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Help needed - I'm trying to organise an itinerary for my 19 year old daughter and myself for December 25 Jan 26

  • November 26, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 59 views
M

Help needed - I'm trying to organise an itinerary for my 19 year old daughter and myself for December 25 Jan 26. With the schedule I’ve currently organised all we will be doing is sitting on a train travelling from town to town. SHe’s here for 3 weeks. What is the ideal amount of travel v’s staying in one town/city. 

Currently she flies into Frankfurt, then I thought 2 nights in Amsterdam, 3 nights in Munich (we have family here), then 4 nights in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for Christmas. Then Venice for 1 night, Milan for 2 nights, Nice for 1 night, Barcelona for 3 nights, Paris for 3 nights then back to Frankfurt for 1 night as that’s where she will fly out from.

Is this too much travelling around? Should I cut one or two places out and concentrate on the other destinations. THis is VERY hard. Open to all suggestions.

Thanks

Best answer by ralderton

That sounds like a lot of travel, in very different directions, with not a lot of time to enjoy the destinations.

If you could cut out Barcelona, that avoids a lot of hours of travel, and allows you to add those three nights somewhere else. Venice certainly deserves more than a night. In general, try to avoid 1 night anywhere, unless it’s just a stopover for convenience. You lose a lot of time in check in / check out, travel to and from your hotel.

You can also save a bit of time by getting a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Munich - but get this booked as soon as possible, because night trains do sell out.

5 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
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  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • November 26, 2025

That sounds like a lot of travel, in very different directions, with not a lot of time to enjoy the destinations.

If you could cut out Barcelona, that avoids a lot of hours of travel, and allows you to add those three nights somewhere else. Venice certainly deserves more than a night. In general, try to avoid 1 night anywhere, unless it’s just a stopover for convenience. You lose a lot of time in check in / check out, travel to and from your hotel.

You can also save a bit of time by getting a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Munich - but get this booked as soon as possible, because night trains do sell out.

kupfers
M
M

That does sound great, but I think she had her heart set on Barcelona for NYE. Any other suggestions for NYE, like would Nice be a good alternative for NYE?

Z
Engin-ius
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  • zagmund
  • Engin-ius
  • November 26, 2025

Also consider changing the flight home to leave from somewhere nearer Barcelona than Frankfurt if you want to reduce time spent on effectively “dead” journeys.  And fly into Amsterdam.

There’s an old Irish saying, which I’m paraphrasing slightly here . . . .”When asked by a traveler how to get to Amsterdam and then Munich, the Frankfurter said . . . well, I wouldn’t start from here.  I’d probably start from Amsterdam”

Unless Frankfurt is actually a destination in and of itself (not clear from above) then it’s like flying to New York to visit Boston and Washington DC.

M
M

Great idea, but I think changing the flights now will be too costly - next time. (I love the Irish saying)

J
Full steam ahead
  • joanneobrien
  • Full steam ahead
  • November 27, 2025

Hi, 

Great advice from everyone, which I’d like to echo: Two nights minimum I’d say. If you stay only 1 night somewhere: You arrive, find your accommodation, find your evening meal and then the next day you rush around before you leave. In my experience 3 nights is best if it’s not a tiny place with few attractions.

Plus, it’s exhausting constantly negotiating new places.

Have a great trip.

M
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