Munich

Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 09:36 AM
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Munich

I will be arriving in Munich in late Nov.by plane. I am an older female traveling alone. I will be staying at the Hotel Laimer Hof for 5 days. A few questions about my Munich stay:
---Transportation from airport to hotel. Would like to avoid expensive taxi fare but will have 2 suitcases with me. Should I take the S-Bahn from the airport to Munchen Hauptbahnhof and a taxi from there to the hotel? Doesn't look like the hotel is that far from the train station.
---Day trips - Would like to take a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle & another day trip to Romantic Road Rothenburg. Thoughts about Mike's Bike Tours, Viator or Grayline tours?
---Is Hitler & 3rd Reich walking tour any good?
---Is Linderhof worth seeing (I've seen many castles/palaces in Europe).
---What is the best way (train) to get around Munich from my hotel?
---What's are the best places to see in Munich since I'll have a couple of days.
---There is a day trip to Eagle's Nest. Read where the weather in Munich then isn't good - foggy, cold, rainy so didn't know about a trip to the mountains.
blondiepopo is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 11:38 AM
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How "late" in November are you visiting? If late enough, you can visit one of these http://www.germany-christmas-market....mas_market.php

Linderhof is really a Palace. Neuschwanstein has an impressive outside and boring inside. Linderhof is more subdued outside and intimate inside. Additionally, Linderhof is an estate size property with many other interesting buildings scattered around the ground visitable during the high seasons. However, they are mostly closed in November. http://www.schlosslinderhof.de/engli...st/opening.htm
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 12:10 PM
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We stayed at Hotel Laimer Hof a few years ago, and had a wonderful time as guests of Sebastian and his family. The location simply cannot be beat.

Getting from the airport, we would recommend the plan you have -- get to the train station, and take a taxi from there. It is a short tram ride away on the 16 or 17 up Arnulfstrasse, but managing with two suitcases is more trouble than it's worth. From then on, however, just go to Romanplatz and catch the tram back into town for the rest of your visit.

It is very easy to walk to Schloss Nymphenburg from the hotel -- Sebastian can show you the back walkway. The neighbourhood is high-end, with multiple consulates lining the streets. We were there in summer, and took a ball and frisbee to toss around with our young daughter on the castle grounds. Very cool!

Heading in the other direction, it is an easy stroll to the Hirschgarten restaurants and beer garden. Even travelling as a solo female, I would recommend this -- look for a nice warm spot in the indoor restaurant.

We did Mike's Bikes, and loved it. Highly recommended.

We did Rothenburg on our own, but it seemed that most tours could be arranged for pick-up and drop-off near the main train station. Again, this was very easy to navigate since the tram ride is a straight shot into town. (Sebastian even had tram tickets available.)

I agree that Neuschwanstein is a bit disappointing inside, but it's still a lovely trip and it's an interesting way to probe the sad story of King Ludwig.

We also recommend the art galleries (Alte Pinakothek, plus the neue and the moderne), as well as the Deutsches Museum.

Have a wonderful trip!
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 12:18 PM
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Traveller 40 answered most questions. I would take a trip to Garmisch for the day and enjoy the mountains and village.
Neuschwanstein is not worth the trip imo and Linderhof's gardens were my favorite part of that palace.

Eagle's Nest, if weather is bad the bus won't take you up the mountain but documentation center is interesting. They are enlarging it so make sure it is open.
Hitler & 3rd Reich walking tour any good? My husband researched and did his own tour so think it would be interesting. He took me to a few places.
You might be on the beginning of the Christmas markets. The store fronts are wonderful to look at.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 03:54 PM
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You want to save 10 € or so by not taking a taxi the full journey but are ok to pay Viator which is a third agent ?

Get your facts right : either you go S-bahn then tram, bus, horse or foot or just don't bohter and take a taxi.

As for the visits, I recommend renting a car - if you are budget consicous, this is the best option.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 09:10 PM
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Hi blondipopo,

Yes, greg and Traveller40 have given you good replies to answer most of your questions. I have a few additional comments.

I live in Garmisch and agree that it's a good option for a day-trip into the mountains. But make certain that it is a clear day so you don't waste your money. This is what I normally recommend for a day-trip:

At the Garmisch train station, go downstairs and follow the tunnel to the Zugsptitzbahn, and take the train up to the Zugspitzplatt (Zugspitze glacier), 90 minutes. Enjoy the views from the glacier, have a bite to eat if you want, then take the cable car up to the summit (10 or 15 minutes). At the summit, have a meal or just take in the views and enjoy the sun terrace. Then take the cable car all the way down to the Eibsee (15 minutes), enjoying the stunning views over the lake. Walk around the Eibsee (90 minutes), then have cake and coffee at the lakeside restaurant. Take the Eibsee bus (runs about once an hour, and the trip takes 20 minutes) to the Marienplatz in Garmisch. Walk through town on the pedestrian path and then onward back to the train station.

This itinerary gives you some mountain, some countryside, and some town – a view of all Bavaria.

There are many benches along the Eibsee, so you can rest often. But if you have difficulty walking (not sure what exactly an "older female" is, and I'm 61 years old), you can simply walk a bit to the first bench, sit down, and enjoy the views.

As for Neuschwanstein vs. Linderhof -- I'd also go to Linderhof rather than Neuschwanstein. The gardens are beautiful. If you decide to go to Linderhof, you can easily combine it with seeing Oberammergau, a beautiful little town. But if you do go to Neuschwanstein, you can, of course, do it all on your own using the trains. Just take the train to Füssen, then the bus up to the ticket office, then either walk or bus up to the castle doors.

And I cannot disagree more with (otherwise beloved poster) WoinParis. I don't have a car, and it's dead-easy to get around. Far easier than trying to navigate thick traffic in narrow, winding, unfamiliar streets in a big city while trying to dodge trams, bicycles, and pedestrians.

Remember, too, that climate change has wreaked destruction on the glaciers in Bavaria (scientists say they'll be gone in two decades); our ski seasons are shorter and warmer. Since there is an option here (there isn't in a lot of the world), you can easily reduce your carbon footprint by using the easy & fun public transportation. I also just love being able to meet locals -- every time I'm at a bus stop, someone starts chatting.

Have fun as you plan!

s
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 09:58 PM
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Hi Blondiepopo

We were in Munich two weeks ago for 5 nights and it was a great city.

My thoughts are:

- We used Pure Bavaria tours and did their day trip to Linderhof + Neuschwanstein (max of 6 people on this tour so much more comfortable than a larger bus tour). We would highly recommend them - Gunner, our guide, was great. We enjoyed Linderhof much more. Neuschwanstein is pretty from the outside, but Linderhof is just gorgeous inside and outside. Unfortunately the grotto is now closed for 5 years for repairs. But the grounds are beautiful. As part of this tour you also stop at a cheese farm for lunch and also some time in Oberammergau which was enjoyable. This tour is not much more that the larger bus tour, so we thought it was worth it.

- We did a day trip to Hitler's Eagle Nest as well (but out of Salzburg) with a private tour. I believe there is a period they shut down access due to the weather as its quite dangerous. But if it's open, it's worth going to. The documentation centre was closed when we went so our guide took us to some more of the bunkers and we also visited the grounds of this house. It was a great tour and again we would recommend if you are able to go. I believe Pure Bavaria tours also go there (the people we did the castle tour with had gone to on the Eagle's Nest tour as well and they enjoyed it). Tom, our tour guide was great and we would highly recommend him (https://www.eagles-nest-tours.com/). The view from the top is amazing, it was even snowing when were there (we don't get snow in Perth, so I was pretty excited by this).

- We used Mike's Bike Tours for the classic bike ride around Munich which is good. It was easy riding (though we didn't feel we actually rode a long way as you go reasonably slow, given the size of the group - approx 18 people). There is a stop for lunch at a beer garden as well.

- Finally we also did a private tour of Dachau and the Third Reich with Steve (http://www.ww2germantours.com/dachau-and-third-reich/) and it was awesome. Steve is very knowledgeable and is very passionate about this part of history. It was quite a long day and a lot of walking but you see some fascinating places and we found out some many new facts about Hitler and his rise to power.

We got on the hop on, hop off bus one day so we went past Schloss Nymphenburg and I wish we had stopped and walked around, it looks beautiful. The area surrounding it was also gorgeous.

With 2 suitcases I'd probably go a taxi for ease.

Good luck with your planning.

Good luck with your planning.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 10:15 PM
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Eagles nest is closed for the winter after October 31 and reopens only in mid-May. Hence not an option in November.

(And by the way, just mentioning... "Popo" translates to the part of the body that you sit on. So be prepared for some chuckles if you use that name in Germany;-))
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 03:41 AM
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Popo in French is also a child name for what goes out of where you sit on in Germany.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 05:32 AM
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> Popo in French is also a child name for what goes out of where you sit on in Germany.

No wonder, since it has a common ancestor, Latin "podex". Which was shortened to po and then, as happens in child language often, duplicated. Apparently, the cultural unity of Europe has its place of origin at the bifurcium.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 09:26 AM
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swandav2000 GAP is certainly in the news today. We even got a warning for travel there. Is it as bad as they are saying? It has always been our favorite place in Germany to stay. The Abrams complex, always told parts were haunted. I do thing they are worried with the ski season coming on soon.
Blondiepopo, Oberammergau is worth a trip also.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 03:16 PM
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Thanks to everyone for your replies. I realize I'm not going at optimal time of year regarding weather. I'm going on a tour of Holy Land after this so I didn't have much choice if I wanted to see Munich. BTW - "popo" in the Midwest refers to the police. I was a cop and have blonde hair so hence the email username. I won't be using it in Europe
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 09:07 PM
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Macross, no, it is not bad at all. I have no idea what "they" are saying, but I guess it's some alarmist media in the U.S.

Apparently there were some fistfights among the residents of the refugee housing area, some kind of internal alpha-male contest for dominion of the space. It hasn't (and won't) spill out into the streets of town or the tourist areas. I run around town and rarely even see any of the refugees, let alone see any kind of crime.

No reason at all not to come.

s
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 09:09 PM
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And, oh, by the way. Climate change is a much, much larger threat to the ski season than any of the refugees are. The season is now weeks shorter and much warmer than it was just 10 years ago. They're having difficulty even making snow because it's so warm.

s
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Old Oct 24th, 2016, 12:47 AM
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I always wonder what U.S. media make of small incidents here in Germany that we Germans do not even notice. It is probably the same the other way round, when our media tell us grim stories about what happens, say, in Montana.

Go to Garmisch. It is a beautiful village and the scenery is breathtaking. And I never so many happy tourists as on the snowfield on the Zugspitze, especially people from Southern Asia who discovered snow for the first time in their life.
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Old Oct 24th, 2016, 04:00 AM
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This was a UK paper that I read about this in and the base issued a statement. In the comments section someone said to just stay clear of the Abram's complex. It did seem as though it was a alpha male problem but the mayor was the one creating the media drama. the guest houses next the complex have lost business.
Tell me about the snow. My family lives in a ski town and it is bad.
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Old Oct 24th, 2016, 06:10 AM
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About snow:

In the last two years, the season began late (not before beginning of January!) but lasted very long. I was in May on the Zugspitze and there was perfect fresh-fallen snow, but they had already closed for summer and the lifts were not running any more.

The Feldberg in the Black Forest has extended the season to end of April because the snow had been so good.

But you never know with the weather. January to March are almost 100 per cent snow-safe in the Alps, and often the season is from end of November to beginning of May (but you cannot count on that).

Actually, I do not believe in global warming. And the ski lift businesses in the lower areas of Germany (like Sauerland, Black Forest) had their best years during the last 10 years. It is right that the glaciers are receding, but this is just a normalisation after they grew in the Little Ice Age from 1675 to 1715.
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