I need advice please ! We can't decide where we should spend our 1st night in Germany: we'll be arriving Frankfurt at 7AM. <BR> <BR>We have 3days to decide where to go: Nuremberg/Rothenberg/Munich/Salzburg. I want to do Nuremberg XMas Market; so I'm thinking about taking the train to Nuremberg, check in hotel, rest for a couple hours then go out to dinner and tour of the XMas Market in the evening. <BR> <BR>My husband is worried about staying at Nuremberg (we're not caucasian and it's historically a Nazi town). We'd also like to do the Romantic Road between Wurzburg and Rothenberg or perhaps just to visit Rothenberg only. <BR> <BR>We'll be going to Munich after that and perhaps Salzburg. Is this possible ? Also, we're considering renting a car and drive as well after resting the first day. <BR>

Sounds like a good plan for the first day. I don't know why the rest wouldn't do-able too, depending on how much time you have. <BR> <BR>Nürnberg is not at all a hotbed of anti-foreigner sentiment! It's a pleasant and friendly place that is regularly visited by foreign tourists of all kinds. Ironically, it's not the Nazi strongholds of the past that have a recent reputation for being anti-foreigner, but the cities of the former leftist, Moscow-dominated East Germany where incidents have been more prevalent. Even in these cities, however, tourists have little to fear; the prejudice there has been directed toward immigrant working-class people who compete with them for jobs in an area of high unemployment, not at tourists! <BR> <BR>Once you're in Bavaria, you might also consider getting around by train on day passes ("Bayern Ticket") which are good on the regional trains that connect all the towns and cities you mentioned. They're good for unlimited weekday travel in off-peak hours for up to 5 people and cost only $18 per day. You can use these to get to Salzburg and back, too. A similar pass with no peak hour restrictions is available on Sat and Sun -- the "Schoenes Wochenende" ticket -- for the same price.

Michele: I can't comment on Nuremburg, but when we, too, arrived early into Frankfurt on our last trip to Germany here is what we did that first day. We walked through the Romberburg area of Frankfurt, which was a nice way to recover from the long flight before setting out on a train ride. From Frankfurt we went to Rothenburg, which obviously has its Christmas stores (I'm not familiar with the markets of which you write). We had planned to stop in Wurzburg to see its palace on the way to Rothenburg, but train problems cut our time down. Don't know if this helps, but it is another perspective.

Michele, I will give it a go. <BR> <BR>I'm not sure of your time in the country, I take it you have three days until you leave? <BR> <BR>With me, I don't sleep much on planes, so I wouldn't want to drive very far. Rothenburg is certainly close enough. You can leave Frankfurt airport on autobahn A5, connecting to A3 to Wurzburg. You could take A7 to Rothenburg (2 1/2 hours) and like we do, make arrangements for an early arrival at your hotel and get a few hours' rest. Take in Rothenburg that evening and maybe drive up to Wurzburg along the secondary road. Many cities have fine Christmas markets, even Frankfurt. Nurenburg is a great city as is Munich and Salzburg. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't worry about supremacy in Germany. There are people of many different origins throughout the country. Now, I like the idea of driving, it let's you travel at your own pace. <BR> <BR>If you are more specific about what exactly you want to see and how long you will be there, I'm sure that many can help you.

Another good stop after arriving early in Frankfurt: Heidelberg. It will also have a Christmas market going and is very close to the Frankfurt airport so getting there by car is no problem. Stay in the old town area and walk around the city. Then on to Rothenburg next day. <BR> <BR>As a choice between Rothenburg and Nuremburg, I would chose Rothenburg unless you can arrive for Night One Opening ceremonies at Nuremburg for the Christmas market. I think we enjoy Rothenburg overall more than Nuremburg though and have done both cities more than once. You can also stay in Rothenburg and do an easy day trip to see Nuremburg and back that night. Take the back roads and enjoy the scenery over and autobahn it back to Rothenburg. <BR>People in both cities are nice. The Nazi deal is no consideration at all and it was none in 1970 when I was stationed there in the Army. Have a good time. Great area to see.

I think what concerned me more about your trip was that you don't have reservations. We have done the Christmas Market trip all over Germany. Rothenberg and Nuremberg definitly have some of the best markets, Trier is right up there too, as is Munich. However, you will have trouble finding rooms close in to the market in Nuremburg and Rothenberg is not large and does not offer bunches of places to stay. I recommend you get a travel agent on it right away so you don't have your trip spoiled trying to find a place to stay. <BR>The other tip we have learned is when you get to Germany, DON'T TAKE A NAP. Stay awake until closer to time to go to bed, you will adjust much faster.