Wow, new Germany tour?

WOW! I'll be checking that out. Thanks for the heads' up, Kathy; I ha∂n't seen that one before, either.

that sounds great. I like the idea of shorter tours on which you can add days at either end, and stay within a normal two-week (American) vacation schedule.

Hmmm...took a look. Winter tours? Christmas Markets?

Double wow! Thanks for the heads up...you know who you are! This is SO exciting! I'm gonna see who I can talk in to this today.

Editing to add: So when do the Christmas Markets actually start? End of November, right?

Yes! With a couple of days before and after in late Nov and Dec this would be the Christmas market tour that many have been asking for. Big Brother is listening!

Count me in on this tour!

Excellent! Okay, let's share some ideas of some charming towns that would be great to add to the beginning or end of this tour.

Gosh, I've already started a list of things to do in Munich ahead of time so will love to see what others are thinking. I'm thinking 3 full days ahead in Munich but I'll have to do some research on Berchtesgaden to see if it is open this time of year, Dachau (went on a RS 21BOE tour and did not have enough time) and ....??

Today as I was walking from my parking spot to the RS Meet Up in Moscow in the snow and slush I was thinking about shoes/boots for this trip! I've got calf-high snow boots but not sure how comfortable they are to walk around a town. They are fine for snow activities of hiking and snowshoeing but you are not really covering ground the way you would in a city. They are waterproof. I've got some low cut waterproof older winter boots but not sure how comfortable they would be for walking either. May have to wear the snow boots on the plane and pack the lighter ones or just leather athletic shoes with YakTrax.

Other Christmas markets? Will go back and look for the review of the poster that did the Christmas Market cruise leaving the day after Thanksgiving, I think plus whatever you come up with.

End up in Paris for Christmas decorations and museums?

Oh Yes!! Thank you Rick!

Methinks the Nov/Dec dates will fill up fast for this trip. I've been to Munich twice so would probably stay in Nuremberg for the markets and day trip to Bamberg and one other town. Not sure where I would go after Vienna, probably Budapest for a few nights before flying home.

I just saw this tour today....it has my name written all over it. I just don't know how we could swing it this year, though.

Christmas markets......sigh. Airfare is so varied....

Kathy, I'm sure if it fills up this year that they'll offer it again in future years. I'm not sure I can swing it this year either but maybe next year.

We just did the Christmas markets on our own (Strasbourg, Colmar (day trip), Rothenburg, Munich, Salzburg (day trip to Salzkammergut) and Vienna. It was a wonderful trip. If you do the tour, I would recommend adding in Strasbourg, France (gorgeous decorations and a huge market) with maybe a side trip to Colmar and Rothenburg, Germany (cute, cute, cute) on the way to Munich. I agree with previous posters on the forum that the shopping is pretty much the same from market to market but each town/city has its own ambiance. We didn't go to shop just to enjoy the scenery. I'm glad the powers that be at RS have been listening to the requests for a Christmas market tour.

You can't go wrong with those three cities.

Wow! Now I am tempted to change from RS Venice, Florence and Rome to this tour! Looks like a fantastic tour!

We bit the bullet and signed up for the first tour. Since it's the first one we will leave the day after Thanksgiving. This only gives us one full day before the tour starts....which is okay since the markets probably won't open until the sunday that tour starts....Nov 27th. Most of the markets open the first week of Advent, which is that day. We will probably just hang in Munich before the tour starts then try to fit in some other markets back in Germany after Vienna (where the tour ends).

Wow! This is exciting!

I did it! I switched from the Venice Florence Rome tour to the new Munich/Salzburg/Vienna tour! I am sooooo excited. I signed up for the Nov. 27th departure date. I think I am going to arrive a couple of days before the tour begins. Can't wait!

Jenztravels, it didn't take you very long to make the decision to switch tours. Congratulations on your ability to do so. I hope everyone that take this tour comes back and reports how it went. By the way, I suppose you didn't have your flights booked yet, or did you change them?

Debra,

Working on the flights now! lol. I will definitely report back on this tour. My only concern is how to back really light so I can bring back my little treasures from the Christmas markets.

Jen

I signed up for the Dec 11 tour. The Munich markets seem to begin on a Friday, usually, coincidentally, the day after Thanksgiving. The only dates I have seen posted so far show a start on Friday, November 25, 2016. http://www.bavaria.us/christmas-market-in-munich.

The Salzburg and Vienna markets appear to start a few days earlier.

I have been to both the Munich and Salzburg markets, but I must say this gave an unexpected lift to my heart today. I can wait, but am doing so with pleasure and will have a nice list of what to do in Munich starting with a visit to Dallmayr and the Viktualienmarkt, a look at the manger museum, and maybe a look at some Loden coats.

Thanks RS team! And thanks, Kathy for starting this thread.

Jen - I have found that silk long underwear really helps for travel in this part of Europe in winter.

Jen,

We are on the same tour!

We have to work on Thanksgiving but plan to leave either later that day or friday, the day after. This really only gives us one full day pre-tour. As it gets closer, and as the dates for the Christmas markets become available, we will figure out what we will do with that first day. We will stay maybe 3 days post tour.......isn't it fun trying to come up with places to visit after the tour? I have read countless posts regarding Christmas markets and it seems like there is much disagreement on which ones are the best! On my radar right now........Strasbourg and Regensburg. We're not used to train travel in Europe so we're still working on the logistics and how to best maximize our post-tour days.

ETA, we always pack an extra bag to take home treasures. My Vera Bradley large duffle has seen lots of goodies over the years.

I am very excited about this trip! I am definitely going to work on my packing skills before the trip. I went on my first RS tour last year....Paris....and I waaayyyy over packed. Can't wait to visit the Christmas markets and visit Munich, Salzburg and Vienna in the winter time.

Debbbie - thanks for the recommendation regarding silk long underwear....I will definitely get some!

Kathy - excited we are on the same tour! Yay! Thanks again for posting this tour. I am planning to fly out on Thanksgiving so that will give me 2 days before the tour starts. Thinking of visiting Nuremberg before the start of the tour. Let the planning begin!

Kathy - excited we are on the same tour! Yay! Thanks again for posting this tour. I am planning to fly out on Thanksgiving so that will give me 2 days before the tour starts. Thinking of visiting Nuremberg before the start of the tour. Let the planning begin!

I'm not the same Kathy that posted this thread.....Nuremberg.......Stuttgart......so many markets to choose from.....so little time.