1528 posts
Waddys, P2P is "point to point", and no I don't think you should go to Switzerland for just 1 day. You will just be frustrated that you can't stay longer.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32349 posts
waddys,
Based on the information you provided, it appears that you have about 8-10 days for your trip. If that's the case, I have to agree with Lee in that dropping London (and perhaps Paris) this time would be a very good idea!
You've stated how long you want to spend in each location, but I don't see much allowance for travel times? For example, as I recall the trip from Munich to Venice is at least 6.5 hours (often including a change in Verona), which is the better part of a full day. Your proposed trip is FAR too busy!
Given the very short time frame, I wouldn't bother with a rental car. Concentrate on a few locations and minimize travel times as much as possible by using "fast", direct trains (especially as this is your first trip to Europe).
You'll arrive in Europe the day after you leave the U.S., so you'll lose one day to begin with. You might consider something along these lines:
Arrive in Frankfurt (1 day)
Train to Munich from FRA airport station (3H:27M via ICE)
Munich (2 nights)
Train to Venice (~7 hours - better part of a full day)
Venice (2 nights)
Train to Roma Termini (4H:27M via EuroStar Italia)
Rome (3 nights)
Budget flight to Frankfurt (Air Berlin from FCO to FRA - with travel, check-in and the usual airport hassles, probably at least six hours). Travel from Rome to Frankfurt by rail is at least 12 hours, as is the trip from Rome to Paris!!!
IMHO you're going to need to modify your trip plans substantially.
Good luck with your planning!
Posted by
Paradise
7053 posts
Ken's itin. looks sound to me - but if you arrive at FRA in the morning, I would absolutely head straight to Rothenburg from there for your first night rather than stay in Frankfurt. Seeing touristy but well-preserved Rothenburg, the best destination on the Romantic Road, for a couple of hours in the afternoon and in the evening doesn't give you a lot of time, but it's preferrable to whiling away a day in Frankfurt for no particular reason. Just hop on a train at FRA instead of driving so that your jetlag doesn't force you to drive drowsy in unfamiliar territory.