Train vs. Rental Car

You should indeed book open-jaw, flying into Paris and back from Munich.

Since your son is too young to help with the driving, I suggest you skip the stress of driving and go by train. Very easy and relaxing, and he will likely get a kick out of it. You might want a car for a couplenofndays to explore the Black Forest.

Not sure what you mean by Tirol. Isn't that in Austria?

You will not be able to spend the night on Mont Blanc,mor even reach the summit unless you are experienced mountaineers. That is a serious climb. And Chamonix is far off your route anyway.

There are some mountaintop hotels in Switzerland. Check out Pilatua and Rigi, both near Lucerne. you get there by cogwheel train and cablecar.

This question will attract a lot of opinions, including mine. The mode of transportation depends on a number of factors and your own comfort with driving. If you do not like driving, take the train and plan accordingly.

If you drive, rent your car after your time in Paris. A car is a hindrance in any big city. Try and find a rental location at the edge of the city and your departure from Paris will be easier. Have a GPS. Try and return your car in France.

Flying into one city and out of another is a great plan.

Enjoy

I think one of the attractions of traveling in Europe is experiencing things that you cannot experience at home. Train travel is certainly one of them. Seems like any time you want to go anywhere over here you have to have either your own car or a rental one.

The trains in Europe are a delight to use; try them. Plus, in my experience I usually spend half to a third as much for public transportation as a car would have cost. Spend some time learning to use the rail system where you are going, and if you can find some convenient connections, take them. Only drive if there is no other choice.

Agree with Lee 100%. Take the trains and leave "the driving" to someone else. It is amazing what one doesn't see while driving. For me it is just too much of a hassle.

Another vote for trains, supplemented by local buses if necessary. Your trip looks like it will be a one-way itinerary, and picking up a car in one country and dropping it in another usually incurs a very high extra fee (hundreds of euros).

I'm a bit concerned about the extent of the territory you want to cover. Flying in from Boston, you'll probably find yourself jetlagged, exhausted and fuzzy-brained on your arrival day in Paris. My first day I'm lucky to be able to do some vague walking around outdoors and find a meal. If you spend just three nights in Paris, you'll really have just about two full days of real sightseeing time. That may be enough if you want to focus on smaller towns and adventures in nature; just be aware that it's not much time for Paris. (If this isn't your first trip, you already know this.)

I myself wouldn't try to see Alsace, the Black Forest and the Tirol in just 5 or 6 nights. Remember. Your desire for outdoor activities increases the time you'll need in each area. I hope someone else more familiar with Europe's mountain areas can suggest a region that's more geographically convenient than the Tirol.

It would be great if you could add a few more days to the trip.

In Switzerland your 15 year old would travel everywhere with you for free. Super squeeky clean country with plenty of eye-popping alpine scenery. We take a group of 15 year olds to Europe every year and by far they are most impressed with Venice and stunning alpine experiences (gondolas, funiculars, hiking) in the Berner Oberland of Switzerland (Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren)

Your itinerary is ancient history challenged, yet you listed that as a priority. I am aware of some minor Roman ruins in Autun in Burgundy and there may be a few others, but consider diverting to Provence to see many fine Roman ruins. Detour up to the French alps and maybe that's your whole trip, France? For 12 days that's plenty of ground to cover.

I love train travel, but the practicalities of our trips almost always dictate renting a car. That being said, if you plan right, you can manage to get by without a car. You just have to pick the right places to visit, and that mostly means cities. For example, Provence w/o car restricts you tremendously; I know, since I've done it. Same with Alsace, although not quite as much; again, I've done that. One option is after Paris take the train to Strasbourg and rent a car, spending a few days in Alsace. Then you can drive somewhere in France where you can turn in the car and take a train into Germany, eventually flying back from Munich.

Tom has a very good suggestion, here is another.....
If you want "ancient history, nature and environment, food, hiking, etc.", then head South from Paris. Take a train and then rent a car (Bordeaux is easy) to drive to The Dordogne which checks every box on your list. From there drive to Provence stopping in Carcassonne for lunch. This trip would cover Prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance with great examples of each. Drop the car in Avignon for a train back to Paris (maybe a flight if you are going straight home) OR....
Take a train to the Alsace region, there is a direct to Colmar that is just under 5 hours. You could rent a car there to see the area and then take the 2 hour train back to Paris. As for hiking...it doesn't matter where I go in Europe, seems I'm doing plenty of hiking.

I think your originally stated destinations are easiest to connect by car, even if you start with a train ride from Paris to your first stop. Whether or not you have time for all of them is a different issue. If picking up a car in France, then you might want to drop it off and fly home from the French side of either Basel/Mulhouse or Geneva airports (Car rental agents will know what that means). Or if the driving and car return will be more focused on Germany and Austria, then maybe you'd pick it up at Freiburg.

We have done both - car and trains. As much as train travel has to offer, for your time span and where you want to go, you should at least look into a car. It will give you a lot more flexability with the short time frame you have.

Not sure what you are looking for in terms of places - but we have stayed at this place three times. http://www.location.alsace/ANGLAIS/anglaisacceuil.html

We haven't been there in about three years, though. It is in the city center of Colmar, which we love. It's rustic, but the location is great in terms of seeing Colmar. It is an easy drive to or there are buses to Friberg and other areas of the Blackforest. If you want to see Triberg, or other off the beaten path places, a car is nice. But make sure you are comfortable with the driving. They drive fast and some of the roads off the beaten bath and super narrow.

We have stayied in the city center of Munich at Jakobplatz - highly recommend it. Christof speaks English, is super nice, and has lots of great suggestions. OUtside Munch (a ways outside) we really like Inning and other cities in that area.

Have a great trip.

First I would choose between the ancient history and gentle scenery of Provence (many Roman ruins) and the dramatic scenic beauty of the Alps and to a lesser extent Alsace.

If you choose Alsace and the Alps here is what I would do:
Take a train from Paris to Munich. Rent a car in Munich. Head down to Salzburg/Berchtesgaden. Spend three nights in the area (Eagle's Nest, Documentation Center, Salzburg town). Drive through Switzerland to Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland. Spend two nights (take trains up Junfraujoch if weather is clear or trains around the Murren/Lauterbrunnen if weather is overcast). Then head up to Riquewihr for three nights. Visit Colmar, Mulhouse, Strasbourg and Heidelberg (in the Black Forest). Then return to Munich for three nights and return car immediately - a car is a hindrance in Munich). Visit the Residenz, Nymphenberg, English Garden, Marienplatz. Fly home from Munich.

If you prefer Provence I would take the train down to Avignon, rent a car and stay outside Avignon for five nights. Visit Orange, Nimes, Arles and Pont du Gard. Then drive down to the Cote d'Azure for five nights. Visit all the coastal towns. Stop in to see Villa Eprussi Rothschild. Head back to Avignon. Drop your car and take the train back to Paris for flight home.

WOW!! Thank you all for the great advice! I'm re-working this August 2017 trip now - this is what I'm thinking...

Fly Boston to Munich (or Innsbruck?), then train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, three days there exploring Zugspitze, Neuschwanstein Castle, etc.

Then I want to make our way to Paris for 3 or 4 days there. Direct train? Drive through Friedrichshafen to the Black Forest and drop car off in Stuttgart or Strasbourg?? Then train to Paris? Then return home Paris to Boston.

Would be great to get advice on routes and places to stay along those routes - two adults and one teenager. We love exploring and wandering. Small hotels and inns are fine as long as they are clean, honest and helpful.

THANKS!! Frank