katzen

After going back and forth, I've decided to stay in Mainz as opposed to Frankfurt. I will be taking a train from Paris to Mainz (if I can figure out which one ... there may not be one on August 19). I will be flying out of Frankfurt Airport mid-morning of August 20th. I envision arriving in Mainz, doing some shopping, strolling the streets, and spending the night in Mainz. Getting up on Sunday and training to Frankfurt Airport.

With this being said, any suggestions as to what part of town to stay in? I've read there are two different train stations (I think?). I love the smaller stores (toys, etc...).

Also, any good recommendations on where to stay. Anything with some charm that isn't too far from the train station? I went to the Mainz web site but I didn't have any luck pulling up a list of hotels/B&Bs. Frommers has a very small list of hotels and Tripadvisor's reviews are a bit outdated.

Any help would be great! Thanks!

Intrepid1

This is probably NOT what you want to hear but in case things don't work out...you want THE view of the Rhine in Mainz..then stay in one of the Grand Hyatt rooms at the Hyatt on the top floor....breathtaking.

OK, so it is a taxi ride to the RR station and shopping...worth the trouble for the memorable view but I understand if your sensibilities are different from mine.

Have a great trip

DAX

I second the Hyatt Regency,it's a five minute walk to the Sud Bahnhof where you can take the S bahn to the Frankfurt Airport in 22 minutes. I've stayed at the Hyatt twice and the rooms are better than the Hilton (been there way too many times).

Both hotels are a bit of a walk from old town, however not a bad walk, I did it all the time. Old town is nice enough and there area plenty of of souvenir shops as well as dept stores for you to shop.

I always pitch my favorite restaurant in Mainz: Heiligen Geist (close to the Hyatt)which is an old church converted into a restaurant with a designer touch with reasonably priced food & wine. No table cloth.

katzen

Thank you Intrepid and DAX. So I can take the Mainz Sud Station direct to Frankfurt Airport? Now, if only I can find a train from Paris to Mainz that gets me into Mainz early enough so that I can enjoy the old town. I will also check into the hotels. I don't think I am going to have too much time in Mainz (maybe 4 hours) as I'm thinking a train from Paris probably wouldn't get in until 3-4ish. Does anyone have experience with the Ibis hotel? I may have butchered the spelling.

katzen

The train schedule I pulled up off of bahn.de and pasted below. What does "runs not every day, 15., 16. Jul, 19., 20. Aug" I need to travel this route on August 19. does this mean that I'm SOL?


Paris Nord Sa, 19.08.06 dep 06:55 THA 9409 THALYS
Köln Hbf Sa, 19.08.06 arr 10:50
Köln Hbf Sa, 19.08.06 dep 11:18 IC 2013 InterCity
Mainz Hbf Sa, 19.08.06 arr 13:11 5 a/b

Duration: 6:16; runs not every day, 15., 16. Jul, 19., 20. Aug

katzen

Anyone?

rachw

katzen:
I looked the train schedule up at bahn.de and found no problem with August 19 Saturday, leaving Paris Nord at 6:55 am, arrive Koeln at 10:50 (change)--track 5a/B, Leave Koeln at 11:18, arrive Mainz Main train station at 13:11....
IT does RUN on this date!

rachw

Sorry,
I looked at the german only site--it does NOT list date travel restrictions...

katzen

Thanks for taking the time to look Rachw! I was able to find the schedule on bahn but at the very botton in small print it has "runs not every day, 15., 16. Jul, 19., 20. Aug." I take that as meaning it doesn't run on July 15, 16 and August 19, 20. I've never run into this before so I'm not 100% sure that is what it implies. I hope not as August 19 is my travel day. Yikes!

Hopefully someone else can help me with this.

DAX

Hi katzen,

I pass hotel Ibis whenever I walk from the Sud station to Hyatt, it looks quite nice from the outside, looks new & clean. It's even closer to the Sud bahnhof (about a 3 minute walk). Simply walk toward the right when you get out of the Sudbahnhof and pass a white movie theatre/cafe complex then you'll see hotel Ibis across the street on the left side of the street.

I checked the Bahn.de site. Yes, there is a train on Aug 19 otherwise that specific train itinerary would not appear for that day. That fine print below is just to let you know that the same schedule is not available everyday in case you want to do it on a different day. I know it's rather confusing.

BTW, when you get to Mainz Hauptbahnhof, take the local connecting train (about a 5 minute short ride)to Mainz Sud-bahnhof from gate 6A (you'll arrive on gate 5 A/B). Buy your ticket all the way to Sud bahnhof as below:
THALYS 9409 Paris Nord ab 06:55
Köln Hbf an 10:50
IC 2013 Köln Hbf ab 11:18
Mainz Hbf an 13:11 Gate5
Regiobahn Mainz Hbf ab 13:22 Gate 6
Mainz Süd an 13:25

There is an S bahn that goes directly into the Frankfurt Flughafen, I think S9 or S8, I can check it for you if you can't find it on Bahn.de.

The Gutenberg museum and the cathedral stain glass windows are the most popular tourist attractions ( I never saw them). The Opel car factory also offers free tour if you're interested. In the spring & summer,there is usually a boardwalk style ride park with food stands along the Rhein riverbank toward the Hilton hotel in the north. Have a nice stay in Mainz!

Sapphire

My husband and I had stayed in Mainz on our way to South Africa last October and stayed in the other Hilton in town (not the one on the Rhine). We were very comfortable there and found it easy to walk to see the Chagall windows, walk along the Rhine, tour the Gutenberg museum, take in a toy store or two, and then eat at the restaurant mentioned in another reply: Heiligen Geist. (Note: I don't think this restaurant takes credit cards or at least Visa.)

Wherever you stay, hope you have a great time!

katzen

Thank you Dax and Sapphire for the very helpful information!! Dax, that is exactly the information I was looking for. I do believe it is the S8 that takes you direct to Frankfurt Airport (I recall reading that somewhere). Sapphire, I can't wait to find some great toy stores. I went to mainz.de and was able to pull up a great shopping guide. It looks as if Market area, the Alstad and the Pedestrian precint (city mile) have great shopping. I'm not sure what time the stores close in Mainz but I'm assuming I'll only have 4/5 hours to shop. Hopefully this will allow me enough time.

Does anyone know how long it takes to cover the main districts (City Mile, the Old City and the Market) by foot?

DAX

The shops close at 6PM on Saturdays. I also arrived on a Saturday noon last January and was given a list of important things that I had to get for my wife. The shopping area is not as big as you think and Mainz typically does not have the biggest/flagship store branches, but rather medium sized stores, however the town atmosphere is significantly more quaint than Frankfurt.

dutyfree

I would rethink the Hilton in Mainz. The airline that I work for dropped our "hotel contract" with them after 20 years because the rooms were getting so seedy. The last time that I stayed there in December was the first time that I have ever had to ask for a new mattress for my bed-gross/flat and full of whatever........Mainz is a cute town for shopping and eating. My favorite restaurant in town is the "Hanzel and Gretel" on a side street off main shopping area.Have a great time!

katzen

Thank you Dax and Dutyfree!! I'm thinking of staying at the Hof Ehrenfels which is right behind the DOM in the Allstadt. http://www.hof-ehrenfels.de/eng/index.htm I haven't read too much on it other than one poster on Tripadvisor said the showers were a bit dirty and I think that was from years ago. I've also emailed them twice and never got a response for a reservation. Has anyone heard anything about this particular hotel?

Dutyfree, Hanzel and Gretel .. what a cute name for a restaurant. I'll have to try that!


Thank you everyone for the great replies!

katzen

Dax, I am thinking of now staying at the Hyatt Regency. Would you say it's a hike from the Hyatt to the shopping areas (alstadt, market, etc.) knowing that I'll only be there for the afternoon/evening.

I found a rate on-line for 144 (can't remember if it was USD or Euros). Is this a good deal or should I try to bargain a bit?

Thanks again for your help!

DAX

Katzen, the Hyatt is really a lot nicer than all the other hotels and the service is also the best. Their restaurant probably has the most impressive gourmet presentation in Mainz (nouveau continental dishes). They also have a grand lounge that you can order food till late. The Aller Heiligen restaurant however is cheaper and more traditional German.

It's an easy 15 minute walk to the shopping area (Am Brand/ Markt). The first 5 minutes is not as attractive as you have to cross a busy road but you'll immediately enter the meandering alleys which have more charm. BTW Mainz is nothing compared to Provence and Paris where you'll be coming from, so don't get your expectations too high.

The other hotel to consider for half the price of Hyatt is the Mainz City Hilton (as suggested by Sapphire) which is also close to the shopping area but I've never stayed there. I'm just not sure of how nice the area is near the Hauptbahnhof. My sister used to live on the hills way up behind the Hauptbahnhof which is nicer than in the immediate area of the Hauptbahnhof, but that was way back then. I remember she used to tell me that hotelwise it's better to stay near the Rhein, so I've been staying next to the Rhein for my meetings.

DAX

I missed your last question. I don't quite understand how you can bargain with Hyatt? 144 euro is their regular rate and to me it's worth the quality. I checked the Mainz City Hilton for Aug 19, it's only 72 euro. I've only stayed at the riverfront Hilton by the Rhein, so I'm not familiar with this other City Hilton as far as walking at night.

annw

If the Hyatt doesn't work out (it was fully booked the night I wanted it in June) there's one called the Hammer or TOP Hammer that's a 3-star that looks decent, and a coupla good TripAdvisor reviews.

katzen

Thanks Dax and Annx.

Dax, I thought maybe they would offer a lower rate for August .. I was thinking I was in France still .... The Mas in Provence and the hotel in paris had "special" rates for August ... I agree that 144 euros is probably the best I'll get for this hotel. 15 minutes isn't too bad of a walk .. I'm a speed walker so maybe i'll cut it down some Thanks again for your help!