Germany in March
 

I am trying to plan a trip to Germany for 7 or 8 family members all of whom are healthy, active, "mature" females. We will be in Dresden for 4 days, which with the exception of transportation (probably car rental), is pre-arranged. We will then go to Munich for 4 or 5 days. We could use suggestions for transporting that many people w/ luggage around Germany.

We want to "sample" Bavaria. My thought is to stay in Munich and do day trips to Salzberg, Garmish, Innsbruch, Zugspitze, Mittenwald, for example. We are undecided whether to drive ourselves or find escorted tours. Our concern about driving ourselves is wasting too much time finding parking and finding our way around once we get where we are going. Do the bus tours go to these sights in March? If so, is there a website with details. Anyone have any experience with "John's Bavarian Tours"?

We would like to stay in a 3 star hotel somewhere convenient to dining and shopping. I have read that the train station area is convenient, but somewhat "seedy." Does anyone have information on the following hotels: Intercity, Mark, Kings Hotel Center, Kings Hotel First Class, Drei Loewen Residenz, Drei Loewen Hotel or Hotel Deutsches Theater?

Although I read these discussions anytime I am planning a trip, this is my first time writing. I am finding it much harder planning for a group! Thanks for your help and for all the great tips in the past.

Some people probably feel the area around the main rail station in Munich is "seedy" because there are some Middle-Eastern take-out restaurants and a couple of "sex shops" in the immediate vicinity and it isn't quite as "prettified" as is the area around the Marienplatz.

However, the LeMeridien hotel is right across the street and that place is anything BUT "seedy."

I notice folks use that term to actually mean "I wouldn't stay there if I were you" but I have found the area to be perfectly safe in my many trips to Munich although one always has to be a bit more careful after dark.

I'm sorry I cannot comment on the specific hotels as I have never stayed in any of them. However, I do not understand why you seem to be assuming that driving or using an escorted tour is the only way to get around or see the places you mentioned. Rail would be a reasonable alternative for places such as Salzburg and Garmisch and Innsbruck although a car would give more flexibility. My only question: WHO will end up doing ALL the driving..you?

Why do you want to rent a car when in Dresden. I live in this city and use (almost) only public transportation. Very sufficient. Parking and driving in the city can be a hassle.

Cannot help on Bavaria, sorry.

Enjoy your trip,

Ingo

I would train from Dresden to Munich then get a car or cars to do the exploring in Bavaria. You can get some inexpensive walkie talkies to keep in touch with each other's cars. That way you do not have to rent a large van that will be hard to drive.

I would spend the night in Garmisch. That way it is an easy trip to see Innsbruck, the castles and other things in the area. Driving back and forth from Munich will waste too much time on the autobahn.

Get a copy of KATHY BROWN'S GERMAN INNS AND ITINERARIES for up to date suggestions on hotels and Bed and Breakfast places. We have used her a lot and the write-ups are usually "right on" as to what you will be getting.

We have stayed in the SCHWABISH AREA of Munich on a few trips that was close to the subway. You get a nice hotel in the suburb and then the subway drops you off in the middle of town. We last stayed in a nice Ramada out there that is used by American Airlines employees. This was in the early 90s.

Spend a lot of time in Bavaria. Beautiful part of Germany!

Intrepid1, Thanks for your encouragement re. train station area. I am tentatively booked at the Intercity Hotel based on a good rate and mostly positive rating from Tripadvisor... but am still checking.
I or my sister would probably do the driving. We have not driven in Europe, but enjoy driving here in the States and have never been accused of being "women drivers". (Hope no one takes offense.)

Ingo, While we are flying into Dresden, my family will be going to Grossraschen for a memorial dedication since most of our time will be there I assume we will need cars.

Bob1, some good ideas, I will look into train travel from Dresden to Munich. Hadn't thought seriously of staying outside Munich, but it might work better.

Thanks all.

We are checking in at the Meridien on Jan 25 fir three nights. Although in many cities I avoid that area, we are using Munich as a home base for several day and overnight trips and, especially with Janaury weather, I am looking for maximum convenience.

I have found the trains and planes and Germany overall to be extremely organized and on schedule. We have a Eurail Flexipass (Italy and Germany) and decided against a car this trip. If I were in Germany in the summer and for a longer duration, I probably would have chosen the car, but I have had good experience with European trains in general and German trains in particular.

I have read that there are excellent lockers at the main train station and we plant to avail ourselves of those.

Just my two cents - While German trains are efficient, clean and nice, I don't find them to be much of a bargain. If you're under 25 and traveling alone or with just one other person, rail passes are worthwhile, but when travelling as a group, renting a car is much more cost efficient and gives you much more freedom to visit out-of-the-way places like the Wieskirche just up the road from Neuschwanstein or to pop across the border into Austria for Mozart chocolates or liquors. Gas isn't cheap, but request a diesel (diesel fule is much cheaper in Europe than regular) vehicle.

If you want to visit the Innsbruck area, stay in Berchtesgaden, Germany and daytrip into Salzburg. With a vehicle you can safely motor around the Rossfeld road up above Berchtesgaden. On a clear day you can see far into Austria. You can also pose with one foot in Germany and the other in Austria. Not far away is the famous Ramsau church used in every snowy poster depicting Bavaria. After traipsing around in the snow and cold have a Gluhwein to warm up!

Zeus,

I just did not understand the last bit: The Innsbruck area is not the Salzburg area. Thus, staying in Berchtesgaden does not make much sense when inclined to go to Innsbruck. Salzburg, on the other hand, is jsut a half hour drive by car from Berchtesgaden.

I would definitely not take the advice of driving the Rossfeld Ring Strasse in March unless you have a strong death wish. If you take a tour and the bus driver knows that the road is safe for travel, that's different!