Germany family road trip help!

Old Feb 24th, 2017, 09:34 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Germany family road trip help!

Hi all,

I'm still going in circles trying to lockdown plans for our trip in June. We are travelling with 4 kids ages 5-12 and have already booked a car as like to explore places that are off beaten path. My husband is attending a conference in Geneva and I (and kids) will have had 3 weeks in Italy by the time we meet up with him on June 2. We are in Geneva for 4 nights and have then planned to have 2 nights near Luzern.

I had originally planned to head east through Austria (Reutte & Salzburg areas) and then back across Bavaria to Stuttgart & Black Forest before we head into France. But hubby & my eldest particularly want to see Berlin so I have been re-working the itinerary. We have up to 12 nights to play with. An extra one perhaps if I drop Luzern.

So I was thinking-
Luzern - Ulm. 1 night.

Ulm to ?? Bamberg / Nuremberg / Leipzig. Bach festival is on at our time of travel in Leipzig so was leaning that way, but with stop in Bamberg on the way. Nürnberg has a lot on offer for the kids but I'm worried 2 nights is just not enough. 2 nights

To Berlin. 3 nights. Should I switch out somewhere else to give an extra night here?

Berlin to ... Hamelin or Münster. 1 night. Really just to break up long drive. Hameln has literacy connection to Grimm Borithwrs obviously. Münster is longer drive but I have family connection to Rhine Westphalian region which is why I have added it as an option.

... to Bonn, via Köln (kids keen on chiocolate museum) 2 nights

Bonn to Trier. 3 nights

Trier into France (Rheim) via Luxembourg & the Western front.

The kids will be missing school so I have tried to pick some places that are rich in history &/or birthplace of significant people in history. I'm not sure we will stay always in the towns or more regionally- with exception of Berlin.

Whilst this will be our first, it will not be our only ever trip to Germany and so I am comfortable we don't have to do everything this time. My list for future trips is far greater than the list of places we will see this time round! We can speak some German so not concerned about being out of main tourist drags either.

So thoughts / feedback? Is this feasible for the time we do have?

Thanks in advance,
Chris
aussiecj is offline  
Old Feb 24th, 2017, 09:50 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That's an awful lot of long-distance driving with four kids and very little downtime in any of the target locations. Exhausting, exceeding patience and goodwill I should think.

Why not base yourselves in a nice place like the cute town of Dinkelsbühl or thereabouts, in a "Ferienwohnung" - vacation rental apartment or house, for a week, living a "normal family" life.

Do day trips from there - Bamberg and Nürnberg are are less than two hours away, Rothenburg ob der Tauber a half hour, Ulm about an hour, ditto for Würzburg.

Let the kids get to know the people at the local shop around the corner, feel "at home away from home", with breakfast family-style and not hotel-style.

Then make the five-hour drive to Berlin, maybe with an educational stop in Jena (read up on it), and/or Leipzig (hugely important historially and culture-historically of course).

And so it goes - easy does it.
michelhuebeli is offline  
Old Feb 24th, 2017, 09:56 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just looked at listings on a website from where we have successfully rented vacation rentals on several continents over the last few years, www.housetrip.com (now owned by Tripadvisor), and I found this one - child friendly, sleeps 6, I think you can bring it up by searching for Dinkelsbühl DE and item "Apartment Josephine – Home 6777808".

Just as an example of what's available.
michelhuebeli is offline  
Old Feb 24th, 2017, 10:17 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Michel. I too felt it was a bit heavy on the driving.

Great suggestion of Dinkelbühl for a couple days instead.. and thanks for highlighting Jena also (Goethe particularly has been on my list to introduce to my 12 year old) . We do have to get to France from Berlin, but it probably makes sense to group the days a bit more and have some bigger travel days. I've driven kids 7.5 hours in a day here in Aus, but not keen to do quite that big a drive in Europe where we are unfamiliar.

I'll rework again. I think 4 nights minimum for Berlin....
aussiecj is offline  
Old Feb 24th, 2017, 11:47 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pay attention to speed cameras in Germany. Lots of them and expensive.
WoinParis is offline  
Old Feb 25th, 2017, 09:15 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I lived in Sunny Sinny for many years and know how long-distance driving gets into your blood - a run up to Surfer's through the night is no biggie, or down to Thredbo just for a lark...

I just thought of a region on the way from Luzern to Dinkelsbühl (careful with spelling) that you might want to stop at for a night or two - Black Forest, somewhere around Titisee-Neustadt maybe. Lots of good things to do, hikes, gondolas, much more.

See also http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/d...ry/family-time

Spolier alert: It's not really all forest, nor is it all black. There are fairly high mountains (well, "high" - that's relative when you come from Switzerland, but still...), extended forested hilly regions, lots of pretty lakes and quaint towns.
michelhuebeli is offline  
Old Feb 25th, 2017, 12:18 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Michel
Spelling notes- thanks!
Yes driving in Aus is all long stretches, many very boring. 3-4 hours in a day is regular day trip driving and the kids manage usually quite well, even without stops along the way. Audio books have changed our driving capacity significantly- and I'm stocked up for the trip! I had planned to drive kids to Queensland last year (19 hours over 4 days) so we aren't adverse to driving but do want to spend time engaging rather than just driving.

I could drop out nights in Luzern and head straight up into Germany from Geneva. This would give me an extra 2 nights to play with, but obviously means we will see less of Switzerland.

More work to do yet.... maybe I'll ditch Ulm and stop at the Einstein Museum in Bern instead on our way from Geneva. Will look into Titisee

Thanks again!
aussiecj is offline  
Old Feb 25th, 2017, 07:56 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Einstein museum is housed in the "Historisches Museum" which is located across from the old town, on the south side of the bridge "Kirchenfeldbrücke" which starts very near the Zytglogge (see below) - no need for a tram, just walk across.

If you get to Bern before lunchtime, walk to the clock tower called "Zytglogge" and stand with a bunch of other visitors on the Eastern side until, at precisely 12 noon, the figurines start doing their thing.

Not high-tech (well, I guess hundreds of years ago it would have rated as high-tech), but amusing.

Then walk to the cathedral called "Münster" and from the platform - on a good day - you can see the famous "Big Three" of the alps - Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

See http://tinyurl.com/hoku72j

Then walk back uptown, past the Bundeshaus (Federal House of Parliament) and, in front, on the square called "Bundesplatz" = federal square, you have a good photo op with the dancing fountains etc.

Parking could be a bother. Either head first to the Historisches Museum and look for something in that vicinity, or head for the main train station called Hauptbahnhof -on top of it there is parking, the area is called Grosse Schanze.
See www.bahnhofparking.ch/site.php?s=1&id=143
michelhuebeli is offline  
Old Feb 26th, 2017, 02:51 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wouldn't give up Luzern if you have 12 days in Germany. Just don't try to see all of Germany. Aussies (and Americans) tend to shrug off long drives but IMO there's no reason to attempt so much geography and spend so much time in the car for a nice 12-day visit to Germany. Since you'll be returning someday, tell the hubby that's when he'll be seeing Berlin.

Black Forest is great. Spend some time in/near Gutach... amazing open-air museum and summer luge ride.

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/gutachimschwarzwald.html

Most small Black Forest towns issue a "KONUS" guest card that allows free train travel around the BF. The Black Forest Railway traverses the Black Forest between Offenburg and Donaueschingen (where the Danube River has its source.) This route is one of Germany's most scenic routes and hits lots of nice towns (Gengenbach, Haslach, Gutach, Triberg, Villingen.)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...28Baden%29.png

https://www.black-forest-travel.com/...t-railway.html

http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/info/KONUS

http://www.thetraveltester.com/gengenbach-germany/

Tripsdrill, Europa-Park, and Lego-land amusement parks may interest your family and aren't far from the BF.

On your way to Trier do not skip the Middle Rhine Valley. Rheinfels Castle in St. Goar is great for kids. Marksburg in Braubach is a never-destroyed medieval castle. Towns like Braubach dot the river on both sides:

http://djtravel.homestead.com/files/...hotel_1610.jpg
Fussgaenger is offline  
Old Feb 28th, 2017, 02:09 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Michael for the info on Bern- incredibly helpful.

And thanks Fussgaenger for the info on Black Forest. I t

I think our plan will be to head up through the Black Forest and then head further north maybe to cologne or Bonn before heading to the Moselle valley. Skipping Berlin this time. I don't think will bother with the amusement parks- we've done a legoland elsewhere before (kids did love it though). Some of our favourite holiday experiences have been immersing ourselves in the nature- swimming, short hikes, exploring! I think the kids (and adults) will enjoy a slower pace to really see this small part of Germany. My husband loves to fly fish so this may be an option in the Black Forest. we would have loved to do a week cycling trip, but the kids are still a little young for that, but extra time in Moselle valley will give us chance to hire bikes and do a day trip.

Any other ideas please let me know- I'm still working through wheee to stay and what's available- maybe even a stint at a farm. And I haven't decided fully on whether to keep Lucerne or spend the time in Germany instead. I'm a bit worried about costs in Switzerland!

Thanks again!!
aussiecj is offline  
Old Mar 7th, 2017, 12:20 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Revised Germany family road trip...
Posted by: aussiecj on Mar 7, 17 at 1:05pm
Posted in: Europe
Tagged: Germany
Jump to last reply
Hi again, (thanks Michel for posting direction!)

Ok, so I've been working and reworking this trip. To recap, have a car + 4 kids.... I've pushed Berlin to the next trip bucket.

My thinking now is -

5 nights Black Forest (exact town tbc depending on accommodation but prob more Freiburg region than Baden-Baden).... possibly with a day trip across to Colmar/Strasbourg/Alsace. I have Titisee & Mummelsee on my list to explore options in already....

3 nights Koblenz ? Aim here would be somewhere we could do a day trip to Cologne to do the chocolate museum. Any recommendations on whether Koblenz is nice place to base for a couple nights or can you suggest an alternative? Boppard? My birthday will be one of these days so I'd like to stay somewhere a bit special... scenic with good food & wine close by.

5 nights Trier- intent here is to be able to explore the Moselle and maybe daytrip to Luxembourg. Also Roman history which maybe interesting to the kids (and me) having come from Rome at the beginning of the trip. Kids are studying Ancient Roman history at school during the time we are away but will get to see some of it in real life. A family bike ride maybe?

From there we head into France to Reims.

Any more thoughts?

Thanks again,
Christina
aussiecj is offline  
Old Mar 7th, 2017, 02:34 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
13 nights for the Black Forest, Rhine and Mosel is awesome.

Freiburg & Baden-Baden ≠ Black Forest. I would not stay in either if you want some BF flavor - perhaps visit those places if they interest you.

I don't know the Mummelsee at all but looks nice. You might pick up some good tips on nearby Kappelrodeck and Ottenhoefen at Bavaria Ben's pages:

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/pension...pelrodeck.html

Titisee: scenic but heavy tourism.

Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn) is a good area of focus. Exploring nearby places within a small travel radius from Gutach will be very productive as there are MANY towns and sights nearby.

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/gutachimschwarzwald.html

Some of the published info on the Black Forest is shockingly under-informed (Rick Steves comes to mind.) I suggest that you gather BF ideas from those who have gone before you. Have a look at the trip reports on this page of Ben's for Schwarzwald (Black Forest) destinations:

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/tripreports.html

We really enjoyed our recent 3-night farm-stay in Steinach (near Gutach) at Ferienwohnung (apartment) Schöner; see photos at this page in German:

https://www.traum-ferienwohnungen.de/13558/

Herr Schöner is very friendly and speaks English.

Gengenbach would be an ideal base for a day trip over to Strasbourg. From Steinach or Gutach it would be a few more miles.

I agree stronly with the idea of staying in Boppard rather than Koblenz. St. Goar, just south of Boppard, would also be a good, central location for visiting the Rhine - and Rheinfels Castle is right there.

Trier is very good to visit but I would much prefer to base in a more Mosel-central town like Cochem which is vastly more "old-world-charming" and scenic and near some fun diversions (Burg Eltz Castle, water funpark, chairlift ride, scenic river cruises and lazy bike rides.) Trier is an easy day trip from Cochem.

Happy planning.
Fussgaenger is offline  
Old Mar 7th, 2017, 11:50 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Koblernz is a nice large city but I'd say Cochem on the Mosel or some Rhine town would be more romantic.

And Trier though a nice enough city would not be my choice for a Mosel base -look instead at Bernkastle-Kues just downstream and the classic picture postcard wine town- much better for exploring the nicest part of Mosel (Trier sits on a not so nice stretch of Mosel).
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 7th, 2017, 12:08 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
8 days for the Rhine and Mosel would be a bit much for many - I'd say about 3 and 3 would be better - spend those other days elsewhere.

A family bike ride maybe?>

Not in Trier area - but yes in Cochem or Bernkastle-Kues areas -most scenic parts of Mosel -bike rentals abound and some hotels may even have them.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Mar 7th, 2017, 07:26 PM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks so much Fussgaenger & PalenQ!

I am really looking forward to the Black Forest exploring - thanks for the tip on the trip reports, I don't know why I didn't do this earlier!

I was wondering if 8 nights along rivers would be too much.... so, If I did take 2 nights from Trier (and poss relocate the remaining three, what would you recommend for the 2 remaining- Cologne? Back in Switzerland (maybe too expensive), Heidelberg? Or Meersburg?

Thanks again for all the excellent feedback!
aussiecj is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
GregY2
Europe
32
Oct 7th, 2012 11:04 PM
toofah
Europe
7
Jul 17th, 2012 05:36 AM
pamk4
Europe
5
Nov 20th, 2011 11:27 AM
JulieVikmanis
Europe
7
Jul 11th, 2011 02:58 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -