Hi,
We are 2 adults and 2 boys (6, 11) flying from US into Amsterdam on July 1st and flying out of Munich on the 15th of July. We really want to spend a few days in Switzerland this time (but the return fares from both Zurich and Geneva were exorbitant).
Here is our planned itinerary.
Amsterdam – 3 nights (July 1, 2, 3)
Munich – 2 nights (July 13, 14, flying out on 15th late afternoon)
Switzerland – 5 nights (3 nights in Berner oberland, 2 nights – Lucerne/Engelberg/Vevey or ? )
For the other 4 nights we are thinking,
Rhine valley
Bavarian Country side or Salzburg/Hallstatt
Our route ideas
1. Train from Amsterdam to cologne, see the cathedral and drive through Rhine valley to Freiburg(or ?) drop off the car and train to Switzerland. Train from Switzerland to some German or Austrian town and rent a car for another 2 days before moving on to Munich
2. Overnight train from Amsterdam to Switzerland. From Switzerland train to some German/Austrian town(?) rent a car for 4 days, finally to Munich to drop off the car
3. Train from Amsterdam-Cologne rent car for 4 days tour all of Germany/Austria(except Munich), train to Switzerland – train from Switzerland to Munich for final 2 days and fly out
4. Open to other ideas?
This is where we need help. Looking for suggestions on best places to spend the other 4 nights. What is the best travel route we can take?
Posted by
Fishers, IN, USA
111 posts
With your proposed itinerary you can find countless places to stay those four days. That would be the least of my concern.
I trust you and your children (6,11) are seasonsed travelers and this is not your first trip overseas. If it's your first this could be a trip from h___. Planning your transportation car, bus, or rail takes a whole different element with young children. You might want to survey this forum asking folks who have traveled with kids how it went. Again, sounds like a fantastic journey, just giving a few words of warning as you plan your itinerary.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
I see no special reason that you would need a car for the Rhine Valley.
You should probably spend the 4 days there and in the Mosel Valley. Maybe you could add a little time in the Black Forest on the way to the Berner Oberland. There are lots of great towns and interesting things for kids and families in both places. River cruises, castles all over the place, outdoor activities... Here's a sampling:
Cochem/Mosel falconry at Reichsburg Castle
Cochem's Moselbad waterpark
Rheinfels Castle in St. Goar
Freilandmuseum in Bad Sobernheim
Black Forest:
Vogtsbauernhof museum in Gutach
Summer bobsled in Gutach
Gengenbach, old-world village
Posted by
OP
Boston
22 posts
Thank you Mike. This is our 3rd overseas trip with kids but I would not call ourselves seasoned travellers. Those are the places we would like to see but I understand that we cannot do everything. I am looking for help to understand how best to change our itinerary so it is not rushed.
Thanks
Posted by
OP
Boston
22 posts
Thank you Russ.
How about this itinerary
Amsterdam – 3 nights (July 1, 2, 3)
4th morning - Train to cologne or another town in Rhine. Rent a car for the next 4 days(we thought having a car is more convenient with kids)
Rhine/Mosel Valley - July 4,5,6
Drive through black forest - July 7(spend night in ?)
July 8 - drop off car and train to interlaken
Berner oberland - July 8,9,10
Lucerne/Engelberg/vevey/? - July11, 12
Train to Munich – July 13, 14,
flying out on 15th late afternoon
Would you recommend completely dropping Bavaria/austria in favor of Rhine valley?
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5511 posts
I also have similarly aged children and I would not travel with them at this pace. But they are your kids, not mine, so you know their limits.
If I were arriving in AMS and departing two weeks later from MUC, I would spend half of my time in AMS and half of my time in Salzburg or Seefeld. Both S'burg and Seefeld are great base locations for exploring mountains with lots to do in the area with kids. Much less hassle with only two locations, obviously.