Hello everyone,

Our family (2 adults and two kids ages 2 and 6) will be in Germany in late July. We are planning to spend two days in Mosel - Rhineland. Given that we are going to be there for a short period, I want to plan our days in advance and make sure that we get the best out of our visit. Can you please recommend an itinerary?

We will have car, and we are going to head to that area from Schleiden, which is about 1.5 hr. We are planning to spend one night there and then return to Schleiden the next day late evening.

I would really appreciate recommendations for places to visit and would also welcome suggestions for hotels/b&b in that area.

Thank you,
Megan

Cochem is my favorite base for the area - picture postcard town at a really scenic part of the Mosel Valley - here a deep gorge part covered with vineyards - Cochem's castle, albeit Ersatz, lovingly pops out of vineyards and caps a hill right in the town center. And there is a big outdoor swimming pool right in town for kids too. Lots of cozy guest houses - great base for both Mosel and Rhine - great for families - lots of Dutch and German families here on vacation in summer.

Cochem for sure as a base.

Thanks, PalenQ and Aramis.

Do you have a recommendation for a hotel in Cochem? I don’t remember where exactly, but I think I read somewhere that there is a castle converted into hotel either in Cochem or somewhere near there, which offers simple but interesting accommodations – especially for the kids. Do you know anything about it?

I suppose we don’t need two full days in Cochem. Where else you would suggest visiting for an authentic experience?

Thanks,
Megan

Please help! I am hoping to finalize the itinerary by end of the month.

thank you,
Megan

We stayed longer in this zone (5 nights in Cochem and 2 in Bacharach). We loved the region!
We visited the following:
- From Cochem: Trier, Luxemburg, Koblenz, Burg Elz castle, Belstein.
- From Bacharach - we took a cruise top St. Goar where we visited the castle.

Take a look to this destination (in internet or in a guidebook ) and decide what do you you prefer.

I forgot to tell you where we stayed in Cochem:
Pension Albers http://www.gaestehaus-albers.de/

It is in the center of the town, 20 m. from the river, on main shopping street. We had an apartment there. There is elevator. We loved this place.

For small kids and if the weather is nice: try Burg Eltz, a fortress near Koblenz. Could be a half-day trip. English tours available. One really remarkable fortress.

The Mosel has a train running down the length of it, little ferries that potter up and down and a bike path. There is walking at low level and on the valley top edge (guides are available). Most towns have a pool and there are camp sites with canoeing and volley ball etc.

There is an amusement park (roller coasters etc) on the north side near colmar. There are a bunch of links on http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Mosel_Guide.php though a small part of this data is for last year.

Trier has a bunch of Roman stuff in it while the French and Germans fought up and down the valley leaving the odd piece to visit. Due to the twisting valley and the high stone walls on the North side in particular the heat in the afternoon can get very pleasant at which point the place is close to heaven.

If I had a car (I wouldn't, but I have a bicycle then I'd take a day in Luxembourg, a day in Trier, a day on the ferries, a day in Koblentz at the fortress and in town and a day walking in the high cliffs, any time left over can be in the pool. If you want to go further there is the town of Odaoberstien (I know that is not how you spell it) or the racing Ring to the north and Bitberg.

Hi,

For 1.5 to 2 days I'd suggest staying in or near Cochem. We stayed across the river (Mosel) from Cochem in Valwig at the Hotel Rebenhof.

www.hotel-rebenhof.com

We loved Cochem. There's Reichsburg castle that sits just above the old town of Cochem.

www.burg-cochem.de

http://www.moselissimo.de/nextshopcm...&e1=958&ssid=1

While at Reichsburg castle, this may be of interest:

www.burg-cochem.de/english/falconry.htm

Not to be missed is nearby Burg Eltz.

www.burg-eltz.de/e_index.html

You could also visit Beilstein, a small but very charming, picturesque town neaby.

www.beilstein.de

With such a short time, add another place and you should be ok.

We have photo's at:

www.worldisround.com/articles/338870/index.html

www.worldisround.com/articles/338874/index.html

Paul

Ah, I missed these responses earlier as I was travelling and did not get much time to work on the next trip 

Thank you everyone for really good recommendations. Now I am wondering if just two days are enough for this beautiful place. May be I should add another day for Mosel and Rhine.

If I can afford to allocate three days visiting areas between triangle of chochem, koblentz (or just boppard) and Bacharach – what are the ‘must visit’ places?

If I have one day to add, I would add Trier. Will it require a full day or is it possible to visit Luxembourg and Trier in one long day?

Paul – your photographs are amazing! Thank you for sharing.

bilboburgler – I wish I had time to visit every place! Thanks for recommending Trier. Looks very intriguing.

I would definitely suggest 3 days. Cochem would be a possible base for both Mosel and Rhine destinations.

With two small kids, an apartment will be very, very handy; most are very reasonably priced.

For Cochem, browse the accommodations brochure beginning on p. 45; it's in German but you'll see photos, contact information and prices. Short stays are normally priced higher or involve a small cleaning fee:

http://issuu.com/cochem/docs/gastgeb...eichnis2012-13

Gästehaus Albers, recommended by Valtor, also has apartments; click on "Ferienwohnungen" for apartments:

http://www.gaestehaus-albers.de/

St. Goar, maybe the most scenic setting on the Rhine, would be a good base too - it lies between Bacharach to the south and Boppard to the north and is just one river bend from the Loreley cliffs. 3 castles can be seen from town. Visit Rheinfels Castle from there - the 4-year-old can climb around this place without a formal tour - and there's a car ferry for access to the east (right) bank of the river (no bridges between Mainz and Koblenz.) See a complete list of St. Goar apartment options (in English) here:

http://www.st-goar.de/586-1-fewos.html

We very much enjoyed the 2-BR Rheinblick or Rhine View apartment a couple of years back:

http://www.loreley-apartments.de/die_4_wohnungen_en.php