If you could choose for easy access, and easy strolling .. which of these two towns would you choose to arrive at from 6 pm flight, stay overnight, to catch a 10 pm flight next day at FRA? ( instead of sleeping downtown frankfurt?)

two children in tow (4 and 8).

thanks.

Wiesbaden is an elegant city. A pedestrian mall with all types of stores/shops, a quiet park for strolling, a glamorous old casino, and lots of dining choices--I love it!

Cheers,

Jinx Hoover

We have stayed in Mainz several times and gone from there to Frankfurt airport for early morning flights. The trip is easy by taxi - 30 minutes max. Sorry I can't recall the cost. There is also a fast train which is very inexpensive.
We usually stay at the Hyatt which is right on the Rhine. It is interesting to see all the barge traffic. There is a big walkway promenade along the river, and if nice weather, lots of people strolling, biking and skate boarding.
The old city area is nice - near the cathedral. Pedestrian walking area. We enjoy the Weinhaus Zum Spiegel for the atmosphere and a "light" German meal.

If you are taking the train, I would recommend Mainz. The Wiesbaden bahnhof is quite a "stroll" from the the altstadt/pedestrian area. With two, young children, in tow, you would want a taxi.

We just stayed at the Schottenhof Hotel (Mainz), in Sept. 2005, and loved it. Walk out of the train station, bear right, cross the street and the hotel is only a few steps away on Schottenstrasse. It's about a 5-10 minute walk to the pedestrian zone.
Rooms were clean and comfortable and the staff was exceptionally friendly and spoke excellent english. They do have an elevator. I highly recommend it, especially considering the ease of getting to the train station.

If you want to stay on the river, I would suggest the Hilton. Great location and a wonderful hotel. Again, a taxi would be needed from the bahnhof.

Both cities afford easy strolling, but Mainz seemed more "compact" and easier to navigate. Some nice restaurants and lots of shopping in both cities.

Basically, it's a crapshoot. Wiesbaden seems a little more upscale than Mainz, but we enjoyed Mainz more. A nice, friendly city.

Val

thanks for all the info.

Will be staying at the "hilton city "near historic center of mainz, and looking forward to the christmas marketand basic strolling and a nice meal somewhere.

I hope you can arrange to go into Frankfurt while there. They have a great Christmas market as well as world class shopping along the pedestrianised Zeil.