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Itinerary Advice Needed

Posted by (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA) on

This September I will be joining a friend, who lives in Arles. This is my first trip to Europe. After spending a few days in Arles, we intend to travel to 4 other countries. We have 21 days to spend in Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice); Switzerland (Berne); Austria (Salzberg and Vienna); and will end our trip with 5 days in Prague.

1) What would be the best route to train from Marseille to Florence, Rome, Venice, Berne, Salsburg, Vienna and Prague?

2) Given our timetable, do we have time to visit another Swiss city? If so, what city would you recommend?

  1. My friend has been living in Arles for several years; but remains an American citizen with an American passport. Despite this, she fears that she should not let me purchase a select saver pass for her in the U.S. to let us take advantage of the discount. Do you believe there will a problem? I had intended on buying a 5-country select saver pass for two and hand-carrying her pass to her. Would this be a dishonest thing to do? (My friend will be moving back to the U.S. at the end of our trip.)

  2. If I purchase an single, individual pass in the U.S. will we have difficulty making reservations to ride together because she would be riding under a European pass? Will there be other complications? I would greatly appreciate as many of your opinions regarding this question as possible.

Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Posted by
3262 posts

1) I think that Kent's post and Rick Steves "Best of Europe" book will help you plan an itinerary that makes the best use of the time that you have.

Kent's Itinerary Planning

You can use those tools to determine the distance and travel time between the cities that you've mentioned that you'd like to visit--the cities that you've mentioned are spread pretty far apart. For a more relaxing trip you probably want to spend at least 3 days in each city.

2) You may want to consider deleting a city to add quality time to each destination rather than adding a city. You might delete Rome and/or Florence to add a Swiss city.

3-4) I don't know about the best options for rail passes.

Posted by
4637 posts
  1. To use train time as efficiently as possible I would do it this way: Marseille, Bern, Rome, Florence, Venice, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague. If I have to skip a city it would probably be Salzburg. (There is a direct train Venice Vienna).
  2. Luzerne is one of most beautiful towns in Switzerland.
  3. I don't see a problem. Your friend has an American Passport.
  4. You should not have any problem to book train rides together even if she rides under a European Pass.
Posted by
7 posts

Iija and Sharon,
Thank you both for taking the time to respond. I appreciate your input!

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