Thanks to all for your comments about this subject; they have been very helpful. My name is Maria- Sonia and I am traveling 9/22-10/5 this year and hope to get some help in this forum. I have two plans for Before and After the tour and I am pretty sure some of you would like to share your experiences. Here are my two plans but I don't know which one is better or more convenient:
1. Munich-Vienna-Prague (tour) Venezia-Home.
2.Berlin-Prague-(tour) Venezia-Vienna-Home
If any of you have done something similar but in different order I would like to know that option also. My thought is that since I am in that area why not use the plane ticket and visit those cities, time is not a problem. I wouldn't mind if you recommend me the places where you stayed. Now, my question is Munich or Berlin? I am undecided. Last year I took the Vasque Country Tour and also did other places before and after. Good experience
Thanks a lot.
Last year we were in both Munich and Berlin. While we enjoyed them both, we would probably select Berlin as our favorite of the two. It fascinated us for so many reasons -- the history, the excitement we felt everywhere, the community in the Mitte. We stayed at Hotel Adelante Berlin-Mitte; it was perfect for us. The room was very clean and comfortable, the bathroom was the largest in our 3-week trip (great shower), we could walk anywhere we wanted, and although we didn't take it public transit was close by. Our favorite activities in Berlin were the dome at the Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and the Berlin Mitte Food tour (https://www.berlinfoodtour.de/tours/berlin-mitte-food-tour/).
Whichever city you choose, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Thank you so much for your reply. It was very helpful.
Munich and Berlin are as different as New York and Los Angeles, and you will find people who like both, dislike both, and like one but not the other. In fact, several years ago, there was a thread called "Berlin vs Munich Cage Fight": https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/berlin-vs-munich-cagefight
So, read about them, watch videos (Rick's are here; scroll down and click Germany: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show) and decide for yourself which one interests you more now.