We plan to join the tour at Trier, but will spend 3 days on our own prior to that. What came to mind are: Rothenburg, Cologne, and maybe Frankfurt. Persoanlly I prefer to experince a quintessential town with enough culture sites and a historical old town center. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2787 posts
We took that tour last year. We went to Berlin for the first time for 5 nights and then on to Trier for 2 nights before the tour began. If you only have 3 days on your own before the tour begins, is that to say that it is only 2 nights? There is enough to see in the immediate Trier area that is not on the tour that you could use 2 days there. We stayed in a wonderful place before and during the tour in Trier, a kind of hotel/apartment place that was BIG. We take a RS tour every summer and always try to check in to the tour hotel a couple of days ahead of the tour to see what the tour does not cover, likewise after the tour is over. We really enjoyed the tour and hope you do also. The views in Switzerland were truly remarkable. Had a male guide who works in the RS office in Edmonds, WA, who made the best maps. Happy travels, aloha charlie
Posted by
OP
Macungie, PA, USA
59 posts
Aloha Charlie! I am thinking of doing the same by arriving at Trier a few days early to shed jet lag and to venture a little bit on our own. Did you stay extra days at Vienna or went Prague or Budapest post trip?
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
11 posts
Trier and the Mosel are lovely on their own merits with a possible boat tour, castles, vineyards or trip to nearby Lichtenstein. We always enjoy a visit to Cologne with wonderful Roman Museum and cathedral at the train station, nearby Claudius Therme and cable car over the Rhine. I highly recommend a therme soak to help you get in the "kur" relaxed mode for the rest of your trip. Enjoy!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
I was underwhelmed by Cologne - though the cathedral is magnificent, much of the rest of the city is post-WWII concrete blocks. I had a great time in Frankfurt, historical old town center, museums, farmers' market, and a day trip to Budingen.
Posted by
OP
Macungie, PA, USA
59 posts
It is interesting that you mentioned Cologne and Frankfurt. For Cologne were you able to spend a full day or did you overnight there in town? For Frankfurt did you stay near the old town and was able to walk around to various sites of interest? I enjoy walking on my own pace around older stuff. I am trying to figure out how to move around from the airport to downtown areas. Thanks for your responses and suggestions.