Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Jul 15, 2015 19:34:10 GMT -5
My sister and I are planning a large family trip for our parents; we're aiming for early 2016 when it starts to get warm. The thing is, we want it to be a surprise and I'm not really sure how to go about this. Here's more details:
We'd like it to be all four of us for 7-10 days, and then my sister and I would go home, leaving perhaps another week or more for my parents to be alone.
Since my sister and I will only be there for half of it, we've talked about it and decided this part of the trip should be in Italy, visiting places like Florence, Rome and/or Venice, certainly by train.
We're not really sure where to send my parents since we can't really ask them, is there a way to buy them a train ticket voucher or something where they might be able to decide it on their own? Otherwise, I'd love to hear suggestions for places to visit in Europe, preferably near Italy like Austria, Switzerland, Southern Germany or maybe France. I've only been to Europe for a day, and that was in London.
And of course, any trip planning advice would be greatly appreciated. The main idea is that money is not a problem. Thanks. |
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Jul 15, 2015 19:42:15 GMT -5
If you're going in the early part of the year make sure you check temperatures. Some places can be dry and dusty in the summertime and be freezing in the winter. As for locales, I've been to Germany and had a blast. It's fun, food is good and a lot of people speak decent English. Definitely worth a visit.
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thebtskink
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Post by thebtskink on Jul 15, 2015 20:04:50 GMT -5
If you do Austria, you need to stop over in Hungary for Budapest as well. The architecture/culture is pretty unique for Europe. Lotsa earth tone-y stuff.
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Seakazoo
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Post by Seakazoo on Jul 15, 2015 20:07:01 GMT -5
I don't have any helpful advice, but I am insanely jealous. That sounds awesome.
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Jul 15, 2015 20:28:01 GMT -5
By early 2016, I meant March or April. I certainly wouldn't want to go anywhere it's still cold.
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Jul 15, 2015 20:50:54 GMT -5
Greece is probably cheap now. If you don't mind being caught in the eventual economic collapse and riots.
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donny
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Post by donny on Jul 16, 2015 13:41:09 GMT -5
I've been to Italy. Visited Rome and the Cinque Terre, which is comprised of 5 towns off the coast of Italy. Not that far by train from Rome. And it's probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.
In that same trip I went to Austria and Germany. Both great as well. In Austria, we went to Salzburg, which is a really cool town. You can do the Sound of Music tour, which is neat because you can check out some of the country side which is gorgeous.
I was in Munich and a town called Garmisch. Garmisch actually held the 1936 Winter Olympics, so there is some pretty neat history there. For both areas, the food was fantastic and they had great beer halls. Definitely check the Chinese beer garden is Munich if you go there.
I went in August of last year, and even at that time, the weather in Austria and Germany was pretty chilly and rainy. So keep that in mind.
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Jul 16, 2015 14:03:02 GMT -5
I would second Cinque Terre. Its been about 12 years since I've been there, but it was awesome. Rome is also full of awesomeness.
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donny
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Post by donny on Jul 17, 2015 9:39:45 GMT -5
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donny
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Post by donny on Jul 17, 2015 9:41:50 GMT -5
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donny
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Post by donny on Jul 17, 2015 9:46:06 GMT -5
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Jul 18, 2015 19:09:53 GMT -5
That's pretty cool, thanks. I'd like to see Austria and Zurich.
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IanTheCool
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Post by IanTheCool on Aug 10, 2015 8:47:02 GMT -5
So what did you decide?
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Aug 10, 2015 12:49:38 GMT -5
Pick Vienna, it's my favorite city on the planet.
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Jibbs
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Post by Jibbs on Aug 10, 2015 22:51:48 GMT -5
Still working on it. I know that Italy and Switzerland are going to be the majority of the trip.
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Aug 11, 2015 0:09:56 GMT -5
Italy isn't in Vienna.
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The Moose
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Post by The Moose on Aug 11, 2015 10:32:44 GMT -5
A few years ago Railteam (www.railteam.eu) had some sort of tickets where you could buy the tickets through your travel agent, and then turn up at a train station in one of the participating countries and exchange your the ticket your travel agent gave you for a ticket for a particular train, ; don't know if they still do those (we're talking 5 years ago now) but that's one way of doing it. The other thing with trains that I've noticed in France (where I live now) is that long distance trains are rarely full and there's no real problem with turning up at the station on the day or a few days beforehand and just choosing to go somewhere ; you only get significant discounts if you get non-refundable tickets and/or buy them a few months in advance (which doesn't really seem to be your case though)
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