dutyfree

Hoping that my Fodors friends can help-
My son is coming from India to Frankfurt for a week's business course at the Frnakfurt Business School the last week of August 2008.He plans on coming in a week early to meet "his loving family" to travel around. We are flying in from the states and meeting him in Frankfurt but want to rent a car and see the surrounding area as it has been almost 20 years since we were last there.

My question is-are there any favorite spots that you would recommend our family reconnecting? We would have about 6 days together.

AutoEurope or someone else for rental car?

Hotel recommendations for 4 that are moderate-"kids" are 23 and 26.Any by the airport that you like for one night?
I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions as I usually don't fly Germany so am clueless. Thanks!

tribi

We will be staying for one night at the Holiday Inn Express Airport 65 Euros for 3 people.

dutyfree

Thanks Tribi-will check into that especially since I am a Priority member. Anyone else with some help?

dfr4848

We enjoyed Mainz/Weisbaden. About 30 minutes from FRA.

quokka

If you want a really romantic fairytale old town, with half-timbered houses, a castle and everything, that is NOT overrun by tourists, check out my dear old Marburg.

traveller1959

Close to Frankfurt:

- Königstein.
- Saalburg.
- Kloster Eberbach in Oestrich-Winkel.
- Rüdesheim (Rhein).
- Mainz.
- Wiesbaden.
- Heidelberg.
- Marburg.
- Fulda.
- Würzburg.
- Speyer.
- The whole Rhein valley.
- Köln (1 hour by train).

bettyk

There are soooo many wonderful places in that general area. Some we have visited:

The Mosel/Rhine River areas. We have stayed in Bacharach on the Rhine, Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel and Beilstein on the Mosel. We have also visited Trier on the Mosel, the oldest city in Germany with some amazing Roman ruins. We have stayed at the Rhine Hotel in Bacharach, the Hotel Haus Lipmann in Beilstein, and the Binz Hotel in Bernkastel Kues. I can recommend them all.

Wurzburg area: In addition to Wurzburg, there are Miltenberg, Wertheim, Karlstadt -- all on the Main River. From here you can travel down the Romantic Road and visit Noerdlingen, Dinkelsbuehl and/or Rotenburgh ob der Tauber.

Heidelberg area: Heidelberg as well as Bad Wimpfen, Schwaebisch Hall and all the lovely little towns on the Neckar River. Speyer and its Cathedral is also close by.

If you are interested, you can see our Germany photos albums listed below as well as our trip reports on Fodor's:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/561038806XxDcvw

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35079647

http://travel.webshots.com/album/554510509SyxotU

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34813676

http://travel.webshots.com/album/354616542PMkPVQ

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34625250

Vttraveler

As others have described, there are many options within a short distance of Frankfurt. You might try a route looping east to the Würzburg area described by bettyk (other places along the Main worth a stop are Michelstadt, Amorbach abbey, Eulbach Park) then south to Rothenburg then west to the Neckar valley especially Bad Wimpfen, then north back to Frankfurt

bettyk

Vttraveler, that sounds like a great itinerary! And should be easily covered in 6 days.

Russ

These posters are right - there are many lovely places and it will be hard to choose. Be careful you don't spend your time just driving around.
My suggestion would be to rent an apartment for 3-4 days in maybe two distinct spots. You'll be MUCH more comfortable than in tight quarters and you'll have a built-in place to enjoy each other's company. It will cost less than individual rooms as well. Then do some daytrips from wherever you are to nearby places of interest.

The Würzburg area was mentioned several times - a good choice. I like stately Bamberg a lot; it's an easy matter to daytrip from there to W'burg, Nuremberg, or Rothenburg by train. My family stayed at this well-equipped, well-located apartment a few years back; there was easy foot access to the downtown.

www.die-fewo.de/index.php?lang=en

I would also second a stay on the Mosel River or on the Rhine. On the Rhine, We've stayed at this place in St. Goar - it is very comfortable and has a great view of the river and the vineyards and castle on the opposite side; it's also in an ideal town for exploring the region:

http://www.mittelrhein-ferienwohnung...iew/index.html

My favorite apartment on the Mosel no longer rents out . But you'll get some ideas here (mostly rooms):

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/accommo...hinemosel.html

and here for apartments:

http://www.accommodation.de/List.asp...Region=Moselle

Aparments are the German way of travel for many families - you'll find by visiting a given town's website that these "Ferienwohnungen" are numerous and that the towns either book them for you or keep an online list with contact info.

Suggested centrally-located Mosel towns for travel by car: Cochem (lovely old town, largest of the villages but still quite small, great for just strolling around, many tourist services), Bullay, Zell. Stay in any of these towns and trips by car to Trier, Bernkastel, Beilstein, Luxembourg, or some of the Rhine villages are all quite easy.

Jake1

Our favorites are Bamberg (to the east) and the Mosel River valley to the west.

In Bamberg we liked the Hotel Brudermuehle located in the middle of the Altstadt on the banks of the Regnitz River where it meets the Main River.

Along the Mosel River we had a wonderful stay at Hotel Haus Lipmann in Beilstein (a VERY small town).

Both hotels have very good restaurants with outdoor dining available overlooking their respective rivers.

dutyfree

Keep the suggestions coming as I am emailing all of them to check availability-some have written to say that they are full. I was kinda hoping that by the last week of August alot of people in Europe would be off of their vacations?

Going to Prague tomorrow for work so will check this when I get back.
Thanks everyone!

dutyfree

I have secured reservations at the Haus Lipmann in Beilstein and it looks great but before I confirm it with the credit card I wanted to know if anyone thought that Beilstein was too quiet and slow for a 23 and 26 year traveling with their folks? I can also stay across the river in Cochem but it is almost 85 euros more a night-we will have a car.Thanks!

bettyk

It IS pretty quiet. There are a several hotels, cafes and restaurants along with some shops. And there is the Castle, the Carmelite Church and the Jewish Cemetery to explore during the day.

There is a wine cellar restaurant, the Zehnthauskeller right behind the Haus Lipmann (also owned by a Lipmann I believe) that has live music on the weekend I believe. I'm sure there is some nightlife but probably not much.

But it is one of the prettier towns on the Moselle. Perhaps you could drive to Cochem one evening for a night out?

Jake1

Beilstein is small and quiet. However, none of the towns along the Mosel is exactly party central.

DAX

Your kids will probably like staying in the friendly metropolitans like Koln or Dusseldorf however those cities are not oozing with traditional german atmosphere. I would recommend Heidelberg because it is a quaint student town/city with a lot of nightlife. Plenty of traditional german atmosphere but very youthful and perhaps even rowdy.

bettyk

DAX, I think dutyfree is leaving tomorrow.

Hope you are enjoying your trip!

lucybell1

bookmarking- thanks.