I have a stop in Mainz for 2 days prior to a motocycle tour in Germany, France and Luxembourg. Will be there in summer. Any ideas appreciated.

Well, for one thing, you'll be right at the top of the most scenic part of the Rhine. Take a k-d.com cruise from Mainz to Koblenz.

Feeling flush money-wise? If so, book one of the grand Hyatt rooms (at the Hyatt)..ask for one of the corner rooms with the huge wrap-around balcony which overlooks the Rhine. If you were any closer you'd be swimming.

We'll be stopping in Mainz in October on our trip to Germany to visit the Romanesque Kaiserdom (as well as the ones in Speyer & Worms). I also want to visit the Church of St. Stephan to check out the blue Chagall windows. And if we have time, the next stop will be the Gutenburg Museum. Peace, Robyn >-

The Mainz part of the Rhine isn't cruise-worthy... take a train up to Bingen and proceed north from there on the K-D boats for a truly scenic boat ride. Make a day of it and tour Marksburg Castle in Braubach, Bacharach, Boppard.

Mainz' old town is nice for wine bars, cafes, etc. - located just south of the Dom.

2 other ideas: spend an afternoon strolling through Wiesbaden - very pretty parks.

take the train to Heidelberg.

I like the visual contrast provided by starting at Mainz (where the terrain is fairly flat), then coming around the corner at Rüdesheim to see the beginning of the gorge in all its glory.

If you want to start with dessert, get on at Bingen.