dutyfree

Need help with a last minute trip to FRANKFURT for last week of August. Hubs,daughter(23), myself are meeting the 26 year old son there for a vacation before he goes to a conference in Frankfurt.Family loves to eat,drink,sightsee,history and do outdoorsy things.The son has been working in India for the past year so will enjoy change of scenery and hopefully,reconnecting with his family!

I want to rent a car at the FRA airport for the trip for flexibility:

Autoeurope or something else?
What kind/brand for 4 tall people?
Had a horrible experience with Hertz in France so will never use thnem again.

After going through many many former posts on Rhine and Mosel area,am confused where to stay?
On the Mosel, Cochem and Trier seem to be where we should base ourselves.Thoughts-have written a few favorites on this board(recommended apts.) but are full.Any others?

Where would you recommend for the first night as we will be arriving at different times? I have had work layovers in Mainz and Weisbaden and would possibly consider them but would like to head out when we all connect for something like Rudesheim?
Help this MOM plan a fun trip for the family? Thanks!

Russ

"have written a few favorites on this board(recommended apts.) but are full.Any others?"

Cochem is a great central spot for the Mosel but there are dozens of other towns in the immediate area as well with apartments; with a car you can easily stay just outside Cochem as well and daytrip into town, to Trier, to Bernkastel, Burg Eltz, etc. Bullay, Zell, Pünderich, Reil, and Ediger-Eller come to mind. Here's a map so you can see where they are in relation to Cochem:

www.die-mosel.de/Mosel/uebersicht-moseltal.html


Cochem area apartments:

http://cochem.de/tourismus/sob.htm (click "appartmement-liste&quot

Bullay is a nice town - smaller and less touristed than Cochem but nearby - where hiking and biking are great; apt. options:

http://www.bullay.de/extern/extern.htm
(Click "weitere Adressen" to page down for more places.) Some have links to their own webpages.

Rec's for the region from Ben's site (mostly B&B's):

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/accommo...hinemosel.html

rayburn

We did a similar itinerary last Oct. For us Rudesheim was a great first stop. We took the train from FRA to Rudesheim for our first night. The train was very relaxing, even after the long flight. We bought our tickets right in the airport train station. It was very convenient. Rudesheim had lots of activities and nearby wineries. There was one activity, called the LOOP ( I think ), you took a tram from right in town up to a nature park (Niederwald Monument) and hiking area, walk the trails to the other end at Assmannhausen, take a tram down, and then take a river boat on the Rhine back to Rudesheim, I think it was 12 Euros PP. It was a great afternoon, We sleep well that night. We took a train to Koblenz the next day and picked up our rental at AVIS in Koblenz, avoiding the airport surcharge. My one suggestion is that you check your car carefully, and note ANY damage. Their threshold for damage is much lower than I am used in the US. Fortunately I headed the warnings and noted some damage I normally would not have. I am glad I did, it was noted in Munich. It wasn't a problem since I noted it, but would have been a problem. We went to Germany focused on the Mosel, we fell in love with the Rheingau area. When we come back we will spend much more time on the Rhine. The Mosel, Cochem in particular was extremely crowded, and it was October. We only stayed in this area 3 days then headed for Rothenburg and on to Munich. Have a great trip.

quokka

Rüdesheim/Ruedesheim (please note spelling) is the worst tourist trap on the whole Rhine.

You have a car. So there is no need to focus on the larger towns like Trier, Mainz, Wiesbaden (again, note spelling) as a base. You'll find much cheaper and more convenient accommodation in the many pretty wine villages along the Mosel. The valley is touristy enough, all these villages have restaurants, boat landings and enough hotels, B&B's, holiday apartments and private rooms. We stayed, for example, in very nice hotel-restaurants in Ürzig and Zeltingen recently.

Curious

Fully agree with quokka on Rüdesheim. Any alternate would be ok.

Curious

bettyk

Since we have only stayed in hotels, I can't recommend any apartments on the Rhine or Mosel.

For car rental, however, we have used www.gemut.com the last several years and have gotten very good rates and great service. You can call them if you have any questions. You pay in US $ up front to lock in your rate, but if rates change or you have to cancel, there are no fees.

We always pick up our rental car in Kelsterbach, a few miles from the Frankfurt Airport. This limits us to using Avis when booked through Gemut, but the service has always been good and we avoid paying the high airport taxes. You can then return the car at the Frankfurt Airport when you leave with no penalty. On a two week rental, even considering the taxi ride to Kelsterbach (around 15-20 Euro), we usually save $75 to $100.

dutyfree

Thanks for the info-question to Rayburn....is the airport surcharge on cars really expensive?What type of car does everyone recommend getting?

Rhine-pick two cities you think are interesting and have things to do for a 23 and 26 year old(read not totally quiet but not obnoxious tourist buses crammed together). Same for being on the Mosel. Then do you just hop on the autoban when you return?

I am overwhelmed as I am not a Germany person(think Italy) so am madly trying to research and secure our housing despite high season. Thanks!

pja1

Hi dutyfree,

The first part of our trip report from last October ('07) may be of help.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35089110

One correction (if you don't catch it):

Our first 4 nights in Valwig (across from Cochem) were at:

www.hotel-rebenhof.com

not
www.hotel-rebenhof.de


Paul

bettyk

dutyfree, the airport surcharge for Frankfurt is about 19% I believe, so it can definitely add up.

BUT, your choices may be more limited at Kelsterbach, so with 4 people to accommodate you may be better off picking up your car at the airport and just paying the surcharge.

I also suggest that you get a good Germany driving map.

dutyfree

Just ordered the Michelin spiral map of Germany recommended on another thread-hubs is always anxious driving overseas.Hope that that is alright? I will try and contact some of the above recommendations. Have I mentioned that I get stressed out when I am planning a trip for the whole family? Keep up any suggestions!

bilboburgler

Note that both rivers have trains and boats going up and down them all the time. The benefits are that drinking is available to all and after a hard day in the hills you don't have to drive home.

Bikes are hireable at most train stations

bettyk

dutyfree, don't stress out! You are going to a beautiful country and no matter what you do, you will have a wonderful time.

If you get lost, so what. Some of the neatest things we've seen on vacation have been when we were lost. LOL.

You can only do so much planning. Things go wrong, even when you plan, so just relax and enjoy yourself!

dutyfree

Seriously, I may have to change our plans. I have been sending out emails and have been on tripadvisor with all of their hotel connections and it seems like it is going to be impossible to get two rooms or family room on Mosel river area during the last week of August.

Does anyone know of the cheap airlines that fly in and out of FRANKFURT that possibly we could go somewhere else? Thanks!

bettyk

dutyfree, check www.whichbudget.com to see what flights you can find out of Frankfurt. We have never vacationed in Europe in August so don't know anyplace that might be better.

Maybe Switzerland? The Berner Oberland is beautiful with lots to do. Maybe check hotels in Lauterbrunnen. We stayed at the Hotel Oberland, but there are several others.

http://www.hoteloberland.ch/

http://www.staubbach.com/index2.htm

http://www.silberhorn.com/index_frame.html

dutyfree

Thanks, I will check that website-couldn't remember it.

missypie

Have you read my trip report? Is the apartment at the Burch Hotel Loreley in St. Goar available?

lincasanova

i have found difficulty ON the river at times, but also had chosen to sleep OFF the river in the simple residential towns years ago.

now i almost prefer that.

i have left you some websites on your other thread. i hope something works out for you.

chevre

Saw your post. It is 3:00 am and I'm enjoying jet lag as I just returned from this area Saturday afternoon. We were on a river cruise so I can't speak to the room situraion but Frankfurt is a good jumping off point. With the train you're within a few hours of Lucerne, and Bern Switzerland and then can go on up to the Alps. Frankfurt is also only about 200K from Strasbourg, France and the whole Alsace/Lorraine area. There is a new TGV from Strasbourg into Paris now as well; you coule even make a day trip out of it.