We will be in the Rhine region area in September for 3 days. Which Rhine river town do we stay in? We like larger towns, more than the small "one road" towns. (For example, on a trip to Switzerland we stayed in Interlaken rather than the smaller mountain towns.)

It looks like Bacharach has more going on than St Goar and I'm not sure where Boppard fits in. I've also considered Rudesheim. Basically, I'm open to your opinions!

When in September will you be in this area? In 2002 we were in Germany and made it a point to stay in Oberwesel (but it is a small town) during their Wine Festival and during the Rhine in Flames fireworks, what a sight. This was in early September so with your dates in mind this may be a consideration as the fireworks move down the river each week-end. Also, might make a difference in accomodations due to the crowds. Whenever you go have a wonderful trip.

There is a Rhine in Flames fireworks event on September 18 --- that will be our first night in Germany. I hope our jet lag will allow us to enjoy it! You're right, accomodations in St. Goar may be hard to find.

Thanks,
Marla

My personal choice would be Bacharach.It is a lot quieter after the tourists leave, especially if you enjoy late evening strolls along the river.

Here are some possible accommodations on the Rhine.I can highly recommend the Winzerhaus in Bacharach.

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/fzfrhine.html

Boppard would be great. We slept in St Goar and explored the Rheinfels. We then spent most of a day in Boppard - there is a great chairlift and a terrace/cafe at the top with a beautiful overlook of the horseshoe bend. We also rented bikes for a couple of hours and rode up/down along the river. There are a lot of hotels in Boppard, some facing the river and others off-river.

St Goar would definitely qualify as a 'one-road' town, very cute and about 3 blocks long. If you stay in Boppard, there is a boat dock for Rhine cruise, and it is 2 stops north of St Goar on the train.

St. Goar - blink and you miss it. I was only driving through, so I have no advice on where to stay, but, it was all beautiful through there and the little towns were all close by.

We stayed in Bacharach for 4 nights last September and loved it, but we specifically chose it because it was one of the small Rhine villages, so it may well qualify as a one road town from your perspective! We found it to be a lovely village, very quaint and attractive, but it sounds as if it may be smaller than what you are looking for. Good luck! We loved the Rhine!

St. Goar is my favorite place to stay, but it is pretty much a one-road town. If you stay there, you can easily ferry across and explore St. Goarshausen on the east bank.

Bacharach is no larger than St. Goar and less scenically located, and has no ferry, but the buildings are much more impressive, with lots of half-timbered houses.

Boppard is substantially larger, with a pleasant old town, river promenade, some Roman ruins, and a few diversions. It's probably your place. Do the chairlift ride to Vierseenblick lookout and spend at least a few moments at the cafe mentioned by Travelnut - it's a terrific spot.

We spent 10 days in St. Goar (in the same apartment Russ rented, which we enjoyed)
but it is definitely a 'one-horse' town. I would recommend one of the others. We loved the chairlift-hike and the beer garten action in Rudesheim. The chairlift goes from Assmanhausen. Enjoy! CJ

If you'd like to see our photos of St Goar, Boppard and the chair-lift scenes, visit Ofoto.com at:

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=ch4vgx4...0&y=75r72h

Great information everyone! Thank You! Travelnut, your pictures are beautiful--- seeing them makes me want to go to Amsterdam!

It sounds like Boppard is our place!

Why would we prefer to NOT stay in a "one-horse" town? We live in Arkansas---I'm surrounded by "one-horse" towns!!!

Now, I need to figure out where to stay in Boppard.

Thank You, Marla

Flygirl,

What do you fly? We used to have a Cessna 182, now we fly a Piper Lance? (It has more room for the kids!)

Marla

These are three hotels I was looking at but could not get in, due to the Wine Festival.
Also, order brochures from the website, very helpful:
http://www.boppard.de/2001/html/home_english3.htm

Hotel Gunther Garni * * *
Rheinallee 40 - Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate 56154
http://www.hotelguenther.de/

Best Western Bellevue Rheinhotel* * *
Rheinallee 41/42 - Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate 56154
http://www.bellevue-boppard.de/

Hotel Ebertor * * *
Heerstraße 172
56154 Boppard am Rhein
Telefon: 06742-8070
Telefax: 06742-807100
e-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
http://www.hotel-ebertor.de/

Ozres - sweet! a 172 (Skyhawk). so far anyway. so you went high wing to low eh? which do you like better?

First of all--- I'm not the pilot, DH is! I'm the chief navigator and peacekeeper of our two DSs (ages 6 and 9) in the rear. I HAVE taken the pinchhitter's/widower's course, so I know the basics and can land the Lance. Landing it wouldn't be pretty, but we should be able to walk once we landed. (I'm not so sure what the plane would look like!!!)

However, the 182 was great for two people. We could haul anything weight-wise that we wanted and land most places. It was great for short field takeoffs. But, once we had the two DSs space was at a premium, so we went with the minivan of the skies--- a PA32 Lance.

We have a partner who also has two young children. Partnering certainly helps with the expenses.

High wing to low wing ---- the 182 was definitely easier to fly. Our Lance is a T-tail and a little harder to fly than the standard model. DH has outfitted the Lance with a Garmin 400, three-blade prop, new engine (can you say "there goes our Christmas?&quot all in the past couple of years, so we're always ready to go!

Marla

Travelnut,

Thanks for the hotel information. I've already emailed them to check on availability.

Marla

T-tail - interesting - less propwash.

I think it's great that you land it! good for you. you should go all the way (if you want). sounds like you are well on your way anyway.

Garmin - very nice. is this integrated into the plane or hand held? all those add-ons can easily add a new car cost to the price of the plane (depending on what you get).

and it sounds like he really added on! 3 blade prop too, wow.

how fun! enjoy your local and international travels!!

back to travel stories...

Flygirl,

The Garmin is intergrated and we have a cheapie handheld, too. (It gives the DSs something to play with!)

The prop was AD'd. (Is that correct?) It was condemned by the manufacturer. So the three-blade prop was an unexpected Christmas present for DH

Marla

AD - you mean airworthiness directive? so he got a new prop, cool! engines aren't cheap though. I bet that thing pulls really well. wow. very fun!