tcreath

Hubby and I have made up our minds, finally, and have decided on Germany/Switzerland for our larger trip next year. Due to wanting to save some miles, we will be traveling something around October 15 so we can qualify for the "saver" mileage rates with AA.

Here is what I need help with. On this trip we are bringing my younger brother with us. He went with us to Rome a few years ago and fell in love with it so we invited him to come along with us on this trip. We want to spend approximately 4 nights along the Mosel so we can explore the various castles and towns. Hubby and I usually prefer smaller towns, but my brother will be 23 when we go and will probably want something a little more lively for the evenings. My first thought was Cochem, but I'm wondering if there is a better place to base ourselves, like perhaps Trier to Koblenz? I don't want anything too noisy, but someplace where he can maybe hang out in a bar or something in the evenings. My past experience in Germany (mainly near Berchtesgaden and the Fussen area) has been that some of the smaller towns all but shut down after dark, which I guess is true of most places if you aren't staying right in a city. Anyways, any thoughts or suggestions? We are hoping to stay in an apartment, so any apartment suggestions would also be fantastic.

Thanks!
Tracy

tcreath

By the way, I know that Koblenz is on the Rhine but looks like it could be a good base town. I'm thinking that Trier may be too far away to really explore the Mosel and Rhine.

Thanks again!
Tracy

mikemo

I found Karen Brown's recommendations spot on last trip in '01.
Do drive a hot lap or two at der Nurburgring.
M

TravelsWithStDavid

I don't know that Trier is a good base as it was the last city we visited on our trip along the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, but it really is a wonderful place to visit. I believe it was the center of the Germanic Roman provinces and as such has wonderful Roman ruins to explore. There are the remains of a huge Roman Bath with underground tunnels where the slaves kept fires going and used bellows to push the heat to warm the floor where the Romans stepped onto a heated floor.I don't know about the evenings, but it was a lively town during the day with wine bars all along the pedestrian area. It was an unexpected delight on our trip.

tcreath

Thank you both for your replies!

mikemo, I will definitely check out Karen Brown's website. I have used her recommendations in the past but kind of forgot about her. Thanks for the tip!

TravelsWithStDavid, thanks for your thoughts on Trier. Although I don't know if its a good base, as it seems a little farther away, we definitely want to visit. We all love ancient history and anything having to do with the Romans, so Trier is a must-see for us. I'm glad to know that the city will be enjoyable!

Tracy

LN

Karen

I don't know if you'd be interested but Continental Air has a special on from Newark NJ to Cologne Germany thru May 2007 for $98 dollars each way. With tax and all it's approx $255.

If you can use it you could save a lot.

bavariaben

Tracy - your first thought was Cochem and it was right on. Not too noisy and lots of neat little lively Weinstube and Bierstube for your brother to hang out in. Cochem is definitely the right choice for what you are looking for. I have stayed in several places in Cochem but never an apartment. Suggest you Google "Ferienwohnung Cochem" and you should get several apartment possibilities. For possible activities in and around Cochem - you might check out my last two trip reports which included the Cochem area. Send me an email if you need assistance in finding an apartment... Ben ([email protected])

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/schwarz...rhine2006.html

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/bb2005t...oselrhine.html

valtor

We stayed in Cochem and Bacharach and loved them. Small cities, beautiful, not noisy and there are a lot of restaurants (good). I loved Trier, but I would not stay there for 4 - 5 days, because in my opinion is not so centrally located.

Probably for you Koblenz is a good option. It is bigger that Cochem, and it is situated at the confluence of Mosel with Rhine. From here you can make cruises on boths rivers, or take the trains till Cologne, or Trier, or Frankfurt, etc.
I suppose that in Koblenz, being a bigger city, you will have there more bars to spend the eveinings.

mikemo

Ignore Koblenz and stay a few km S in the many small vills of the Mittelrhein.
M

PalenqueBob

Though i've never stayed there, there have been MANY Fodorites who have raved about staying at the Haus Lippmann (sp?) in Beilstein, a cutesy wine village admist the most stunningly gorgeous part of the Mosel, just upstream from Cochem.

valtor

I am still for koblenz, as Tracy said: "but my brother will be 23 when we go and will probably want something a little more lively for the evenings. My first thought was Cochem, but I'm wondering if there is a better place to base ourselves, like perhaps Trier to Koblenz? I don't want anything too noisy, but someplace where he can maybe hang out in a bar or something in the evenings" so, I think that Beilstein is far too small and quiet for them!

tcreath

Thank you all so much for your kind replies. You've certainly given me a lot to think about. I'm researching Cochem and Koblenz both a great deal.

PalenqueBob, Beilstein looks like a charming small town and we had originally planned to stay there on a previous trip but things got changed around and we never made it to the Rhine region. As much as I prefer a small, charming town I'm afraid my brother, 23, will be bored out of his mind in the evenings and I don't want that! Since I don't want to be in charge of his entertainment, I'm hoping for someplace a little more lively so he can kind of do his own thing in the evenings after dinner.

bavariaben, I greatly enjoyed reading your trip reports! I used your website quite a bit when planning for our Germany/Austria trip last year and it was very helpful.

Thank you again everyone!!
Tracy

Russ

Cochem is an excellent choice/compromise. Beilstein is okay for a couple that wants total downtime - it can hardly be called a town, it's so small. More like a huddle of buildings, really. Cochem will have a few bars and the like open in the evenings. If your brother wants a bit more action on one of your nights there, both Koblenz and Trier are short train rides from Cochem, which lies midway between the two.

canterbury

Another vote for Cochem. Beilstein is quite lovely (as is Hotel Lipmann) but it is VERY sleepy.

I also think that Trier is wonderful but I would not base myself there - too out of the way. It is definitely worth a visit, though.

Pegontheroad

Another vote for Beilstein and Hotel Haus Lippmann. It's not far from my favorite castle, Burg Eltz.

mikemo

Otra vez, go to der Nurburgring about 40km N of Cochem for a hot lap or two on the Nordschleife - guarantee your 23 y/o bro will NOT be bored!
M