I'll be traveling with my husband, my two year old son and my mother-in-law (babysitter). Which is a better location of the two? Looking for a home base for 4 nights- If my husband and I are traveling around the area are there enough walking things in either of these towns for my mother-in-law to see with a youngster for short periods of time? We're considering a few named places; Haus Weller in Boppard or the House Daniela in Cochem? Any help would be great-we will be traveling in early November

My suggestion is Cochem. It is a medieval town right on the Mosel river.

It would be nice to have a hotel with a view of the river to watch the boats go by - I think that would help entertain a 2 year old.
Of course there is the castle, but it is a brisk walk up the hill. The footpath can be steep.
There are lovely little shops, cafes, and places to walk around. Novemeber may be cold so your walking around may be limited.
Don't forgt to see Burg Eltz, That was one of my favorite castles in Germany. It is fully intact, and quite impressive. It is only 18 miles NE of Cochem.
A suggestion for a hotel there is the Burg Hotel, very visually stimulating inside as the proprieters have an extensive collection of antiques, many are weaponry(armour, swords, etc.. that mayappeal to young boy!)
It also has an indoor pool. Request a room with a balcony that overlooks the beautiful panoramic views of the river/vinyards.
have fun!!!!

Topping for Artzy......

The ALTE THORNDECKE is also very quaint in Cochem. Built into the old city walls. Nice people on our stay there in 1997. May want to check this out.

Boppard is a little bigger, but Cochem more charming. Never stayed at Haus Daniela, mainly because it's on the opposite side of the river from old town Cochem in the more modern part of town, Cochem-Cond. I'm sure the place has a lovely view of Reichsburg Castle and the river, however. You will be more centrally located for walks through town if you stay on the other side. The Alte Thorschenke (ignore Traveldawg's spelling of the place!) is a good suggestion by most accounts and right next to the old town, but a little pricey. Our family has stayed at a nice vacation rental a couple of blocks from the town square run by the Mattes family at Loehrstrasse 34. It's a nice, homey place with a large living room, tiny kitchen, and small balcony - nice to have a home-away-from-home of sorts if you have a few days there - and very reasonable. But there are other such places as well - check with the Cochem tourist office for options.

Reichsburg Castle in Cochem may close for the season before you get there, and Burg Eltz is very likely closed; if so, head over to Braubach on the Rhine to tour Marksburg Castle, which is open all year.

Trier and Bernkastel would make for good day trips (if going by train, Bernkastel requires a bus connnection in Wittlich.) The train fares are reasonable if you get a daypass - 21 Euros weekdays, 28 Euros on weekends for a ticket for all-day travel for 5 people on the local trains (regional bus to Bernkastel from Wittlich included.)

Thank you for your help-Cochem it is! I'm still trying to find a two bedroom apartment-trying to decide between Hotel Moselflair, Ferienhaus Am Reilsbach or Hotel Panorama. Heard of any of these?

I believe those places are on the opposite side of the river - okay if you have a car and aren't concerned about mom-in-law and the youngster not wanting to walk over the bridge and into the center before beginning their real walk. Suggest you get the locations on a map or ask the places for a distance to the town center in meters if this is a concern. This place is on the town side:

http://www.accommodation.de/91032.htm

but I am not familiar with it and don't know exactly how far it is from the middle either.

Some of the hotels on the town side of the river also have apartments for families, as I recall.