I need some help. I am planning a 10 day trip to Europe in July. We are arriving in venice and I would like to explore venice and some of the close surrounding cities and then head to croatia, where I would like to spend the bulk of the trip. And then finish the trip in Austria, Vienna - I would like to visit Melk Abbey - and then fly from there back to the US. The trip is 10 days and I am flexible. These are my questions: I want to know how to plan the trip. Is it realistic to end the trip in Austria to see Melk? should i rent a car for this trip, or take the train? If I do rent a car (I am from the US) what do I need to know about doing that in Europe, and can I cross borders in a rented vehicle? Also I wanted to travel with a flexible itinerary and not book rooms in advance (except for venice since that's where we fly into), instead to find available accomodation as we travel - how realistic is this in the summer time? Any tips on finding same day accomodation when on the go?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
For me 10 days is not long enough to visit three countries. I would limit it to two and not try to cram in the third. Also, you're going during busy season so you may want to reconsider booking hotels in advance. Donna
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Even though I usually do lots in a short ime, I would Melk Abbey and keep you trip to Italy and Croatia. It is beautiful, but so are your other two destinations. If you do get a car, you can pick it up in Venice when you leave and easily drive to Croatia, then to avoid fees drive back to Italy and maybe fly out of Milan. Some backtracking, but it is a beautiful drive. I very rarely make reservations unless a big city...definitely for Venice, but I usually have a car. I think its a bit unnerving to get off the train in the busy season and wander around to find a room. I feel much more comfortable doing this when I have a car as I can alwways easily drive to the next town if everything is booked. What locations do you want to go to in Croatia?