When I Went: March 5-23, 2010
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? This trip was in the spring. The weather was not too bad, but Paris was bitterly cold, and there was a fair amount of snow in Germany. We also noticed fairly large crowds at many of the museums and attractions. Our previous visit in 2003 was in the fall (October). The weather was much milder all around, and the crowds seemed to be lighter. I would definitely recommend a fall visit, if possible.
Why I Went There: My wife, Leah, and I had enjoyed a similar tour of Europe together in 2003. In 2010 we took our two oldest daughters (and one of their friends) to experience the food, culture, art, and architecture.
We Stayed Here: In Paris, Hotel Migny. The hotel itself was great, with a pleasant staff and nice, clean rooms. The location was near a Metro station and plenty of great eating. The only downside is the nearby adult entertainment clubs that made the kids a little uncomfortable. In Munich, ArtHotel. This hotel was fabulous. Within walking distance of the train station and most of the Munich sights. The breakfast here was superb, and the staff was extremely helpful. They even helped me purchase a new suitcase at a nearby department store since mine had broken in Paris. In Schwangau, Germany, Hotel Schwanstein. A great find in this sleepy town near the Neuschwanstein Castle. We were some of the only guests during our stay and got to visit with the owner over dinner. He told us that he had specifically brought his cook with him from Austria. We could definitely see why. By far the best dinner we had on the entire trip. In Lucerne, Switzerland, Tourist Hotel. An OK place to stay. We prefer the Pension Panorama from our previous visit, though, despite the climb up the hill to reach it. In Venice, Hotel Alla Salute da Cici. A somewhat out-of-the-way hotel with nice, clean rooms. We had a great time walking from here to St. Mark’s Basilica and window shopping along the way. In Rome, Hotel Ara Pacis. Great location. Within walking distance of Vatican City and many major Roman sights. We especially liked the ease of getting to Piazza Navona, my wife’s favorite location in Rome.
[mapimage url=”http%3A%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fapi%2Fstaticmap%3Fsize%3D200x200%26sensor%3Dfalse%26markers%3DParis%2C%2520France%7CMunich%2CGermany%7CLucerne%2CSwitzerland%7CVenice%2CItaly%7CSchwangau%2CGermany%7CRome%2CItaly%26zoom%3D4″]You Won’t Want to Miss: There is so much to see on a trip like this. I told my kids before we left to make sure they got plenty of sleep and to use the restroom because we weren’t going to have time to stop for trivial things like that while we were there. I was just kidding, of course, but the truth is that there is more to see and do than you can imagine. Our favorites from each city: Paris — Go to the top of Sacre Coeur. It’s a climb, but the view is stunning. We like it even better than the top of the Eiffel Tower. Munich — Make a trip to Dachau (lest we forget), but on the way make time to see the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz. Schwangau — Of course, you must visit Neuschwanstein Castle, but don’t leave out Hohenschwangau Castle. While Neuschwanstein has been a museum basically its entire existence, you can really get a feel for living in a castle at Hohenschwangau. You might be surprised at how reality differs from your imagination. Lucerne — Everyone that visits this town must stop and see the Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal) and make a trip to the top of Mount Pilatus. Don’t let that get in the way of exploring the city itself. A walk on the old city wall is both entertaining and educational. Venice — Window shopping was the best part of this city for the girls, while I enjoyed exploring all of the little alleyways. Be sure, before you leave, to take a minute to visit Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. The layout of this particular church is quite different than the more popular St. Mark’s on the other side of the Grand Canal. Rome — One of my personal favorite European destinations, it’s hard to pick a single “best,” but if I could only go one place in Rome, it would have to be the the Villa Borghese Gallery and Museum. The works by Bernini in the museum are stunning, and the gardens are a welcome bit of peace and relaxation in a very busy city.
Eat Here: There are literally hundreds of great places to eat on a trip like this, but a few were memorable enough that you might want to try them as well. The Hotel Schwanstein in Schwangau has a fabulous cook. This was easily the best place we ate on the entire trip. Everything from appetizer to dessert, and every different entree ordered, was phenomenal. In Rome, find a place to sit, eat, and watch in Piazza Navona. Our favorite was Tres Amici, but there are several to choose from.
Play Here: A trip like this didn’t give us much time for “play,” but the kids really enjoyed the Swiss Museum of Transport. It’s a hands-on style experience, where they most enjoyed making their own newscast complete with green-screen technology.
If I Went Again: We will definitely go again. I’ve got two more kids to take. Next time we’ll not fly in and out of Paris though. We ended up missing our original flight home because the train to Paris was running late. Although that was fun for the kids to experience an overnight train, the price to change our tickets was not worth it. We’ll fly into Paris and out of Rome next time around.
How Did You Get There From Dallas? Flew direct to Paris (CDG) from Dallas (DFW) round-trip.
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: For a trip like this, it might be a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Make the most of it, and plan accordingly. Pack what you need to be comfortable, but not too much. You don’t want to ruin your experience lugging heavy baggage around the continent. And pack things that you don’t necessarily need to bring home. Old T-shirts and such. After you wear it, toss it. You won’t have so much laundry to do when you get home, and you’ll free up space for the souvenirs you buy.
