Itinerary too aggressive?

First of all I want to thank everyone here for all the amazing advice on the board. I have been lurking a lot the past few days, reading all the threads and trying to learn everything I can about ED. One comment I hear often is I spent to much time driving, not enough time seeing stuff. I am trying to work out an itinerary that is a good balance. I am trying to think of it like an over view. See lots of places and come back and spend some quality time in the good places on a later trip.

I will be traveling with my dad. He has never been to Europe. Normally when it comes to personal travel I am a wing it kind of guy, and I always regret it. I always end up wasting a lot of time looking for a hotel late at night or trying to find a restaurant. When my girlfriend and I take trips we always book way too late and end up not being to stay where we want or paying way too much. So I am trying to do it right this time and book as much in advance as possible. Especially with my Dad in tow, he is a easy going guy but just the same.

The other factor is the points and miles thing. I have tons of points with Hilton and part of the justification for the trip is how much I will save by using up those points.

So my question is, give the above factors how does this itinerary look? Too aggressive? Any must sees along the way? Anything I should avoid?

Day 1 (Monday, June 27). Arrive in the AM. Cab from airport to pick up the car and head to the hotel. No specific plans, get used to the car and driving in Europe. Explore Munich a little in the evening.

2 (Tuesday, Jun 28th) Drive to Füssen to see the castles. Have lunch and head to Hotel in Innsbruck Austria. Staying at the Hilton using points.

Day 3 (Wednesday, Jun 29) Road Day. Innsbruck to Florence. Stop in Modena for balsamic and lunch. Hotel: TBD Florence. Since much of the trip is going to be spent in Hiltons. I would like to find somewhere with some European charm in Florence. Uhh… European Charm and Safe parking.

Day 4 (Thursday, June 30) Day in Florence. Leave the car at the hotel, and see the city. Hotel: TBD Florence

Day 5 (Friday, July 1.) Florence to Cannes. Hotel in Cannes. Hilton points again.

Day 6 (Saturday, July 2) Cote d’ Azur. Beach. Day trip to Grasse. Hilton again.

Day 7 (Sunday, July 3) Cote d’ azur to Lyon. Drive up to Lyon along the Rhone. Lyon Hilton.

Day 8 (Monday, July4 ) Lyon to Bassel. Hotel: you guessed it the Bassel Hilton.

Day 9 (Tuesday, July 5) Bern Or Interlakken? Hotel: TBD.

Day 10 (Wednesday July 6) Back to Munich. Hilton Munich Park.

Day 11 (Thursday July 7) Home.

I have been mulling an alternate plan. Which is to go from Lyon to Paris on day 8 drop the car off on the way into town and do the last few days in Paris on foot. Of all of these places, Paris is the only one I have been to before. I was skipping it because it isn’t really a fun city to drive in, but I think dad was a little disappointed.

Reply » Itinerary too aggressive?

I think your itinerary is fine. We went to Paris for the first time ever and we really enjoyed the city. I'd skip Basel for Paris, any day. Drop off the car in Paris and spend a few days exploring the city using the Metro and by foot.

Sounds like a great itinerary. On our next ED, we will definitly go and visit Italy.

Reply » Itinerary too aggressive?

Quote:

Day 3 (Wednesday, Jun 29) Road Day. Innsbruck to Florence. Stop in Modena for balsamic and lunch. Hotel: TBD Florence. Since much of the trip is going to be spent in Hiltons. I would like to find somewhere with some European charm in Florence. Uhh… European Charm and Safe parking.

Day 4 (Thursday, June 30) Day in Florence. Leave the car at the hotel, and see the city. Hotel: TBD Florence

During my ED trip I stayed in Villa Fiesole Hotel in Fiesole which is a smaill town in the hills overlooking Florence . I left the car parked at the hotel and took the city bus in front of the hotel. I was in downtown Florence 15 minutes later. Other 'festers who accepted my suggestion have come back to second my recommendation. My room had marble floors with a vaulted ceiling and frecoes with a balcony ovelooking the Florence skyline.

Check the hotel website and do a seach on Villa Fiesole to see postings on the hotel. This is a picture of my room.

Reply » Itinerary too aggressive?

Quote:

So my question is, give the above factors how does this itinerary look?

Very good. I think you have some nice driving days, and some days to see the sights. I'd go with it!

Reply » Itinerary too aggressive?

not knowing the distances between the points, it's hard for me to comment. in traveling, there are people who like spending more time at one place and people like me who doesn't spend as much time in one place usually. it sounds like you're the latter...

i think my trip was aggressive. in 9 nights/10 days, i drove around 2150 miles covering munich - other places in germany - vienna and austria - switzerland - paris - munich. and i spent 3 of those days just in paris with the car parked.

except for the time in paris, it seemed like we spent a lot of time driving but i don't regret it one bit as i still feel i saw many things and i enjoyed the time on the roads immensely. if i go again, i'd do the same thing probably.

Reply » Itinerary too aggressive?

excelent! just booked Villa Fiesole!

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