Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - B&B or Hotel in the Black Forest

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)

- - B&B or Hotel in the Black Forest (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/b-and-b-or-hotel-in-the-black-forest-400015/)

B&B or Hotel in the Black Forest

We have 4 days and 3 nights to explore the Black Forest. Can you recommend a good anchor B&B or hotel?

One of the prettier small towns in the Black Forest IMO is Gengenbach. We spent 3 nights there at the Hotel Sonne a couple of years ago. Gengenback is close to the Schwarzwald Hohenstrasse that will take you to Baden Baden which we did as a day trip.

http://www.stadt-gengenbach.de/en/tourism/

http://www.sonne-gengenbach.de/start.php

http://travel.webshots.com/album/554...yxotU?start=24

How about Staufen? It's a delightful little town not far from Freiburg. The TI has a list of private Zimmer posted in the window. Hotel Sonne, Hotel Krone, and Gasthaus Hirschen are all on or very near the pedestrian center.

I haven't stayed at any of the hotels because I was attending a Goethe Institute when I was there, but I loved the little town.

Go to a bookstore or go online and get the KAREN BROWN book on GERMAN INNS AND ITINERARIES. She has some great listings and many places in the Black Forest. We use her often and she does a good job in finding the small, unique places. The book is paperback and worth it.

You want a rec for one place to see the "Black Forest"... Hmmm...

It's a huge place with hundreds of towns and villages. You need to pick a town or two - and that town depends a lot on how you plan to travel and what your other destinations are.

The "middle" might be somewhere around Hausach but that isn't really too helpful.

Do you prefer a mountain village or a city setting for your anchor? Do you plan to hike? Bike? Many go there for the outdoor stuff. Do you want to visit folk museums, amusement parks? Check out the cuckoo clocks and souvenirs?

If you're thinking about using the train, you can do that for free there if you stay in certain villages that issue "Konus" travel cards to guests - something to keep in mind. Gengenbach is one of those, but there are dozens of others as well; go to this page and click "more" for a list:

http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/i...iew/full/20514

Also - you should provide a budget. Almost all B&B's there fall in the 35-70 Euros (double) range, but there are a few cheaper and more expensive options as well.

Thanks for all the help, I'll check out all those websites. My wife and I plan to rent a car and do day driving trips around the area with short hikes, walking through villages and scenic areas, and some museums, no amusement parks, We were expecting to pay 50 to 100 Euro for 2.

Thanks again Russ.

Is the Schwarzwald card worth it for just the museums?

Don't mean to butt in here but there are some good suggestions here. I will be staying in Meersburg and have a car. I would like to drive, if possible for a daytrip, to the Black Forest. I like the pictures of Gengenbach (don't know how far it is from Meersburg). I like mountain towns like Grindelwald, Interlaken (without the concrete hotel and I like Meersburg, St Goar, Boppard, tonws on Lake Garda. We are very casual and would like to pay under 100 euros, if possible as we only sleep in our room as we are gone all day.

Thanks,

oinchats, I responded to your other thread on where to stay in the Black Forest.

Zur Alten Brucke Gastoff Hotel is a fabulous choice in Schiltach.

Situated in the most picturesque and quaint village of the Black Forest, is the adorable town of Schiltach. Nestled on the banks of a small river, the town is characterized by the sound of water in its stream, its many tiny (all free) museums and its adorable hotels, and darling places to eat and drink. Walking around the village is a wonderful way to spend a few days. Even more time can be used to take the train around the Black Forest and the other neighboring towns. A must see is Triberg, with its amazing waterfalls and many cuckoo clock stores. An easy train ride or a short drive in the car.

We found the Zur Alten Brucke Gastoff Hotel by accident, we were visiting Schiltach and simply wanted a nice inexpensive place to stay. We were met at the door by the Proprietor, Michael Mogler and shown a room facing the street. A bargain for two at only 70 euros, the room was clean, the beds wonderful, pillows and linens like a 5 star hotel. Very quiet and comfortable. The doors even lock with old original skeleton keys!

Downstairs is a large comfy restaurant where Michael does his magic. The menu has a wonderful variety of dishes to choose from but be sure not to miss the soup with filled pasta. Michael specializes in fresh ingredients, local meats and is a professionally trained chef. Each day a scrumptious breakfast buffet is set out and guests are welcome to take their food across to sit at one of the hotels tables on the bank of the river.This Inn is his place and his touch is on everything within the hotel. We spent two days there, then returned about a month later and spent two more. The clientele are a wide mix and of course lots of locals come to sit, drink beer and chat. Everyone was warm and friendly and the Zur Alten Brucke is a place that feels like home from the minute you step foot inside. Peaceful, idyllic and magical are only three adjectives I could use to describe this Inn and the town of Schiltach,

It is a don't miss Establishment and town if you are visiting the gorgeous Black Forest area of Germany.

BettyK (or anyone else),

Do you still recommend Hotel-Restaurant Sonne in Gengenbach? I am planning a 3-family trip for June 2010 which will include 2-3 days in Black Forest, and am determined to find a charming gasthof that meets our somewhat "challenging needs" (my mother-in-law needs ground floor or an elevator); my own family needs 2 adjoining Doppelzimmers; and then my sister-in-law's family needs 2 more DZs.....for a total of 5 doublerooms.

Based on this Forum, I contacted Hotel Sonne and they can accomodate us if we stay in separate Guesthouses (apparently they have 2 + main building).

Is this "the place"? It is priced very reasonably, too.

Thanks, DJ

Yes, altho I've only been there that one time, I felt we definitely got good value for money and the location is right in the center of everything. We stayed in the "other" building right around the corner, which is where we also garaged our car. It was modern and clean. The breakfast was good and we enjoyed a nice dinner in their restaurant. And it was also priced very reasonably.

Thanks, BettyK! I will keep Hotel Sonne on the "short list". I'm getting together with my fellow travelers this weekend to decide.

--DJ