Well I booked the trip ! Feb 5-16..going in and out of Munich. Staying in Munich for 3 nights...have to figure out what's what. I thank all of you for your help.

Hi, Judy - if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for your flights? We just booked our tickets last night (woohoo!) from Atlanta to Munich, Dec. 23-31, for $747 a piece.

Happy planning!

Meredith

>woohoo!
Thanks for the woohoo!
Be prepared during the holidays life will be slow paced. And you're missing new years eve in Munich, too bad!

Judy--it was 2002. We did something similar in the far western part of Germany and Benelux last year.

We just did the Bavaria/Salzburg trip in July. Do spend 2-3 days in Munich (Residenz Museum, walking tour of Munich, Nymphenburg palace, Olympic village, BMW plant tour; 1 day trip from Munich at Neuschwanstein castle, 1 overnight day in Rothenburg with walking tour, and ONLY 2 days in Salzburg with one day trip from there to Berchesgaden to do a tour of Eagle's Nest. Rothenburg and Eagle's Nest were our favorites. We never rented a car, used the train for the whole trip. It was SO affordable using the Bayern ticket. Look into it

Hi Meredith, we payed 1322$ for 2 in/out Munich....BUT I booked on Air France! I tried Delta's site and it was coming up 850 pp. I say to myself: what is going on here! So I tried AF and they used code share. I got the exact same flight 200$ cheaper!!!!!!!! I did check and make sure there were no trade shows happening then, cause that could have been a factor. redbird, Eagles's Nest will be closed when we are there. BTW I am thinking of the Hotel Schlicker for Munich. Where did you stay?

bookmarking as I really want to do the same thing you are at some point Judyrem - be sure to keep posting!

Hi Judyrem,

I haven't stayed in the Schlicker, but it gets good reviews and it's in a good location. I usually stay in Schwabing, but the last time I was in Munich, I stayed right by the train station. It's all good. There is an article in November's Smithsonian about Munich and how it's called the village of one million. I believe it.

Just be prepared for the cold weather.

I love both the Bavarian Alps and Franconia (Bamberg, Coburg, etc.). Either way there is lots to see.

Good luck!

Thnaks Bird....your a peach! Is that in the Traveler? I really want the best location more than anything. I always say Europe does winter better than summer ;-).

Judy - here is a link to that article:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/munich.html

Thanks Bird, that was a great article! I am starting to get so excited about this trip. Germany looks WONDERFUL!

This text from the Smithsonian magazine is SO FULL of errors, that you have to ask yourself where this guy has been or if he ever went to Munich.
It starts with the wrong national colours on the upside down flag

logos, uh oh. BTW, I have sort of made a tentative schedule. Fly into Munich,,stay 3 nights. Pick up rental car. Drive to Fussen, stay for 1 night and see Castles. Drive to Rothenburg, with stops at Dinkensbuhl or?. Stay in Rothenburg for 3 nights, doing day trips to Wurzburg and/or Nuremburg. This becomes the HARD part. Do I stay in Bamberg 2 nights and then stay 2 nights in Munich with a day trip to Salzburg? Or do Salzburg for 2 nights, then Munich. Remember this will be mid Feb, and the weather may be iffy.

I don't think Salzburg is that interesting. I've been to Heidelberg recently, similar cities but Heidelberg is so much nicer, the buildings are old and untouched by the last war. Munich is indeed big with rather many things to do /see. There definitively will be snow in Füssen. You will need a rental car with snow tyres. I would do Bamberg and Munich and a daytrip to Salzburg, or skip Salzburg and spend some etra time in the Rhine valley.

In the mountains you may be lucky to catch good weather, but if you don't, it's not very impressive. The fog...

Thanks logos, I was thinking about Heidelburg. Hmmm, very interesting. It could be a nice contrast to Rothenburg, yes. We will get snow tires for sure. I amlloking forward to little or no crowds .

Hmmm ! I find Salzburg to be one of the most interesting destinations in that entire region. And, I love the Wolfgangsee near there. But, I do not know Bamberg so hard to compare. I guess I am always a sucker for natural beauty.

Judyrem, sounds like your trip is coming together nicely. I would just add a couple of options for accommodation - King's Hotel in Munich - http://www.kingshotels.com/first-class.htm. Great location near the train station(we actually took the train in from the airport and walked a couple of blocks to the hotel) and fantastic breakfast and room. Our last night we spent closer to the airport in the very charming town of Erding at the Best Western Parkhotel http://bestwestern.worldexecutive.co...els/95224.html. Also a great location and they have a shuttle that takes you to the airport or the train is also very close by. Erding is a typical beautiful small Bavarian town that we loved spending our last night in. Very easy to stroll around and quite a few nice pubs and restaurants.

Thanks Bob for the input. Starfish, thanks so much for the info on the Kings Hotel and especially the BWestern. That may bean option also. Our flight is at 10am from Munich and I am thinking of just leaving around 7:30 from our hotel, taking the train of course!

Judy - I am very excited reading your trip coming together!

Thanks momddtravel. I just made reservations for Hotel Hornburg Garni in Rothenburg. I got a free night, when I booked 2. What a deal, with breakfast too!