Requesting Suggestions for improving ED trip Itinerary

So, I did my first ED this past Aug (when I got my 2013 335M) and I am already set to do another one at end of this month. I am totally convinced that this is the way to buy a car. So much that I am already thinking of a 2016 M3 ED.... Hopefully I can save up enough to do that...fingers crossed.

Anyways, I am cheating a bit here. Ordered a 2014 MB E350 Sport, which is gonna be my Dad's car. But we are gonna do a family vacation... I wouldn't pass an offer to re-live the fantastic experience I had last year..... would I ?



The MBWorld forum is totally dead and it seems like a very few people do MB EDs... So I came back to the excellent community here at Bimmerfest for some pointers on the itinerary.

Now, I did a pretty intense driving trip last year.. That wont do with 50 somethings on board. But I would still like to do some of the great alpine roads and thankfully the revised chassis and suspension tuning on the 2014 E350 should be up to the task (I know its no BMW, but they have actually done a pretty good job)
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=13

We have only 8.5 days from arrival at FRA to departure. As always, everyone in the family has their must go places. Incorporating all of them would mean going to the moon and back in 8.5 days, so I cut some stuff and have come up with the following so far..

EDIT:

REVISED PLAN V1

Day 1 - Saturday, June 29 - Arrive at Frankfurt early in the morning. Rent a car from airport and do the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour. Evening and night at Munich.

Day 2- Sunday, June 30 - Morning in Munich, Leave for Stuttgart in the afternoon, visit the MB museum, Leave rental car at Stuttgart Airport. night at Stuttgart.

Day 3 - Monday, July 1 - Take Delivery of the car, leave Stuttgart and head towards Davos, then south east on the Fluela Pass, continue on to Florence, night at Florence.

Day 4 - Tueday, July 2 - Entire Day in Forence.

Day 5 - Wednesday, July 3 - Entire day in Florence.

Day 6 - Thursday, July 4 - Morning in Florence. In the afternoon, leave for Lucerne (optionally Fukra pass west and Grimsel pass north). Evening in Lucerne.

Day 7 - Friday, July 5 - Entire Day in Lucerne area. Day trip to Mount Pilatus and back if the weather is good (hopefully)

Day 8 - Saturday, July 6 - Day in Lucerne, in the evening drive to Frankfurt. Get the car washed and cleaned.

Day 9 -Sunday, July 7 - Do a weekend (extra charge) drop off at the Frankfurt location and take the afternoon flight out.



ORIGINAL PLAN

Day 1 - Saturday, June 29 - Arrive at Frankfurt early in the morning. Rent a car from airport and go somewhere in Germany, (maybe do the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour). Stay the night somewhere in Germany.

Day 2- Sunday, June 30 - Leave for Stuttgart in the morning, visit the MB museum ... do a walking tour. I would think most of the shops will be closed on a Sunday ?

Day 3 - Monday, July 1 - Leave rental car at Stuttgart Airport. Take Delivery of the car, head to Davos or some place close (Lindau? Chur? ) and stay the night there.

Day 4 - Tueday, July 2 - Driving Day! Leave Davos (or wherever we were), head south east on the Fluela Pass, optionally take the Umbrail pass south and go north-east down the Stelvio Pass upto Merano and then continue to Florence .

Day 5 - Wednesday, July 3 - Entire day in Florence.

Day 6 - Thursday, July 4 - Leave Florence for Lucerne (optionally Fukra pass west and Grimsel pass north), Visit Pisa enroute.

Day 7 - Friday, July 5 - Entire Day in Lucerne. In the evening drive down to Zurich.

Day 8 - Saturday, July 6 - Entire Day in Zurich. In the evening leave for Frankfurt. Get the car washed and cleaned.

Day 9 -Sunday, July 7 - Do a weekend (extra charge) drop off at the Frankfurt location and take the afternoon flight out.

So this is how the above looks on Google Maps.

Click to see in Google Maps



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As you see, I definitely need some help.

1) What would be a good place to go to on the first day ? I was thinking about driving down to Fussen and doing the castle tour, then up to Munich for the evening.

2) Is there anything good to do in Stuttgart? is everything gonna be closed on a Sunday?

3) I want to do the Fluela pass (and maybe the Stelvio pass) after a good nights sleep.. so I was looking for a good place relatively close to Davos. Is Davos any good with older people ? Lindau? Chur? other suggestions are welcomed.

4) I hear that the Stelvio Pass is quite intense and I am not sure if I should do it with the parents on board and a E-Class.. what say ?

5) I hear that Florence has long lines for many of the attractions and it is a good idea to reserve tickets in advance... any idea how this can be done ?

6) I hear that Pisa is not that great, should I skip it and gain some more time in Florence ?

7) Should I add a day in Lucerne or Zurich and skip one of those places ? I figured that we could do both .. since they are an hour apart.

Any other suggestions are also welcomed.

I know that I am still trying to cram in quite a lot in the 8.5 days. Its because Florence and Switzerland are in the non-negotiable portion of the must see list.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

Skip Zurich and spend another day on Lake Luzern

Originally Posted by dkreidel

Skip Zurich and spend another day on Lake Luzern

That seems like a good option, we are gonna get a lot of big city, museums, cathedrals etc in Florence, so skipping Zurich and focusing more on small town Switzerland will probably be a good relief.

Any better ideas than doing the castle tour on the first day, staying the night at munich and the next afternoon driving down to Stuttgart ?

Still quite a few questions pending ...

Originally Posted by achopra

5) I hear that Florence has long lines for many of the attractions and it is a good idea to reserve tickets in advance... any idea how this can be done ?

If you decide to spend more time in Florence, you should get the Firenze Card which gives you access to many of the museums and public transport for 72 hours. There's a separate line for Firenze Card holders (and often no line) and no reservations required so it allows you to be more spontaneous and avoid rushing to make your next reservation time.
One and a half day in Florence will not allow you to see much because you'll likely park outside the ZTL and walk, but if you're not into museums and historic buildings then maybe that's enough.

Originally Posted by Asteroid

If you decide to spend more time in Florence, you should get the Firenze Card which gives you access to many of the museums and public transport for 72 hours. There's a separate line for Firenze Card holders (and often no line) and no reservations required so it allows you to be more spontaneous and avoid rushing to make your next reservation time.
One and a half day in Florence will not allow you to see much because you'll likely park outside the ZTL and walk, but if you're not into museums and historic buildings then maybe that's enough.

That is a great Tip! I am considering taking delivery early in the morning and leaving before noon on Day 3, then driving down to the Florence on that day... it will be a long day, but we will have a 2 day gap before we are on the road again...

Also considering skipping Pisa and driving to Lucerne after lunch on Day 6, the spending Day 7 and most of Day 8 in Lucerne before driving down to Frankfurt.

This will give us 2.5 days in Florence and about 2 Days in Lucerne.

What say ?

Originally Posted by achopra

This will give us 2.5 days in Florence and about 2 Days in Lucerne.

What say ?

This sounds like a very good plan, and one that will likely be much more rewarding and enjoyable

dk

On another plan altogether, take the Alps Rally tour offered by MB (5 nights in 5 star hotels for $1300 per couple).An amazing bargain and structure your trip around those hotels. If you have any questions PM me I plan ED trips for my local BMW, MB dealership.

If you were trying to avoid an intense driving trip, this is not it. As far as Pisa, don't waste your time there, would be better spent in Florence and/or Siena. Stuttgart is an industrial dry city with not much to offer, and Luzern/Zurich IMO are complicating your route a lot. BTW, there is plenty of good driving and things to do in Tuscany and Umbria just hopping from small town to small town and also hitting Florence and Siena, would be more palatable and from what I read on your previous posts you are not particularly keen on spending time on large cities such as Zurich or Luzern. The lines particularly to see the David are long in Florence, have to get there early, I do not think you can buy tickets in advance for this unless you have connections. Good luck.

Also, when you say Switzerland, do you mean any part of Switzerland or specifically Zurick and/or Luzern? If you like the mountains, why not forget about these two cities and on the way back from Florence stop in the Bernese Oberland for 2-3 nights, maybe Mürren? How much do your 50 something parents like to hike?

Originally Posted by neurom

If you were trying to avoid an intense driving trip, this is not it. As far as Pisa, don't waste your time there, would be better spent in Florence and/or Siena. Stuttgart is an industrial dry city with not much to offer, and Luzern/Zurich IMO are complicating your route a lot. BTW, there is plenty of good driving and things to do in Tuscany and Umbria just hopping from small town to small town and also hitting Florence and Siena, would be more palatable and from what I read on your previous posts you are not particularly keen on spending time on large cities such as Zurich or Luzern. The lines particularly to see the David are long in Florence, have to get there early, I do not think you can buy tickets in advance for this unless you have connections. Good luck.

It is a bit of driving, but a lot of it is the Autobahn or Autostrada, which should be no problem with 3 drivers. By intense I meant something like 700 miles of alps.

I am going to skip Pisa, I am getting that suggestion from everybody.

Probably just going to check out the MB museum a Stuttgart, since I have to be there on Sunday for the Monday Delivery.

I have heard a lot of good things about Siena. But it seems like there is not much time.

Asteroid suggested we get the Firenze card to avoid some of the longer lines. We might just shell out for that...

I am skipping Zurich, Have been to Luzern before (admittedly for a very short time)... its not really a large city according to me. I chose Lucerne because it is a beautiful town with great scenery in the mountains with a lake, access to some of the higher peaks (Mount Pilatus) etc... that is pretty much what the parents are looking for. I considered the Bernese Oberland area but the parents are not into hiking at all... they pretty much want to sit back, relax and enjoy the views. Also we cant take the car anywhere past Interlaken, which could be an issue.

Appreciate your input, I think cutting out Zurich and Pisa... and reaching Florence a day before originally planned would make a decent trip.

Originally Posted by Asteroid

If you decide to spend more time in Florence, you should get the Firenze Card which gives you access to many of the museums and public transport for 72 hours. There's a separate line for Firenze Card holders (and often no line) and no reservations required so it allows you to be more spontaneous and avoid rushing to make your next reservation time.
One and a half day in Florence will not allow you to see much because you'll likely park outside the ZTL and walk, but if you're not into museums and historic buildings then maybe that's enough.

I concure

Uffizi tickets on line - here

Line to Uffizi can be more than 4 hrs - get card or buy ticket on-line.
I recommend spend more time in Lucerne - Zurich is Boring and expensive.
If you can replace Swiss with Tuscany - do it you will never regret that decision.

Originally Posted by MB330

I concure

Uffizi tickets on line - here

Line to Uffizi can be more than 4 hrs - get card or buy ticket on-line.
I recommend spend more time in Lucerne - Zurich is Boring and expensive.
If you can replace Swiss with Tuscany - do it you will never regret that decision.

Very Helpful! Thanks!

Added the first version on the revised itinerary to the opening post. Skipping Zurich and Pisa. Also more time in Florence.