I am trying to reserach the best way to get around to all the countries. We are starting our trip in London and then going to Paris. I was thinking of flying, any suggestions? And then take the eurorail from Paris to Amsterdam to Frankfurt, and then to Rome. Finally we would fly from Rome to London. Does anyone have any better suggestions?
Posted by
Reston, Virginia
403 posts
Take the Eurostar from London to Paris. At 2 hrs 15 minutes city center to city center, it is far faster than flying, not to mention more comfortable and cheaper. There is no "eurorail"...you are probably assuming that there is because of the Eurailpass. That pass is simply a cooperative arrangement of the different European railways. French, German, Italian, etc etc are all separate companies although in some cases (such as railpasses and branded trains like Thalys or Artesia) they have joint service. Check out the website "The Man in seat 61" which is loaded with valuable information on European train travel. Certainly rail will be preferable going London to Paris to Amsterdam to Frankfurt. But Rome is rather far away, and you will need to either take a discount airline Frankfurt to Rome, or plan to break your trip somewhere in Switzerland or Austria or Northern Italy. Tim or Lee should be along soon with detailed information on these options. My question to you would be: why Frankfurt? There are many more charming cities in Germany, Cologne and Munich to name only two. In any case, have fun planning your trip!
Posted by
OP
Coatesville, PA, USA
11 posts
Thanks so much for all the information. My husband wants to stop along the Rhine to see the castles so we were planning on going to Bacharach, but I think we would have to go to Frankfurt and then connect to Bacharach. Does that sound right?
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Why dont you investigate Amsterdam to Cologne (Koln) or even Bonn and then take Rhine from there-ish. Frankfurt to me is just a big modern City (well 99% of it). Munich is great
Posted by
Reston, Virginia
403 posts
Melissa: I played with the DB (German Rail) timetables, something that is explained elsewhere on this website, and it appears to me that going from Amsterdam to Bacharach you will be routed through Cologne (Koln) rather than Frankfurt. If so, you might stop in Cologne, see the cathedral, and perhaps, depending on season, take the river cruise down to Bacharach.
Posted by
OP
Coatesville, PA, USA
11 posts
Thank you for all your help. Where is cologne?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Cologne is in Germany. Google Map or Viamichelin are online maps you may want to use in trip planning.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Cologne is on the Rhine, North of Bonn and Koblenz and all the Rhine villages RS talks about. it has a highly regarded cathedral (Dom) and square. both of which are "must sees" on any trip to German rhine area. Convenient place to start your Rhine tour (by train, boat or bus), from Cologne you travel south (upriver) to Bacharach or wherever else alobng the Rhine. there have got to be detailed descriptions in whatever guide books you are using