Hello, we will take the train to Frankfurt Main Station before we head home from Frankfurt airport(FRA). The train arrives at 7:39pm and the flight leaves at noonish the next day. Can anyone suggest where we should stay for the night? I just don't know how to handle this awkward period of time? Is it possible we see the city a bit before the flight? Any comments are appreicated!

Take the train to Mainz. There are lots of small hotels across the plaza from the train station in Mainz, and a great old-stadt section for walking around in; restuarants with outdoor seating.

The next morning, it is a quick hop to Frankfurt airport station from Mainz.

In your position, I have found over time that the most convenient (although not the least expensive) way is to stay at the Steigenberger Avance Airport Hotel at FRA. The hotel has a free shuttle to the terminal(s) (10min). If after checking into the hotel you want to go into the city, take the shuttle to the terminal and hop on the S-Bahn (suburban train) to the Frankfurt main station (Ffm. Hbf.) From there you can take streetcars or sub-ways to the Hauptwache, the main shopping district and within walking distance to the Roemer and old city center, or to the Schweizer Platz in Sachsenhausen to partake in the "Gemuetlichkeit" of the apple wine bistros along Schweizerstrasse.

This way, on the next day, you are close enough to the airport to make sure to catch your plane.

I will second the Mainz suggestion. It's a beautiful small town just minutes by train from the airport. If you don't know Frankfurt, you will not be able to see anything in that short time. By the time you check in at the airport hotel, take the train to Frankfurt, it will be around 9pm. Don't see a point in doing that.

Mainz is a very walkable old town.

Without getting into an argument Mainz vs. Frankfurt airport hotel, I forgot to mention that there is a hotel, the Sheraton, right in the airport. However, I found it much more expensive than my favorite (Steigenberger Avance) and- unless they have instituted a shuttle to other terminals since I last stayed there - I found having to take the intra-terminal train a pain when I had a lot of luggage.

Thanks for your help! I like the idea of Mainz. It looks like it's only around 20 minutes train ride. Now, we have select passes. Can we just use these passes to get on any avaialbe train connecting to Mainz from Frankfurt Main station? Do we have to pay extras?

I would think that your Select passes would be honored, usually they are good on S-bahn, but only on a day where you are counting a day of travel. Therefore, it will work when you arrive by train to Frankfurt Main.

The next day when you travel from Mainz to the airport you will need to pay for tickets, unless you still have a day of travel left on your SelectPass.

I assume when you state that the train is coming into Frankfurt Main Station that you are referring to the airport. If that is so, then here are the directions that I have from my notes.

From the airport take the S8 RMV train toward Weisbaden. Price is 3.30 Euros each one way. There is a travel center located in the airport near the train area. The railway station is located below Terminal 1, below level 0 (Area B).

Take the S8 RMV train toward Weisbaden. This operates from platform 3 of the regional station in Terminal 1. Please select tariff zone 65 on the RMV ticket machine for Mainz. There is a fast-selection button for single tickets to Mainz/Wiesbaden, marked 'Einzelfahrt nach Mainz / Wiesbaden'

BTW, we are doing this next month. We're staying in Mainz one night on both the inbound and outbound journey to Germany. Hope this helps.

I understand that there is a hotel courtesy phone at the airport. From there you can call Holiday Inn Express. They have a shuttle service to the airport. I have seen the rate of 49 Euros quoted. This includes breakfast.

Thank you DeeDee and Haxter for all the informations.