PJK

We are flying to Frankfurt on 10/17 and returning on 10/30. We plan to go to Mainz to spend the first night, as well as return there for our last night. We have 12 days.
Are we planning to cover too many miles? (about 885 miles according to Michelin)
I do not want to spend my vacation merely getting from one place to the next.

Also, I would love the flexibility of not having firm reservations, except for our first and last nights in Mainz. I plan to research places to stay and take a list of two or three addresses and maps for hotels in areas where we think we will likely want to stay. We have always made reservations in the past, but I would love to “wing it” this time. Good idea or not?

Here are the broad parameters:
Mainz (1 night)
Mainz to Strasbourg (1 night or maybe go on to Konstanz area)
To Lake Konstanz (2 nights)
To Fussen or Mittenwald (2 nights)
To Berchtesgaden (2-3 nights/maybe see Salzburg from this base)
To Salzburg
To Munich and up the “Romantic Road” (2 nights, probably in Rothenburg)
back to Frankfurt and Mainz (1 night before flying out)

What do you think? Thanks to all. PJK

ira

Hi P,

Not a bad plan.

I think that, for this trip, I would skip Strasbourg and spend one more night on the Bodensee.

If you insist on "winging it", at least put together a list of places that you would want to stay in various towns along your route.

DAX

I strongly agree with Ira, skip Strassbourg if you're not going to tour the Alsatian wine country as Strassbourg is not that impressive to be a destination. I would even consider staying in Heidelberg the first night since you're heading south anyway. It has more to offer than Mainz which is just barely OK.

I'm not a big fan of the Bodensee/Lake Constance. Konstanz is fun if you're a student, lots of nightlife clubs. I've been to Bodensee twice and was never really that impressed. So one night is plenty. Use the extra day for stops along the Romantic Road or to explore Salzkammergut from Salzburg(eg:Hallstatt, St Gilgen etc)

PJK

Thanks. Ira, I have already started a list of hotels. I intend to check before we go to be sure they are not closed. I read that some hotels close between the fall season and the ski season. I may give in and go ahead with reservations. Still thinking about that one. I'll scrap Strasbourg. PJK

nytraveler

I have another suggestion: contact some of the hotels on your possible list now. Not to make reservations - but to see if they still have rooms left for that time period. If some of them are already full - or nearly - it will give you a good idea of what risks you will run in findng a decent room.

pja1

Hi PJK,
Sounds like a good plan. We are leaving for Franfurt on Oct. 22 and returning from Munich Nov. 2.
We stayed in Mittenwald and Berchtesgaden area (Ramsau...gorgeous) last October. Very easy to visit Salzburg from here, as it's about a 30 min. or so drive. Even though some places may close "off" season, we haven't had any problems in our last 4 visits in October to Bavaria and Austria. I would check ahead (we always do) to see what's open and available.

Paul

Pegontheroad

I'd go to the other side of the Bodensee, instead of Konstanz. I didn't like Konstanz much, either, but I loved Meersburg. It's quite charming and worth a couple of days.

ira

Hi P,

>I've been to Bodensee twice and was never really that impressed. So one night is plenty. <

We spent one night in Lindau, and liked it so much that we are planning a 5-night visit for next year.

I also suggest staying on the North shore. Much better views.

valtor

Near Lake Konstanz I recommend to stay in Meersburg; it is a lovely town, and from it, it is the shotest distance by boat to Mainau island (Flowers island), which I highkly recommend.

We love Lindau, but 1/2 in it was OK for us.
I do not agree with others that Strasbourg has not enough to offer, but I think that you can visit it another time, when you will visit also Colmar, Mulhausen, and other parts of Alsatia.

NJriverchick

I think Mainz is an excellent choice if you can stay very close to the Dom (catherderal). That puts you close to the market place and plently of little shops. I love Mainz. We stayed in a charming inn called Hotel Schwann.

Regarding the winging it...Of my many trips to Europe, I did wing it one time and I found it to be unpleasant. Many days around 4pm - 5pm we would arrive in a town or city and scramble to find accomodations. For me, this seems to be the hour when I start getting tired and hungry and cranky and it was not good to be on a hunt for accomodations.

PJK

I used Konstanz to refer to the general area. I had actually planned to stay in Lindau, but based on these comments on this thread, I think I will look in Meersburg. Glad to have a positive comment about Mainz. I am still pondering the reservations issue. Since no one has said so, may I assume that I am not trying to cover too much distance in too little time. PJK

DAX

Sorry if I wasn't that enthused about Mainz. I've actually been to Mainz 4 times staying at the Hilton or Hyatt. I agree staying near the Dom is much better than near the train station. That said Mainz is not as good as Heidelberg for tourism purposes where I've visited only 3 times.

For what it's worth, I prefer Meersburg over Lindau.