texasbookworm

In late June/early July my husband will be working in Frankfurt for 2 weeks and I will accompany him. I have purchased an 8-day Rail Pass. I have 7 ideas, but I need suggestions for another good day trip from Frankfurt.

Here are my travel “boundaries”: I will probably leave from Frankfurt-Höchst station, which is on the way between our hotel and hubby’s work so he can drop me off most days; most days I will try for a train with an around-8 am departure; I don’t want to travel more than 2 hours per leg of travel; and most days I will want to be back around 6ish. I will want to just wander around a town/city center for a bit, visiting maybe one or two major sites like a cathedral, castle, or museum and taking lots of photos. I will grab lunch or bring it with me, so I’m not interested in good restaurants. And I don’t mind early starts, long days, or busy schedule. There will be down time on the train with this sort of travel.

Bit of info about me to help you help me: I’m a literature/history high school teacher with some travel experience in Europe. I’m in my 50’s, in pretty good shape for walking, am pretty good with maps and such, but have never ridden trains alone. We had a Rail Pass in England in 2008 and loved the flexibility; I know the German Rail Pass will offer similar flexibility. Hubby has been to Germany over half a dozen times with work, so he has lots of suggestions; we were in Germany together in 1988 and I am mostly interested in going to different sites this trip.

Destinations with hubby this trip: On the Sunday of our arrival at 8:30 am, we will probably visit the Kloster Eberbach. On our weekend we are planning a trip to Trier for Friday evening and Saturday, then Sunday drive into Luxembourg, probably to a Battle of the Bulge site, and then drive back to Frankfurt.

I have these 7 destinations as probable, not in any order, but the first 6 are “musts”:
Mainz
Heidelberg
Köln
The Rhine Valley (probably train to Rudesheim for a short visit, train to St. Goarshausen,
ferry to St. Goar, visit to Rheinfels Castle, ferry back to St. Goarshausen, train back to
Frankfurt)
Marburg
Bamberg
Michelstadt (and maybe Lorsch if there’s time—this could either be a short day if I just go to Michelstadt, or a very long one if I try to do both.)

I am planning to go into Frankfurt one day but would prefer to use the S-Bahn and save my Rail Pass for further afield.

So what day trip would you suggest? I have considered Kassel as #8, but is there a better destination?

PalenQ

Bamberg tome is one of the dreamiest sweetest cities in Germany - everything you want and more - a nice river bisects the old town center.

On the Rhine why not take the K-D boats from Rudesheim on down to Koblenz, getting on and off as you wish - I thin the best way to see the Rhine Gorge is from the boat as you can then see each side of this wondrous stretch of river (www.k-d.com) and you railpass would be valid on the boat as on trains.

Anyway check out these IMo fantastic sites for lots of great info on German trains and places to go by rail - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

Freibourg (the Black Forest Freibourg) also makes a sweet day trip from Frankfurt as would IMO Baden-Baden, one of Europe's most famous and oldest spa towns - visit the ornate casino that was once the watering hole of the rich and famous and still presents a town with a verdant sylvain setting. Right near Frankfurt do not neglect Worms and Speyer (great cathedral here) - two Rhine-side old towns.

texasbookworm

Thanks, Pal We went to Freibourg, Baden-Baden (both quickly) and Worms before. I did also consider Speyer so will keep it on my "maybe" list for day #8.

My Rhine day has as a main destination Rheinfels Castle just because! And a return ramble of Rudesheim. Again just because. So I am sorta doubting if I can make it to Koblenz. I'll kinda play that day by ear.

Russ

"I have purchased an 8-day Rail Pass."

That's a hard decision to understand. The pass has set you back at least $600 or more, and while it is more convenient than getting individual tickets, such short outings will cost much less if just get tickets as you go; perhaps the pass is returnable? If that's an option and you're interested, I don't mind responding to any questions you may have about my previous comments on the QDL thread below:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-questions.cfm

Other possible destinations near Frankfurt:

Büdingen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX0yo...feature=relmfu
Seligenstadt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epzE2Z3Abss

texasbookworm

Thanks Russ. The pass was $385. (second class)

When I posted my thread on Quer-Durchs-Land Tickets, I thought my husband would have more time off and that I'd only be making 2-3 train trips; now he is going to be working the entire 2 weeks on weekdays, probably, so if I'm going to train travel alone, I decided I needed the flexibility built into the RailPass. There certainly are lots of options!

I weighed and weighed all the options. In the end I decided I needed the flexibility of days and times and needed to start before 9 am and would not be traveling by train on the weekends. So I'm not sure if the RailPass ended up netting me more than the regional passes I would have used, but not much.

I'll look at those destinations, too--thanks again.

PalenQ

That's a hard decision to understand. The pass has set you back at least $600 or more>

Ah the pure misinformation about railpasses continues - one wonders why someone would post $600 or more as it seems that they have absolutely no clue - the value of a pass is that you can hop on any train anytime in Germany - and these fully flexible tickets can cost a lot - even on regional passes you cannot take the faster trains but only regional trains.

Even for 'such short trips' like Frankfurt to Reudeshiem a fully flexible ticket costs much more than Russ - misinformed Russ believes I think - I'll have to check what a return Frankfurt to Reudesheim ticket is - I bet a fully flexible at will travel ticket on any train would exceed the cost of a day on a pass - but perhaps not - we'll see. Meanwhile let the Fodors mantra if you can save a nickel using Lander tickets and online discounts do it - even though it greatly limits your flexibility at times!

texasbookworm

Oh, I just remembered another tipping-to-the-RailPass factor--it is not limited to only regional trains. Now that I'm looking at several longer days by myself, I wanted to be able to use the IC or ICE trains if needed/offered.

PalenQ

Frankfur to Rudesheim is about 15 euros - each way plus the OP wants to take trains around there - so say 40 euros all told - about the same as a day on a pass and you can take faster trains to get there and back - not being limited to slow regional trains like on regional passes.

And Frankfurt to Bamberg is 49 euros each way on IC and above fast trains - 39 euros on regional trains each way - OP has several trips like this - a railpass is a no-brainer, regardless of what folks who always always without thinking say 'can you refund that pass as it is a waste of money' - disregard the Fodor mantra that if you say it enough others will believe it and repeat it as gospel.

If OP would only be traveling in the Frankfurt area then yes a railpass would be a waste of money but she is pondering many trips outside that region and even online discounts of 29 euros each way - if available and which cannot be changed nor refunded - would still be much more than a day on a railpass and not give any flexibility - how do you know exactly when you want to return from say Bamberg - flexibility IME is priceless.

texasbookworm

I do appreciate helpful feedback and answers.

I don't like when ANYONE's thread gets a bit de-railed with personal "sniping" between posters.

I learned that there are so many rail options available, at least in Germany, that it pays to do rather extensive research and see what applies to your own particular situation/style/budget/schedule. Absolutely one size does NOT fit all in this case. With my original plan, with hubby driving us around more and me only taking a few closer trips, Russ's info about the regional passes was absolutely spot on and something I hadn't run into before he alerted me to this option. It was going to be the perfect match. But then my husband's work responsibilites increased, so I am going to end up traveling alone more and if I want to see certain further-away spots, I'll do that alone. And so now the RailPass makes for me more sense.

All this to say--any body else have an answer to my original question? (and on the matter of how to pay for rail travel in Germany---do your own research carefully!)

PalenQ

8 days at $365 = $45 a day or about 35 euros a day - now that IMO is a great great deal, especially for fully flexible tickets. That is a TREMENDOUS deal IMO - you have made a very smart decision, in spite of what some, who advise refunding the pass and buying local tickets say!

and if you have a Twin Pass - two people on one pass the cost is much cheaper than the solo pass price above.

PalenQ

texas - it ain't personal it is just the old old thing about railpasses always being a waste of money that gets me - said often without thinking or knowing the real price, etc. Nothing about the guy who said it - but thread after thread after thread in any country or any topic - just tees me off a bit - not to say that at many times folks buy passes when they should not but to throw the baby out with the bathwater - sorry for getting so riled up about it -

BTW - Cochem and the Mosel Valley are gems - take a train to Cochem for the day - train tracks along the gorgeous Mosel Valley - in many ways more gorgeous than the Rhine gorge - a deep valley vineyard covered at many points - Burg Eltz, one of Germany's most famous castles, is accessible from Moselkern's train station - cochem is a picture postcard town with the castle of our dreams popping out of it - consider Cochem as well as the Rhine - if hubby can get a way for a few days Cochem can make a very romantic place to stay!

Mainhattengirl

My favorite towns to visit near Frankfurt would be Buedingen, Idstein, Seligenstadt, Mainz, Wiesbaden and Bad Homburg. A bit further afield, would be Wuerzburg, Marburg, Speyer,& Michelstadt.

I do hope you get to spend some time exploring some of the historic sites of Frankfurt, as well as its' many museums covering all sorts of subjects.

lavandula

Kloster Eberbach is a good idea. But that whole area (the Rheingau) is picturesque with lots of little vineyards and taverns, so there is more than enough to keep you going for the day. Ruedesheim is a little touristy but the rest is nice and largely unspoilt. You should also visit Schloss Johannisberg, which is a winery, and Schloss Vollrads. Eltville is a pretty town with the ruins of a castle to visit there, complete with rose garden. The train runs right through the Rheingau so it is mostly not a problem to get to these places, even though Kloster Eberbach is set a way back in the hills behind Eltville. From the station in Eltville, take bus 172 to Kloster Eberbach (runs hourly). It's also nice to hop on and off the train in the little townships and just have a poke around.

Lavandula

texasbookworm

Thanks, Mainhattengirl and lavendula. Good options for some of my days.

On the day we visit Kloster Eberbach, we will have picked up a car from Frankfurt airport and have our own wheels that day, so we will definitely also try to see some of Eltville.

Then I'll head up the Rhine by myself via the train later in the week starting with a visit to Ruedesheim because that's what I remember about starting a Rhine visit with hubby in 1988! Then the rest of that day after a tour of Rheinfels Castle, I will do as you said--hop on and off the train as time allows.

I looked at Russ's links and Buedingen does look like a good possibility. But still open to suggestions for places to see.

Russ

"...my husband will be working in Frankfurt for 2 weeks and I will accompany him. I have purchased an 8-day Rail Pass... Thanks Russ. The pass was $385. (second class)"

I had a lapse and was wrongly thinking that the TWO of you were looking for a railpass for 8 days, which would have cost about $600 for a 2nd class twinpass. Sorry for the confusion. It is true that two people can do this for much less $ than two on a railpass. One passenger would still save $ without the pass but savings are NOT so grand. And for your situation, I think there's a good case for the convenience of the railpass.

"one wonders why someone would post $600 or more as it seems that they have absolutely no clue... texas - it ain't personal it is just the old old thing about railpasses always being a waste of money that gets me - said often without thinking or knowing the real price, etc."

Oh, I'm perfectly aware of real prices and capable of thinking. In fact, I don't EVER respond to queries like texasbookworm's with a broad brush. I don't EVER invent dollar figures to make some philosophical point. Indeed, I have at times advocated railpasses when justified.

I'm not crazy enough to expect an apology from Palenque, but I'll just say that I think it would be best for all posters to withhold rude remarks about others like the one above when they really have no clue what was going through the other poster's mind. How could they, anyway?

texasbookworm: You might also look into Miltenberg.

texasbookworm

Amen to "be best for all poster to withhold rude remarks" of all sorts!

Again, thanks Russ for suggestions--ah, decisions decisions!

PalenQ

ah the pot calling the kettle black! Precious!

hhildebrandt

what about Frankfurt itself? Paulskirche, Römer, Museumsufer.

As you are a literature/history teacher: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a national daily newspaper of some tradition and reputation is made in Frankfurt. Maybe you can apply for a visit.
here: http://verlag.faz.net/mehr-ueber-die...-11091044.html

texasbookworm

Thanks, hhildebrandt. Yes, I plan at least one whole day in Frankfurt. I've not been inside the Kaiserdom or visited the Staedelsches Kunstinstitut, so those are two goals, plus maybe Paulskirche and the Römer. The newspaper visit is intriguing; I may pursue that.

PalenQ

I had a lapse and was wrongly thinking that the TWO of you were looking for a railpass for 8 days, which would have cost about $600 for a 2nd class twinpass. Sorry for the confusion. It is true that two people can do this for much less $ than two on a railpass>

Even for two people the German Twin Pass makes great sense for OP's plans - a no-brainer since Twin Passes are about 20% cheaper than solo passes per person - so two folks does not change much, especially when flexibility is desired.

That said Russ has proven to be a font of great great info on Germany (and other countries) that can only be garnered by multiple visits to the area - even with this lapse into misinformation (and unwillingess to even see that for two travelers the pass is not just convenient but a great money saver - for this person's wishes at least) I will not throw the baby out with the bath water and I often an amazed at the depth of knowledge Russ presents - I apologize for anything I may have done except putting the record straight on railpasses in this case which I still believe he/she has all wrong - in this specific case.

And texas should consider day tripping to Wurzburg, to me one of the finest and least heralded German cities - a town around which vineyards swirl and which has an inordinated collection of amazing palaces, churches, walls and monumenetal edifices.