Is Zell too inconvenient a base for exploring the Mosel? We plan to visit Cochem, Bielstein, Burg Eltz, and possibly Trier. We will have a rental car, and are planning on three nights. We were planning on staying in Bielstein, but found possible accomodations in Zell that might suit us better.

No by car it makes little difference. And Zell is a most pleasant, one of the most pleasant of the Mosel towns. Of course famous in U.S. for Zeller Black Cat wine.

Thank you! I just found a very old post where the poster hated the town, so I'm glad you also mentioned that it was "pleasant".

I led bike trips thru the Mosel for ten years and we went thru Zell but did not stay there - i found it one of the finest Mosel towns - pleasant pastel colors on the many old houses - seemed to be one of the more propsperous towns.

I am so jealous that you are going to the Mosel River!!! We were there 3 years ago and I can't wait to go back. We ate in an outdoor cafe on the East side of the river in Zell and had the best schnitzel (sp?), can't remember the name but it was on the north end of town. As far as I am concerned, the Mosel is a little slice of heaven. We really liked Berncastel too.

BTW, PalQ, I'd love to know more about bike tours on the Mosel. We thought that would be a wonderful way to see the area.

When we went in the Fall of 2003, Tracy and I thought Zell to be "tired" looking and blew out of there pretty fast. We loved our base in Beilstein, and also liked the towns of Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues, which we thought was very charming. In my opinion, Cochem would be a better choice.

As for bike tours - i no longer do group tours or keep up on them except to know that most are tremendously expensive - i would consider renting bikes and coordinating with trains - can put bikes on trains. I think hotels and guesthouses may also offer bikes and the boats accommodate them as well. The prettiest bike stretch is roughly between the Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues areas. Again winds can be a factor - usually going downstream means a tail wind and upstream at times is a real fight in this natural wind tunnel. But there are bike paths all along, sometimes as a deleanted part of a road and some all off by themselves. The area is subject to lots of rain as well - we had one trip in the area one year where it rained everyday for 35 days - never a downpout but always a drizzle - the sun popped out only a few times. Recent summers have been quite nice however.

Though Zell is swell i agree that Cochem or Bernkastel are more dreamier towns.