My 16 Day European Delivery Route Planning is Complete

[///M///]

So this is what I have finalized. Might make very small tweaks based on some of your feedback but am set on this for the most part. Please feel free to make comments and provide suggestions Please remember that I will have my one year old daughter with us and so far we have not traveled for more than 2 hours at a stretch with her. So while it may look like that we can do a lot more things, it is not feasible with a small child. Infact I have my doubts about this plan as well

Day 0 - Wednesday
- Fly out of Philly to Munich (Germany).

Day 1 - Thursday
- Arrive and stay the night in Munich

Day 2 - Friday
- Pickup the car at 9:40 AM. Finish Plant tour by 2 PM. Get lunch and leave for Linderhoff Palace and the castles at Fussen.
- Drive to Innsbruck (Austria) same day.
- Arrive at Innsbruck. Spend the night in Innsbruck

Day 3 - Saturday
- Explore Innsbruck. Spend the night in Innsbruck

Day 4 - Sunday
- Leave Innsbruck to head for Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy)
- Drive through the Dolomites Sella Pass, Corvara, etc. on way to Cortina d'Ampezzo.
- Arrive at Cortina d'Ampezzo. Spend the night in Cortina d'Ampezza

Day 5 - Monday
- Leave Cortina d'Ampezzo and head to Malcesine (Lake Garda in Italy) via the Dolomites (See Map)
- Arrive at Malcesine. Spend the night in Malcesine.

Day 6 - Tuesday
- Explore Malcesine and neighboring villages at Lake Garda. Spend the night in Malcesine.

Day 7 - Wednesday
- Leave Malcesine and head to Milan (Italy).
- Arrive in Milan. Park the M3 in a secure garage.
- Explore Milan and spend the night in Milan

Day 8 - Thursday
- Explore Milan (Duomo and Last Supper)
- Spend the night in Milan

Day 9 - Friday
- Leave Milan -Take the train from Milan Central to Vernazza in Cinque Terre.
- Arrive in Vernazza.
- Explore Vernazza
- Spend the night in Vernazza

Day 10 - Saturday
- Explore villages at Cinque Terre
- Spend night in Vernazza

Day 11 - Sunday
- Explore villages at Cinque Terre
- Spend night in Vernazza

Day 12 - Monday
- Leave Vernazza. Take the train from Vernazza to Milan.
- Arrive in Milan
- Pick up the M3 and head to Varenna (Lake Como in Italy)
- Arrive at Varenna (Lake Como).
- Explore Varenna and spend the night in Varenna.

Day 13 - Tuesday
- Explore Varenna, Bellagio and check out the garden at Villa del Balbianello.Spend night in Varenna

Day 14 - Wednesday
- Leave Varenna and head to Interlaken (Switzerland)
- Drive the Swiss Passes - Gletsch, Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass etc. on way to Interlaken
- Arrive in Interlaken. Spend night in Interlaken.

- Day 15 - Thursday
- Leave Interlaken and head to Zurich via the Susten Pass. Arrive before 3:30 pm drop-off at Zurich
- Drop off the M3
- Spend evening exploring Zurich
- Spend night in Zurich

Day 16 - Friday
- Explore Zurich

Day 17 - Saturday
- Take taxi to Zurich Airport and flight back to Philly

[Naz24]

Fantastic. Cinque Terre is awesome. Just a shame you cant get a pic of the M3 on that coast!

Wouldnt be a bad idea to check out Modena and see the Ferrari Museum. Was a decently cool experience when I did it (maybe too out of the way though)

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Naz24

Fantastic. Cinque Terre is awesome. Just a shame you cant get a pic of the M3 on that coast!

Wouldnt be a bad idea to check out Modena and see the Ferrari Museum. Was a decently cool experience when I did it (maybe too out of the way though)

Yeah I decided to park the car because getting a car into Cinque Terre is a PITA. Totally not recommended so I figured I won't even try.

I'll check out where Modena falls on the map Thanks.

[vonmayr]

Looks good! Can't wait to see how it all plays out for ya. Oh, and your first days driving route does not go through Fussen on the map you provided. You might wanna think about that if your goal is to see the castles!

[///M///]

Originally Posted by vonmayr

Looks good! Can't wait to see how it all plays out for ya. Oh, and your first days driving route does not go through Fussen on the map you provided. You might wanna think about that if your goal is to see the castles!

You are 100% correct. My bad. Wifey had modified that saying it will be too much for baby on Day 1 so I figured I'll hit it on way back from Lucerne or just return on Friday from Lucerne. I have edited the first post.

Thanks for catching that

[MrSmileyDC]

How long is that stretch back to Munich? I thought you were looking at returning from Zurich.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by BimmerGuyDC

How long is that stretch back to Munich? I thought you were looking at returning from Zurich.

Around 4 hrs. Changed our mind about Zurich. At the time I was getting a return flight to Zurich for $760. Not available anymore so Zurich does not make sense.

[OneRib]

You are one of the only forum members besides myself going to Innsbruck. Are you going to do the Swarovski tour?

May copy some of your routes since its very similar between Munich into Italy. We split up when we go down to Venice.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by OneRib

You are one of the only forum members besides myself going to Innsbruck. Are you going to do the Swarovski tour?

May copy some of your routes since its very similar between Munich into Italy. We split up when we go down to Venice.

Haven't decided yet what we are doing in each of the stops. Just know that these are the best places to go. We had Venice on our route but then decided to dump it and save it for a Italy trip we might do in the next couple of years when we can also do Rome, Florence, etc. I also decided to give up on the Stelvio Pass and chose the Dolomites instead.

[bigsid05]

Sounds like a fun trip! One thing - 3 days in Cinque Terre is a LONG time. IMO, 1 day or even 2 at most is more than enough. It's a tourist haven for the most part.

[RobbyMack]

looks like a heck of a trip. If it was me I'd throttle back on it quite a bit but I also have children that don't travel well. Yours may be different. I know if I hatched this plan with my wife the first thing she would plan is a trip to Budapest to drop the kids with grandma.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Haven't decided yet what we are doing in each of the stops. Just know that these are the best places to go. We had Venice on our route but then decided to dump it and save it for a Italy trip we might do in the next couple of years when we can also do Rome, Florence, etc. I also decided to give up on the Stelvio Pass and chose the Dolomites instead.

At the risk of being flamed, the Stelvio Pass may be overrated. It's too crowded and there are other passes that offer a similar experience without having to dodge dozens of motorcycles.

Also the Top Gear episode gave it too much exposure. Now everyone is trying to go there.

I also considered it but not sure its worth it with all the other options out there.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by bigsid05

Sounds like a fun trip! One thing - 3 days in Cinque Terre is a LONG time. IMO, 1 day or even 2 at most is more than enough. It's a tourist haven for the most part.

Agreed and we might scale it back to two. It was more for my wife as she didn't want to keep running from place to place. Felt like a place you could relax a bit and unwind. 2 days should be good.

Originally Posted by RobbyMack

looks like a heck of a trip. If it was me I'd throttle back on it quite a bit but I also have children that don't travel well. Yours may be different. I know if I hatched this plan with my wife the first thing she would plan is a trip to Budapest to drop the kids with grandma.

Haha. I hear ya. You should have seen my first route. This is scaled way back from that

Originally Posted by OneRib

At the risk of being flamed, the Stelvio Pass may be overrated. It's too crowded and there are other passes that offer a similar experience without having to dodge dozens of motorcycles.

Also the Top Gear episode gave it too much exposure. Now everyone is trying to go there.

I also considered it but not sure its worth it with all the other options out there.

100% agree. I read up a lot on it and probably the only way to enjoy it is to be on and off the mountain before 9 am. I know that ain't happening with a 1 year old. Plus the Dolomites seemed like a better bet and I had to choose between the two

[Bluex]

I respect this ambitious plan!

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Bluex

I respect this ambitious plan!

Is that to say it is too aggressive? Please do feel free to provide input. This is my first time and I am gauging the trip on paper. You guys have lived it and can provide a more realistic picture

[Bluex]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Is that to say it is too aggressive? Please do feel free to provide input. This is my first time and I am gauging the trip on paper. You guys have lived it and can provide a more realistic picture

lol, I never said aggressive It's ambitious and ambition is good! Try to do what you want to do....you'll know what works and what doesn't and i'm sure you'll be able to mix it up on the fly if need be.

I've given you plenty of input on your ED so far, but i'm out of my element with your cross-countries jaunt. I just stayed in Germany

[///M///]

So found the perfect flight from philly for under $1200

Outbound: Non-stop Philly- Munich
Inbound : Non-stop Zurich - Philly

This works out perfectly because now I don't have to get the car back all the way to Munich. I can just drop it off in Zurich and spend more time there. Am gambling waiting a week to see if the price goes down. Fingers crossed. Last week flight from Zurich was in the 700's.

Map updated. I have a feeling there wil be more updates before the actual day

[Bluex]

Perfect. I love it when a plan comes together.

[///M///]

Bought the Air tickets (non-refundable). Set in stone

[AnujS2K]

Awesome! I wonder if you chose the 6:15pm flight out because that is what my uncle booked from PHL. I believe it gets in at 7:55am. Remember to call SIXT for free airport pickup to your hotel

[///M///]

Originally Posted by AnujS2K

Awesome! I wonder if you chose the 6:15pm flight out because that is what my uncle booked from PHL. I believe it gets in at 7:55am. Remember to call SIXT for free airport pickup to your hotel

Thanks. My Flight is at 6:30 PM (US Air)

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Thanks. My Flight is at 6:30 PM (US Air)

Make sure you bring lots of distractions/food for your daughter. Hopefully she is a solid sleeper.