Hey deessel,

I could recommend a daytrip to Lübeck (1 hr north of Hamburg). It's close to the Baltic Sea, very old and very charming.

I have booked the InterCity Hotel Hauptbahnhof for 3 nights...thanks again hsv!

We have also decided to stop in Bamberg for a night on our drive to Munich.

I am just waiting to hear back from Hotel Brudermühle in regards to room availability.

Any other hotel suggestions for onw night in Bamberg?

Here are some accomodations in the under 100 Euro range that you can check out thru Bamberg's website:
http://www.bamberg.info/www_tks/sear...16_146_2_f.htm

Hotel Garni Cafe Graupner
Ibis
Weierich
Zum Dominikaner
ZumSpatz

There are less expensive options as well that you can search for using the website. We tried to get lodgings in one of the brewery-inns our last trip, but it was booked (Fassla).

Trip Update:

We have booked the Fassla brewery/hotel for 1 night.

In addition we just booked 3 nights in Munich at the Tryp Hotel.

Thanks again to everyone for the comments/recommendations.

May I enquire what the rate at the Tryp is ?

Have a great trip - I think your preparation almost guarantees it!

HSV:

The rate we have at the Tryp hotel is $82.00 (US Dollars) a night which includes breakfast.

We were able to find this rate through Orbitz.

Have you stayed at this hotel before?

No. Haven't stayed there. This was merely out of curiosity. I just had heard that there is a Dorint Novotel (City) in Haidhausen which is supposed to be fairly nice and modern and which also supposedly is rather reasonable. It cannot beat the rate you got at the Tryp (which I know nothing about), however.

hsv:

Is there a particular day you suggest my wife and I go to the DOM?

We will be in Hamburg on Friday evening (March 31st), all day Saturday and all day Sunday.

Right now we are leaning towards going on Sunday since the shops and such will be closed.

Coming to think about your trip, i might have one more suggestion for your trip to Stade.

The ordinary route would take you via State Road (Bundesstraße) B 73. This is a rather dull drive - and it's one of Germany's most dangerous stretches of road. It's only one lane in each direction for the most part and there is a load of lorries on their way to Cuxhaven, which is why the drive can be tediously slow.

My alternative suggestion would be as follows:

Coming from Hamburg airport get onto the A 7 Autobahn South.

Make it through the Elb-Tunnel and get off at Waltershof (first exit after the tunnel).

Follow South parallel to the Autobahn on Finkenwerder Str. and Waltershofer Str.

Turn right into Moorburger Elbdeich.

Stay on that road and enjoy travelling through extensive fields of apple and other fruit trees through one of Germany's biggest fruit growing areas by the name of "Altes Land" (Old Land). There are a couple of nicely restored farm houses and overall this is much more scenic than the B 73 (and is not considerably slower).

After the town of Mittelnkirchen,

follow either straight on in the direction of Dollern and continue for the rest on B 73 into Stade,

or

turn right and follow the fruit route (Obstmarschenweg) via Steinkirchen and Hollern-Twielenfleet also into Stade (I'd opt for the second option).

BTW this, of course will only make sense if it is done in daylight.

Friday and Saturday nights on Dom should be more crowded. I don't think Sunday is a bad idea at all.