i understand your problems - and sometimes it's easier for someone else to see an easier way of doing things. [that happens to me too, the other way round!]

what about a hotel/gasthof in Wernigerode? there are loads of them [doesn't work if you can't cancel what you've already booked of course].

I can definitely recommend Potsdam - we did the one night stop there again, and it was about right - time to wander round and have a nice meal and get the feel for the place, then half a day visiting Sans Soucci [an absolute must, especially the garden] and the rest of the palace grounds. That was all the time we had, but i think that there are more things to see there if you were so inclined. If not, half a day would be just about long enough.

I LOVED Bamberg as a base, especially coming "home" each evening to a new craft brewery. In May, the beer gardens should be running. IMHO, you can't go wrong with 3 nights there, especially day-tripping...

with your limited time in Berlin I would do Potsdam as a day trip - a whole lovely day. Packing up and relocating takes a lot of time which you do not have.

Wow, you guys rock!

Annhig, thanks to your great suggestion we were able to rearrange the itinerary, and by checking the map (and my brother bagging me lol), we decided to take Dresden out of the list to add PRAGUE (yay)!

So now, when doing the map in google, makes a lot more sense!! the itinerary is:

Munich 4N
Bamberg 3N
Prague 2N
Berlin 2N
Wernigerode 3N
Cologne 1N
Oberwesel 2N
Gegenbach 3N
Jagsthausen 1N

I think we'll do a daytrip to Potsdam when leaving Berlin to Wernigerode, enjoy the day there, and then drive the way to Wernigerode.

Mokka4, you're the one to 'blame' regarding Bamberg, you convinced me through your trip report!! I'll probably buy the Bamberg Bier Schmecker Tour!! Specially because I'm a big fan of Schlenkerla Rauchbier!!

I feel like I'll have to make notes during the whole trip to report back to all of you that are helping!!

BTW, do you guys know of any good hiking trail in the Schwarzwald?

Cheers,
Andre

Seebrugge and the Titisee for easy hiking in the Black Forest.

shame about Dresden, but you can't do everything.

looks like a nice if somewhat hectic trip, and I'm a bit confused about where you're going to fit in Potsdam, but no matter, I suspect that it'll work itself out in the end.

Roundabout: I also rented an apartment in Gengenbach a few years ago...you might google hikes between G and Triberg to see if possible. Another great daytrip out of G is to the outdoor "museum" of Vogtsbauernhof...

If interested in my Gengenbach TR, you can do an advanced search. I used to post under the name 'rach', and it is written in November 2004 with
title something like "Alsace and Black Forest."
(I had forgotten my sign-on after an absence!)

mokka4, found your post! thanks for sharing! gonna use it as reference for sure.

annhig, hectic for sure, but that's the kind of trip my fiancee and I like doing :) Potsdam will fit on the way from Berlin to Cologne (hopefully haha)

PalenQ thanks for the tips! will google it!!

Count me as one who thinks Bamberg is superb - rivers lovingly bisect the old town center.