Help planning travel/housing for trip to Munich/Berlin/London
Mar 30th, 2013, 07:30 AM
#1
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Help planning travel/housing for trip to Munich/Berlin/London
I am heading to Munich in May (short notice, for me at least!) to travel with my college aged son (who is finishing up a semester abroad) and a college aged friend. He's been in Munich since January and knows his way around comfortably. When I and the friend arrive, we are going to need travel from airport to hotel, need a hotel for 4 nights for 3 people, and need transportation back to the hotel.
From Munich, we are taking a train to Berlin (need train tickets) for 3 nights (need housing for 3) and need a train pass for the stay.
From Berlin we are flying to London (need plane tickets and transportation to hotel), need housing for 3 nights, and need a bus or train pass for the stay.
I am really at a loss how to best find these things and would appreciate any direction you guys can offer. We do travel quite a bit in the states, and I have been able to book flights and hotels and activities here for quite a number of cities. Not sure why I'm having trouble with the international travel plans, but I am.
I would like to stay at comfortable places but do not need 5 star accomodations. I know it is more expensive to house 3 people in a hotel than 2. I would like to keep hotel costs to around $150-$200 per night if possible. As far as train/plane tickets, cheapest we can go is what I'm looking for. And as far as transportation around the cities we are visiting, I am pretty sure there are city passes/weekly passes, but I don't know where to find those things.
Thank you so much for steering me in the right direction!
Karen
From Munich, we are taking a train to Berlin (need train tickets) for 3 nights (need housing for 3) and need a train pass for the stay.
From Berlin we are flying to London (need plane tickets and transportation to hotel), need housing for 3 nights, and need a bus or train pass for the stay.
I am really at a loss how to best find these things and would appreciate any direction you guys can offer. We do travel quite a bit in the states, and I have been able to book flights and hotels and activities here for quite a number of cities. Not sure why I'm having trouble with the international travel plans, but I am.
I would like to stay at comfortable places but do not need 5 star accomodations. I know it is more expensive to house 3 people in a hotel than 2. I would like to keep hotel costs to around $150-$200 per night if possible. As far as train/plane tickets, cheapest we can go is what I'm looking for. And as far as transportation around the cities we are visiting, I am pretty sure there are city passes/weekly passes, but I don't know where to find those things.
Thank you so much for steering me in the right direction!
Karen
Mar 30th, 2013, 07:59 AM
#2
What you also NEED is to do some research on your own.
You can use public transport from the MUC airport into the city or take a taxi.
You do not necessarily need a train pass for your stay in Germany; you might economically do better by buying point to point tickets some of which you can buy in advance on line using the GermanRail website www.bahn.de (there is an English language version)
You might get a budget flight from Berlin to London and can check those possibities using www.skyscanner.net
You can use public transport from the MUC airport into the city or take a taxi.
You do not necessarily need a train pass for your stay in Germany; you might economically do better by buying point to point tickets some of which you can buy in advance on line using the GermanRail website www.bahn.de (there is an English language version)
You might get a budget flight from Berlin to London and can check those possibities using www.skyscanner.net
Mar 30th, 2013, 08:34 AM
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I travel in Europe every year, and I always consult a guidebook for the kind of information you need. That's what I recommend that you do.
Check out the hotel recommendations in Frommers or Fodors, then look at the reviews in trip advisor.
I always stay at the Hotel Pension Bregenz on Bregenzer Strasse. It is very reasonably priced and is close to the Kurfurstendam and good public transportation.
Check out the hotel recommendations in Frommers or Fodors, then look at the reviews in trip advisor.
I always stay at the Hotel Pension Bregenz on Bregenzer Strasse. It is very reasonably priced and is close to the Kurfurstendam and good public transportation.
Mar 30th, 2013, 09:06 AM
#4
You are getting late for the cheapest travel - both trains and flights tend to be cheaper the farther out you book.
So book your train tix and flights asap. For flying between Berlin and London any of the London airports will do - which ever gets you the best fare. I'd eliminate Luton but otherwise LHR, LGW, LCY or STN would all be OK.
As for accommodations - your budget is pretty low for London triples. (I haven't visited Munich for a few years and Berlin even longer ago so others will have better ideas about budget there)
Check out Londontown.com to see what you can find at that budget (£95 - £130 per night). If you find some possibilities post them here and we can tell you about the locations/possible issues.
So book your train tix and flights asap. For flying between Berlin and London any of the London airports will do - which ever gets you the best fare. I'd eliminate Luton but otherwise LHR, LGW, LCY or STN would all be OK.
As for accommodations - your budget is pretty low for London triples. (I haven't visited Munich for a few years and Berlin even longer ago so others will have better ideas about budget there)
Check out Londontown.com to see what you can find at that budget (£95 - £130 per night). If you find some possibilities post them here and we can tell you about the locations/possible issues.
Mar 30th, 2013, 11:55 AM
#6
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I found this Hampton Inn for London.. any thoughts? https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hp/...execution=e1s1
Mar 30th, 2013, 11:58 AM
#7
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Public transport & visitor information Munich
www.mvv-muenchen.de/en/homepage/index.html
www.muenchen.de/int/en/tourism.html
Public transport & visitor information Berlin
www.bvg.de/index.php/en/index.html
www.visitberlin.de/en
Public transport & visitor information London
www.tfl.gov.uk/
www.visitlondon.com
Trains in Germany
www.seat61.com/Germany.htm#.UVdBc3DzMWw
www.bahn.com
Flights
www.skyscanner.net
www.mvv-muenchen.de/en/homepage/index.html
www.muenchen.de/int/en/tourism.html
Public transport & visitor information Berlin
www.bvg.de/index.php/en/index.html
www.visitberlin.de/en
Public transport & visitor information London
www.tfl.gov.uk/
www.visitlondon.com
Trains in Germany
www.seat61.com/Germany.htm#.UVdBc3DzMWw
www.bahn.com
Flights
www.skyscanner.net
Mar 30th, 2013, 12:21 PM
#8
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not sure that Hampton link will work.. it's the Hampton Inn Croyton 30 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR0 http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...XHX/index.html
Also found this Holiday Inn in Munich http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels...E-_-hi-_-mucgc
Munich - Unterhaching
Inselkammerstrasse 7-9,
Unterhaching,
Germany 82008
and this one in berlin http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...CHX/index.html
Also found this Holiday Inn in Munich http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels...E-_-hi-_-mucgc
Munich - Unterhaching
Inselkammerstrasse 7-9,
Unterhaching,
Germany 82008
and this one in berlin http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...CHX/index.html
Mar 30th, 2013, 12:31 PM
#9
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or this one in England http://www.stgiles.com/default.aspx?pg=home
Mar 30th, 2013, 12:37 PM
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Getting passes for local public transport is dead easy in Munich and Berlin. Just check the links of PP to find out which suits your needs best. Just keep in mind that bargain "partner" or "group" passes require all in party to go together. So you will know if that is realistic, or if the three of you will split up here and there.
Rail travel between Munich and Berlin is a bit more that 6 hours with direct trains every two hours, and connections with one transfer every hour.
You buy tickets online at bahn.com, and print them at home.
As 6 hours eat up almost one day of sightseeing etc. you could also consider to take the night train.
If you can't get a decent fare as May is a pretty busy month for travels, you can check Lufthansa and Air Berlin website for airfares. There are flights every 1/2 hour between Munich and Berlin (if you combine the services of both airlines).
For hotels in Germany, you should always check hrs.com
It's the nation's biggest consolidator for hotel rooms.
As I cannot assess how you wish to accommodate your party of three, I would not really know what hotel to suggest. Triples or quadrubles are not exactly the norm here. You may want to go for one single and one double room. Or do all the three of you really plan to stay in one room??
Rail travel between Munich and Berlin is a bit more that 6 hours with direct trains every two hours, and connections with one transfer every hour.
You buy tickets online at bahn.com, and print them at home.
As 6 hours eat up almost one day of sightseeing etc. you could also consider to take the night train.
If you can't get a decent fare as May is a pretty busy month for travels, you can check Lufthansa and Air Berlin website for airfares. There are flights every 1/2 hour between Munich and Berlin (if you combine the services of both airlines).
For hotels in Germany, you should always check hrs.com
It's the nation's biggest consolidator for hotel rooms.
As I cannot assess how you wish to accommodate your party of three, I would not really know what hotel to suggest. Triples or quadrubles are not exactly the norm here. You may want to go for one single and one double room. Or do all the three of you really plan to stay in one room??
Mar 30th, 2013, 12:42 PM
#11
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P.S: Given the huge number of hotels in Berlin (400+) and Munich it makes no sense to do this individually, hotel by hotel
Try a big website like hrs.com or booking.com and check on the maps where the hotels are located.
Filter the results by proximity to city center and the price range you are in.
The one you found in Munich in Unterhaching is on the extreme outskirts of town in the middle of nowhere. Do NOT go there.
Try a big website like hrs.com or booking.com and check on the maps where the hotels are located.
Filter the results by proximity to city center and the price range you are in.
The one you found in Munich in Unterhaching is on the extreme outskirts of town in the middle of nowhere. Do NOT go there.
Mar 30th, 2013, 01:24 PM
#12
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Appreciate the help, Cowboy. Traveling are my 22 yr old son, a 20 yr old female friend of his, and me. The girl and I could share a bed. We are probably not wanting to spend the money on a 2nd room, and really I don't think we'll be in the room all too much anyway. Thanks for the websites!
