August 23 – September 12, 2026 · ORD → MUC · Fly home SZG
Travelers 1 solo + 4 group
Nights 18 total
Cities 8
Breweries 4
Michelin stars 1
Couple
Andrew
+ partner
Couple
Partner
Andrew's partner
Solo
Matt
Single traveler
Solo
Tom
Single traveler
Depart
Aug 23
ORD 3:35 PM
Arrive Munich
Aug 24
7:05 AM MUC
Fly home
Sep 12
From SZG
Total
18 nights
8 destinations
ORD ✈Munich→Bamberg→Rothenburg→Munich→Blaue Burg→Garmisch→Hallstatt→Innsbruck→Salzburg✈ ORD
Pre-Trip — Solo
Week 1
Week 2
Need to know
Solo pre-trip (Aug 24–27): Just you, Bamberg's smoked beers & Weyermann Malts, Rothenburg Night Watchman. Then fly home Aug 27, rejoin group in Munich Aug 28.
Flights confirmed: You & Laura on LH437 Aug 23 3:35pm ORD → 7:05am MUC, business class (140,000 Aeroplan points). Still need: Matt & Tom outbound, all return flights SZG Sep 12.
Pöllat Gorge near Neuschwanstein is closed until further notice — do not plan around it.
Hallstatt parking: Tourist cars banned in the village. Park Lot P1 (€18/day) + free shuttle.
PAVO dinner ✅ confirmed Thu Sep 3 at 6:00pm — table for 4. Leave BergCrystal by 5:00pm (50 min drive up). Restaurant 1250 on-site for Tue Sep 1 and Wed Sep 2 nights at Blaue Burg.
BergCrystal: €200 damage deposit at check-in — credit card, refunded after checkout.
Rental car: Pick up MUC Aug 28 late, drop off SZG Sep 12. Book now at rentalcars.com.
Pre-Trip — Solo (Aug 24–27)
Pre-trip solo hotels: Hotel Nepomuk in Bamberg (Rauchbier capital) · Burg-Hotel in Rothenburg (medieval walled town & Night Watchman tour). Then train back to Munich Aug 27 to rejoin the group.
Week 1
PAVO dinner: ✅ Confirmed Thu Sep 3 at 6:00pm · Table for 4 · Leave BergCrystal by 5:00pm (~50 min drive)
You & Laura: LH437 ✈ Aug 23 3:35 PM ORD → 7:05 AM Aug 24 MUC · Business class (Polaris) · 140,000 Aeroplan points each · Still need: Matt & Tom outbound, all return flights
Outbound
✅ You & Laura — Business
LH437 confirmed · Sun Aug 23 3:35 PM ORD → Mon Aug 24 7:05 AM MUC Lufthansa Polaris business class · 140,000 Aeroplan points per person · Booking ref: CMUSNA
❌ Matt — Economy
Not yet booked · Same LH437 or UA953 · Check seats.aero mid-June
❌ Tom — Economy
Not yet booked · Same LH437 or UA953 · Check seats.aero mid-June
Return
SZG → MUC → ORD · Sat Sep 12
Short hop SZG→MUC on Lufthansa regional, then nonstop MUC→ORD Book as two separate one-way awards for flexibility
Andrew & partner — Business class
Strategy
Chase Sapphire Reserve → transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan or United MileagePlus