hey guys, <BR>i would be going to south germany and would love to seek your advice on which places not to miss while there. My emphasis is on south germany and switzerland as , according to lonely planet book, going to north from south germany is costly(around 200 DM) . I would be on a tight budget, being a student. <BR>still...don't wanna miss the lovely places...what is the best thing to do???

hi there, <BR>dont miss Freiburg and the lovely surroundings "Kaiserstuhl" and "Black Forest". Even the "Bodensee", the biggest lake in Germany is worth to take a look. Specialy there "Mainau, Meersburg, Lindau..." <BR>If You wanne flea the tourists, go to the valley of the River Danube (Donau) in the region of "Sigmaringen". Visit the monastier of Beuron there, Zwiefalten (with a very good beer) and Ulm with the highest churchtower in the world. <BR> <BR>Have fun

On a "tight budget"? When you see the signs that point towards Switzerland, head the other way! <BR>

Rex, it's time to ask why you're so prejudiced against Switzerland? <BR> <BR>The best parts of the country are less expensive, by far, than the tourist magnets of Rome, Paris, London. <BR> <BR>It's easy to get a bed with a drop-dead view of the Jungfrau and Eiger for just $15/night. <BR> <BR>Is it time to moderate your distaste a bit, against the risk that you might lead some folks astray? <BR> <BR>Ed

Gee, Ed, I thought I already HAD moderated my views of Switzerland since I first came here to this board! <BR> <BR>And in the context of the question asked, I stick by my opinion that a "tight budget" will fare better in Germany than in Switzerland. <BR> <BR>Comparing Rome, Paris and London to Swiss destinations is an apples-and-oranges comparison unless one is comparing Switzerland's big cities. And I stick by my opinion that if one is going to incur those big budget hotel expenses, there is far better bang for the buck in many cities (R, P and L included) than in Zurich, Geneva, Basel or Lucerne. <BR> <BR>I do make an effort to tell others (in my real life, face-to-face world) that I am simply not as knowledgeable about Switzerland as I am about all the countries that touch it. And there are places in Switzerland I would like to see (or see again), including St. Gallen, Montreux and/or Chateau Chillon, and huge chunks of the Switzerland that you seem to like best. There are also places that I have enjoyed recently or sometime in the past - - including one of the finest restaurants I ever visited in the Domaine de Châteauvieux (part of the Romantik Hotel chain), in Satigny, just outside Geneva. <BR> <BR>If the questioner had asked how best to stretch a tight budget headed to northern Germany and Denmark, I would suggest avoiding Denmark just as much. It's simply more expensive, in the context of what you "get". <BR> <BR>It's an opinion, nothing more. I will keep trying to find those parts of Switzerland that have been a pleasure to you - - and apparently, provide the good value you have found them to be. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

How much time do you have to spend there? What sort of budget are you on? Where will you be coming from?

Paige, <BR> <BR>I would be there for 3 months and would have around 500 marks to spare per month. advice requested. <BR> <BR>Tushar.

You can go wherever you want and stay in hostels for little money. Definitely go to Switzerland! Do you know about the bargain train tickets available on Deutsche Bahn for travel within Germany? Will you have a base or will you be traveling for 3 months and what time of year are you going? <BR>

Hi Again, <BR> <BR>I am gonna have a flat provided by the company, so no headaches about hostels. I will be staying in a small town (I think so!) called Emmendingen which is about 20 kms from Freiberg. <BR> <BR>I would be there from May-July. How much does Freiberg-Zurich cost....coz I have this fascination for the town....which I suppose is justified! <BR> <BR>Tush.

dearest tushar, <BR> i will tell you one thing. when you go to south germany dont think of it as a tour idiot. you are going there to work in a company and so better think about that only. but if you really want to visit some great places in south germany then you should go these two places : Patna and jhantnagar <BR>these two places are really cool. <BR>wish you best of luck for your trip. <BR>have a nice time. <BR>bye <BR>khatarnak

khatarnak, <BR> <BR>very nice of you to be so concerned about my work....but lemme have some fun too. <BR>

hey tush, <BR> i agree. why not have fun? <BR> maderchod ho tum gand ke pakode ho. <BR> you are lucky that you are going to south of germany and so you can easily go to switzerland. <BR> what would suggest that if you are touring with your friends then it would surely cost little less. so tell me if your friends are also going. and also if they are staying with you. if they are not where they are staying. if you can tell me these details i thnk i can help you a lot. <BR> teri maa ki chut <BR> take care <BR>bye <BR>dhamak singh

<BR> <BR>Tushar, <BR> <BR>you should consider to go to a "Mitfahrzentrale" in Freiburg. A "Mitfahrzentrale" is a kind of agency for arranged hitch-hiking. It is not free ( you pay a small fee to the agency and share the petrol cost ), but it is much safer and more reliable than "normal" hitch-hiking since the drivers are registered with the agency. Many "Mitfahrzentralen" have web sites. Just do a web search for "Mitfahrzentrale" and "Freiburg" to find out what is possible. Unsurprisingly, these pages will be in German ... <BR> <BR>Regards, Jochen <BR>