Itinerary comments welcome

Definitely a doable trip though you do have some long journeys. The obvious question that comes to my mind is why the back tracking. It would make more sense to fly into Paris and out of Vienna or Munich - that way most of your journey is in one direction. Even if you fly into FRA to start, you should look to fly out of MUC or VIE rather than go back to FRA. This will save you time and money - UNLESS you have already booked your tickets.

One other possibility - skip Florence on this trip since it is out of the way and save it for a future trip. Then add some other place(s) along the route or on the backend - i.e. from Salzburg head to Vienna &/or Budapest and end your journey there.

Another routing alternative to consider - if doing Florence, check out if it is easier getting to Innsbruck and from there travel onto Salzburg and then Munich. This may reduce the amount of travel

Thanks for the suggestions. We are flying into and out of Frankfurt because Condor Air offers non-stop flights to Anchorage. This cuts about 5 hours (at the minimum) off our flight travel time, and saves quite a bit of money. Flying out of Anchorage, AK is often not an easy proposition and we get charged a lot for our tickets. I'm really looking forward to the single 9 hour flight.

I will take into consideration the ideas of getting to Munich by way of Innsbruck.

Thanks!

Totally understand your feelings with the flight. You have to do what you have to do.

I'm seconding the suggestion to drop Florence for this trip. I'd tack those days on to Paris and Munich/Austria. Salzburg would be a great place to spend a day or 2, and you could also explore the Salzkammergut region. It'd be a nice break from the larger cities.

Well, if you are going to be in Frankfurt twice, you might consider exploring around this area. There are so many beautiful little towns around this city, with castles, cobblestone streets, old houses, Roman ruins, gorgeous little churches and the scenery is lovely too when you are up in the Taunus mountains.

Frankfurt is one of Germanys oldest and most historic cities and offers a lot to see and do too.

Keep your "hiking in the Alps" day flexible. The local weather may determine the feasability more than the location.

I wouldn't spend a day in Heielberg. I understand going there the first day to recoup and spend the night (kind of--I'd probably just stay in Frankfurt, but I imagine you have reasons for picking Heidelberg). It's an okay town but given how tight you itinerary is, it doesn't really deserve a place here. I'd train to Paris the second day.

I'd also investigate low cost air carriers, rather than do some of those long train rides (ir Florence to Munich, Paris to Florence). I'd hate to lose 2 entire days to travel like that if I could help it.

Jennifer, I love Heidelberg, but I'd skip it on this trip and either get your feet under you in F-furt or spend the extra day in Paris, esp if you want to go to Reims. I'd also fly from Paris to Florence and from Florence to Munich

Sounds like a very nice trip.

1.) I agree with the suggestion of skipping Heidelberg on days 1-2. The train is a good way to adjust, catch a snooze and relax. Couldn't you just head straight to Paris? Look at DB itinerary page for 39-Euro advance sale tickets. I'm not a fan of Paris, but this would give you an extra day there (or elsewhere?) - your time seems pretty short, especially if a trip to Reims is planned.

2.) Consider a Ryanair flight to Florence. Flights into Pisa can be had for under 20 Euros and take under 2 hours. A bus connects you into Florence. It's 12+ hours by train.

3.) After Munich, if you're going to Salzburg, I'd just take the train there instead of paying for a car day, and do the same returning. It's only 28 Euros for 2 on a Bayern ticket between these cities. See Salzburg on Day 14. Pick up your car in Salzburg on Day 15 for 24 hours and return it there as well. I'd suggest a drive to Hallstatt and/or Berchtesgaden back in Germany. (Salzburg would be my choice over Innsbruck.)

4.) Mainz is a good spot for your last night. You could make a stopover in Heidelberg on your way there (stow bags in train station lockers) OR just stay the night in Heidelberg (which takes a bit longer to FRA by train.)