Mid May ED itinerary. Suggestions appreciated:-)

I'd skip vienna unless you're going to get there, spend the whole next day, then leve the day after that for Prague.

I have not yet been to either but I will be going to both during my trip. Having done a bit more research, I am fairly confident I'll love Prague and will want more time there. So I suggest you go straight from Salzburg to Prague to give yourself more time in Prague. It is apparently an amazing place.

I have a cheap hotel booked in Prague that includes parking and breakfast and is on a tramline so you don't have to drive your brand new car into the core

Originally Posted by ddas1992

Wow, this is great stuff guys, just what I expected.. Some awesome ideas and great advice. I completely agree with the notion that big cities are not congenial to a car-centric vacation whereas small towns and villages are just perfect for that. That's what we will probably end up doing. With that being said, its not that we come to Europe too often, so there always a desire to make the most out of a trip to that region :-) If I had to pick between Prague and Vienna, which city would you guys recommend?

Thanks,
DD

How about this:
- delivery day, drive to Salzburg on the German Alpine Road (scenic and windy, look at some google maps pics, is amazing)

- spend a full day in Salzburg and see the sights

- drive to prague and spend 2 full days there (arrival day, 2 full days, depart) leave the car parked and use public transit to ease the in-car time.

- leave prague, drive toward Heidelberg castle and stay somewhere in that region...spend a couple days working your way toward Fussen as dropoff day approaches and eventually make your way back to Munich.

this has 2 longish driving days Salzburg to Prague and Prague to Heidelberg....but they are spread out. And both those drives pass by places you can stop for an hour or two (Cesky Krumlov on the way to Prague, Nuremberg on the way to Heidelberg Castle) which will help ease the driving.

Originally Posted by jtuds

How about this:
- delivery day, drive to Salzburg on the German Alpine Road (scenic and windy, look at some google maps pics, is amazing)

- spend a full day in Salzburg and see the sights

- drive to prague and spend 2 full days there (arrival day, 2 full days, depart) leave the car parked and use public transit to ease the in-car time.

- leave prague, drive toward Heidelberg castle and stay somewhere in that region...spend a couple days working your way toward Fussen as dropoff day approaches and eventually make your way back to Munich.

this has 2 longish driving days Salzburg to Prague and Prague to Heidelberg....but they are spread out. And both those drives pass by places you can stop for an hour or two (Cesky Krumlov on the way to Prague, Nuremberg on the way to Heidelberg Castle) which will help ease the driving.

Yes, I am skipping Vienna this time, gather we can do it next time. As per my current itinerary, I have 1 full day and 2 nights in Prague and 4 nights and 3.5days in the Romantic Road/Castles (Rothenburg obt, Fussen etc) area. I am debating whether I should add one extra day in Prague at the cost of a day in the Romantic Road/Castles area. But then again, I am traveling with a 20 month old and feel that we will have more fun in the countryside than a big city. Prague could just be a check the box thing for us on this trip. Thoughts?
We are also spending 3 nights/2.5 days in the Salzburg area and feel we will need that time to see all the great stuff around there (Salzburg city, Lake Konigsee, Eagles nest, Hallsatat etc). Also, what's the best route to drive from the Welt after taking delivery to Schonau am Konigsee through the German Alpine Roads?

Originally Posted by ddas1992

Yes, I am skipping Vienna this time, gather we can do it next time. As per my current itinerary, I have 1 full day and 2 nights in Prague and 4 nights and 3.5days in the Romantic Road/Castles (Rothenburg obt, Fussen etc) area. I am debating whether I should add one extra day in Prague at the cost of a day in the Romantic Road/Castles area. But then again, I am traveling with a 20 month old and feel that we will have more fun in the countryside than a big city. Prague could just be a check the box thing for us on this trip. Thoughts?
We are also spending 3 nights/2.5 days in the Salzburg area and feel we will need that time to see all the great stuff around there (Salzburg city, Lake Konigsee, Eagles nest, Hallsatat etc). Also, what's the best route to drive from the Welt after taking delivery to Schonau am Konigsee through the German Alpine Roads?

Well I don't have kids but I recently cut out my stop in Salzburg/Eagle's Nest to get an extra day in Prague. But if you have to make it quick stop, you'll at least get a quick taste of the place enough to know if you want to go back again.

One day will let you see the the main historic sites in Prague and maybe hit up a brewpub. At least that's what I've been told. It might feel rushed but I'm of the opinion that for this kind of trip, it's better to be busy.

Originally Posted by edx1

I believe BMW welt doesn't do factory tours on Saturday or Sunday just FYI.

There are three Marriotts I believe, Residents Inn east of Marienplatz by the science Museum, Marriott Courtyard west of Marienplatz by the rail station, and Marriott Munich east of BMW Welt. The City Center one near the rail station is the easiest to walk around and appears to be the easiest to see things near Marienplatz and subway to get to bmw welt IMO but the Residents Inn is a nice location if you want to go to the Museum, and I think only the Marriott west of BMW Welt offers free parking for ED guests??

There's the Hohenschwangau castle you can do that's just down the street from Muller as well and if you have time as they schedule the two castles tours 2 hours apart but require you to pick up the tickets 1h before the first tour which is always Hohenschwangau. Hohenschwangau was where Ludwig II grew up and lived and seems nice from the few pictures I've found. I also noticed Linderhof castle was on the other side of the mountains, 40 minutes away, and has some amazing grounds and grotto to see and some interesting history of its palace. In most of my castle research, most don't have nice grounds so if that might interest you it seems a good use of time without a huge amount of walking like other castles require. Mirabell palace grounds in Salzburg are also nice as well and quick to see and there's plenty of history with Motzart and other people nearby as well.

I'm in Salzburg on the 19th/20th as I think I mentioned earlier, and will also be doing Hellbrunn Palace fountains tour and Eisriesenwelt and will also be staying in Oberammagau the next day to do the castles I've mentioned as well as Garmish-Partenkirchen before we head to Switzerland.

Very good info about the factory not being open on Sat for tours, will have to figure out an alternative. We plan to be in Salzburg city on the 19th as well and do the sound of music tour (an absolute must do for my wife). May be we will bump into each other. What car are you picking up?

Hello all, this is my first post, but I have found much useful information on these forums. I am planning a Euro Delivery slightly after Ddas.

If you do the Vienna to Prague drive, I would recommend stopping at 1 of 3 small cities/villages in the Czech Republic. In order, Cseky Krumlov, Telc, and Kutna Hora. I've been to all 3, Krumlov is the best know and most visited, but Telc is wonderfully reserved and not nearly as visited as Krumlov.

Also, Ddas, can you provide any tips about a Euro Delivery specialist at a Northern VA./DC area dealer?

Originally Posted by darkwing56

Hello all, this is my first post, but I have found much useful information on these forums. I am planning a Euro Delivery slightly after Ddas.

If you do the Vienna to Prague drive, I would recommend stopping at 1 of 3 small cities/villages in the Czech Republic. In order, Cseky Krumlov, Telc, and Kutna Hora. I've been to all 3, Krumlov is the best know and most visited, but Telc is wonderfully reserved and not nearly as visited as Krumlov.

Also, Ddas, can you provide any tips about a Euro Delivery specialist at a Northern VA./DC area dealer?

The immediate DC area has 6 bmw dealers (sterling, arlington/alex, passport, silver spring, Rockville, Fairfax) and probably another 10 in the 100 mile radius. I first did my research, did a few test drives, determined what I wanted, went to bmwconfig.com to get invoice pricing and then emailed all the dealers in the area plus a few more in vicinity (baltimore, annapolis) with the specs. I straightway got 3 offers at 500+ invoice. Decided to go with Sterling, because they were the most transparent, most convenient (10 min from where I live) and very upfront about everything, though not the most experienced with the ED process. However, after all the research I did on the process, I felt confident I would be able to guide them if I had to ;-).
As far as ED experts in the area are concerned, Silver Spring and Passport have a good reputation.

Originally Posted by ddas1992

I am debating whether I should add one extra day in Prague at the cost of a day in the Romantic Road/Castles area. But then again, I am traveling with a 20 month old and feel that we will have more fun in the countryside than a big city. Prague could just be a check the box thing for us on this trip. Thoughts?

2 nights in Prague is plenty. Went there with a 5 and 2 y/o and had a great time. You just let them loose in the squares, walk around while you marvel at some of the best architecture in Europe. Prague is certainly not just a box to "Czech".

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Bimmer App

jtuds, I was under the impression that you are planning your own ED and this will be your first, is this correct? It seems like a stretch to be making recommendations on someone else's ED if you haven't done one yourself yet. On top of that you mentioned that you don't have kids either.

No offense, but if I were the OP I would be taking recommendations only from someone who has already done ED and particularly someone who has done it with kids.

^^^ Tom, he didn't say he wasn't an experienced European traveler. There are a number of 'Festers who post here and live/have lived in Europe and have never done ED - would you not listen to their advice?

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

jtuds, I was under the impression that you are planning your own ED and this will be your first, is this correct? It seems like a stretch to be making recommendations on someone else's ED if you haven't done one yourself yet. On top of that you mentioned that you don't have kids either.

No offense, but if I were the OP I would be taking recommendations only from someone who has already done ED and particularly someone who has done it with kids.

The guy said he likes traveling fast and has done it before. And all I said was you might want more time in Prague. Is that really a stretch?

As far as working your way south through the Black Forest to fussen and back to Munich, if you do it over four days and drive a couple hundred kms per day, that's not exactly exhausting. Looking at a map and seeing a total number of kms to split up over a set period of time does not change based on the country or the family arrangement. Days are days and kms are kms and if you want to do it, you do it.

Originally Posted by ddas1992

Decided to go with Sterling, because they were the most transparent, most convenient (10 min from where I live) and very upfront about everything, though not the most experienced with the ED process. However, after all the research I did on the process, I felt confident I would be able to guide them if I had to ;-).

I'm also going with Sterling. I really liked the CA that helped us when my wife was looking at an X3 (though sadly, she decided on a perfectly comfortable, very quiet, and rather dull Lexus RX), so he was the first guy I contacted when I was ready.

There was some kind of initial screw-up on getting the order placed, I think in part because I was fully 6 months out at the time, but thanks to this forum I knew the right questions to ask and my CA got everything back on track. Ask for Karl, he seems like a stand-up guy, and he ought to have the finer points of ED all figured out now.

Originally Posted by neurom

2 nights in Prague is plenty. Went there with a 5 and 2 y/o and had a great time. You just let them loose in the squares, walk around while you marvel at some of the best architecture in Europe. Prague is certainly not just a box to "Czech".

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Bimmer App

Yes, I also think we can get a good flavor of the city in 2 nights/1 full day. So I am sticking with to my current itinerary for the moment. How is your trip planning coming along?

The planning went great, that is the problem, now I do not know what to do with my time other than post my unsolicited opinions in threads that do not concern me, have discussion about colors, leather products, cupholders, and other trivial things. Here is the link to my plan: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=673870

We made the decision as a family after going to see Mickey Mouse twice that we would not be bound to easy trips because we had young kids and had to worry about diapers, strollers, and carseats in planes, and started with a 2005 ED to Munich when my daughter had just turned 2. Since we have been to Europe 7 times with our children, almost yearly. It has it challenges, but that philosophy now that they are 13 and 9 has opened their eyes to the world. We did more driving than we should have, one day we went from Baden-Baden to Prague and it was a rough day with the kids, I would not do that much driving again. But at the end do not regret it for a minute. We took them to Dachau, to beer halls, they enjoyed posing besides all the statues of the lions around Munich, and just running around following doves in the squares and playing with other kids that did not know a bit of english.

One practical advise for an afternoon, the Englischer Garten has a beer garden right next to a large kids playground, was the best of both worlds with play for the kids and beer for me. They play with other kids, there are always people there socializing who you can engage in conversation. The problem was that after a few Dunkels my wife then ended up having to care for three children (one of those being me).

Good luck and enjoy your trip. Make sure you report back when you are done.

Originally Posted by neurom

one day we went from Baden-Baden to Prague and it was a rough day with the kids, I would not do that much driving again

.

Google maps quotes five hours and five minutes for that drive, what was the actual driving time?

Originally Posted by jtuds

Google maps quotes five hours and five minutes for that drive, what was the actual driving time?

Its been 8 yrs, but if I remember correctly it was closer to 7-8hrs with some stops for food/bath.

Originally Posted by jtuds

The guy said he likes traveling fast and has done it before. And all I said was you might want more time in Prague. Is that really a stretch?

My impression from another post of yours was that your European travel experience was limited to "I saw in (sic) London and Paris for a total of 6 days a couple years ago and I feel like I saw enough of those places to not need to go back for awhile." I guess the question is, have you been to Europe other than your 6-day trip to both London and Paris, and have you driven in Germany/Austria/Switzerland/France/Poland/Czech Republic before?

Again, no offense, but you're not someone I would turn to for European travel advice based on this. If you have more travel European travel experience than those six days, or have lived there, then I apologize in advance.

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

My impression from another post of yours was that your European travel experience was limited to "I saw in (sic) London and Paris for a total of 6 days a couple years ago and I feel like I saw enough of those places to not need to go back for awhile." I guess the question is, have you been to Europe other than your 6-day trip to both London and Paris, and have you driven in Germany/Austria/Switzerland/France/Poland/Czech Republic before?

Again, no offense, but you're not someone I would turn to for European travel advice based on this. If you have more travel European travel experience than those six days, or have lived there, then I apologize in advance.

Europe, Asia, Australia, North America...all places I've visited for varying amounts of time with specific things in mind I wanted to see. And I did. I've spent months in Australia and I still couldn't tell you how long it takes to drive from anywhere to anywhere but based on your standard I should be more credible than a person who's spent less time there.

Also, to me, a couple hours in Sydney Harbour is enough. A couple hours at the Louvre is enough. In 1.5 days in Kuala Lumpur (with the 0.5 being the day my 18 hour flight landed and I took the 45 minute ride from the airport) I saw enough of the place to be satisfied with KL for the rest of my life.

So my opinion on any place one visits is based on my perspective on travel in general and the research I have done during my own planning. If you want to base credibility on who is most familiar with the places being discussed, then this is not the forum for this discussion.

We should all be over on the tripadvisor forums where there is a section for pretty much every city/attraction in the world, and "experts" who live in or near those places who post regularly.

Originally Posted by jtuds

Europe, Asia, Australia, North America...all places I've visited for varying amounts of time with specific things in mind I wanted to see. And I did. I've spent months in Australia and I still couldn't tell you how long it takes to drive from anywhere to anywhere but based on your standard I should be more credible than a person who's spent less time there.

Also, to me, a couple hours in Sydney Harbour is enough. A couple hours at the Louvre is enough. In 1.5 days in Kuala Lumpur (with the 0.5 being the day my 18 hour flight landed and I took the 45 minute ride from the airport) I saw enough of the place to be satisfied with KL for the rest of my life.

So my opinion on any place one visits is based on my perspective on travel in general and the research I have done during my own planning. If you want to base credibility on who is most familiar with the places being discussed, then this is not the forum for this discussion.

We should all be over on the tripadvisor forums where there is a section for pretty much every city/attraction in the world, and "experts" who live in or near those places who post regularly.

I sincerely apologize.