Mosel on My Mind...Ever Stay at These Accommodations?
 

Dear Folks,

I'm planning a next summer trip to Germany's Mosel region, and considering a stay at the following accommodations:

In Beilstein, Altes Zollhaus (as an alternative, the Hotel Haus Lipmann, also located in Beilstein);

In Bernkastel-Kues, the Hotel Zur Post (an option is the similarly-located yet more budget-oriented Gasthaus Burkard.

Impressions of the above lodgings would be most appreciated.

I'm planning five overnights in the Mosel/Rhine region. Is the Mosel preferable, less hectic, more scenic? My thinking is to tour the Rhine while using the Mosel as a base. Once again, feedback would be welcomed.

Hi David,

I feel like an evangelist about Hotel Haus Lipmann, because I can't recommend it enough. Fabulous room (get #4 if you can, french doors open onto a balcony with a beautiful view of the Mosel), wonderful hosts, good, inexpensive and charming terrace restaurant.

We enjoyed the Mosel much more than the Rhine.

If you haven't already read Mailatom's trip report, you owe it to yourself to share his experiences in Beilstein: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34450648

We stayed in Haus Lipmann last year. One of the highlights of our trip. We also had that wonderful room overlooking the Mosel. I'm an early riser and would watch the river and its boat traffic each morning (3 days). Nice size room, modern bath, good breakfast, very good restaurant, friendly and helpful staff. Excellent location for exploring up and down the river--the cruise boats stop at Beilstein and we took a short cruise that we enjoyed quite a lot.

David, might want to look into an apt. Zell would be the area i would suggest. About 45 min from the rhine by auto.We have stayed in zell on several trips as we like a little more room a frig to keep snacks and drinks. Their are many with a mosel blick Good luck& enjoy as we will again may - june 2004

Beilstein is very, very small - more a honeymoon, stay-in-your-room kind of town. I can't speak to the specific accommodations mentioned, but my preference for towns would be Bernkastel, a delightful little place with some incredible buildings, a choice of eateries, and a few shops, and surrounded by wineries. There's some good hiking through vineyards and forest as well - try the trail over the hump that goes to Traben-Trarbach.

What week will you be there? Although normally peaceful, the Mosel is occasionally inundated with visitors during "Happy Mosel" and the wine week celebrations that will sometimes close the roads for biking, etc. and make getting accommodations very tricky. Late July and August can be busy months too.

We stayed at the Hotel Zur Post in Bernkastel last year. It is a nice old building with cozy rooms, but on a busy and noisy street. Even though the ad stated parking at the hotel, there was none. We were told to park across the street in a small bank parking lot.
(Luckily it was a weekend). Also, customer service by management left a lot to be desired.
While the Mosel region is less hectic than the Rhine area, depending on the week, summer time can still be very busy. I would probably stay for 2/3 days in each region instead of going back and forth due to the distance/travel time.

Folks,

Thanks to one and all for the speedy and candid feedback. It was quite helpful.

Russ, I'll be in the Mosel region during high season, around late July, early to mid August.

Mary Fran and Russ, a special nod goes out to the both of you for your enthusiastic reviews of the Lipmann. It seems ideal, and I'll try to book it.

Fernweh, thanks for your mixed review of the Zur Post. Given your drawbacks, perhaps I'll consider the Burkard, as Bernkastel sounds like an attractive place.

At this stage, I'm torn between spending five days along the Mosel (perhaps with daytrips to Trier and another to Koln), or three days along the Mosel and two days along the Rhine. Any thoughts, folks?

Once again, thank you.

You'll miss the major Mosel festivals in Late July / early August, I believe. Still, at that time, expect traffic and some crowds.

I love both rivers and would advise a short stay on both if possible; this summer we had an apartment overlooking the Rhine and the castles on the opposite bank in St. Goar (3 nights - Walter Huppertz, owner, "Rheinblick" apartment) and 2 nights in Cochem at my favorite B&B there.

Beilstein is very small and does not have a lot of attractions. But since we were out driving around to see the sights up and down the Mosel every day, it didn't matter to us. For us, Beilstein was the ideal place to begin and end each day--calm, no crowds, excellent food and wine, lovely views, no traffic and no trains making noise.

However, if you need night life where you stay, then Beilstein might not be ideal for 5 nights--though I don't think any of the Mosel towns are noted for a roaring nightlife anyway, even the ones larger than Beilstein.