keithp

Here is the plan for Oct. -- Fly from the states to Amsterdam and spend Tues and wed there. Train to Koblenz thurs morning and stay there thur and fri. Pick up rental car sat am and visit Berg Eltz, with overnight in Cochem Sat and Sun, visiting some of the smaller towns and wineries on the Mosel on sunday. Monday morning drive to Trier, with an overnight there. Then drive to Mainz, drop rental car and overnight for noon flight out of Frankfurt to the states, taking the S Bahn to the airport.

Two couples in 40's, good shape, traveling light.

treplow

Go to Kpoblenz as planned, from there take a boat day trip some ways south on the Rhein and return to Koblenz by train. Pick up a car in Koblenz and drive to Cochem. Spend one night there and then drive leisurely to Trier, spending some time visiting the quaint towns along the LOWER Mosel. Spend a few days in Trier and vist the towns along the UPPER Mosel from there. Then ditch the car and take the train from Trier to to Cologne. This is a pretty train ride. From there, after a couple of hours layover to visit the cathedral, take the train along the Rhein to Mainz.

For train schedules see www.bahn.de Cologne is spelled Koeln and you want the main station = Hauptbahnhof = Hbf.

keithp

Thanks for the advice, treplow!

Keith

Russ

I think you have a good plan, Keith, but I would suggest that you just make Trier a day trip from Cochem. It's not far and not worth the packing/unpacking unless you feel you can't see what you want to in a day. Make sure the Trier sites that interest you are actually open on Monday.

The Cologne cathedral is spectacular, but it's quite a detour for what will probably be a very short visit; he Dome and the Stephanskirche (Chagall windows) in Mainz might be a good trade-off.

If your route to Mainz takes you near Idar-Oberstein, it's worth a stop for the Felsenkirche (church in the cliffside) and gem browsing. Saarburg is a picturesque little town south of Trier with nice outdoor cafes on a pretty plaza w/waterfall (if the weather is good.)

keithp

Russ, that seems like sound advice. The other couple we are traveling with minds moving around a bit more than we do, so adding a night in Cochem seems like a great idea. As to Cologne, it does seem like a backtrack and we can see it on the way to Koblenz, as I think there is a train change there from Amsterdam. I think the Cathedral is right next to the station.

Thanks for the input.

Keith