bruce1701

Hi,

My family and I are taking a long-awaited trip to Germany. We'll be joined by my wife's sister and two children, so 8 total. This will be their first time; I've been there many times for work. I've got most of the itinerary and associated lodging settled but need to plug a couple of gaps and would like your tips/recommendations. We'll be traveling via rental car and I want the group to see and experience as much as possible in the time we have there, but not stress ourselves too much in doing that. We need affordable lodging that captures Bavaria/Tirol, yet offers something to occupy five teenagers. By the way, here's my itinerary:

*8-9 June Heidelberg (arriving Frankfurt, booked lodging at the Hotel Hackteufel)
*10 June Rothenburg (booked lodging at Hotel Goldner Hirsch)
*11 June Gutach in Black Forest (booked a farm B&B, the Rotbauernhof)
*12-16 June Garmisch (Booked at Edelweiss Lodge) (will hit castles, Ettal, Munich, rafting)
*17-18 June ????? (would like to visit Salzburg, Hallstatt, salt mines, Berchtesgaden)
*19 June fly back to States from Munich

Sooo...three questions:
1. Do you have any locales/lodging recommendations for 17/18 June, based on my input above?
2. Do you see any glaring holes in my itinerary or perhaps issues with the lodging that I've already selected?
3. I know I didn't list details of our proposed activities (they're all the routine ones), but any can't miss things? I really hope we stumble upon a fest somewhere - perfect for the teenagers. I can't seem to find an all-encompassing website listing them.

Thanks!
Bruce

Fussgaenger

"Do you see any glaring holes in my itinerary"

Well, you are zig-zagging all over. I doubt that the back seat of your vehicle is a great way to occupy teenagers in Germany. You would drive 300 km less if you drove from Heidelberg straight to Gutach instead of trying to include Rothenburg, which lies far to the east. If you want a MINOR detour on the way to Gutach, you could drive the Neckar River to Gundelsheim to see Guttenberg Castle and the falconry show:
http://www.burg-guttenberg.de/en

You'd have a semi-decent amount of time in Gutach if you spent 2 nights there. Besides the engaging Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, you can do the summer bobsled run in Gutach, you can visit nearby Gengenbach (an old walled town with towers but without the tourist horde and a nice swap for Rothenburg) and you might have time for a glass-blowing demonstration in Wolfach or for the Black Forest Folk Costume museum in Haslach. Haslach itself is a handsome town included on the German Half-timbered House theme route. I don't know what will interest them most, but there's a good number of things to see and do in the Black Forest to choose from before you zip off to Garmisch.

Gengenbach: http://www.stadthotel-gengenbach.de/...innenstadt.jpg
Glass-blowing: http://www.dorotheenhuette.info/index.html?&L=1
Black Forest costumes: http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/M...musuem-Haslach
Haslach: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Locatio....html#42971730

bruce1701

Thanks Fussgaenger,

Yes, a little zig-zagging involved. I like your idea about another day in Gutach and things do around it. We're staying on a farm that's adjacent to the bobsled run and museum and the cost for the stay is cheaper than staying in a hotel.

I figured that Heidelberg was an easy drive from the Frankfurt Airport and I always enjoyed by stays there. I just heard back from the hotel and they are unable to accommodate my large group (8) so I'm back to hotel hunting there or to another location nearby.

Bruce

ira

Hey B,

3 adults and 5 youths in a van doing 6 one-nighters.

Have you consulted the women on this?

Adelaidean

Feedback from our teens... they most enjoyed our trips when we 'based' somewhere for 3 or 4 nights eg Salzburg to also visit Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden/ Mittenwald 4 days local sights and walks/ Strasbourg also visiting Colmar and Mulhouse car museum.
They loved Rothenburg, walking the perimeter walls was a highlight.
I generally plan a loop itinerary (with not too early starts to keep teen boys happy) and not too long travel times (they have NEVER forgiven me for an 11hr train trip in Vietnam )

Fussgaenger

The hostel in Mosbach has rooms for 3-6. Lovely location east of Heidelberg and near Burg Guttenberg suggested above:
http://www.jugendherberge.de/en/yout...elz18/Portrait

krm

Went to Bavaria and Austria last summer with 3 teens. We stayed in Garmische overnight at the Eibsee Resort. In all honesty, this town was the least favorite place of our entire trip. Yes it's beautiful, but the kids were quickly bored here. I would give Garmische just a night or two, then head to Salzburg and Munich. You mention seeing Munich from Garmische- it's an hour drive if i'm not mistaken. i would recommend staying in Munich when you visit it rather than driving to/from garmische. You didn't mention visiting the castles in Fussen- that was a big hit with my kids. They also enjoyed Salzburg and really loved Munich. They were bored in Beschtegaden, but I'd still recommend seeing the area and touring Hitler's bunkers.
While driving from Salzburg to Munich we passed the lake town of Chiemsee. There's a palace called Herrenchiemsee that rivals Versailles- unfortunately we didn't have time to tour it.
I might suggest fewer nights in Garmische and a night or two in Munich to entertain the teens.
We toured the Wurzburg palace as a day trip from Rothenburg.- highly recommend if you have time. The kids enjoyed that, but be warned that after a few castles,fortresses and palaces, teens grow restless. At least mine did.

Adelaidean

forgot to mention before....there is a luge in Garmisch (sommer rodelbahn)