austria and bavaria......with kids who like to travel
 

Well I'm finalizing our travel plans and needed input because there is so much to see i'm getting a bit confused. Our kids are 5 and 8 year old girls. We have traveled in europe extensively so we aren't afraid of driving and will be renting a car. we don't mind moving around and staying place only one night if needed.

We will be arriving into Salzburg from a stay in Prague and spending 2 nights(all booked). we will be renting a car on the day we leave Salzburg and this is where my dilemma starts. I would like to stay in Berchtesgaden for 2 nights and see the salt mines and lake konigsee, eagles nest etc. However, I understand that The lake region..St. Gillen, St wolfgang is a must see as well. Should we go to the Berchtesgaden area for a day trip only? making the lake region a home base?

I would !
I find the Salzkammergut area to be most enjoyable---and do not miss Hallstatt. I would stay in St. Gilgen--look at the Garni Schernthaner---a family type hotel.

http://www.hotel-schernthaner.at/

Hi,

How many nights/days do you have for Austria and Bavaria after your 2 nights in Salzburg?

I'd suggest the Berchtesgaden area, as we love this area as a base for the sights around Berchtesgaden, Konigsee and Salzburg, plus our favorite place to stay, the Pension Mayringerlehen, is in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden. We've stayed here on 3 trips recently. We visited St. Gilgen from here in '10 and Hallstatt from here in '06. The Mayringerlehen's owners/hosts are the best. can't put it any other way. They run an orgainc farm. They have goats, cows, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, a horse and a llama. It's located 10 min. from berchtesgaden, 15 min. from Konigsee, and 1:30 from either Hallstatt and/or Zell am See.

www.mayringerlehen.de

www.worldisround.com/articles/355548/index.html

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html

Paul

Berchtesgaden and Salzburg are next door neighbors. So are the lakes.
I wouldn't know why you wanted to relocate for a destination that is just a 30-45 minute drive away.
When renting a car, you should do so in same country where you eventually want to drop it to avoid cross-border drop-off fee which can be steep.

I have a total of 3 nights after salzburg before we go onto Vienna. So it wouldn't make sense to do 1 night St. Gilgen and 2 nights in Berchtesgaden?

Hi,

Ok, so you have 2 nights in Salzburg booked and then 3 more nights to spend before Vienna.

St. Gilgen is about 45 minutes from Salzburg and Berchtesgaden is a little less. If you'd like to base in Berchtesgaden for the Salt Mines, Koniggsee, Eagles Nest, etc., perhaps add a night to your Salzburg stay to spend a day in St. Gilgen and the area. Of course, you could spend the entire 5 nights in Salzburg and do day trips if you so desired. Me, I'm partial to the Berchtesgaden area as I wrote in my previous post.

Paul

We stayed at Haus am Moos (www.ammoos.at) which is just outside of Salzburg. We used it as a base to see all the things you have listed. Nothing is that far of a drive, and staying just outside of Salzburg made it easy for the daytrips, and when we wanted to go into Salzburg there is a great parking garage that is easy to get into. Personally, I wouldn't bother moving around so much when everything is so close to each other.

Duct tape your kids to a chair and make the watch the Sound of Music before you go, then take the SOM tour. On the way to Mondsee (the place where the wedding church from SOM is) there is a Sommerroddlebahn luge ride that the kids and Mom and Dad will love.

Pja1 I tried your hotel suggestion and unfortunately they are booked...It sounded wonderful. I'm leaning toward spending 2 nights in Berchtesgaden and one night in St. Wolfgang or st gilen since it's technically on the way to Vienna. Jgg....i'll check out Haus am Moos. I found a place called Achat Plaza Zum Hirschen in Salzburg thats a 10 min walk to the center. I wish I had more time....

AisleSeat-i'm most definitely going to have the kids see the sound of music.....that is a must! I love the Luge Ride idea. is it appropriate for a 5 year old?

I know I have exhausted this question...but i'm seriously thinking 2 nights in Berchtesgaden and one night in St. Wolfgang. Reason...It's over an hour and half drive to St wolfgang per google map and its technically on the way to vienna...so I thought why not do a over night in St wolfgang.

Hi,

If interested, there are a number of similar type places in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden.

Only other place we stayed in the Berchtesgaden area was the Guesthouse Friedwiese in Schoenau am Koenigssee, which is 3 min. from Berchtesgaden and less than 15 min. from Ramsau. We stayed here 4 nights late Nov. 2010 as the Mayringerlehen was closed at this time. Loved it also.

www.friedwiese.de/enska/isl.htm

www.ramsau.de

Paul

Looks faboulous paul.....i just sent an email requesting a room. thank you!

You're welcome!

The luge ride is big enough for two people on a sled if one of the kids needs to ride with an adult. The sled has a brake handle so you can control your own speed.

so sad Paul....no availability....it's getting hard to find places...even this early.

Hi Monika,

Just for my own curiosity, did you try the Friedwiese? Did they (Helga Eder) respond?

A couple we met while in the Berchtesgaden area in '09 were staying here and liked the place. We never stayed here, but love their restaurant.

www.gebirgshaeusl.de

Did you check out the Konigssee website? Konigssee is just a few miles/minutes from Berchtesgaden:

www.koenigssee.com/en/

Good luck, I can't believe everything is booked!

Paul