Christmas trip to Germany, what city?
Jul 14th, 2015, 09:03 PM
#63
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Four nights in each Dresden and Erzgebirge are much better. Five nights in Bamberg seems a bit too long to me. (Frankly, not a fan of smoked beer, but the wine is excellent there 
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It's bus between Annaberg and Schwarzenberg, but it should come up at DB search. Make sure you plug in Schwarzenberg(Erzgeb), or you end up in Austria!
.It's bus between Annaberg and Schwarzenberg, but it should come up at DB search. Make sure you plug in Schwarzenberg(Erzgeb), or you end up in Austria!
Jul 15th, 2015, 06:11 AM
#64
Thanks again Ingo, have tweaked the itinerary accordingly.
<It's bus between Annaberg and Schwarzenberg, but it should come up at DB search. Make sure you plug in Schwarzenberg(Erzgeb), or you end up in Austria!>
That explains the long travel time I was finding!
<It's bus between Annaberg and Schwarzenberg, but it should come up at DB search. Make sure you plug in Schwarzenberg(Erzgeb), or you end up in Austria!
>That explains the long travel time I was finding!
Jul 18th, 2015, 02:37 PM
#65
Ingo -
I've booked accommodation in Dresden and Bamberg, both fully cancellable.
Wondering what you thought of the locations:
http://www.villa-freisleben.de/
http://www.ferienwohnung-am-rathaus-bamberg.de/en/
I've booked accommodation in Dresden and Bamberg, both fully cancellable.
Wondering what you thought of the locations:
http://www.villa-freisleben.de/
http://www.ferienwohnung-am-rathaus-bamberg.de/en/
Jul 18th, 2015, 02:43 PM
#66
And Swandav, any thoughts on this this place in Garmisch? Location looks good, a bit worried about street noise, but we've requested a room in the back (also fully cancellable).
I looked into your two suggestions, one is closed while we're there, the other a bit upmarket for us.
http://www.expedia.com/Upper-Bavaria...el-Information
I looked into your two suggestions, one is closed while we're there, the other a bit upmarket for us.
http://www.expedia.com/Upper-Bavaria...el-Information
Jul 18th, 2015, 09:39 PM
#67
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Hi Melnq8,
Yes, I know the Alpina well . . . well, I see it often when I'm on the bus, lol. It's in a great location on the corner of Alpspitzstr and St Martinstr just a block farther down St Martinstrasse from the Hotel Zugspitze, and so a block farther from the train station. The Alpspitzstr runs to the Marienplatz, and there's a bus stop right there. Yes, that *is* a very busy corner, and noise would be a concern.
Did you come across the Hotel Garmischerhof in your searches? It's a 3-star on Chamonixstrasse just steps from the pedestrian zone and a few blocks from the train station. Even though there is traffic on Chamonixstr, it is a one-way street, and there isn't a whole lot of traffic. I was inside, and it's a decent little place.
Anyway, have fun with the search!
s
Yes, I know the Alpina well . . . well, I see it often when I'm on the bus, lol. It's in a great location on the corner of Alpspitzstr and St Martinstr just a block farther down St Martinstrasse from the Hotel Zugspitze, and so a block farther from the train station. The Alpspitzstr runs to the Marienplatz, and there's a bus stop right there. Yes, that *is* a very busy corner, and noise would be a concern.
Did you come across the Hotel Garmischerhof in your searches? It's a 3-star on Chamonixstrasse just steps from the pedestrian zone and a few blocks from the train station. Even though there is traffic on Chamonixstr, it is a one-way street, and there isn't a whole lot of traffic. I was inside, and it's a decent little place.
Anyway, have fun with the search!
s
Jul 18th, 2015, 10:05 PM
#68
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Hi Melnq8,
I echo swandav's response, fits for your choice in Dresden also Yes, I know the place and pass by often in a tram. LOL My thoughts? Depends on what kind of apartment you booked. Not in the souterrain, I hope! And noise is a concern here, too. Same busy street as the other place. But if you have an apartment to the back (Waldpark), then it's perfectly fine.
Otherwise - perfect. Charming villa, tram stop right there, friendly and helpful staff, it seems.
The one in Bamberg is in perfect location, too. Right in the middle of everything.
I echo swandav's response, fits for your choice in Dresden also
Yes, I know the place and pass by often in a tram. LOL My thoughts? Depends on what kind of apartment you booked. Not in the souterrain, I hope! And noise is a concern here, too. Same busy street as the other place. But if you have an apartment to the back (Waldpark), then it's perfectly fine.Otherwise - perfect. Charming villa, tram stop right there, friendly and helpful staff, it seems.
The one in Bamberg is in perfect location, too. Right in the middle of everything.
Jul 19th, 2015, 04:05 AM
#69
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I remember going by the Dresden place as well on the tram. It looks great. The Waldpark is nice as well, I walked through it several times, thinking it would be a perfect place to walk our cocker when she and my husband came to join me in Dresden in December. (Alas, Raisin needed surgery, so they couldn't come.)
FWIW, there's a little Illy coffee/snack place in the small mall in Striesen. Very good coffee. But be careful with the waitresses. I paid a waitress different from the one who served me and when I tried to leave, the first waitress insisted I hadn't paid. She refused to believe I'd paid the other server (who had come to my table to collect the money). The waitress I'd paid had gone off-shift. I insisted the first waitress call her to get a confirmation that I'd paid. She did and then VERY grudgingly apologized for suggesting I was trying to get away without paying (for a coffee!!). It was a very annoying experience and I decided to never go back there again.
FWIW, there's a little Illy coffee/snack place in the small mall in Striesen. Very good coffee. But be careful with the waitresses. I paid a waitress different from the one who served me and when I tried to leave, the first waitress insisted I hadn't paid. She refused to believe I'd paid the other server (who had come to my table to collect the money). The waitress I'd paid had gone off-shift. I insisted the first waitress call her to get a confirmation that I'd paid. She did and then VERY grudgingly apologized for suggesting I was trying to get away without paying (for a coffee!!). It was a very annoying experience and I decided to never go back there again.
Jul 19th, 2015, 06:02 AM
#70
Thank you again Swandav and Ingo.
Interestingly enough, I was more worried about the Bamberg location being noisy, but I kind of like the idea of stepping out of the apartment into the Christmas Market. I don't think it's in the basement, but I will double check. Would you happen to know approximately how long a walk from the train station to the apartment?
I've sent a request for a room facing the Waldpark, so assuming that's honored, I'll keep the booking.
Off to look at the Hotel Garmischerhof.
We have fond memories of Pizzeria Renzo, are they still around Swandav (and within walking distance of these hotels?).
Interestingly enough, I was more worried about the Bamberg location being noisy, but I kind of like the idea of stepping out of the apartment into the Christmas Market. I don't think it's in the basement, but I will double check. Would you happen to know approximately how long a walk from the train station to the apartment?
I've sent a request for a room facing the Waldpark, so assuming that's honored, I'll keep the booking.
Off to look at the Hotel Garmischerhof.
We have fond memories of Pizzeria Renzo, are they still around Swandav (and within walking distance of these hotels?).
Jul 19th, 2015, 07:54 AM
#71
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Oops, I just saw the apartment in Bamberg is on a one-way street that is used by everyone driving to the big underground parking on Maximilian square. Could indeed be noisy! I wouldn't walk from the train station, it's about 1.5 km which means 15-20 minutes ... and with luggage? Ugh.
Don't think this apartment is in the basement, but was worried about Villa Freisleben. They write that the Komfort category double occupancy apartments partially face the noisy (Loschwitzer Str.) street, partially are on the side. Half of them are in the basement.
The Superior apartments are toward Waldpark/neighbouring properties.
Weisser Tee - that's a shame. Any idea what the name of that Illy cafe-bar was? So I can avoid it
Don't think this apartment is in the basement, but was worried about Villa Freisleben. They write that the Komfort category double occupancy apartments partially face the noisy (Loschwitzer Str.) street, partially are on the side. Half of them are in the basement.
The Superior apartments are toward Waldpark/neighbouring properties.
Weisser Tee - that's a shame. Any idea what the name of that Illy cafe-bar was? So I can avoid it
Jul 19th, 2015, 08:43 AM
#72
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Hi again,
Yup, pizzeria Renzo is still around! It's in Partenkirchen, though, so about a 30 or 40 minute walk from the hotels you've located in Garmisch. It's just across the street from the Rathaus, so you can just hop a bus and get off at the Rathaus bus stop.
s
Yup, pizzeria Renzo is still around! It's in Partenkirchen, though, so about a 30 or 40 minute walk from the hotels you've located in Garmisch. It's just across the street from the Rathaus, so you can just hop a bus and get off at the Rathaus bus stop.
s
Jul 19th, 2015, 10:08 AM
#73
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Swandav, while you're on this thread, GAP is the German license plate designation for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, right? Because we've seen a few times in Baden-Baden a classic Audi 1000 convertible in a metallic brown (had a vintage suitcase strapped on top of the trunk) with GAP plates. Do you know which car I mean? (I even took photos of it, a really beautiful old car)
Apologies for the hijack!
Apologies for the hijack!
Jul 19th, 2015, 03:27 PM
#74
Argh...back to the drawing board. Ingo, can you suggest a quiet street in Bamberg within walking distance to the train station, or perhaps a specific property?
Took another look at Villa Freisleben, which might indeed involve a basement room as we've booked Comfort, but as long as it's quiet I'm not too fussed about that...not much daylight that time of year anyway.
Took another look at Villa Freisleben, which might indeed involve a basement room as we've booked Comfort, but as long as it's quiet I'm not too fussed about that...not much daylight that time of year anyway.
Jul 20th, 2015, 05:21 AM
#75
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Hi WeisserTee,
Yes, the license plates here read: GAP. But, no, I don't remember seeing that metallic brown classic Audi. However, I'm usually on foot or on my bike on side streets or bike paths and don't spend much time on the main streets in town. I'll keep my eyes open though!
Hope to hear of some joy in your hunt, Melnq8!
s
Yes, the license plates here read: GAP. But, no, I don't remember seeing that metallic brown classic Audi. However, I'm usually on foot or on my bike on side streets or bike paths and don't spend much time on the main streets in town. I'll keep my eyes open though!
Hope to hear of some joy in your hunt, Melnq8!
s
Jul 20th, 2015, 09:02 AM
#76
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Melnq8, sorry but I do not know a property in Bamberg. Frankly, I don't get it why you don't want to stay closer to the picturesque old town. The train station district is not exactly the most attractive one in Bamberg ... and there are buses going between the old town and train station.
I'm not much concerned about daylight in the basement apartments of Villa Freisleben, but I saw reviews (in German) that they had a certain 'smell', and in winter this might be even worse. Did none of my recommendations suit you?
I.
I'm not much concerned about daylight in the basement apartments of Villa Freisleben, but I saw reviews (in German) that they had a certain 'smell', and in winter this might be even worse. Did none of my recommendations suit you?
I.
Jul 20th, 2015, 04:51 PM
#77
Ingo -
I'll look at your recommendations for Dresden more closely.
I've not run across anything in the Old Town of Bamberg so far, seems everything I find is way out in the sticks. We tend to hoof it everywhere we go, so proximity to a train station AND the Old Town is usually a factor for us.
I'm sure you can appreciate that trying to work out buses and trams when first arriving in a new town with luggage is a pain - especially for us non-German speakers. We'd rather walk.
Not being familiar with most of these places, I'm relying on English booking sites and reviews. I've run across several places that might be good options, but I don't read German, so unless they have an EN link I have to run every page through translation, and it's time consuming, so I tend to lose patience.
I've cancelled the apartment booking in Bamberg and booked the Best Western, to at least have a booking somewhere until/if I can find a better option. I usually avoid chain hotels, preferring more local flavor, but sometimes I give in to convenience - The Best Western is equidistant to both the train station and the Old Town, 10-15 minutes either way.
Now I'm worried about smells...
I'll look at your recommendations for Dresden more closely.
I've not run across anything in the Old Town of Bamberg so far, seems everything I find is way out in the sticks. We tend to hoof it everywhere we go, so proximity to a train station AND the Old Town is usually a factor for us.
I'm sure you can appreciate that trying to work out buses and trams when first arriving in a new town with luggage is a pain - especially for us non-German speakers. We'd rather walk.
Not being familiar with most of these places, I'm relying on English booking sites and reviews. I've run across several places that might be good options, but I don't read German, so unless they have an EN link I have to run every page through translation, and it's time consuming, so I tend to lose patience.
I've cancelled the apartment booking in Bamberg and booked the Best Western, to at least have a booking somewhere until/if I can find a better option. I usually avoid chain hotels, preferring more local flavor, but sometimes I give in to convenience - The Best Western is equidistant to both the train station and the Old Town, 10-15 minutes either way.
Now I'm worried about smells...
Jul 21st, 2015, 10:11 AM
#79
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Ok, I understand your reasons. Especially after a long trip it can be a pain figuring out how trams and buses work. But with some help from this board you would manage ;-)
What about this in Bamberg? Even in English: http://www.vacation-apartments.com/12284.htm
A friend of mine recently stayed in this hotel in Bamberg: http://www.arkadenhotel-im-kloster.de/
She recommends it highly. They also have apartments:
http://www.ferienwohnungen-arkadenho...mberg.de/home/
Not in English, I am afraid, but looks very good!
And here's another option for Dresden, in very central but quiet location and in the district that survived the bombing:
http://www.cityferienwohnungendresden.de/en/home
(walkable from train station Dresden-Neustadt, one of the Christmas markets 100 m away.)
What about this in Bamberg? Even in English: http://www.vacation-apartments.com/12284.htm
A friend of mine recently stayed in this hotel in Bamberg: http://www.arkadenhotel-im-kloster.de/
She recommends it highly. They also have apartments:
http://www.ferienwohnungen-arkadenho...mberg.de/home/
Not in English, I am afraid, but looks very good!
And here's another option for Dresden, in very central but quiet location and in the district that survived the bombing:
http://www.cityferienwohnungendresden.de/en/home
(walkable from train station Dresden-Neustadt, one of the Christmas markets 100 m away.)
