I am planning a 6-day trip to southern germany next month. What is the best base-location? If Munich, Garmisch, Black Forest, Berchtesgadener and Rhine River are in the list, what is the ideal route?

The Rhine part complicates the matter. I would otherwise pick Munich

Black Forest is also a relative non-fit. Ideal route? It's like you have asked for ideal route to see San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, Big Sur and Santa Barbara all in six days.<BR><BR>You're going to need a helicopter to do this from a "base".<BR><BR>I don't mean to sound smart alecky. Southern Germany (which doesn't really even include the "Rhine river cruise region") is just a lot bigger than you realize.<BR><BR>Is trans-atlantic travel to Germany part of this six-day trip? I'd say make it two areas (or even just one) only: Bavaria (could include Garmisch and Berchtesgaden) or Black Forest (could include Rhine river cruise region).<BR><BR>And be prepared to do a lot of highway time, hauling major ass, even if you cut your aspirations in half.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Fly into Munich and head to Garmisch. Spend a few days there as there is plenty to see. Then head to Rhine and do your one day cruise and fly out of Frankfurt. Only way to handle your agenda without too much time in a car.<BR><BR>If you go into and out of Munich skip the Rhine and do half in Berchtesgaden and half in Garmisch and then out of Munich. Garmisch to Munich airport is an easy drive.

topping<BR>

Is a helicopter a real and serious option for touring Europe? Not all that interested in Germany, but it seems like some of the properties in Small Luxury Hotels do list a heli-pad. How can you travel around France like this? Or was it just a joke of a suggestion, as far as tourists go?<BR><BR>Who uses those heli-pads?<BR><BR>

But I'd love to know the answer to this too. I have definitely seen at least one hotel with a helipad, somewhere near Versailles.<BR>

Jimmy, are you serious? Do you have a detailed map of the area so you can understand where those places are? And how will you travel---air, train, bus, car, on foot? Mode of travel affects routing, you know, not to mention travel time. Where will you land when you arrive, and where will you leave when you leave? Do you really want a single base location, or do you need to simply move from one place to another for a night or two? It seems to me that your questions are too open-ended to be able to address them with any level of detail. Maybe you should do a litle more planning and then repost your questions, making them more specific.

I actually HAVE seen the helipad at Chateau d'Esclimont. My suggestion was not really serious, but I guess it's a legitimate question. I suspect that most helicopter travel is fairly short range, and I bet that rich Parisians, for example, who use one for a special occasion commute, pay thousands for it, and it takes them back the next day (or two later). In other words, not point-to-point "touring".<BR><BR>I believe that there is a certain amount of high-end "executive" helicopter transport in and around NYC (or there was before Septemeber 11, perhaps - - still?) - - but I have never heard of it for point-to-point travel. Maybe they would go as far as Newport or Nantucket though.<BR>

ttt<BR>