Family Europe trip this summer..advice?

[glewis80SC]

Taking the whole family to Europe this summer should be an epic trip. Flying into London for 3 days then onto Paris for a few, taking train from Paris to Lucerne Switzerland meeting up with long time friends to celebrate their 10year anniversary, she is from Lucerne, wife and I were there for their wedding ten years ago.
Spending four days in Lucerne then the whole group is driving to Tuscany and renting a large Villa for 4 days...planning on Florence, San Gimiginano and Pisa while we are there, maybe Rome. Driving to Salzburg for a few days, spreading some of my Mom's ashes on the down low...she passed a couple years ago and LOVED Salzburg promised I would do it.
Then flying out of Munich to Dublin, meeting my wives Father who is flying in from Mexico City, they have Irish heritage on his side his grandfather was form Cork. It will be the first time in Ireland for all of us I'm really excited about sharing that with my wife and Father in Law...spending time in Cork for a few days then onto Cong for a few and back to Dublin to finish off Ireland..flying back to London then home.
Any of you world travelers have advice on what to see and not see? Dos and fonts on long trips etc?
Thanks in advance.

[ckelly78z]

With a last name of Kelly, I need to go to Ireland at some point, good to see you can make the trip with family and friends. Raise a pint for the Pelicans while you are there.

[LakeCleElum]

Not too far off your route:

1) Cinque Terre
2) Lake Como - Bellagio for a few nights
3) Venice
4) Porsche family home in Zell Am See near Salzburg
5) Monaco
6) Any backroad thru the Alps

Have done this 4 or 5 times. Driving in Italy is a learning curve. Fun when you get the hang of it...

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Have done this 4 or 5 times. Driving in Italy is a learning curve. Fun when you get the hang of it...

When I was about 14, I went to Italy with my parents. My mother was driving in the left lane on the Autostrada, going about 65mph. Cars were coming up on us going 100mph, left blinker on, headlights flashing. When my mother would FINALLY get over, we would get a honk and the bird. My sister and I wanted to die from embarrassment.

[Noney]

Was just in Cork almost exactly a year ago. You're gonna have a blast. Here's my tidbits of knowledge from my trip:

1. Pack rain gear. The day will start out sunny, but it WILL rain later on.
2. In Dublin, you drink Guinness. In Cork, you drink Murphy's.
3. For the love of god and all that is holy, you MUST go to the Cork City Jail. Seriously, one of the best things I did on the trip.

Cork City Gaol

Have fun!

[glewis80SC]

Thanks guys...Bob my friends are suggesting Cinque Terre too I'll look at it more, didn't know about the Porsche home thats a must, the toughest part will be getting my wife to slow down and not stress.
Keep em coming.

[Rick Lee]

Thanks guys...Bob my friends are suggesting Cinque Terre too I'll look at it more, didn't know about the Porsche home thats a must, the toughest part will be getting my wife to slow down and not stress.

Keep em coming.

I never knew there was anything to see in Zell am See. It's a beautiful area, for sure. But AFAIK, there's no Porsche stuff open to the public. Gmuend, however, is nearby and is not to be missed.

[Rick Lee]

You mean Ed B.? I tried to hook up with him on my last two trips, but just couldn't arrange it. Will probably be there again in early Oct.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I never knew there was anything to see in Zell am See. It's a beautiful area, for sure. But AFAIK, there's no Porsche stuff open to the public. Gmuend, however, is nearby and is not to be missed.

I did Gmund and Zell am See the same day.....Met a very nice Pelican guy here that drove me by the Porsche Family home. (Yes Rick, Ed B).

I pulled in the driveway, took photos and talked to 2 kids that lived there.....Lovely area. Was a highlight of a month long trip.



The chapel for the memorial is on the same property just below the house. Porsche Memorial

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

rushing sucks. take your time and keep everyone's stress level down.

I agree with this -

Sounds like a very nice trip. The Guinness is better there than in the USA. I'm believe them when they say "it doesn't travel well".

Lewis: have a safe trip.

[jwasbury]

USD EUR exchange rates are the best they have been in years, makes it a good time to travel to EU countries for US residents. I'd be tempted to buy some Euros now and stash them away for the trip.

[imcarthur]

You have an ambitious trip trying to see so much. My advice is: take a vacation within your vacation. Plan a 2 or 3 day stint where you DON'T travel. Someplace where you don't really have to drive anywhere or see anything, where you actually have time to just sit & read a book & get a little bored. I do this on every major trip very successfully.

Ian

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

You have an ambitious trip trying to see so much. My advice is: take a vacation within your vacation. Plan a 2 or 3 day stint where you DON'T travel. Someplace where you don't really have to drive anywhere or see anything, where you actually have time to just sit & read a book & get a little bored. I do this on every major trip very successfully.

Ian

I have as many friends in Germany and Austria as I do here and often find myself over-committed on my "vacations." Now I try to do a few days somewhere with no commitments at all. On my last vacation trip was a night and day in Bayreuth with a quick stop in Braunau am Inn on the way there. On the previous trip it was several days in Plzen, Prague and Cesky Krumlov. I love seeing my friends there, but it's nice to have a few days of no driving or at least nothing buy local driving.

[oldE]

Your itinerary is already set, but I would +1 on the idea of slowing down and having time to let things happen.

We're heading to France to meet friends from the west coast of Canada. We'll stay in the Bergerac area for a week, then shift location to the foothills of the Pyrenees. Very low task. Very low stress.

We'll do day trips from our base and sample the local wines and markets. Probably won't see the inside of too many restaurants.

My friends are walking fools. He ran the Boston Marathon last year. I think I'll drive the vehicle that picks them up after 15 kilometers.

Best
Les

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by jcommin

The Guinness is better there than in the USA. I'm believe them when they say "it doesn't travel well".

I would hope so, I can't hardly stomache the stuff sold here. I prefer a light pilsner.

[SteveDraz]

Whatever you have budgeted, add 25%. When you're in the large cities (London, Rome, Paris) is gets crazy expensive.

[glewis80SC]

Thanks again...we are seeing a lot but I'm trying to keep us in each spot for a few days the longest travel time while there is the train from Paris to Lucerne and the drive from Pisa to Salzburg. It will be a compromise with my wife, I'm ok with posting up and relaxing all day in one spot she wants to see it all.
We are trying to fit in so much because the kids are almost on their own and will be tough to get us all together again. Expensive yes...I've been working my butt off with OT for the past year to save up...but money well spent to me.

[Rick Lee]

Pisa to Salzburg is a marathon. You either go through Innbruck or Villach. The Villach route is slightly more scenic, but both routes can be very slow. Austria's 130 km/h speed limit is pretty strict and there's a monster toll at the Tauerntunnel on the Villach route. Last I drove around Salzburg was in September and it had a lot of construction and traffic. When I was headed from Munich to Graz, I got to the hwy. split where I had to decide whether to go through Villach or Linz and the Villach side was a parking lot. Don't forget the decal you need on the windshield to drive on the hwys. in Austria.

[Deschodt]

Most american tourist trips to Europe sound the same to me: run run run - the more countries the better... I know it's smaller in scale than the US so you think it's doable, but in terms of diversity it's like saying : USA + Mexico + China in 4 days. It's exhausting... and IMO you miss out...

Not questioning the details, but I would plan to visit about 1/2 of what you plan, skip one country altogether (your choice) and chill / enjoy where I'm at a bit longer.

Now as a specific item, most people focus on the known areas - in France I'd recommend getting off the beaten path and visiting Carcassonne for something different.

Carcassonne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A real intact fortified medieval city - not the mickey mouse kind. Amazing sights, good food, nice region... Very cool and different from the frou-frou castles of later centuries - very cool guided tours where they explain all the tricks used to kill knights in armor, where to pour boiling oil, how to make them trip down stairs, best tour I'd experienced in the country... that is all ;- )

[Rikao4]

anyone ski in your group..
when in Zell and you look up...
this is just a few km's away...
Hinterux's..Glacier..
you can ski in your shorts..
or hike the trails..