My wife and I are starting to plan a three week bike trip in the Alsace region. Any suggestions on when is the best time to go, where to go, hotels/zimmers in the budget to moderate range? Any suggestions for the most helpful guide books?<BR><BR>Any and all advice would be welcome. Thanks.

I recommend "Alsanet", now known as http://www.europaregions.com<BR><BR>All my travels in Alsace (three trips "through") have avoided staying overnight IN the "premium" towns.<BR><BR>But I still love the place. As well as the numerous close-by places available to stay, if you are "passing" through (for example, Oberkirch, Germany or Froeningen, France).<BR><BR>If you have the legs to do it (bike up there), I would recommend Chateau de Haut Koeningbourg, perched high on a hill above the town of St. Hippolyte.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I would recommend going at wine harvest time - late September, early October. It's a vibrant time in the region, the weather is usually cooperative, save a few morning fogs, and there's lots going on. Should be a glorious time of year to bike, too.<BR><BR>I've always stayed at small hotels in small villages like Obernai, apart from one winter trip when I stayed in Strasbourg itself. I don't really have any current suggestions on hotels/zimmers, though I'm sure the guidebooks have many. I'm not current, either, on the best guidebooks for the region, as it's been a few years since I was there. I used the green and red Michelin for my last trip. Perhaps Cadogan has a guide to the area by now - that would be a good choice. Or an Eyewitness Guide, if one exists.

Eguisheim is a delightful little town with several good hotels and B&Bs.We stayed at Monique Freudenreichs B&B.(around $50) Nice room, breakfast and a gated yard in which we enjoyed bottles of the local wines. The Leon Beyer degustation is right next door and gladly chilled some for us. <BR>We were there second week in June and it was in the high 90. Probably a little warm for bicycling.<BR><BR>Monique FREUDENREICH <BR>4, Cour Unterlinden<BR>T&eacute;l. :+ 33 3 89 23 16 44<BR> Fax :+ 33 3 89 23 16 44<BR>

Hi Jeff,<BR>I have been to the Alsace a couple of times and love the area! Last time we were there, we picked up the book L'Alsace a' ve'lo. Basically, a guide to the bike routes through the Alsace. We bought it at the Tourism Office, but you may be able to find it on the internet in English. It is put out by Guide-Poche and written by Alain Morley. Even if you don't speak French and can't find it in English, the routes are well marked with distances. Great bike trails throughout the area and many oare off the road.<BR><BR>WE stayed in Strasbourg and Freibourg, but I have some brochures from a 2 start in Riquewihr, Le Sarment D'Or which looked nice and in a great location. Also, Hotel Constantin, a 3 star in Kayserberg. Again, great location and looked nice. I can't recommend the hotel we stayed in in Strasbourg, but we did check out the Hotel de Rohan which looked great. 3 star, nice people and well recommended on this board.<BR><BR>Fall would be a great time to go as the tourists may have thinned a bit. We have been in July and August and it is a bit daunting with all of the tourists, esp. in places like Riquewihr and Colmar.<BR><BR>Don't forget to go over the border to Freiburg. It is 30 minutes (by car) from Colmar but a great, little city. esp. in summer!<BR><BR>Have fun.<BR>Jan

Get yourself the Michelin maps (1:200,000) for the area. Stay on the white roads whenever you can.<BR><BR>I rode the marked route - 'Route du Vin' and found it very nice. There are some very big hills (small mtns) that can also be climbed. <BR><BR>Anytime you go to France, consider staying in Logis de France hotels. If you are staying in such a small area for 3 weeks, you might consider renting a gite (gites de France) for a week and make day trips.

Thanks for all the information. Your suggestions are a great starting point for planning. Jan, I will try to track down the cycling guide, and will followup with the guidebook and website recommendations.<BR><BR>Jeff