bettyk

Aramis, what does it matter to YOU if I helped the OP or not?

My point was that ALL of those areas are worth visiting -- multiple times in fact. That's why we keep going back.

I'm sorry if you are so hung up on your dislike of ME that you couldn't understand that.
-----------------------------

Paul, any plans to go back this year?

Aramis

Betty;

I don't dislike you - I don't even know you. And since Germany is the favourite destination of both of us, how unlikeable could you even be?

I just think that Trip Reports are the place for your listings all the places you have been how many times, all the wonderful places you have stayed, and for putting links to your travel photos.

You have some great advice to give but it gets muddled up in what amounts to the online equivalent of inviting people to look at your home movies and photo albums when all they asked for something else. It just rings of too much "Do what I did!" at times.

With respect to the reason you just gave for providing your original response in the thread, the OP expressed their own confusion about where to go with so many choices. Your answer, apart from tallying up all your adventures for us, essentially said "I am always confused about where to go because it's all so wonderful". That was no help, so the purpose of your post was simply to extol your adventures for all.

Just my opinion.

bettyk

Aramis, your opinion means nothing to me as mine obviously means nothing to you.

Also, I am not the ONLY poster to provide photos and trip reports to people when they ask about an area. To me, it is a great way for them to see WHY we liked a place so much.

I am proud of our photos. My husband has been recognized several times for his work, which is not so easy when you have thousands of people posting photos on a particular website.

Again, I don't know WHY you felt compelled to comment about my response but not that of pja1, whose responses are almost identical to mine on many threads.

pja1

Hi lovlimoncello,

With 2 weeks and a car, you can do just about everything on your list. In my response here, I'm ommiting the Black Forest region as we've never been there.

I'd recommend flying into Frankfurt and out of Munich. We did this in Oct. 2007 and shouldn't be any more expensive than flying r/t from either.

My intinerary would look something like this:
Fly to Frankfurt
Drive from Frankfurt to either the Rhine or Mosel (we prefer the Mosel) and stay 3 nights. I'd suggest Cochem as a base. From here, Burg Eltz, Zell, Trier, Bernkastel and Beilstein are easy to see.

Drive to the RR and stay in Rothenburg for 2 nights. Rothenburg is touristy, but in the evening after the crowds have left it's magical.

Drive to the Fuessen area or maybe 2 nights. See "Mad" King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein castle, Hohenschwangau castle "next door" (Ludwig;s bothood home) and ride the "luge" and/or take the cable car 1 mile away at Tegelberg.

Drive over to Hall in Tirol, Austria and stay 2 nights. Lovely old town with an Alpine backdrop. From here, Innsbruck is 15 min. away.

Drive to the Berchtesgaden area for 3 nights. We love staying in Ramsau. From here Berchtesgaden is 10 minutes away, Konigsee 15 min., Jennerbahn cable car 15 min., Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) 20 min. and Salzburg 30 min.

Drive to Munich

That's 12 nights. You could probably add the Black Forest or a night or 2 in Munich before flying home.


We have photo's at:

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html


If interested, we have 2 "Trip Reports" at:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ith-photos.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-austria.cfm

Hope this helps.

Paul

Betty,
No plans for Europe this year
But I said that early last year also... you never know how things will go.

pja1

Hey betty, just read you last post... I agree with you 100%. It gives a better insight into why you like these places and the photo's, IMO, are a great way to see the area through another traveler.

I think I'm being "snubbed" by Aramis!

bettyk

Thanks, Paul. I think snubbed is preferable to the above.

Strange how we seem to like so many of the same places!

logos999

Grumpy old foreign folks fighting about how many times they were here and what are the best areas to visit.

Now that's something I do like ;-). Now do give me some good advice for sunday. Do I have to go to Austria (again) to shop and "watch the Dutch" or better find a more interesting local place. It'll be a bright and sunny day tomorrow! The last few days of winter.

Paragkash

Hi lovlimoncello,
pja1 has a point. Make use of the open jaw ticket which I find is a very effective tool.
Land at Frankfurt and fly out of Munich.

I would leave Austria for the next visit.
I think Austria is a microcosm of Europe.
Europe in a Nutshell and deserves many more dedicated visits.

I am in love with Salzburg, so much so, that I have toyed with an idea of buying a summer holiday home there or in Salzkamargut region. (There are no taxes on dreams!!! Hahaha)

Concentrate on Germany and you would be handsomely rewarded.
You may visit Salzburg on a day trip from Berchtegaden.

I would do it this way..
1. Mainz or Cochem 2 nights ( Rhine & Mosel valley)
2. Heidelburg ( atleast 1 night) You can compare it to Salzburg or Prague. Straight out of a fairytale.
3. Romantic strasse - 2 nights
4. Berchtesgaden- 3 nights- Chiemsee on the way(Ramsau, koningsee)
5. Mittenwald- 2 nights
6. Fussen - 2 nights
7. Lindau- 2 nights
8. Munich- 2/3 nights ( Don't miss Dacau concentration camp- a moving experience which my change the way one looks at life)

That makes it 16/17 nights.
If you start on a Friday, you can get 3 weekends and 2 weeks- which makes it 16-17 days.

Atleast you would have seen the most beautiful part in Germany, rather than trying to rope in Austria.
This doesn't even complete Bavaria fully. But German towns and villages are to be experienced at a slow pace. Slower the better.
You can call it an orientation tour which cn help you decide, where to spend more time on your next visit.

Wherever you go, these two weeks are going to be one of the best and most memorable ones in your life.

Have a great trip!

pja1

Hi again,

The reason I included Austria (Hall in Tirol) is that it is SO close to Bavaria and a logical and beautiful place to stay between Fuessen and the Berchtesgaden/Salzburg area. Perhaps it's just me, but I find there's a "fine geographical line" between Germany's Bavaria and Austria's Tirol.

Paul

logos999

If you visit Berchtesgaden, you must at least listen to this Fredl Fesl song about the king visiting the area and the yodeling people there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEb7wtaMv0Y

Betsy

I found this website invaluable when planning one of our (several) trips to Bavaria. Ben used to post on this board, but I haven't seen him around for a while.

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/

logos999

Although his musical taste is questionable ;-), Bens site is just brilliant. All the info you need!

Shanna

Hi luvlimoncello (I love it too!). I've been only twice, once on a Christmas market tour that ran out of Munich. Great fun but really cold. I enojoyed wandering around that city, especially the Englischer Garten. The second trip I wanted to visit the town my father's family emigrated from - Freinsheim on the Wine Strasse. I went in October, flew into Frankfort and drove west. Short drive - probably less than two hours. At that time of year, it was quite lovely, the grapes picked and the vines glorious in colors of reds and oranges and yellow. Lots of Germans there - not particularly a big American tourist attraction. Plenty of small quaint towns, very very friendly people, some Roman ruins and some great medieval cities close by. My minor was in medieval history, so I can't choose the best city, but really enjoyed most the small towns, each with their own little wine or beer festival. Had some of the traditional first press - VERY strong - and the little cheese tart - dang - can't remember what it was called. Since I was alone, I couldn't partake of the wine as much as I would have liked but the area was so pretty with the Hunsruck (sp) mountains as a backdrop I was able to drink in all the scenery I wanted. The weather was warm during the day, cool at night, no crowds, although the weekend brought out the locals in bunches. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time. I was astounded at how friendly, kind and helpful the Germans were - even with someone whose German is limited to a pitiful "Ich spreche nein Deutch!" Even when I got lost, they wanted so patiently for me to turn around - no horns or dirty looks.

Aramis

logos;

Who you calling old?

Sometimes you're a pip, too, ;-) but always entertaining.

logos999

I'm young and strong and full of life . Always.

scrb

What is the best approach to a first trip to the area? Probably would be flying into MUC but assuming most of the areas listed in this thread are well beyond Munich proper.

It would be for a week trip, probably arrive on a Sunday afternoon, fly back home Friday or Saturday.

Is a car needed or does train and bus connections get you to a lot of these places?

Aramis

betty;

Okay, the "why" seemed pretty clear when I wrote it and read it back, but I will try again (last time - I don't want to keep rolling in the muck).

You were not responsive to the OP's request (in this instance).

It is annoying to read about how many times you have been where.

You try and direct people to places you like - from specific places right on to specific hotels - when they have asked about other places.

It is annoying to see you show off your husbands photos when it is not relevant to the thread.

Put another way, it seems to me that you are seeking validation of your own experiences as opposed to providing on point, helpful, advice.

You will see it another way and those who also seek that validation will agree with you and think I am a cad. There are those who agree with me, too.

You have some good advice to give, certainly - it's just the delivery.

I know, I know - you don't care and why don't I pick on others too. Do you see the need for validation in that type of response (your last post directed to me) to the points I raised?

Cindywho

Wow, it seems to me, other than one sentence, that nothing Aramis posted is in response to the OP's question either?

pja1

Aramis,

I'd find it very hard to recommend places that I didn't visit and like. What other "first hand knowledge" can one respond with? After reading bettyk's post again, I don't see how it's "off topic", as the topic was pretty broad the way I read it.

Enough already. Take the bickering to where it belongs... the lounge!

Paul

LSky

My goodness! I'm glad I was too lazy to answer the question properly.

Aramis
I’ve been to all of those places too but Betty was kind enough to type lots. I don’t think anyone here is bragging if they say they’ve been to many places. It’s a travel forum, not a letter to a poor cousin. Going places and talking about the places we’ve been is often what we do around here. Remember?