Alex

I am looking at the map and was planning a trip like thisdriving)<BR><BR>3 nights paris<BR>1 night luxembourg city<BR>1 night st goar (south of koblenz along the rhine)<BR>2 nights brussels<BR>1 night paris<BR><BR>Question is, is this too much driving? From the map it looks like I can get from Koblenz to Brussels in 3 hours. I have to fly in and out of paris and was originally planning paris luxembourg brussels but then read so many good things about mosel river and it seemed so close that I am trying to squeeze it in. I could also cut brussels to one night and then maybe stay another night along the rhine or in cologne? Is it worth it?<BR><BR>Also any recommendations for a hotel around Koblenz would be appreciated

Wayne

Alex---If you want to get to the Mosel River valley and really see a bit of the sights and the character of the area, you need to get farther upriver than Koblenz. Go at least to a village like Cochem (my favorite, nice scenery on the way, great castle) or one of the others in that area. And spend at least one night on the Mosel, then drive back. The trip, to me, would be worth the bit of driving you would do.

Russ

Seems do-able to me. You'll find that if you stick to the Mosel river road the whole way, however, you'll eat up a lot of time; it's incredibly windy-curvy. I'd suggest choosing a few towns to hit along the way (Bernkastel - Beilstein - Cochem, maybe?) on your way to St. Goar and planning your route strategically, especially if your daylight hours are limited. What month will you be there? If after April 1, Burg Eltz Castle should be open for tours (near Moselkern.) You'd probably be better off in Koblenz than St. Goar overnight if you'll be there in the off-season; you'll find something to do in Koblenz in the evening, but St. Goar's evening charms are limited, even in summer.

Alex

Thanks for the responses. I am going to be going in 2 weeks November 23rd through December 2nd. I will be with 2 kids (I must be crazy) in the middle of winter, could be snow so it will be interesting - hope I am not making a mistake.<BR><BR>Have decided to stay in Luxembourg one night then drive to Koblenz or St Goar stay one night there (don't mind spending a lot of the day driving on the scenic roads). Then the next day I am going to take the autobahn and boogie to brussesls. <BR><BR>Should be fun

CharlieB

Alex - sounds awfully hectic to me. The delight of the Mosel is the small towns. If indeed you want to experience the Mosel, I would bypass Luxembourg and spend the night in Trier, and then take a more relaxed drive to Koblenz, stopping for lunch at either Bernkastel or Cochem with a side trip to Burg Eltz. Or decrease your stay in Brussels to one day. If I were you I would make Luxembourg City my base for exploring the local area and save the Mosel for your next trip

Sam

I drove from Luxembourg to Lille (between Brussels and Paris). A nice drive. I stopped in Charleroi and too briefly in Bastogne and one town with a fortress above the town (need to look up the name).<BR><BR>This is drivable. Don't be too ambitious and consider stopping to enjoy.

Russ

Here are some highlights along the Mosel:<BR>http://www.mosel-reisefuehrer.de/mos...ightsengl.html

alex

thanks for all the responses. I have decided to cut out brussels completely so that I have more time to enjoy the mosel and the rhine. <BR><BR>My trip now looks like this<BR><BR>3 nights paris<BR>1 night luxembourg city (I know doesn't need more than a few hours - will have dinner in the place and will be out of there in the morning).<BR>1 night cochem<BR>1 night st goar <BR>1 night echternach or trier.<BR><BR>questions. is st. goar a bad idea for a stopover for a day or two? Seems kind of central. where are great restaurants, a little night life i.e. what cities. I originally thought of being in st. goar for two nights but am afraid that I might get bored. <BR><BR>The reason for echternach or trier on the way back is to try squeeze in &quot;petite suisse&quot; drive before heading back to paris - maybe I won't have enough time but at least will really get to see the mosel/rhine

Russ

Cochem will be pretty quiet, but there should be a Christmas market there from 11/30 - 12/15. Koblenz is your best bet on the Rhine for evening things to do since it's a small city rather than a teeny village like St. Goar - Christmas market there from 11/23 - 12/22, according to the city's website (www.koblenz.de) As much as I like St. Goar, I would opt for Koblenz at that time of year.<BR><BR>

Ann

Alex, Koblenz will have its Christmas market in the town center during the time you are there. Save that stop for there, and definitely expose your children to this wonderful experience, it's something they'll remember. And don't worry about the weather. It would be remarkable, indeed, to see any snow in the areas where you'll be. However, do be cautious on cold mornings, as black ice could be present. Best wishes.

CharlieB

Alex your new itinerary sounds much more do-able. While in Cochem I would definitely take a side trip to Burg Eltz, and I would pick Koblenz over St. Goar. Go for it!

alex

charlie,<BR><BR>thanks for the response. I am &quot;doing it&quot; on November 23rd through dec 2. The reason for all the confusion about brussels and such is quite simple. st goar to paris is 5 hours plus. I wanted to break up the drive into 3 hours x 2 over two days. Looking for somewhere in the middle. Ironically because of the autobahn, I can get to brussels in 3 hours from st goar whereas getting to metz (france) will take about the same time. from metz to paris is the same time as brussels to paris so driving time will be the same. But everyone says brussels is boring so I will go with their suggestion.<BR><BR>Any ideas on cute places around metz or how about metz for a stopover? <BR>

Ann

Alex, while I would normally be pushing Burg Eltz, too, your travel dates will mean you won't be able to go inside. It closes 1 Nov, which is unfortunate, as I believe it is one of the most special castles in Germany. The castle at Cochem will also be closed, but really, the view of its exterior, from the hill road above it, is quite spectacular. As for staying in Metz, I wanted to make sure you'r aware it's an hour or less on to Trier from there. You could easily stay there (a city well worth a visit) before driving north along the river. Don't know how old your children are, but they might be interested in the story about the boulder in front of Trier's dom which is reportedly keeping the devil in hell. Let me know if you have any questions about Trier.

Alex

Ann,<BR><BR>Any ideas for a hotel in trier? How about zur post (advertised on http://www.trier.de).<BR><BR>Everyone seems to be saying stayover in trier - so maybe I will

Ann

Alex, if you want to stay in the center of town, both the Altstadt Hotel and the Romischer Kaiser are near the Porta Nigra (the black Roman gate standing at the foot of the pedestrian zone) and rooms will run about 100 Euro. Both are housed in 1800s patrician town houses; the Hotel Kessler is recommended and runs a little less - it's situated near Karl Marx's birthplace also on the pedestrian mall. I like the Berghotel Kockelsberg, but it's overlooking the town from a hill. Great view of the Roman monuments and churches. It will probably be between 50-75 Euro for a double. It's easy to find and I'll be happy to send directions. For convenience of sightseeing, you may want to stay in town; sorry I don't know Zur Post. As you may know, the dom houses what is reputed to be Christ's robe. The only apostle buried north of the Alps is laid to rest in St. Mattias church. The Roman baths and the ampitheater are ruins (but impressive) and the Roman museum is wonderful. The Emperor Constantine's throne room is now a protestant church just around the corner from the dom. You can walk down the pedestrian mall, see Porta Niga, Marx's house, the dom, the throne room, AND find a McDonald's beside some good restaurants. Hope this helps...

SA

I'd leave out Brussels altogether &amp; just wander up the Mosel. There are plenty of inexpensive pensions, I wouldn't even bother w/reservations. Your newest itin. looks pretty good. I did this last year going the opposite direction &amp; also stopped in Maastricht.

alex

Thanks to everyone for helping me with my itinerary. I think it is finalized and looks pretty good now. Here it is:<BR><BR>Paris 3 nights <BR>luxembourg city 1 night<BR>st goar 2 nights (hotel landsknecht)<BR>trier 1 night (eurer hof hotel)<BR>paris 1 night<BR>fly home <BR><BR>Looks pretty good to me. Not too much driving, spending 3 nights along the mosel, will get to see the mosel and the rhine - should be beautiful (and cold).<BR><BR>I will let everyone know when I get back how the trip went and post a trip report.<BR><BR>Thanks to everyone once again.<BR>Alex