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Munich/Interlaken or Lucerne /Italy

Posted on 1/9/19 at 12:53 pm
Posted by LSUSLU106
Member since Mar 2015
529 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 12:53 pm
Me and my girlfriend are planning a trip to Europe at the end of September beginning of October. We were thinking of starting in Munich just because Oktoberfest will have just started . From there we were planning to go to Switzerland after to the interlaken area or Lucerne . From there we wanted to end the trip in Italy preferably all the way down to rome. My main questions I have is should we book through travel agent being its our first time over there? We have mainly been looking at Airbnb to stay at. As far as getting from place to place will just be us taking trains or should we get a car ? Any tips or recommendations would be awesome.
This post was edited on 1/9/19 at 1:52 pm
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 1:03 pm to
Renting a car won't be expensive ($25-$30/day, I just did an instaquote on Sixt for early October) even if you pick it up in Munich and return it in Rome. BUT, gas is incredibly expensive. Like $5.50/gallon expensive. So as you compare train and air to car, don't forget to factor in gas. You might consider renting a car for specific parts of the trip, like a more rural section w/scenery not well served by trains.

You don't say how long you plan to stay....it's about 900 km from Munich to Rome through some incredibly mountainous areas. Start reading guidebooks & travel formums now to ID what it is that you most want to see & do.

If you're booking your own Air BnBs, why would you need a travel agent?



Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
5800 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 1:03 pm to
In the grand scheme of things, that isn't that much geography to cover (although going to Rome may be a bit of a stretch when could fly out of Milan, for instance), its is a lot of movement.

Dont think you need a travel agent. You are posting on this board, so you have google flights, AirBnB, and other resources to do booking.

Munich end of September/beginning of October would be a big party and probably loads of fun. Lucerne and Itnerlaken you may be hitting on shoulder season so it might not quite be ready for winter activities and finished with summer activities. But could score some good deals, Id imagine, as in general that is a good time to travel to Europe.

What about Munich and then into Austria...Maybe a few days in Vienna, Salzburg, etc... Fly out of vienna back home?
Posted by LSUSLU106
Member since Mar 2015
529 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 1:21 pm to
We plan on staying for about 10-14 days. I am off for vacation from work from September 24 - October 7th. My main concerns was getting from place to place or whatever activity we wanted to go and do. Being we have never been over there I just did not know what to expect as far as getting around or getting to each country.
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 1:29 pm to
Regional train service is pretty good in Germany/Austria/Switzerland. It goes downhill a bit as you head south into Italy (fewer trains, older rolling stock).

Best English-language resource around for European train travel is the website The Man in Seat 61. His site has everything from time tables to route suggestions to station reviews, ticket buying tips, and so much more. Check it out: LINK
Posted by LSUSLU106
Member since Mar 2015
529 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 1:35 pm to
Do you think that’s plenty amount of days for a trip like this not to feel rushed or anything? I was thinking like 2 days in Munich, 3 days in Switzerland and around 4 days in Italy?
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 1:45 pm to
quote:

I was thinking like 2 days in Munich, 3 days in Switzerland and around 4 days in Italy?

That is not a schedule I would enjoy. But I'm a slow traveler. I like to settle into a place and pretend to be a local for a few days. I enjoy walking through cities, long lunches (or dinners), poking around in odd shops, visiting obscure churches with interesting art & architecture. For ex, I did an 8 day trip to Germany/Austria a couple years ago; 3 nights in Salzburg and 5 in Munich. This allowed me to use those cities as a base and take side trips.

You may feel very differently, but I'd encourage you to consider a more geographically focused itinerary (like BO suggested above, focusing on Munich/Austria/Switzerland) and spend more time in each place.

Consider that 2 days in Munich won't amount to much: your arrival day includes jet lag, which means an early-ish bedtime even if you arrive there in AM local time. You'll have a full second day, hopefully decent sleep on night two, and day 3 will mostly involve travel to the next place. Pack, check out by 10 or 11 am at the latest. No nice lunch that day, as you're schlepping luggage, then you'll take the train to Next City. Hopefully, your ABB allows for an early-ish check in, or you'll need to find a luggage drop & do some sightseeing while you wait to get into lodgings. Are you spending one night in three different places in Switzerland, or 3 days in Interlaken?

Four full days in Rome is enough to get a taste of the place and see major sites, assuming you mean a fourth night and departing on the 5th day.
This post was edited on 1/9/19 at 1:47 pm
Posted by LSUSLU106
Member since Mar 2015
529 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 2:38 pm to
Thanks for all the infomation man. I am going to show her all what y’all wrote and going to talk to her maybe about condensing the trip to one area.
Posted by kciDAtaE
Member since Apr 2017
15685 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 3:09 pm to
There is a hostel in Interlaken that is very nice. Best one I’ve been in. But that was about 10 year ago when I was in my early 30’s. Interlaken and Munich was more fun than Lucerne and Italy.

Skydive above the Alps in Interlaken. Unbelievable experience.
Posted by LSUbrou
Lake Charles
Member since Feb 2009
29 posts
Posted on 1/9/19 at 5:57 pm to
Wife and I just took trip very similar sept 19-Oct 5 but in reverse order. We began in Rome => Florence => Venice => Murren, Switzerland => Munich (oktoberfest). It was our first time in Europe, and I booked everything myself. Travel agents can be helpful but we saved a lot of money and were able to book exactly what we wanted. Travel agents usually get deals through resorts and cant quite customize an itinerary usually if you have specific needs. We took trains to each destination. Switzerland required cable car up to the town of Murren. I read many threads on Rick Steves and elsewhere on exactly how and when to schedule each train. I highly recommend using the trains. I used Airbnb and booking.com to book stays. We flew through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. No complaints there. I feel like we stayed just the right amount of time in each location and had the right combination of busy sight seeing days and relaxing days. Keep in mind Switzerland is the most expensive place you will go so plan accordingly. I can give further recommendations on scheduling and each location further if needed!
This post was edited on 1/10/19 at 9:00 am
Posted by Dizz
Member since May 2008
14721 posts
Posted on 1/10/19 at 6:06 am to
Add an extra day in Munich it’s a great city and you will lose at least half a day from jet lag. It’s pretty painless to take the train from Munich to Switzerland.
Posted by LSUSLU106
Member since Mar 2015
529 posts
Posted on 1/10/19 at 6:54 pm to
Good deal what you think should I be expecting flight wise whats a good round trip if I can get something at a good price when I see it jump on it and book it?
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 1/10/19 at 8:26 pm to
Flying open jaw (into Munich and out of Rome) will cost you a bit more than a RT from the same city. In Sept/Oct, a cheap fare would run $500, expensive $1200. (Economy)
Posted by LSUbrou
Lake Charles
Member since Feb 2009
29 posts
Posted on 1/10/19 at 8:47 pm to
i will say mine round trip was a little over $900. It didnt seem too bad for that time of year as it was still end of high season in Italy. I am sure there are ways to find cheaper if you are flexible, but i wouldnt be upset over something around that price.
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