Lori

My husband and I will be traveling to Frankfurt in early September. We're hoping to rent a car and see as much as we can in 10 days. We'd like to take in Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy if possible. Is this possible? We'd like to see the following - Ludwig's castles, Salzburg, Venice, & hike in the Alps. Can we do it?

Rex

Munich is a much better starting point for what you want to do. And you're going to be rushed in ten days, if you want to make it as far south as Venice (I have done exactly this trip).<BR><BR>And you should plan on omitting any of Switzerland. You can find plenty of Alps in Austria or in Italy. Germany too, for that matter.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

bettyk

I'm sorry, but Venice is not in northern Italy. We are doing a similar trip in May from Frankfurt to Rothenburg, Vienna, Salzburg/Hallstatt, Lake Constance, Lucerne and then finally the Rhine River area. However, there is so much to see in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, I would suggest you leave Italy for another trip.

Rex

Venice not in northern Italy? Is Jacksonville in northern Florida?<BR><BR>Venice is an easy four hour drive from Salzburg, which in turn, is an easy 90 minute drive from Munich.<BR>

bettyk

Sorry, I KNOW that Venice is technically in northern Italy. What I meant was it's a long drive to get from upper Austria to Venice. If you go south from say Innsbruck, it is still a long way. It's a lot of travel time.

Lori

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm going to take your suggestion and leave out Switzerland for more time on the others. Can you help with where the best places to overnight, would be?

ellen

I spent about 10 days last June in southern Germany and Austria. For what it's worth, here was my itinerary. I arrived in Frankfurt and immediately took the train to Salzburg, where I stayed two nights. From there to Munich for a couple of days. I then rented a car at the airport and drove south on the Romantic Road to the Garmisch area, where I spent the next couple of days in castle country and also went to Mittenwald and Innsbruck. From there to Rothenberg for two nights, and then to the Rhine Valley, through Heidelberg, for another two nights, and then the last night outside of Frankfurt. It was a lot of traveling, I'll admit, but Bavaria is beautiful and driving was not a burden.

Lori

Do we need to make hotel reservations in advance or will be able to find rooms as we go (first two weeks in September)?

bettyk

I am a big believer in booking hotels in advance whenever possible for several reasons: First, I really enjoy doing all the research and the internet makes it so much easier to find those really neat places that you might not discover otherwise. Second, I think you waste too much of your vacation time schlepping around in unfamiliar territory trying to find a room. Also, a lot of times, the best properties fill up early so you don't always get your first or even second choice.

topping

to the top again, for Lori<BR><BR>deeply buried...<BR>

Alex

I sugest the following :<BR>1. The better starting point is Munich so try to fly there.<BR>2. If you're not interested to visit Munich you can drive straight to your 1st stop in Austria : Salzburg ( 2 hours drive on splendid highways)<BR>3. From Salzburg you can do a round trip to places like the Austrian lake district, Tyrol, a 2 days quick look at the Dolomites Mountains in Northern Italy and then return to Munich through the Brenner Pass, Seefeld, Garmisch.<BR>4.As my wife and myself have done this tour several times, I can assure you of a good time <BR>5. If you require any more details like over-night stops, email me