You’re going to spend way too much time in transit for my taste, so I’d definitely cut at least one of those concentration camps and consider cutting one of the Florence day trips to add time to someplace where you’ll just relax a little.

1. I think Bratislava is a lot friendlier, cheaper and more interesting than Vienna. They’re only about an hour apart by train or bus. Vienna is a better transportation hub. Given your fairly whirlwind travel style, I’d probably stay in Vienna for the transportation advantages and spend at least a day of the time in Bratislava. If budget is a concern, you can live better for less in Bratislava.
2. I would skip the concentration camp near Berlin, visit Auschwitz (including Birkenau) and then decide if you want to visit another.

What’s your reason for staying in Naples? Stop for a Pizza on your way back to Rome on your day trip to Pompeii.

The first one was Dachau, which is near Munich. The largest, and the only one that was designed as industrial human slaughterhouse from the beginning, was Auschwitz. Cut Terezin, even though that city is built in an interesting ways (the Emperor Maria Theresia founded it as a fortress and military barracks, so that it looks like a fortress, it’s symmetrical etc. The Nazis turned this whole town into a concentration ghetto. It’s primary function was to serve as a transfer and sorting point on your way to death in Auschwitz or elsewhere. The overall atmosphere of the town is depressingly dull and boring until these days.

Anyway, the sights of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina will probably shake you more than WW2 history, because they happened in a modern world we remember. Add a day in Sarajevo, take it from Mostar, and visit the Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Was possible in 2009

Both are beautiful and expensive, probably Dubrovnik nicer, but these are beautiful historical port cities. If you want to sunbathe, swim and enjoy yourselves, then Split and a ferry to any of the nearby islands.

- No particular reason.. we wanted to see the major cities in Italy I guess, and I figured that was quite a popular one! Is there not a lot of point staying there then?

Do you mean they are both port cities and don’t have a beach then? Really we would like a couple of days on a nice beach somewhere. Would going to one of the islands be the best way to do this then?

IMO, Naples pretty much has everything that’s bad about a mega-city (dirt, petty crime, noise, crowds) with very little of the good. Great Pizza and an archeological museum are all that come to mind.

So, if we wanted to see Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, you think it would be better to go there from Rome? Or to base ourselves in Naples just because its closer?

Or Sorrento, because you could see Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius on the coming from Rome, on the way to Sorrento, and then spend a few days exploring the Amalfi Coast, using Sorrento as a base. I definitely wouldn’t stay in Naples.

Ok, thank you I will look into Sorrento. It would be before going to Rome tho, as I’m working my way up Italy, before flying home from Venice!

Oh, I didn’t make myself clear. Of course you can swim in the sea in Dubrovnik and Split, both of these cities have their city playas. It depends on your personal choice. Dubrovnik and Split are ancient Roman cities, lively, beautiful, modern, expensive, world-class. The islands are also very beautiful, but rural, more traditional, quieter, more Croatian, but not necessarily that much cheaper. Depends on your personal choice. Both options have a beach.

Thank you

I had planned to get the night train from Brussels to Berlin? Now I cant find that it exists…. Does anybody know anything about getting from Brussels to Berlin!?

Thank youuu

A direct train probably doesn’t. But there is a rather good connection using a sequence of high speed and sleeper trains. However, you won’t get much sleep and arrive to Berlin very early.

Leave Bruxelles Midi (in French, Brussels Noord in Dutch) at 19:28 using the Thalys No. 9453 to Köln Hbf, arrive 21:15. Leave Köln Hbf at 22:28 by a CityNightLine train No. 457, arrive Berlin Hbf at 4:28 AM the next day.

P.S. The Deutsche Bahn offer daytime specials for fast trains between Berlin and Brussels and back starting from €29 one way if you book way ahead. Check their website. But it still takes 7-8 hrs and usually one transfer. However, there should be a lot of cheap airliners flying to Berlin from either Brussels or Charleroi airports in Belgium. (Charleroi is about 80 min. ride from centre of Brussels by train and bus). If you find a cheap evening flight, you win.

If you can’t find a train route you like there’s an Easyjet flight on the 28th that leaves Brussels at 19:10 and arrives in Berlin at 20:35 on the 28th for $71.

I’d get that flight if I were you.

Just returned from Italy last week. San Gimigano is worth visiting just for the drive through the Tuscan countryside, but the actual town itself is worth maybe a stop for lunch and then move on to Siena