SeeHag

Hello from a longtime Fodorite who is new to the Europe forum!

I just confirmed that DH and I will be leaving for Germany in two weeks, staying just past Christmas. We fly in and out of Frankfurt. This came about due to a business related meeting. We will be picked up in Frankfurt and will spend the first two days in a small town (Niederdreisbach) about halfway between Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. That will give us from the 19th until the 26th when we need to be back in Frankfurt for a morning flight back. (I guess we will actually need to be in Frankfurt on the 25th as our flight is at 10:00 am.) We have never been to this part of Europe and I have not researched anything yet!

We are in our 50's (barely but I'm going with it!) and our travel style is pretty laid back. We normally pick out a few must see and do things and just go with the flow. We enjoy just walking around and finding a spot to enjoy lunch or dinner. I know we (well I) must see a Christmas Market! A castle would be nice! We like history museums and obviously we will be limited by the weather as far as outdoor activities. We won't have a car, so will depend trains and subways etc. I don't want to spend too much time in transit but it looks like in a few hours we could be to lots of cool places even outside of Germany. I'm not sure if we want to pick one place and take a few day trips, or if we want to pick a couple of places to stay.

Our budget for lodging is about $200 a night, less would be good! I would appreciate any suggestions of itineraries and places to see!

Thanks in advance!

texasbookworm

I spent about 3 weeks one summer and one week last March in the Frankfurt area and took numerous day trips solo; here're the trip reports

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-frankfurt.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...kfurt-area.cfm

Frankfurt is a great transportation hub, and so you might consider just staying there the whole time and using trains from there.

Do try to catch the Frankfurt by Foot walking tour, even if you only spend one day or so in Frankfurt.

My favorite day trips (by train) from Frankfurt are Mainz, Worms, Heidelberg, Marburg and Boedingen (not in any order, although Mainz is probably favorite). And the Rhine, but in winter that might not be so great.

Much to choose from. At this late date, I'd be tempted to simplify and just see what could be "done" from a central hub like Frankfurt, going somewhere, without luggage, as many days as you want and coming back to same hotel every night.

SeeHag

Thanks Texas! Our business contact suggested we go to Cologne after the meeting so we may do that for a couple days then head back to Frankfurt. I know the trains will be busy with holiday travelers so getting back to Frankfurt sooner is probably a good idea.

I'm now worried because we are flying Lufthansa and the pilots are striking. Maybe I won't wind up there after all.

texasbookworm

OH, doh, left out Koln (Cologne) in my rush while ago--it is probably #2 on my list of day trips from Frankfurt.

I had a RailPass so didn't "mess" with reservations/schedules/buying tickets for the most part on my 3 week trip. I found the agents in the DBahn offices, especially in the main train station in Frnakfurt to be helpful and to speak wonderful English.

Hope it works out; whatever you pick will be terrific probably. Course, you will have weather issues and short days of light issues that I didn't but still should be fun.

SeeHag

I booked our hotels and managed to use Marriott points for all but one night so we will be in Cologne for three nights and then Frankfurt for the last three nights! I am glad I didn't wait another minute to book because as I was talking to the rep the rooms were being booked and I missed out on a room for one night at one of my choices.

So now I will see what we want to do in Cologne and Frankfurt and if we want to do any day trips from there. If anyone else has any suggestions let me know! Restaurants? Jazz clubs?