My wife and I would like to travel from Amsterdam to Poznan, Prague, Nuremburg, and Paris. Any reccommendations for hotels, train versus driving, scenic routes or anything else would be greatly appreciated!
Those are some REALLY far-flung destinations. How long do you have? Do you want to see stuff inbetween those destinations or not? I wouldn't drive between any of those places unless you're going to be in Europe for like, at least 3 weeks or a month. I would fly between some of these for sure if I were you. Even on fast trains those are all pretty long jaunts. There is a night train between Munich and Paris (you'd have to take a separate train from Nurenberg to Munich) or Stuttgart and Paris (ditto). Daytime train travel from Nurenberg to Paris would be over 7 hours. Shortest jaunt is between Prague and Nurenberg, you can take a bus in 3 1/2 hours. Everything else is a really long haul. Driving could be a problem, because many rental car companies don't want you taking the car into the Czech Republic, and because drop off charges internationally can be very high. The car won't be too useful in any of those cities. And because it's a ridiculous amount of driving. Is there a reason you're trying to visit these particular destinations in one trip?
Hi, I am addressing the Amsterdam to Poznan (Posen) segment. By day I would suggest this: Time it right so that you take the ICE train Amsterdam to Duisburg, then change to Berlin direct on the ICE. Stay in Berlin one day, then take Berlin-Poznan EC train the next morning. This last leg I've done, where in Poznan I had to change for the train to Torun (Thorn). That Berlin-Poznan EC leaves from Hauptbahnhof to Ostbahnhof, then to Frankfurt an der Oder. You'll see the Oder and cross that bridge to the formerly East Brandenburg area and Prussian Posen before arriving in Poznan. By night I suggest the CNL Amsterdam-Berlin night train, then change to the EC to Poznan. If you want to push it (without the overnight in Berlin), then take the CNL.
During the volcano, I took the night train from AMS nonstop to Poznan; left around 7PM, arrive in Poznan about 7AM. It was pretty painless, about 170E for a sleeper compartment for 2; not bad for transportation and a room.
Poznana has excellent air service to the rest of the EU as it is a business location, so am sure you could find air to Nuremburg or a city nearby.