Need a town to stay in between Leipzig and Prague
 

Hi, I'm flying from Stansted to Leipzig, Sat Sept 29, arriving around 3 pm. I had originally thought to pick up the rental car and drive and stay in Dresden instead of driving straight through to Prague(I have my hotel booked for Sun and Mon in Prague). The hotel prices seem very high and rooms seem scarce in Dresden. I would like to stay somewhere interesting - Bamberg might be nice, but might be a bit out of the way? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Whitey

"The hotel prices seem very high and rooms seem scarce in Dresden."

Well, whitey, I never have been to a Dresden hotel, I just happen to live in Saxony. Up to now my opinion was, that you would get even in Dresden, Saxony´s glamourous capital, comparable value for your money, or even a bargain, mainly in the four star category.

So, if you find Dresden too expensive, and you want to stay the afternoon in the area, why not to stay in Leipzig?

Leipzig offers a wide range of sights and entertainment, accomodation there should be not too expensive or even moderate in comparison with other cities.
Here: http://www.leipzig.de/int/en/tourist/ansprechpartner/

Around Dresden are some lovely smaller towns, so why not to stay in Meissen, a small, lovely, even pittoresque town some 20 km off Dresden, famous for its cathedral
here: http://www.meiland.de/dom-zu-meissen/index.htm
and its castle , Albrechtsburg, the home of Saxony´s former rulers.
here: http://www.albrechtsburg-meissen.de/
Europe´s first (and Meisseners will add: and finest) chinaware manufacture still continues its pruduction of finest chinaware.
here: http://www.meissen.de/engl/manufaktur.html

Hotel prizes in Meissen will be also reasonable, I suppose.
Here: http://www.touristinfo-meissen.de/zv/index.php

Please check out if you arrive at Airport Halle-Leipzig, this is the one beween the cities of Halle an Leipzig.

There is also am airport at Altenburg-Nobitz, located about 50 km southern from Leipzig.
here: http://www.flugplatz-altenburg.de/si.../indexen.shtml
If you would happen to land there, you have the first problem, to get off from there. A taxi would do to bring you to Altenburg, the next town. You would continue your trip by renting a car at the Europcar agency there. If you prefer another rental car company, you will have to go by train to Chemnitz, Leipzig or Dresden in order to rent a car there.

I would suggest Dresden if you wanted to see it, but probably not just for an easy, cheap stopover. Rooms can be scarce there at some times, but there are plenty of cheap hotels there, I think.

Bamberg isn't even on the way, that's to the west near Nurnberg. I'd suggest some town maybe just across the border in the Czech Republic. Usti nad Labem is one idea, or Decin, on the river (where the train goes between Prague and Dresden) and I think on the main road you'd be taking. Hotels should be cheaper there. Here's a website that links you to the few hotels/guest houses in Usti NL, plus some photos and info on the area.
http://czech-tourism.com/czustinl.htm

This is the website of one 3* hotel in Usti NL, and my Czech isn't great, but it seems a single room is only 350 KC, and a double only 590 KC. Which seems almost too cheap to be true, but I think that's what it says on the rates page.
http://www.hotelfreedom.cz/

Thanks for your replies. Meissen and Usti nad Labem both look great - and they are right on our way. Thanks for the links too!
Whitey

hhildebrandt - didn't know you live in Saxony! Isn't it a nice place to live? ;-)

whitey - end Sept is peak season and 3rd Oct is National Holiday, so rooms might be scarce in Dresden.

Yes, Meissen is a great option. Another idea is to stay somewhere near the National Park 'Saxon Switzerland' right at the border to the Czech Republic. Bad Schandau comes to my mind. Or the town Pirna with a medieval old town, well worth to explore (you won't have much time anyway).

Usti nad Labem is UGLY. It's been bombed in WWII and many ugly apartment blocks from communist times took the place of former beautiful town houses.

Decin is a much better choice. Right after entering the town you'll see the Market square with a nice 4star hotel on the upper front. Decin has a nice old castle, small old town section, cliffs overlooking the Elbe river valley (Pastyrska stena) accessible by elevator.

Another option is Teplice, the old spa town. Plenty of excellent hotels there, beautiful gardens, churches, castle and old town.

Ingo

I stayed at hostel DJH last year. Found it through the Lonely Planet book "Europe on a Shoestring." Superb. Great breakfast included. €24.

The hostel DJH in is Dresden.

Thanks Ingo, I know I can't go wrong with your recommendations as you helped me out quite a bit last year with our trip through the Engadine.
I Googled the images of all the recommended places, and it looks like Meissen is the smallest so we could explore it best with only a short amount of time. I think we'll start there and see how it works out. We'll save Dresden for another trip - I haven't been to Berlin yet either, so we can combine the two together. Thanks again,
Whitey

Thanks Hopscotch for the hostel recommendation - but my wife would never go for it!

Hi Whitey,

you're welcome! Thanks for the praise, I am flattered :-)

Meissen is a very good choice. Here is a hotel recommendation with EXCELLENT restaurant attached:

http://www.meissen-hotel.com/loewe.php

They have other hotels in town, too. The Burgkeller offers great views over the old town.

Yep, Berlin and Dresden are a very good combination.

Enjoy your trip!

Ingo