Lifelong dream - First time Backpacking!!

[tlorenz]

My Husband and I are planning to leave for Europe on September 2, 2010 and need some assistance in planning our tentative itinerary.

The plan is:
Fly to Frankfurt on the 2nd and from their catch a flight to Berlin (these are free and that is why its not direct to Berlin)
We have until the end of October

4 nights in Berlin with a day trip to Auswitch.
Amsterdam 3 nights
Paris 3 nights
Romantic Road to Munich 2 nights
Munich - 4 nights(have free accomidations and want to be there for Oktoberfest)
Fly to Pisa
Cinque terra - 2 nights
Rome 3- nights
Amalfi Coast 4 nights with a day trip to Pompeii
This is only 26 nights but we would also like to go to Venice and I wouldn't mind some cheap relaxation in Croatia. (but dont know where to fit this in)
Flight to London to fly home.

I know it kinda jumps all over but we have to fly into Frankfurt out of London and want to be in Munich for Oktoberfest.

Any advise on the itinerary or where to fit in the other locations would be great!

Thank you

Tamara

[Eagle]

Tamara,

Welcome to the Boards! I haven't had time to look at your Itinerary in any detail yet, however a few initial comments.

If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend pre-reading the Guidebook Europe Through The Back Door before you go. If will provide you with a lot of information on how to travel "well" in Europe.

You didn't say where you're flying from, but keep in mind that you'll generally lose the first day in flight times and time zone changes if you're travelling from North America.

4 nights in Berlin with a day trip to Auswitch.

This is one point that really stood out! Auschwitz is just outside Krakow (Poland) and I've never heard of anyone doing that as a "day trip" from Berlin. The rail trip is a minimum of nine hours EACH WAY! That might be a problem? You could however easily visit Sachsenhausen, which is close to Berlin.

If you're travelling by train from Berlin to Amsterdam, the trip will be at least half a day (probably a bit more). Be sure to allow for that.

Your routing is somewhat erratic and not very efficient. Is there any way you might "streamline" this a bit? In a time frame of only 26 days, I REALLY don't think you have time to add Venice and Croatia.

Hopefully the others will have some suggestions also.

Cheers!