Ingo - some interesting comments on TA about the Arkadenhotel im Kloster. The apartments sure look nice though.

Ouch - these comments on TA are indeed interesting! However, on German hotel reviewing sites there are quite different comments. And 3 out of 4 guests would stay there again. After reading some reviews closely I think it's mostly a problem with the recently opened new side wing, the rooms in the monastery seem to be fine. Anyway, no need to stay there.

Ingo -

Is there bus service between Annaberg Seiffen, Schwarzenberg and Schneeberg?

Hi Melnq8,

did you check out my pages on Virtualtourist.com? See reply #2 above (last year.)

Yes, there is bus service between those towns. All of them are in the VMS network, so their rules and fares apply. www.vms.de Quite frequently between Annaberg - Schwarzenberg and Schneeberg (might involve train and change in Aue), less so to Seiffen.

Btw, highly recommended is the ErzgebirgsCard - available for 48 hours or 4 single days in one (calendar) year.
http://www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de/e...rzgebirgscard/

Covers all public transportation in the Erzgebirge (from Freiberg onwards, not from Dresden), most museums, castles, tours of mines and guided walks in towns, steam train rides, cable car/chair lift Oberwiesenthal - Mt. Fichtelberg, spas ... Great deal, I have one myself, still 3 days to use this year.

I.

Thanks Ingo. Yes, I've looked at some of your Virtual Tourist pages, but not all of them. I noticed from your page on Annaberg that you stayed at a hotel we were considering, but they're booked for the nights we need (and quite expensive due to Second Advent I guess). This thread is just getting too long, I keep losing things!

We kept coming up with long commute times between these towns, although we knew they were pretty close - we were beginning to think we needed a car.

Shall look at the VMS site.

Ingo -

Having looked at the VMS site I'm beginning to think we'd be better off renting a car in Dresden and driving from there to the Erzgebirge for our four days. Is parking going to be an issue in these small towns, considering the
crazy busy time of year?

If we stay in Blasewitz, does it make more sense to collect a car at the airport or the Hauftbahnhof? We'd be picking it up on a Sunday, then returning it to the same location four days later, then taking the train to Bamberg.

It's your decision, of course. Granted, I often drive to the Erzgebirge mountains, but because my trips are often in combination with skiing.

A few tips on searching on the VMS site:
The central bus stop in Schneeberg is "Warte, Schneeberg". For Schwarzenberg use "Schwarzenberg (Erzgeb)". For Annaberg most convenient is "Annaberg-Buchholz Busbahnhof".

For example, Annaberg to Schwarzenberg is less than one hour, no changes, hourly buses. Annaberg to Schneeberg is between 1:28 h and 1:53 h with one change in Aue. Kurort Oberwiesenthal is 40 minutes, no changes. Getting to Seiffen is less convenient, granted, but that's because right now there's road work between Olbernhau and Seiffen - will be finished before winter.

Of course, driving gives you more flexibility. Are you used to driving on curvy, narrow, snowy roads? You'll find some place for parking, in Seiffen e.g. they use to direct you to temporary parkings on fields outside the small town, daily fee about 5 Euro, walk into town 10 minutes.

As for accommodation, check out Alt-Annaberg in Annaberg-Buchholz. Quiet, central location.

That helps Ingo, thank you.

<Are you used to driving on curvy, narrow, snowy roads?>

We're from the Rocky Mountains of CO, so that would be a yes!

LOL, then driving won't be a problem!

Hi Ingo -

I haven't had a chance to work on this trip much lately, but I have managed to secure the last room at Alt-Annaberg in Annaberg-Buchholz on Second Advent. I'd found a nice looking apartment too, but opted for the hotel instead, as we do like a nice breakfast.

Good choice! You were certainly lucky there was still a room available. :-)

Just now back to do some planning...does anyone happen to know if it's possible to take a Elbe river cruise from Dresden in the winter?

Found a couple of cruise possibilities from Dresden!

A cruise in winter? Really? Horrible thought for me. Day trips on the river are fine, but a multi-day cruise ... Btw, do you happen to know this thread: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...en_Saxony.html ?

It's a day trip Ingo, in fact just a few hours. Found them here:

https://www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de/en/

Okay. Yup, that's a good idea.

Mel, recently put my photos on Flickr, Erzegebirge (Annaberg), Dresden/ Chemnitz in this set.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskc9zUas

Fantastic Adelaidean, thank you for sharing those, now I'm really looking forward to our visit!

Great pictures. Cannot believe you visited Kohren-Sahlis, it's totally off-off the beaten path :-)

Have got to admit Kohren-Sahlis was not over-run with tourists :)