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Trip to Europe May 30 - June 14

Posted by (Michigan) on

My husband and I just retired and we are planning a trip to Europe. It will be our first time in Europe. We are looking for recommendations and guidance on our itinerary and transportation

  1. We fly into Munich and plan on spending 3 nights in Mittenwald we have reservations at Pension Schalbennestl. We have some flexibility here so we are thinking about staying in Munich one night and checking out the city and then heading to Mittenwald.
  2. Switzerland/Italy: from MIttenwald we are thinking about going to Lake Lugano and have 3 nights - I haven't booked this yet - still not sure what we want to do for these 3 nights, thinking about Salzburg instead of Lake Lugano?
  3. Exploring the Alps, Jungfra and Schilthorn: we are staying in Lauterbrunnen at the hostel for 2 nights and in Gimmelwald at the hostel for 2 nights
  4. Italy, exploring CInque Terre and staying in Vernazza for 2 nights
  5. Exploring the Tuscany region: we are stay outside of Siene for 2 nights and want to do some biking a see the country side and vineyards
  6. Rome: staying 2 nights and then flying home

Does this travel route make sense?

We are thinking we will take the train but would consider renting a car. Looking for any thoughts on transportation.

We are looking for feed back on any aspect of our trip.

Posted by
8168 posts

it would seem a better order to go to the Lauterbrunnen area after Mittenwald and then to Lugano area. Otherwise your order makes sense.

Posted by
11898 posts

Your idea to use trains is good.

Picking up a rental car in one country and leaving it in another has huge ( i.e. $500+) drop fee, on top of the rental rate.

While staying 'outside of Siena' a car may be useful.

Posted by
613 posts

For an easy introduction to EU, consider a river cruise. It will look expensive, but the price is all inclusive-- sightseeing guides, all transportation, room, & up to 7 meals a day. A number start from Munich airport, but Prague is far better (or end in Prague).

Otherwise, I much prefer car, especially in the Alps because the weather can go very bad. We plan two parallel itineraries, one for good weather (scenic mountain drives), one for bad weather (towns, cites, museums). Example: My Mother took a lifetime total of one trip to EU for the passion play. We were driving around Austria at the same time and met up with her tour in Innsbruck. Next day, her tour went to Zurich in pouring rain & fog-- never saw any mountains. We stayed in Innsbruck & went museum hopping. Next day, sunshine and we went back into the mountains.

Reasons to go to Italy thru Austria instead of Switzerland:
Better food
Less expensive in everything (SW road toll sticker is $28 vs $19)
As good or better scenery
Better beer
Better hotels

A good intro to EU driving is the relatively easy no toll expressway from Munich to Salzburg BTW: rental cars in the city are much less expensive than at the Munich airport.

Rome merits more time.

I don't understand why so many posters on this site want to go to Mittenwald. It is about as worthless as a sight worth seeing in EU gets. Don't do it, not even for one night.

Posted by
1451 posts

we are staying in Lauterbrunnen at the hostel for 2 nights and in
Gimmelwald at the hostel for 2 nights

Lauterbrunnen and Gimmelwald are about 10 minutes from each other, so I'm not sure why you would want the hassle of an extra check-out/check-in. I'd stay at the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald all 4 nights.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you for the feedback, we did make some changes to our itinerary.
Any thoughts or help on transportation would be great.
How would you go about figuring out the train travel, cost and schedules?
Below is the route we are currently taking:

  1. we fly into Munich and would like to spend a half of day at a beer hall and then head to Mittenwald from Munich, what train should we take from Munich to Mittenwald

  2. From Mittenwald we would like to explore the Luwigs Castle, and the Linderoff Palace, Dachau and Zugspitze is there a transportation pass that will get us to these places?

  3. From Mittenwald we want to travel to Gimmelwald
    will the train pass also include the cable cars and transportation that we will need to explore the ALPs?

  4. From Gimmelwald we have a couple open days and will need transportation to get where every we decide to go.

  5. Next we have reservations in Vernazza in Cinque terre

  6. From Vernazza we are traveling to a place outside of Siene, and will need to be able to get around the Tuscany area, can we take the same train/bus?

  7. From Siene we go to Rome, and fly home from Rome.

Any suggestions on how to figure out if and what train/transportation pass will work, and what it will cost?

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