Family wants to know whether to drive or take the train in Europe
Q. My husband and I are planning a family trip to Europe with our children. One will be 15 and one will be 11. We are looking at booking flights Aug 1-12.
We would like to see as much as possible. We are in discussion as to rent a car or use Eurail to travel. We are planning on packing light and could carry our wares on our backs. Any suggestions of family must-sees in Germany, Austria and Switzerland? Any and all suggestions/pointers/tips would be appreciated.
A. Automobiles and Rail Europe both offer advantages. For example, a car allows you to travel at your own pace and see villages that the train bypasses. If you want to see the cities, however, Eurail is the way to go because it takes you into the center of town and it's a fast way to get from point A to point B. Also, you don't want to bother with a car in the cities where local public transportation is excellent.
Rail Europe offers the best of both worlds, however, with rail-drive plans. Go to www.eurrail.com or call (800) 660-5300. And this is important: Buy your rail pass in the U.S. before you leave because they aren't available in Europe.
My favorite part of Germany (www.cometogermany.com) is Bavaria, in the south. Munich, the capital of the region, is a great city where you can see the glockenspiel in the Marienplatz and have lunch or dinner in the Hofbrauhaus, the world-famous beer hall where the food and beer are great and kids are welcome.
You'll want to rent a car and drive the Romantic Road, visiting the villages nestled between the River Main and the majestic Alps. Among them are the thousand-year-old towns of Dinkelsbuhl, Nordlingen and Rothenburg. Or drive through the Black Forest with its many quaint villages in the far south.
In Austria (www.austria.info), visit Innsbruck in the Alps, Salzburg where Mozart was born and grew up, and, if time permits, the capital, Vienna. From Innsbruck you can ride a cable railway up to spectacular peaks or drive to Ambras Castle, which is quite close to the city. A must-see in Salzburg is Hohensalzburg, a massive fortress begun in 1077. Vienna is noted for its great history of art and many museums. Travel in Switzerland (www.myswitzerland.com) definitely should be by auto. It's a small country and distances are short.
If you're looking to save money, you might try hostels, which aren't just for youths anymore. My adult granddaughter, who was in Germany and Austria recently, recommended Wombat's City Hostel in Munich near the train station where she got a room en suite for a little more than 100 euros. If this option appeals to you, check out these two Web sites where hostels are described and rated: www.hostelworld.com and www.hostels.com.
She also gave high marks to Gasthof Weisses Kreuz, a 500-year-old inn in the old section of Innsbruck, that accommodates families. Breakfast is included, served in the Tiroler Stube, which itself is worth a visit (www.weisseskreuz.at).
Send your questions at least sixweeks prior to travel to MadelynMerwin in care ofTravel,Daily Herald, P.O.Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or e-maildpmerwin@sbcglobal.net.