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Munich/Bavaria, Austria and Switz trip suggestions/comments

Munich/Bavaria, Austria and Switz trip suggestions/comments

Old Feb 26th, 2015, 03:54 PM
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Munich/Bavaria, Austria and Switz trip suggestions/comments

Have a 20 day trip planned starting Sept 9th. Landing in Munich, staying 3 days at Jedermann hotel. Day 4 heading to Schliersee area, a Bavarian village. May go to Neuschwanstein on the way. Staying in Schliersee area day 4, 5 & 6. Then going to Salzburg for day 7,8 &9. Then to Schladming, Austria area day 11,12&13. Day 14 travel day to Switzerland. Days 15-19 in Berner Oberland area. We plan on making reservations in Salzburg, wondering if we'll need advance reservations for the other places? Any suggestions on the itinerary, and recommendations for lodging (moderate pricing) greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Old Feb 26th, 2015, 10:17 PM
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Hi Beatle- The Jedermann is a few blocks from the main train station and has good connections to all of Munich using the wonderful Munich public transport system. And don't pick up your car until you leave Munich as it will probably sit in a very expensive parking garage while you use Munich public transport. (I assume you are using a car- maybe you are not.)
I would recommend making reservations almost everyplace during that time period. Be sure the reservations can be canceled with no (or very little) penalty. That way if the weather turns bad you can change your plans a week or so before. Check the weather at your destinations a week or more in advance on the internet. By making the reservations in advance you save the time it takes to find a place to stay and you can generally find a place in the area you want within your cost range. Without reservations you could end up in a not-so-nice neighborhood, a dump for a room, or a very expensive room. I tend to use Tripadvisor.com and Booking.com
for places to stay. Two chains also get pretty good reviews for price, location, and amenities, Motel One and Ibis. In addition, it is usually a good idea to make a reservation for your last night so you don't wind up missing your return flight.

Of course you can wing it if you so desire and you will probably still have a good trip. I am scheduled to fly into Munich on 2 Sep on a similar itinerary and I have all of my reservations made. Since you will already be in the area, it's to bad you didn't plan to visit the Oktoberfest for at least one day at the end of your trip.

Have a great trip!!!

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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 07:08 AM
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Hi Travel... Yes we are renting a car, I'm wondering if I can rent one at the train station near the Jedermann? I am leaning toward making reservations every place. I'm looking at Salzburg right now...am considering somewhere in the city, as opposed to outside, but am open to suggestions. The last day I'll be in Berner Oberland region, it looks like about a 6 hr drive to Munich, and the flight doesn't leave till 3 30, so I think we'll start out from Switz early. Thanks!
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 07:49 AM
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Agree with not renting a car for use in Munich; you might even rent it in Salzburg. Are you planning to drop the car in Switzerland...major drop charge could be involved. Are you willing to wait to rent it IN Switzerland? If not, understood.

For Salzburg, take a look at the Hotel Elefant located in the "old town" section of the city.
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 08:18 AM
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Dukey, I'm planning on renting a car the day we leave Munich and will be dropping off at the airport in Munich. Thanks for the Salzburg hotel tip, will check it out. Any other lodging tips for the other places on our itinerary are appreciated...moderate prices. Thanks!
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 08:21 AM
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Actually you don't want a car for Switzerland. It has superb public transportation, everything connects. And cars are not allowed in some of the nicest villages.

However, if you rent the car in Germany and drop it in Austria, you might still have to pay a drop-off charge.
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 09:00 AM
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Mimar, I'll be staying in Lauterbrunnen area during the last leg of the trip, will be driving from there to Munich and dropping car at the airport...looks like about a 5 hr trip. I'm contemplating Murren or Wengen, possibly Lauterbrunnen for lodging, but am open to suggestions!
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 09:05 AM
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It seems to me completely crazy to waste a whole day for a journey more or less along a endless succession of roads leaving to stunning Austrian mountains and glaciers just in order to see Swiss mountains and glaciers. (I live about half an hour by car from the Bernese Oberland, BTW).

If you want to go to the Bernese Oberland nevertheless, you should it do from Fuessen/Neuschwanstein wich is way closer to the Swiss border than Schladming: train from Ulrichsbruecke-Fuessen to Kempten - Lindau im Bodensee - Zuerich - Interlaken (6 1/2 hrs journey).
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 09:08 AM
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You can drive to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald but not Murren or Wengen - only by train and or gondola. for going lots of place in the Jungfrau Region look at the Jungfraubahn Pass - covering not only the expesnive mountain trains but many gondolas - a Swiss Pass would only be useful if you ditched the car in Germany - say at Lindau and took the train to the Jungfrau Region and back to the German border.

for lots of goodies on trains and mountain conveyances in the Jungfrua Region check these fine IMO sites: www.swisstrvlesystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Buy the Jungfraubahn Pass at any Jungfraubahn station if it looks useful to you once there.

May is an off season with many lifts or mountain trains closed for a period for repair so I'd stick to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, both car accessible or check to see if trains to Murren or Wengen are running at full tilt.
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 09:45 AM
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neckervd...Thanks for the tip, and I see what you're saying but since we have about 3 weeks, we'll probably overnight somewhere between Schladming and Lauterbrunnen. Then we have 5 nights in the Berner Oberland area. If we were pressed for time, I'd definitely go with your suggestion.
PalenQ....We'll be going in September. Do you think that Lauterbrunnen might be a better choice for a base/lodging, then take day trips to Murren, Wengen, Grindlewald etc?
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 10:02 AM
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Since you will have a car, then yes for lodging in Lauterbrunnen, only because your car will need to stay there. There is no car access to Murren and Wengen.
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 10:07 AM
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I was in Murren a few mid-Septembers ago and there was ice on the ground! Maybe unusual but much colder up there and in Wengen than in lower-altitude Lauterbrunnen (but the views IMO are not nearly as good from the bottom of a gorge than from the other places - Grindelwald is rather like Lauterbrunnen - in terms of have car access to the town itself if not all over it and IMO has the finest views possible - also lots of accommodations-

You may check on the date of the Jungfrau Marathon - one early to mid September when I was in Interlaken (my favorite base but a first-timer I'd tell to head to the hills) and all hotel rooms were just about full as the race attracts many thousands.

In both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen at the stations there are hotel boards that list all vacancies and a free phone to call - at that time of year except during the marathon it will be a buyer's market - the hotels marked with red lights - full are probably just taking their own vacations during this rather off season the farther the month progresses.

It is easy from any base to take day trips to any other bases - but Murren and Wengen are a bit more isolated than Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen - don't miss a short stop in Gimmelwald if doing Murren and The Schilthorn!
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 11:59 AM
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Thanks teacher and Palen.. I'm leaning toward Lauterbrunnen, since it sounds like day trips to Wengen and Murren would be the way to go. And Palen, I will definitely check on the Jungfrau marathon!
Any lodging recommendations would be appreciated, prefer something moderately priced. Even though I'm leaning toward Lauterbrunnen, I wouldn't rule out Grindlewald if someone has a great place there in mind.
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 12:50 PM
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We can recommend Hotel Staubbach in Lauterbrunnen. From our balcony we could see right down the valley with great views over the peaks and waterfalls.
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 01:01 PM
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Great marg...will check it out!
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 01:12 PM
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We have stayed here twice during our stay in the BO. It is in Lauterbrunnen. It is a chalet with four individual apts. Eating all your meals out in Switzerland will get very expensive. We found staying at an apt gave us the chance to cook a few of our own meals. It is a great location just a couple blocks from the train station. Teresa is a great host and there is parking right on site for free. I checked the calendar and there is still some availability for late September.


http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p979?uni_id=6267#calendar
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 01:43 PM
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Hi again Beatle-
IMO you are playing with fire if you have a 3:30 return flight out of Munich and you are driving from the BO area that morning. Don't forget to factor in the time for refilling the car, returning the car, and getting through airport security. One cannot predict how long security will take. And one cannot predict traffic jams due to accidents or road construction/repairs. And don't forget to buy the vignettes for Austria and Switzerland. Also, I am a fan of the Hotel Bergland in Salzburg, but their prices are very "dynamic". I managed to snag a couple of nights in September the week before the Oktoberfest for 95 € per night for a double including parking, breakfast, and taxes. And if you are interested, the drive back to the Munich airport is only 3 hours +/- 1 hour for traffic, etc. Maybe consider going to Salzburg last...?

PalenQ-

Many thanks for the tip on the Interlaken marathon. I had a tentative plan to leave Interlaken that morning (12 September this year) and have switched it to get out of Interlaken on the 10th and stop in Lucerne for the last 2 nights of my BO adventure before proceeding to GP. I'll still have 4 nights in Grindelwald. Again, vielen dank. In the words of Spock,
"Live long and prosper".

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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 02:32 PM
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Thanks travel...we plan on heading out early 6 or 7am for Munich. I will check out the Hotel Bergland. Vignettes??...what's that? when/where should I buy them? Thanks!
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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 05:46 PM
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Beatle- buy the vignettes before you enter Austria and Switzerland at gas stations close to the border. As I remember, the one for Austria is about $10 for a week while the one for Switzerland is about $70 for a whole year. Look them up on Google...

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Old Feb 27th, 2015, 05:49 PM
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Vignettes are passes that allow you to drive on certain roads in these countries. Many times the vignette comes with the rental car but other times you must buy them. We have purchased them as we crossed the border to the country that requires them. I believe you can also purchase them at nearby gas stations. Your rental car company will inform you on this. You don't want to get caught driving without one.
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