Jo_s

Hello,
We plan to spend 2 weeks at the Bodensee.
Does anyone have any good recommendations of where to stay please?

We have 2 small children and want to go somewhere with easy access to a beach - are there beaches? We will be taking the car so can drive therte, so it doesnt have to be on our door step, but suggestions of great beaches would be great.
Also castles, railways, typical young boy things!!

Thanks all

treplow

Places to stay: Lindau, on the island or along the shore toward Nonnenhorn. Bad Schachen is a fancy resort, with a good location and swimming. Otherwise, not too many beaches (mostly stony shore). There is a beach on the mainland between Lindau and Bregenz, still in Germany. Not a very far drive, but watch it that you don't get by mistake on the Austrian autobahn.

Take a look at http://www.bensbauernhof.com/accommodations.html, and check "Accomodations" and "Bodensee". Among the listed places, I have stayed at the Montfortschloessle. The kidsd would enjoy it, but it is on the main land, and a bit distance from Lindau or Nad Schachen. Check out some of them other places mentioned by Ben.

The other location that is nice is Meersburg, and across the bay Konstanz. Konstanz has a sandy beach fairly close to where the Rhein leaves the lake. But it is more of play rather than swimming beach. But not far from the ferry landing coming from Meersburg is the Insel Mainau, a flower island, that also has a playground and an outdooe model RR. I think the kids would enjoy it.

Pegontheroad

I loved Meersburg. I think I've stayed there three times. Maybe just two. But I didn't like Konstanz. It seemed kind of gloomy.

stldv

The first question is in which country?

Jo_s

Thanks all. I think Germany becuase then we hae the really nice view of the Alps! Plus we are driving from germany. A beach to play on rather than swim at is priority - sandcastles etc! I bit of padding would be good, maybe crabbing?!

thanks for the suggestions so far - very helpful.

jo

Otzi

I vote for Lindau. Beautiful harbor and quaint little town. However, you'd get more bang for your buck staying a few miles away from the lake in the Black Forest region.

bettyk

We spent 3 days in Uberlingen last September. It's very close to Meersburg so you could spend time there also.

It has a very long lovely lake promenade with a nice park adjacent. We were very impressed with this town and have also spent time in Meersburg and Lindau. Lindau is charming but the one big complaint we had is the traffic going to and from this "insel".

Looking at the Uberlingen website, there seems to be a nice bathing beach in Nussdorf, one of the nearby suburbs.

http://www.ueberlingen.de/Tourism/Pa...the_Town/?La=2

agilecoach

I'm going to be in the area for a conference and will be taking a few extra days to explore the area. My conference is in Konstanz so I want to stay somewhere south to get another view. My plan is to use the train and boats and not rent a car right now. Will I be ok doing this or will I wish I rented a car? I'm flying into Zurich and planning to take the train over to the area. I'm trying to decide how to split my days as well (3 days). Would you recommend I stay in Zurich a day or head right over to the Bodensee area and visit the towns around there? Just a solo traveler who is visiting Europe for the first time and wanting to take in as much of the must-see sights in the area as one guy can. Thanks!

bigtyke

Treplow - Bavaia Ben’s website is no more

swandav2000

bigtyke -- Treplow's comment was made in 2010, 8 years ago...

For agilecoach,

Yes, it's very easy and fun to get around the Bodensee without a car; there is excellent rail network all around the lake. I stayed in Lindau for a few days a few years ago, and I didn't have a car. You can get the train schedules and fares, and buy tickets, at either one of these two sites:

www.bahn.com (German rail)

www.sbb.ch (Swiss rail)

When is your conference? I believe some of the boats on the lake either stop running or have a reduced schedule in the late fall & winter, so you'd need to check the schedules.

Whether to spend a day in Zurich is, of course, such a personal decision. I personally dislike cities in general, so I would skip it. Others adore Zurich. The city is very pretty, and it would be an absolutely wonderful introduction to Europe, sitting in a very scenic spot right by a lake.

Many folks (me included) might suggest that you take a quick 1-hour train ride (train station is right in the basement of the Zurich airport, so it's dead-easy) to the city of Luzern. Luzern is also a nice city, but it has really awesome scenery because it sits with lakes-spilling-into-mountains landscape. So, Zurich is pretty, but Luzern is awesome. imo.

You may want to take a few minutes and google both cities and see what images come up -- see if one or the other city draws you.

I'll also suggest that you post your questions on a new thread, as many folks may not read through this old thread.

Have fun as you pla!

s

PalenQ

I found Lindau to be very nice for all your interests.