Iregeo

Hi all. DH and I are going to Germany and CR in September to celebrate DH's 50th birthday. We will be in Germany (during Oktoberfest) for 7 nights (staying with friends just outside of Munich) and in CR for 4 nights. We will have a car the entire time.

I am having trouble penciling out a rough itinerary. I think the problem is that there are more things on my "to do" list than there is time, and not knowing driving distances, I don't know what things I can do in the same day. I also don't want to be over programmed. Here is a rough sketch:

Sat. Fly LAX- MUC

Sun. Arrive Munich 8am

Mon. Munich

Tues. (DH's b-day) Day Trip?

Wed. Munich

Thu. Drive to Cesky Krumlov. Spend day and 1 night.

Fri. Drive to Prague. Spend 3 days/nights.

Sat. Prague

Sun. Prague

Mon. Return to Munich via Regensburg

Tue. Munich

Wed. Day trip?

Thu. Fly home

While in Munich (and environs), we would like to roam the city, take in a museum, experience Oktoberfest and visit Dachau. We'll gratefully consider all recommendations on your Munich must see list. Don't forget the restaurants!

On day trips, we would like to see some pretty countyside, visist the Zugspitze, maybe a lake area, a castle (I know of Mad King Ludwig's castles..what about preserved medieval castles?)and perhaps one of the towns on the Romantic Road (Rothenburg?) I know we can't do all. Of the above, what can we reasonably hope to see, and how? What should we eliminate?

Please, help me pencil in these activities where they "make sense." Other than our days in CR, all things can be moved around.

Where can we go/what can we do on DH's birthday to make it special?

Thank you for your help.

swisshiker

Hello Iregeo

For a special birthday, I can't think of a better daytrip than to visit Herrenchiemsee:
http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisc...lace/index.htm

This place is known as the Bavarian Versailles. It's absolutely beautiful...truly!! Fountains, gardens, footpaths with terrific views of the mountains, and a nice cafe for ice cream sundaes!! If you've ever been to Versailles and seen its Hall of Mirrors -- well, this place beats it!

It's a great train trip (about an hour), but you'll have a car, so just drive to the Prien/Stock boat dock area (plenty of parking), where you then board a boat to the island.

Really a magical day!

Happy travels!

lindy27

We loved by Dachau and Nurenberg as daytrips from Munich. We would also have liked to go to Fuessen to see Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau but didn't have the time.

You might feel you did everything you wanted to in Munich in 3 days so you might have an extra day you can spend in the surrounding area.

All the medieval castles I know about in Germany are over by the Rhine/Mosel River area, but I could be wrong.

This website has some great photos of Germany http://www.germanplaces.com/ I used it when planning our trip last year.

Poconolady

Restaurants in Munich---we love Spatanhaus, very good Bavarian food and great atmosphere. Also you can't miss the Haufbrau House. We love it for lunch as well as for after dinner entertainment.
We are also planning a Germany and CR trip this fall, but via train. I am looking forward to the responses to you post.
Other day trip suggestions out of Munich are Salzburg, Garmich, and also Nurenberg. Rothenburg is a bit far for a day trip.

Cowboy1968

Instead of one of those day trips, you could overnight on the drive back from Prague to Munich in Regensburg. The palace and the town are worth it. Next morning you could continue to Munich via Weltenburg monestary (short river boat trip thru the Danube bend from Kelheim), and add another break in Landshut.

Iregeo

Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming.

Cowboy, that sounds great! I don't think DH is willing to spend more nights away, as he wants to maximize the time we spend with our friends in Munich.

It's been a long time since I travelled without hotel reservations. If we were to do this overnight on the spur of the moment, without advance hotel reservations, do you think we'd have trouble finding someplace to stay? We are traveling towards the end of September.

Thanks.

Cowboy1968

End of September shall not be an issue (except for Munich proper because of Oktoberfest, but since you will stay with friends, that is obviously not important for you).

If you want Regensburg or elsewhere as a fall back option, you can use hrs.com, which is biggest hotel room consolidator here.
In most cases you can make unsecured reservations (i.e. without credit card deposit for 1st night) at most hotels. Your room will be guaranteed for you only until 6pm- but without any obligation for you to cancel or inform the hotel if you make up your mind otherwise.
Most hotels which require a secured cc booking on hrs.com will waive penalties for cancellations same day until 6pm or 24hrs in advance. That depends a bit on the hotel's policy.
But you can clearly see that on hrs's website before you make a reservation.