Craig,

Unless England is your main summer destination, you'll probably find that the airline hops form the U.S. to Germany more common. I prefer to fly U.S. to Stockholm when traveling in Europe.

I love to drive and see the countryside so I always get a long rental on a car. This allows me to wander around and explore without booking reservations and worrying about schedules. :)

Obviously you need a current passport. I find that during most European travel, at the border crossings you have to ask if you want your passport stamped as a keepsake... They usually consider U.S. travelers as worth less hassle. Of course that might depend upon one's presence and group... I couldn't say.

In so far as visas, I spent a month there once and filed a visa for my primary destination. From there I went on about a weeks worth of side trips with no visas or trouble of any kind.

Preferences: I love traveling in Sweden and Norway. The scandinavian region is very expensive though in contrast to Europe otherwise. Food expenses are very high and hotel rates will desensitize you from ever again thinking about hotel rates being too high. :)

aka j

My next trip to Europe should be a motorcycle wandering through England, Scotland and Ireland.