(mid) Eastern Europe Honeymoon

dave_eire

Hi guys,

Firstly thank you to all taking the time to read this post and all and any feedback/ recommendations/ advice/ criticism
will be greatly received.

So myself and my wife to be are planning visiting some of (mid) eastern Europe for our honeymoon. We have a flight into Berlin on the 5th march and a flight home (Dublin) from Rome on 29th march.

we are thinking (hoping) to visit Berlin (3 days), Krakow (3 days), we have both been to Prague, Bratislava (2 days), Budapest (3 days), Vienna (2 days), Ljubljana (3 days), Venice (3 days), Florence (3 days) and finishing in Rome (3 days).

we are trying to visit a good few places, but do we think we are trying to pack too much in and are spending too little time in each place and too much travelling?? If so where would you recommend?

We are late 20s early 30s and enjoy nice food, nice atmosphere, a few drinks, sitting drinking coffee. we are also interested in art, architecture and enjoying different cultures. We are not interested in nightclubs and don’t really want to meet anyone (not in a bad way, but its our honeymoon).

So I suppose that I am looking for any advice that people might have in relation to the cities we are planning to visit (recommended accommodation (and ish prices) and restaurants), and sites/ tours etc.

Also, one important question, in relation to travel. We are thinking about buying an interrail ticket, but considering that we would be spanning 3 zones we would need a Global ticket which are ~550 Euro each. We both have clean full driving licenses and would certainly consider driving some of the way, especially in Italy? What’s your opinion on an interrail ticket verses individual tickets, from both a price and hastle (getting tickets, changing trains to keep local etc).

Well folks that’s about it, again we hugely appreciate any information/ feedback/ suggestions/ criticisms are hugely appreciated.

Thanks a lot,

DaveH.

Padraig Mor

dave_eire wrote:

Hi guys,

Firstly thank you to all taking the time to read this post and all and any feedback/ recommendations/ advice/ criticism
will be greatly received.

So myself and my wife to be are planning visiting some of (mid) eastern Europe for our honeymoon. We have a flight into Berlin on the 5th march and a flight home (Dublin) from Rome on 29th march.

we are thinking (hoping) to visit Berlin (3 days), Krakow (3 days), we have both been to Prague, Bratislava (2 days), Budapest (3 days), Vienna (2 days), Ljubljana (3 days), Venice (3 days), Florence (3 days) and finishing in Rome (3 days).

we are trying to visit a good few places, but do we think we are trying to pack too much in and are spending too little time in each place and too much travelling?? If so where would you recommend?

We are late 20s early 30s and enjoy nice food, nice atmosphere, a few drinks, sitting drinking coffee. we are also interested in art, architecture and enjoying different cultures. We are not interested in nightclubs and don’t really want to meet anyone (not in a bad way, but its our honeymoon).

So I suppose that I am looking for any advice that people might have in relation to the cities we are planning to visit (recommended accommodation (and ish prices) and restaurants), and sites/ tours etc.

Also, one important question, in relation to travel. We are thinking about buying an interrail ticket, but considering that we would be spanning 3 zones we would need a Global ticket which are ~550 Euro each. We both have clean full driving licenses and would certainly consider driving some of the way, especially in Italy? What’s your opinion on an interrail ticket verses individual tickets, from both a price and hastle (getting tickets, changing trains to keep local etc).

Well folks that’s about it, again we hugely appreciate any information/ feedback/ suggestions/ criticisms are hugely appreciated.

Thanks a lot,

DaveH.

We went on honeymoon in roughly the same area in August. We went Bled (Slo) - Ljubljana - Rovinj (Cro) - Venice. At that we thought there was a bit too much travelling - so yours looks very daunting to me! TBH I reckon you'd be wrecked most of the time as you will constantly be getting up early to get morning trains.

Of your list, I HIGHLY recommend Ljubljana. Brilliant city - clean, laid back, friendly people. Pavement cafes everywhere - you get the picture. Prices not Prague low, but a damn sight lower than here! We stayed in the Domina Grand Media hotel and would go back there in a heartbeat. Let me know if you want more detailed info (restaurants etc) or more info on the other cities.

edit: actually, I'll go through your list as I've been to most:

Berlin - great
Krakow - good, 3 days a bit long maybe unless you're just relaxing
Prague - brilliant
Bratislava - skip it
Budapest - highly recommended
Vienna - only passed through - didn't see too much of it
Lju - as above
Venice - good, but you'd need to be a seious museum/art buff for longer than 2 days I reckon
Florence - good enough. Wouldn't be too pushed.
Rome - great place. Definitely go here if you can.

dave_eire

Thanks a lot Padraig. Will have a think about it, I was just looking up timetables and the travel seems quite intense!!!

I think that we will need to sit down and re-think...

Also i just booked flights to Krakow (good deal) so might skip berlin and start straight in Krakow!!

Thanks again, and ill update here when I know!

D

killbillvol2

dave_eire wrote:

Hi guys,

Firstly thank you to all taking the time to read this post and all and any feedback/ recommendations/ advice/ criticism
will be greatly received.

So myself and my wife to be are planning visiting some of (mid) eastern Europe for our honeymoon. We have a flight into Berlin on the 5th march and a flight home (Dublin) from Rome on 29th march.

we are thinking (hoping) to visit Berlin (3 days), Krakow (3 days), we have both been to Prague, Bratislava (2 days), Budapest (3 days), Vienna (2 days), Ljubljana (3 days), Venice (3 days), Florence (3 days) and finishing in Rome (3 days).

we are trying to visit a good few places, but do we think we are trying to pack too much in and are spending too little time in each place and too much travelling?? If so where would you recommend?

We are late 20s early 30s and enjoy nice food, nice atmosphere, a few drinks, sitting drinking coffee. we are also interested in art, architecture and enjoying different cultures. We are not interested in nightclubs and don’t really want to meet anyone (not in a bad way, but its our honeymoon).

So I suppose that I am looking for any advice that people might have in relation to the cities we are planning to visit (recommended accommodation (and ish prices) and restaurants), and sites/ tours etc.

Also, one important question, in relation to travel. We are thinking about buying an interrail ticket, but considering that we would be spanning 3 zones we would need a Global ticket which are ~550 Euro each. We both have clean full driving licenses and would certainly consider driving some of the way, especially in Italy? What’s your opinion on an interrail ticket verses individual tickets, from both a price and hastle (getting tickets, changing trains to keep local etc).

Well folks that’s about it, again we hugely appreciate any information/ feedback/ suggestions/ criticisms are hugely appreciated.

Thanks a lot,

DaveH.

It'd be a pity to skip Berlin, very interesting city, especially if you're interested in art and architecture. It's also pretty cheap for a major European capital. I'd recommend the Angleterre Hotel on Friedrichstrasse if you do go. The museums, galeries etc. are top class (mainly due to the fact that the Germans had a habit of "repatriating" anything valuable they came across!). Take the walking tour with Insider Tours (google for details) on your first day if you go.

Like Padraig I'd skip Bratislava and a day or two in Venice is enough IMO. I loved Florence though. The Uffizi is a day on its own.

Budapest is excellent, as is Vienna, but I think you're cramming in a lot to get them all in! You'll need a holiday to recover from the honeymoon!

And as for Rome, unmissable. A month there wouldn't be long enough but don't worry, once you've been you'll go back again and again.

As regards travel, Italian drivers have a bad reputation which is well deserved. I'll never hire a car there again. In any case Italian trains are excellent and cheap.

Have fun!

mikedragon32

Wow, OP!

I'm tired just reading through the itinerary!

I've been reading up on Krakow and there's enough to keep you occupied as it's the cultural capitol of Poland. Interrailing seems like a good idea and my experiences of driving in Italy are all good, although I've never been to Rome so can't comment on that. Also, parking in the huge carparks on the outskirts of Venice is a pain.

I would advise having a look at the forums on Tripadvisor for some hints and tips. There's a lot of people on there who've done similar "Grand Tours".

Best of luck anyway!

daiixi

I've done (almost) that trip and if you're happy being on the move then you'll have a ball. Have you taken into account the days/nights you lose by travelling?
I think for this trip it might be a good idea to miss out Berlin. It's a long train journey between Berlin and Krakow although there are night trains of course. There were lots of muggings going on on the night trains a few years back when I was in the area. Berlin is inexpensive to get to another time and you could spend a week there on it's own. Leave it until another time.

Addressing the list:

Berlin - loved it
Krakow - gorgeous although not heaps to do in the town once you've walked around it. There's always the Saltmines and Auschwitz to visit though.
Bratislava - not been there but "skip it" is something I've heard often enough.
Budapest - definitely a highlight of my trip. If you can get into the countryside for a couple of days there's fantastic wineries to visit too.
Vienna - again loved it. Went to the opera and had a packed picnic out at the palace - was awesome. Lovely city.
Lju - very nice but not heaps to do in the city. You'll just be relaxing here mostly. People I met were all really friendly. Also the country side was gorgeous. I caught the train up from Zagreb, Croatia, and then on to Salzburg.
Venice - you can always take a day trip from here to Verona and visit Juliet's balcony. Venice is fab though.
Florence - if you love museums and galleries you'll love it here. Great shopping too!
Rome - I've been twice and I loved it! Plenty to see and you can always day trip to Naples and/or Pompeii.

One thing I found out while travelling is that you can buy train tickets and break the journey up into segments. Like I could have gotten a ticket in Split, Croatia to Paris and jumped off in Zagreb for a day, then in Salzburg for a week then to Munich etc etc. The only thing was in France you had to get the ticket signed before leaving the train station by a guard. It wasn't an interrail ticket or anything special, just from any station. It would have been cheaper than buying lots of individual tickets. Though that was back in '04 so not sure if it's still an option. OH! and it's cheaper to buy a return train ticket when leaving Hungary than a one way ticket. At least it was in '04.