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Any Ideas for 2020 Italy, Swiss, Chek Republic, WW II 75th year

MizzouBJ72

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My wife and I plan to take a 2020 trip from St. Louis MO to Europe, specifically to wind up in Pilsen, Check Republic, the first weekend in May, for its annual Liberation Festival. It will mark the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Germany in WW II and Pilsen is the site of where my father-in-law was at that time with the 2nd Infantry Division.

We went to Normandy Beach, Belgium and Luxembourg WW II tour sites and cemeteries in 2016, following his route from Omaha Beach to Belgium.

Immediately prior in 2020 to our Pilsen plans, we intend to be in Italy for about 13 days on a group tour, before taking a train from Milan through the Swiss Alps to Lucerne, Switzerland, do a tour there, then an overnight train on to Prague. We'll then spend a few days in Prague before going to nearby Pilsen. Then back home.

I got what I believe to be some great advice already from a European train expert, regarding the plus of doing train travel through the Alps vs. flying when in Europe. We've done trains in Europe before and they are, indeed, well run. But we are inexperienced in Italy, Switzerland and the Check Republic, thus would welcome any ideas or opinions that anyone might offer who has had experiences there or regarding WW II commemoration activities in the areas we plan to travel.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!
 

LisaH

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Sounds like a great plan. I don’t have much to offer but we took the train from Sienna to Rome with relative ease in 2012. I also plan on doing a more extensive train trip through Europe. Please do share your experiences when you return.
 
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If you're going to be doing some research and booking flights, accommodation etc then you need to realise it's The Czech Republic or Czechia as some of them like to call it now not Check Republic.
 

Talent312

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We once flew into Munich and took trains to...
Austria - Salzburg & Vienna... Italy - Venice & Florence... Switzerland - Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen & Jungfraujoch.

I advise steering clear of Oberammergau, Germany in 2020. They do the Passion Play thing every 10 years. Unfortunately, I've been rooked into going with a church group (mostly older women). Can you imagine being stuck on that bus? They'll prolly sing hymns or something. Gawd.

.
 

Jimster

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We traveled from Munich to Prague by overnight train. While we got a compartment and they made up the berths, I was not particularly impressed with the upper berth. I kept thinking I would fall off. Of course, I didn’t but I also didn’t get a great deal of sleep. The train station in Prague is very nice and modern so you will enjoy that. Prague is a very interesting city. Enjoy
 
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