We are now looking at hotel options instead of apartments in the Berchtesgaden area, since we will not have a car and need to be near public transportation.

I've looked at a few websites - does anyone have a recommendation? There will be 3 adults - we can share a room or take adjoining rooms if possible. Something as inexpensive as possible yet clean.

I've looked at the Wittelsbach and the Watzmann..any comments on these?

Thank you!

Would you consider Salzburg to be in the Berchtesgaden area?

Hmmm...I never considered it but why not? We were going to make a day trip to Salzburg anyway. How do the hotel rates compare?

Rates should be comparable, but there are more options in the Salzburg area.

We loved the Wittelsbach. Friendly staff, great breakfast and we had a lovely room at a good price (84 Euro). We spent 3 nights there last September and would go back in a heartbeat.

I will be staying at Hotel Wittelsbach for two nights in early September. If you have not traveled by that time, I'll share my experience with you.

Sounds great scatcat -
We won't be going until May 2009.

Thanks bettyk - do you remember how far it was to the train station or a bus stop?

Hi Gina!

I'm not familiar with this hotel, but according to the website its only about a 10 minute walk from the train station. You may want to find out if its up one of the hills or not...some of the roads going up through the old part of town are fairly steep. The hotel does look lovely!

http://www.hotel-wittelsbach.com/anfahrt_engl.htm

Tracy

Hey Tracy!

Thanks for that info. I was hoping to get a 2 bedroom apartment for our time near Berchtesgaden, but they all seem to be out of range from public transportation. I guess that's one of the cons of not having a car.

It's so hard deciding on accomodations from a website. Sometimes it's not always as presented. That's why I thought I would post for some personal recommendations.

Thanks again!

Gina

I completely understand! Usually we have pretty good experiences, but you never know. We just stayed in a hotel in Charleston this past weekend that was terrible! Fodors is great for that.

That hotel looks very charming and nice, and I know bettyk is very familiar with the area and always gives helpful advice.

Good luck!
Tracy

swisschocolate, while we didn't use public transportation, I remember walking out of the Hotel Wittelsbach to the right and across the street there was a small grocery store. I remember that next to the store I looked down the hill and could see the train station. I think there might have even been some steps or a walkway leading down the hill.

I'll do some more research and see if I can come up with a good answer for you. The Wittelsbach website says they are a 10 minute walk to the train station.

Another thing we really liked about the Wittelsbach is they have an elevator. We got really tired of climbing stairs in hotels after awhile!! Oh, there is also a laundry in the building next door. We never got around to using it, but it's a definite plus when travelling.

Thanks bettyk - even if there is a bus stop close by, that would be great.

OK, I googled a map of Berchtesgaden. If you zoom in really close and find Maximilianstrasse where the Wittelsbach is located, you'll be able to find Bahnhofstrasse. There is a road off of Max. called Bahnhofweg that seems to lead down to the train tracks. If you click on the Satellite version, you can actually see the train station, etc.

Anyway, maybe the hotel can give you more information.

We stayed here and enjoyed it. Walked to the bus station as we were heading to Salzburg upon leaving.

http://www.hotelbavaria.net/index1_e.htm

Should also mention we decided to get rid of our rental car early (drove here from Oberammergau) when we saw we were within walking distance to the bus station. Took the bus to Lake Konigsee and we were also able to walk to the departure point for our bus tour to Hitler's Eagles Nest.

Have a great trip.

We stayed at Hotel Wittlesbach last year and we liked it and would stay there again. We had a car so didn't take the train, but I don't remember seeing it so so it may have been down the hill from the hotel. You might be able to contact the hotel and ask them on their website.

Hi all-
Looks like the Hotel Bavaria is 400m from the train station. This may be our answer!

The rooms look nice online. I've emailed them for a price.

Thanks for your help -
swiss

I stayed at Berchtesgaden in fall '05 at a truly delightful spot, the Hotel Alpenhof www.alpenhof.de. In fact, when I got there, I changed my travel plans to stay an extra day. The place was so relaxing with places to hike, swimming pools, and a massage service. Also, the air is so unbelievably wonderful that there is an asthma clinic up there (I am asthmatic so I appreciated that!). Food very good and staff wonderfully friendly. I stayed there 3 nights (single) for about 100EE each night (included breakfast; high season rate, deluxe room). It looks like rates haven't changed much (i.e., they have better rates than I paid). I did have a car (great for going to Konningsee, Eagle's Nest and all environs), so you'd need to check with the hotel about how to manage that. I have tried to plan an upcoming trip to Germany (fall '09) so I can back and stay at the Alpenhof; it was such a treat.

I think that it would be hard to find a hotel in B'gaden that isn't nice!
If I were without a car, I would want to have something right in town. The Hotel Bavaria is a bit of a walk to the center. While true that it is 400m from the train station, it's a bit down the hill from the center.
I would choose the Wittlesbach, Hotel Post,Hotel Watzmann, or the Vier Jahreszeitin. If money were no object, the Vier Jahreszeitin would be my first pick!
My honest opinion is that you can do better with a car. There are many beautiful spots in the outlying areas where you can get rooms much cheaper.
Good luck!