Going to Europe Oct 1-16th. First time there. Want to hit Munich, Paris and London. We are thinking 3 days in Munich then 5-6 days in Paris and then 5-6 days in London. Leaving out of San Francisco. We want to see all the main sites in each place(Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Big Ben, Oktoberfest, etc.) and that shouldn't be a problem. Any advice on that main itinerary? We are planning on booking all hotels beforehand in each of those 3 cities. So are there any recommendations for day trips from each of these 3 cities...somewhere we could go for the day and be back in the hotel in the main city that night? Also, what is the best mode of transportation to get there(the day trips)? For example, are there buses that run from the main city to close small towns? Taxis are too expensive and we don't want to rent a car. In each big city we figure on renting bikes and/or taking buses and walking. And what's the final word from experienced travellers on getting between cities like Munich to Paris and Paris to London. Get the cheap flight but have to possibly get to an out of town airport or take the train? Which is cheaper and easier when you take into account the cost to get to the airport and your time boarding and deboarding the plane? Thanks for all advice regarding anything to do with the trip.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
This close to Oktoberfest I hope you can find a hotel in Munich that won't cost you an arm and a leg.
Air Berlin is a budget airline that flies Munich-Paris Orly.
The direct Munich-Paris night train is your best train option because it saves you the cost of a night in a hotel and gives you more daylight hours for sightseeing. It's possible you may still be able to get a cheap SparNight fare. Book at http://buchung.nachtzugreise.de and print your own ticket.
(more in next post)
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The Eurostar is your best Paris-London choice. City center to city center in less than three hours. Faster than flying. Book at eurostar.com. Fares vary depending upon any specials that may be available and what country you list as your place of residence when you register on the site. Sometimes return (roundtrip) fares are cheaper than single (one-way) fares. To compare fares, register as a resident of the US. Clear the cookies from your Internet browser and register again as a resident of France. Clear the cookies again and register as a resident of the UK. Do it again as a resident of Belgium. Book your ticket as a "resident" of whichever country gives you the best fare.
Posted by
White Bear Lake, MN, USA
479 posts
Dan, you're going to kill yourself at least figuratively unless you are planning on flying between the cities. Your trip is like trying to see Seattle, Phoenix and San Fransisco in 15 days. It's possible. But prepare to be very tired. And you'll miss a ton of great stuff inbetween.
Take Rick's advice and plan your trip as though you're going back. You'll want to plan your next trip before you touch US soil. If you're concerned that this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip then go for the most culture shock you can get. Do Paris and some of France or Munich and some of Germany.
If you're worried about things to do, grab one of Rick's books. If you can buy one or get it from the library. There are TONS of places to see around each of those cities and countries. You don't have to just hit the cities to see the best of Europe.
If you are committed to that itinerary then do night trains as much as possible. It will cut down on your travel time and lodging costs as you will move while you sleep!
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, Ca, USA
27 posts
Wow, Tim, that is great info. I'm definitely going to use the Eurostar for Paris to London. I can't find where to change the resident status though, is that after I start an account? I'm worried about lodging in Munich as well, just a quick check online and I can see most things are booked and the rest are very expensive...any advice on a close by town with cheap/regular hotels? Lastly, I'm sure you know something for this...even though we are going to Munich first we are actually flying into London from SF because the flight straight to Munich from SF costs $250-$300 more. I guess its because London is a bigger hub than Munich. So I figure if I can get from London to Munich for less than $250-$300 I'm saving money. Any ideas on that leg? I was thinking of ryanair or easyjet. Thanks again for the info!
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Easyjet shows flights from London to Munich for as little as 52.99 GBP, including taxes and fees. Ryanair doesn't fly to Munich.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The first time you visit eurostar.com you will be asked to give a country of residence. That information will be stored in a "cookie" on your Internet browser so every time you return to eurostar.com you will be identified as a resident of country "x". To change that and start over as a resident of counrry "y" you first have to go to Control Panel and then to Internet Options. Finally, under the heading of Temporary Internet Files select Delete Cookies. Warning: This will delete ALL cookies so you likely will discover that shortcuts to other sites you often use will be gone and you'll have to re-enter that information when you visit those sites again.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Dan...you can also change the residence status by wiping out just the Eurostar cookies....leaving the rest intact. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options. On the General tab, under Browsing history, click Settings. Then click the View files button. All your cookies will pop up...along the lines of "Cookie:[email protected]". Hit CTRL + F and search under "files and folders" for "eurostar," and you'll see one or two come up. Delete them, and you will get the original Eurostar website where it asks your country of residence.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
473 posts
Dan - I know that you didn't ask for such a recommendation, but at this late of a date, I would seriously reconsider going to Munich for Oktoberfest. Finding a hotel room will be a real challenge, at best. Instead, I would suggest Brussels and Brugge OR Amsterdam and Haarlem. Both are pretty easy to reach by train from Paris. And if it's the beer that you're after at Oktoberfest, Belgian beer is some of the BEST! Travel to/from Munich from London or Paris will chew up some valuable sight-seeing time. Munich would best be done in combination with the rest of southern Germany and/or Austria.
As to the best mode of transportation, your guidebook (especially Rick Steves) will provide pretty detailed info on how to get to a day-trip city via public transportation.
Finally, within the big cities, don't forget the metro (subway), for getting around. Almost every guidebook writeup of sights in London and Paris list the closest metro stop.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
For London-Munich Nancy suggested easyJet. Both easyJet and Germanwings fly London Stansted-Munich.
Posted by
OP
Sacramento, Ca, USA
27 posts
Tim and Norm, thanks for the computer help. Rick, do you think we should forget about Munich and Oktoberfest altogether or could we stay in a nearby town so we don't miss the experience? Anyone else out there going to Oktoberfest and staying outside Munich? Darcy, thanks for the open jaw idea. I didn't know which was the biggest hub in Germany out of Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. Whichever is the biggest should be the cheapest(or most likely the cheapest). I'll check on those flights. I've been looking all over Rick Steves sight these last few days and there is a magnificent amount of info to help with my trip. It's also great that experienced travellers can help newbies like me. Again, thanks everyone for all of your comments and suggestions. They are directly affecting my trip!!!
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Sounds like you're flying into Munich. Others have also been looking for lodging during Oktoberfest. Someone suggested Augsburg--45 min. train ride. I've stayed in Gauting, south of Munich (www.gauting.ge), but those pensions/zimmers might be full. On the upper right corner of this website, try searching on Oktoberfest for other lodging ideas. I think your itinerary sounds good. Day trips for Munich might be Fussen (Neuschwanstein), Dachau, Garmisch, maybe even Salzburg. Trips out of Paris--Chartres (cathedral & cute town), Amboise (Leonardo DaVinci home/museum), Versailles. Trips from London--Hampton Court, Bath, bus tour to Stonehedge & Cotswolds, Windsor Castle. I've done the train from Munich to Paris--easy/convenient. I've also taken the Eurostar from Paris to London. Not sure trains are necessarily cheaper, but these two trips are probably easier by train. The train gets you into the center of the cities--you then take the metro to your hotel. Remember to pack light.
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
6 posts
Read Rick's book. It's a great help. In Paris we got the Museum Pass which he mentions and it literally saved hours in line (we went in August though). We took the Eurostar from London to Paris and it was very economical and quick. We went to Bath, England for 2 nights and it was a nice respite from the big cities. Also about 1 hour from Stonehenge. We had a car but I think there are day tours from London or the train.
Posted by
Amarillo
47 posts
London is the perfect place to day trip! Why, in one day, round trip, you can enjoy places like York, Stratford upon Avon, Bath, Dover, Canterbury, Cambridge. That's just the beginning! I love going to London and getting a Brit Rail pass for day trips; great way to see the English countryside while returning to the big city for nightlife!