ges123

Here is what I have so far.
Northwest flight arrives Frankfurt at 7:00am 29 Oct 06. Tentative plans is to connect out at 11:00am on Alitalia to Rome for our 3 night stay at the Hilton Cavaleri and return to Germany for 3 nights and return to Minnesota on 04 Nov 06. Plan is to use free night vouchers at Hiltons in Munich and/or Frankfurt. Want to visit Heidelberg, Munich.
Questions:
1. Is it best to go to Rome first and do Germany at the end since I will fly back out of Frankfurt? Husband has never been to the continent and I have not been there in 26 years. I don't suppose anything has changed .
2. Should I schedule my return flight from Rome to Germany to arrive in Munich spend night and travel to Frankfurt for remaining 2 nights and day train to Heidelberg? We will have 2 suitcases and carry ons - can trains handle this from Munich to Frankfurt?
3. Should we fly from Rome into Frankfurt and rent car and drive for night into Munich?

Help - any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all,

Gwen

Vera

Sounds like a difficult pairing with only 5 days in Europe. If you are dead set on this combo, can you get open jaws flight--fly into Germany and out of Rome?
Vera

ges123

Unfortunately not. Flight is booked in and out of Frankfurt. Main point of trip was to get to Rome and this was the cheapest I could find at this time of year arranging business class flights. (upgrade with miles)

miaspapa

I would do Rome last,you will have more time to fall into the swing of things.In my opinion Rome is overwhelming especially after a long flight. good luck ,you are right as long as you get there the rest will fall into place.

SusanP

If Rome is your main objective, why not do the 11:00 flight you have tentatively planned and spend the whole time in Rome, just coming back to Frankfurt the night before for your flight home? The only thing is, if your flight to Frankfurt and the one on Alitalia to Rome are booked separately (not on the same ticket) and your flight is late enough into Frankfurt to miss the Alitalia flight, you lose that flight and have to pay for another one.

traveller1959

I can't see anything wrong with your schedule.
It is a matter of taste and exhaustion. You will arrive in Frankfurt in the morning after a short night on the plane (get as much sleep as possible!). Then you change planes and have another flight into Rome, arriving there at noon. With transfers, you will check in at the Cavalieri Hilton in the early afternoon - BTW, the finest Hilton I have ever experienced. You will spend your days in Rome, fly to Germany (Munich will be more convenient than Frankfurt because you can drive up from Munich to Frankfurt). You will spend your last night in Frankfurt, BTW, again, one of the most beautiful Hiltons in the world, brand new with an olympic-size swimming pool. You will have time for an excellent breakfast and start in late morning back to the USA - quite relaxed.
The question train or car is also according to taste. Travelling by train is more relaxed, but if you want to see some countryside and small villages, the car is more convenient. For train connections, see www.bahn.de.

ges123

Thank you traveller and Susan. Alitelia and NW are separate tickets and yes my fear Susan was missing my connection back to the States. So little time and so much to see I am really torn where to spend the time. I am trying to give my husband a taste of both countries which is why the split. As far as Munich - Frankfurt is concerned, if transporting 2 big suitcases in 1st class is not a problem then we will take the train.