Let the planning begin

And so it begins again.  This time we are headed to new destinations in Europe after focusing on France for the last two trips.  This time our travels will take us through Seattle and Heathrow airports as we travel to Copenhagen, Berlin, Prague, Salzburg, Pimswang in the Bavaria region of Germany, Menzenschwand in the Black Forest area of Germany, Bacharach in the Rhine/Mosel area of Germany, Cologne and five nights in Belgium (destinations are still TBD in Belgium) before we return through Heathrow and Seattle after our four week adventure.

Our Travel Map

We were able to use Alaska and British Airways miles to secure upgraded seats on our flights to and from Seattle to Heathrow in the UK.  Our first destination is Copenhagen for four nights (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4039785) where we will be able to visit our friends Kathrin and Peter and their two daughters.  From there we fly to Berlin where we will spend two nights (http://en.intercityhotel.com/Berlin/InterCityHotel-Berlin-Hauptbahnhof) and then travel by train to Prague Czech Republic.  After two nights in Prague (http://www.falkensteiner.com/en/hotel/prag) we again travel by train to Salzburg Austria and spend three nights there (www.blobergerhof.at).  We will then pickup a car for eleven days and we will visit Bavaria for three nights (http://www.schluxen.at/), the Black Forest area for four nights (http://www.hotelgrossbach.de/en/) and the Rhine/Mosel area for four nights (http://www.rhein-hotel-bacharach.de/en/start.html).  We then drop off the car and travel by train to Cologne for a day trip and then on to Belgium by train as well.  Our time in Belgium will be planned with the help of our Belgium friends (the Belgium Gang) - more to follow on those specifics.

And because our time is relatively short in several of the towns we have made arrangements to join a tour group in Berlin and Prague and for a day trip to Hitler's Eagles Nest outside Berchtesgaden.

In addition to our plan for Belgium we still need to make train reservations where appropriate.  The cheapest fares are available approximately 90 days prior to the departure date so we will be making those reservations in late May and early June.

Just a little less than four months before we leave - trying not to get too excited too early.  Until the next update "Auf Wiedersehen".