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Started By
Message
Europe trip with wife, need suggestions
Posted on 5/22/22 at 6:37 pm
Posted on 5/22/22 at 6:37 pm
I'd like to plan a vacation to Europe between 7-10 days. We've both seen most of the major attractions in Europe in our younger days. I've been to Spain (Madrid, Toledo), France (Paris, Carcassonne, Nice, Avignon, Lourdes), Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence, Sienna, Pisa, Assisi), Switzerland (Interlaken, Wengen, Lucerne), and England (London, Bath, Bristol). Most of these places were visited in 1984. I also had a 10-day Europe trip in 1991. My wife was on a 4-6 week group tour in Europe around 1982 and saw even more. These trips were exhausting and very fast paced. Neither my wife nor I have ever driven in Europe and I don't think we want to start now.
We'd like to take a more relaxed trip and avoid the big cities and big crowds. I've never been to Germany (wife has) and I'd really like to see the Black Forest. I have no doubt that I'd be thrilled to see the major attractions of Berlin and Munich, but I think I would much prefer small towns without big crowds. We'd also prefer to have a package deal as we don't know which towns and hotels to choose and also to avoid the hassle.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
We'd like to take a more relaxed trip and avoid the big cities and big crowds. I've never been to Germany (wife has) and I'd really like to see the Black Forest. I have no doubt that I'd be thrilled to see the major attractions of Berlin and Munich, but I think I would much prefer small towns without big crowds. We'd also prefer to have a package deal as we don't know which towns and hotels to choose and also to avoid the hassle.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
16
Posted on 5/22/22 at 6:42 pm to NotYourDaddy
Sounds like Lisbon and Porto would fit the bill for yall
Posted on 5/22/22 at 6:52 pm to NotYourDaddy
Prague & Budapest would be a great trip and different than your past trips. Train between the two is super cheap, easy and actually fun.
It's so easy to plan online these days...
quote:
We'd also prefer to have a package deal as we don't know which towns and hotels to choose and also to avoid the hassle.
It's so easy to plan online these days...
Posted on 5/22/22 at 7:21 pm to NotYourDaddy
Alsace perhaps
Posted on 5/22/22 at 7:31 pm to NotYourDaddy
Black Forest? I have been there and enjoyed it but it is not high on my list of favorites.
I know you said you don’t want to drive but if I wanted to go to Europe and stay away from the big cities I would go to the Tuscan countryside and explore the smaller hill towns. I have done this twice and can’t wait to do it again. I love it there.
Or judging from the places you have not been I would consider the Amalfi Coast using Positano as a base.
I know you said you don’t want to drive but if I wanted to go to Europe and stay away from the big cities I would go to the Tuscan countryside and explore the smaller hill towns. I have done this twice and can’t wait to do it again. I love it there.
Or judging from the places you have not been I would consider the Amalfi Coast using Positano as a base.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:03 pm to NotYourDaddy
Going this summer for the first time in 20 years. Black Forest is meh. We are going to stay a couple of days in Regensburg/Kelheim/Weltenburg Abbey area for exactly your reason. Will be in big cities but want to get out into smaller towns as well. Not too far out from Munich.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:35 pm to NotYourDaddy
We’re huge fans of Viking River Cruises. Done 5. River cruises, particularly Christmas Cruises, are magical. Unpack and enjoy. Tends to be a 50+ crowd for the most part though.
Want something amazing and different? Look into Slovenia.
Slovenia
Second vote is spend time in Czechia. Starting in Prague. But see the country. Cesky Krumlov in particular.
Czechia
PS: was in Berlin in December. Interesting but would not go back.
Berlin/Potsdam
Want something amazing and different? Look into Slovenia.
Slovenia
Second vote is spend time in Czechia. Starting in Prague. But see the country. Cesky Krumlov in particular.
Czechia
PS: was in Berlin in December. Interesting but would not go back.
Berlin/Potsdam
This post was edited on 5/22/22 at 8:55 pm
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:40 pm to NotYourDaddy
Lot to unpack here. What are you interested in? History? Food? New places?
Most of the places you named were visited decades ago and could be worth another visit. Perhaps a river cruise through Europe if you don’t want to drive…I hate cruises.
A Barcelona/Lisbon trip could be fun if you not into the cruise scene.
I hear Iceland is fantastic but you will have to drive to explore the country.
I loved my Bavaria/ Prague trip but we drove. So can’t speak on trains for that trip.
Scandinavia could be fun but I hear it’s expensive.
Most of the places you named were visited decades ago and could be worth another visit. Perhaps a river cruise through Europe if you don’t want to drive…I hate cruises.
A Barcelona/Lisbon trip could be fun if you not into the cruise scene.
I hear Iceland is fantastic but you will have to drive to explore the country.
I loved my Bavaria/ Prague trip but we drove. So can’t speak on trains for that trip.
Scandinavia could be fun but I hear it’s expensive.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:55 pm to NotYourDaddy
All those places start to look similar after awhile. I highly recommend A Greek island destination.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:57 pm to NotYourDaddy
Thanks so much for the replies so far! Lots of great ideas to consider.
A river cruise would probably be at the top of my list except the one and only time that I went on a cruise I got sick when we got back on land. Weird!! I had never heard of such a thing, but I researched it and it's called 'Mal de Débarquement' (often abbreviated MdDS). I had dizziness/vertigo for 3.5 months after the cruise. I never want to experience this again. I think the risk of MdDS might be too high for me to do a river cruise, although I'm sure I would really enjoy it during the cruise.
A river cruise would probably be at the top of my list except the one and only time that I went on a cruise I got sick when we got back on land. Weird!! I had never heard of such a thing, but I researched it and it's called 'Mal de Débarquement' (often abbreviated MdDS). I had dizziness/vertigo for 3.5 months after the cruise. I never want to experience this again. I think the risk of MdDS might be too high for me to do a river cruise, although I'm sure I would really enjoy it during the cruise.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:59 pm to NotYourDaddy
Berne, Lake Country N. Italy, Dordonge Fr...etc. Pick nice small small-town inns about 2hrs by train from a major city and take day trips. We've been booking everything online for about 10 years without a single mix up. The hassle is so minimal that package booking isn't really necessary and can cause hassles because there is a 3rd party paying the lodging. Sometimes only the booking agent can make a change if there is a problem.
The tourist experience in Europe has really ramped up in last 20 years with more to do/see and more English signage. Driving outside of the UK is now very little different than US. Highway traffic can be bad July and August.
The tourist experience in Europe has really ramped up in last 20 years with more to do/see and more English signage. Driving outside of the UK is now very little different than US. Highway traffic can be bad July and August.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 9:00 pm to kciDAtaE
quote:
What are you interested in? History? Food? New places?
That's a great question and I wish I had a great answer. Mostly a combination of those things and nothing too specific.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 9:01 pm to NotYourDaddy
So, I know you said you don’t want to start driving in Europe yet, but if you end up the Germany/Austria//Prague route (which I highly recommend), driving in those countries is really easy. The Autobahn was as easy driving an interstate through the Midwest…but a lot faster. Train is also pretty direct and affordable on that route.
I have also been looking into a future trip to Slovenia and Croatia, and it seems like a great, slow paced road trip journey mixed with cool cities, impressive nature and beaches.
I have also been looking into a future trip to Slovenia and Croatia, and it seems like a great, slow paced road trip journey mixed with cool cities, impressive nature and beaches.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 9:40 pm to NotYourDaddy
quote:Driving specifically in Germany is no big deal if you are responsible.
Neither my wife nor I have ever driven in Europe and I don't think we want to start now.
Having a rental car makes it easy to do Berlin and Munich with the Castles included at your own schedule.
Linderhof Palace (Link) the smallest of Ludwig’s castles, is my favorite.
Good luck, maybe a tour is what you guys want if you don’t want to drive?
You can hike all up behind Linderhof, it’s wonderful.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 9:43 pm to NotYourDaddy
Train travel is fine if you want to avoid driving but don’t underestimate distances and delays or cancellations. What looks like a simple three hour trip on paper can take half the day or more. Seven to ten days gets tight when you figure your own time getting to and from Europe - subtract two days and you are left with 5 to 8 days.
Check out Rome2Rio app
LINK https://www.rome2rio.com/
This can guide you on getting to places. There is also app version. It shows all modes of travel.
Check out Rome2Rio app
LINK https://www.rome2rio.com/
This can guide you on getting to places. There is also app version. It shows all modes of travel.
Posted on 5/23/22 at 12:05 pm to NotYourDaddy
Fly into Munich, spend a few days, then take the train to Salzburg. It's a slower paced town, and from there, you can take side trips to Hallstatt (look up pics), Berchtesgaden (if into WWII history), and perhaps even Innsbruck.
Sorry, I don't do package deals, so can't help you there. And if you don't want to rent a car, the German and Austrian public transport networks are excellent.
Sorry, I don't do package deals, so can't help you there. And if you don't want to rent a car, the German and Austrian public transport networks are excellent.
Posted on 5/23/22 at 1:20 pm to soccerfüt
quote:
Driving specifically in Germany is no big deal if you are responsible.
Just don’t camp in the left lane anywhere in Europe. You are expected to use the left lane for passing and move over. It’s like we wish it was in the US.
Posted on 5/23/22 at 10:23 pm to NotYourDaddy
quote:
Fly into Munich, spend a few days, then take the train to Salzburg. It's a slower paced town, and from there, you can take side trips to Hallstatt (look up pics), Berchtesgaden (if into WWII history)
If you haven't gotten to Germany/Austria, Munich/Salzburg/Hallstatt is a heck of a run. That itinerary alone (flying in/out of MUC) could actually fill a 7-day run (3 nights in Munich, 2 in Salzburg, 1 night in Hallstatt). Wife & I did a return trip to Munich/Salzburg over a week in 2018, but if you like small towns, Hallstatt cannot be missed. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is also a small town option, but stay the night to avoid crowds. We have yet to rent a car in Europe...trains are such an enjoyable option we don't really have in the states.
One other Germany option would be the Rhine River Valley...Frankfurt (lots of flight options from USA) is a 1.5 hour train ride from Cologne, and you could take cruises up and down both the Rhine and the Mosel. Towns like Cochem, St. Goar and Bacharach (our home base when we went) are great relaxing places to visit.
Whatever you choose, you've figured it out...I will almost always remember the European small towns I stayed in more than the big cities
Enjoy planning your trip!
ETA: I made out far better without package deals on all of our Europe trips, so if you choose any of these places I'm happy to recommend places to stay/dine/drink/visit.
This post was edited on 5/23/22 at 10:30 pm
Posted on 5/24/22 at 8:52 am to drockw1
Good points - especially regarding smaller towns. Add Trier to that list. And although Dresden is much larger, it’s a beautiful city with many museums.
Posted on 5/24/22 at 12:48 pm to VABuckeye
Left lane is a no no. Driving through Italy on the autostrada in the middle lane about 85 MPH, absolutely got rocked by about three big Audi sedans. Diplomatic plates and they had to be pushing 160.
Prolly the pope, but I can't confirm
Prolly the pope, but I can't confirm
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