trevorjoyce

As in previous post, we (parents,23yr. Old son) will spend 3 days in Hamburg with friends end of Aug. & then fly Sun night to Nurnberg. New plan hopefully more realistic!
Mon.late am to Rothenburg. Night Watchman Tour eve.
Tues. early afternoon to Mittenwald for 2 or 3 nights
Wed./Thurs. that area depending on weather: Linderhof, Zugspitze, Partklamm Gorge
Either Thurs eve or Fri am to Munich; Visit Nymphenburg, maybe Dachau and Munich itself
Sun am fly home
I know this is still a lot to do but may never get there again but am I still unrealistic?
Pros / Cons of going to Munich Thurs eve vs Fri am? Maybe better drive Fri straight to
Nymphenburg?
Best route around Garmisch to get to main sights?
Best route to Munich?
We will brind GPS. Should I also buy map? Thanks!

Dukey1

Even though I routinely use a GPS when I rent a car in Europe it is always helpful IMO to have some sort of printed map if for no other reason than to orient yourself.

Sometimes any GPS and anywhere will provide a route which isn't always the best one. For example, here at home when I input an address the GPS sometimes provides a route which I know is a lot longer, etc., so yes get a map and you can easily get one at local larger bookstores (in the US anyway).

You do NOT need a car IN Munich and I would get rid of that right away to save money and fuel and parking bills, etc, as well as the overall hassle.

You need to remember that public transport in Munich as in other places is fast, convenient, and easy to use even if you are not used to having such where you live.

For example, you can take a tram to within easy walking distance of the Nymphenburg and why use a car when all you are doing is getting from A to B? Same with getting to the MUC airport; there are two S-Bahn lines which take you directly to the terminal.

You can also use a combo of S-Bahn trains and a local bus to get within about a block of the Dachau entrance.

Cars are great and they provide lots of flexibility but your own MIND is great and can provide you just as much flexibility with a lot less stress.

Travelforbeer

Are you renting a car in Nurnburg?

pja1

Hi,


Mon.late am to Rothenburg. Night Watchman Tour eve.

That's fine in my opinion.

Tues. early afternoon to Mittenwald for 2 or 3 nights
Wed./Thurs. that area depending on weather: Linderhof, Zugspitze, Partklamm Gorge.

Totaly doable.

Either Thurs eve or Fri am to Munich; Visit Nymphenburg, maybe Dachau and Munich itself.

I'm biased and would rather have more time in a place like Mittenwald than Munich. To travel Thurs. eve. or Fri. morning should be based on your preferences.

Just to note.. as having a car IN Munich IS a hassle, if you wanted to, you could drop the car in Garmisch and train to Munich.

Sun am fly home

Getting to the sights you have listed is easy. There is no "route around Garmisch" to travel.

I would get a map (we use Michelin from Barnes and Noble) now and look it over and plan routes BEFORE leaving home.

In short, I think your plan is realistic and not too much.

Paul

trevorjoyce

Thank you; yes, we are renting the car in Nurnberg. Right now we actually have 3 nights reserved in Munich: 2 w/ i city limits west of city and last night by airport . Original plan was to return car sometime later Sat., check in to hotel and maybe out for one last dinner. I like idea of 1 more night in Mittenwald so that now leaves 2 nights in 2 places by Munich. Flight is 9 am so want to be able to get to airport Ok. If we return car early, I think it be hard to have all our stuff to different places. My son and I travel very light; not so with husband. We have parking at the first Munich hotel and I think rental rate may be one week. Hotel is not far from Nymphenburg so we could go there first thing Fri am, then check in and use public transport around city. Use car just to get to airport area later Sat. And return it that night. Make any sense?? Have to think about this and now 2 hotels at end.

pja1

Hi again,

I don't know if staying IN Munich and then by the airport makes sense to me, but to each his/her own. I'm sure what we've done on a past trip wouldn't make much sense to some, but it worked for us.

We stayed our night before an early am. flight in Erding, 20 min. from the airport. Drove from Mittenwald to Erding, dropped my wife and luggage at the Best Western Park Hotel around 4pm. I drove to the airport, dropped the car and took the hotel shuttle back to the Park Hotel. We had dinner, walked the old town and then took a taxi at 5am to the airport. Hotel arranged the taxi (20 Euro for the ride) for us, as it was too early for the hotel shuttle bus. I didn't want to bother with the car return so early in the am. That said, the car return at the airport is pretty easy and quick.

http://www.bestwestern.de/hotels/Erd...rkhotel-Erding

Paul

trevorjoyce

I do agree; if we are only in Munich 2 nights 2 hotels are silly! The one (Hotel Brack) is by a U Bahn stop so although it is not at the airport if we return car after checking in there, we could take U and S to airport. Flight is actually 9:30am. Hotel would be convenient for touring Friday & Sat. It is not far from Nymphenburg so could go there from Mittenwald Friday, check in, return car and go into Munich. Have to see if they have room! I wonder if there are less trains on a Sunday am, though. I am sure hotel could guide us.

Otzi

I don't think your plans are overly ambitious at all.


Sometimes I wonder how some of my fellow Fodorites travel. I tend to to squeeze in everything I can during my waking hours; not sit back and drink it all on. It all depends on your personal comfortable pacing. My family and I have seen both Fussen castles, the Wieskirche, Ettal Abbey and dinner in Garmisch in a single day. And have done it more than once. Then again, I'm not the type to pause for ten minutes at every picture in a museum or drag out dinner for 3 hours or more.

I strongly suggest you take some time to drive North from Garmisch up to and through Ettal. Stop for beer at the Abbey. Then go just a few miles North of Ettal to Oberammergau. Beautiful little town with plenty of nice woodworking shops and more unique souvenirs than those found in Munich and Garmisch. You could then return toward Ettal and take Route 23 through the Ettaler Forest past Ludwig's Linderhof Castle, then loop around the Plansee (beautiful alpine lake), through Reutte, Austria and on to Fussen. I recommend this route to my friends doing BMW European Delivery because it's a great way to break in a brand new car - gorgeous scenery, plenty of spots to stop and take photos, twisty nearly deserted roads and less than 100 miles round trip. Very doable.

trevorjoyce

We are planning to do as much as we can...just didn't want to keep listing it all! Actually, all you mentioned is on the list. Just want to also see what types of things we see up north and weather will determine outside trips to luge or gorge. Also would still like to stop in Ulm on way from Rothenburg but will be flexible...I had posted an earlier post with many ideas...my husband takes hundreds of pictures so this plays a role time wise too! Just don't want to rush so much we forget to smell the roses and not appreciate natural beauty the way I do much of the time working two jobs in the NYC area! Thanks for all your thoughts. The folks on the Costa Rica forum helped us plan 2 fabulous trips. Looking forward to this one.