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Alsace -- 6 days in October

Posted by (San Francisco) on

Rick Steves Travel Gurus,

We are planning an October trip to France followed by a Rhine river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. Our rough itinerary is:

Oct 4-6: Paris (just a get-settled stop-over -- it will be our 4th time in Paris)
Oct 6-9: Burgundy (staying in Beaune with day trip to Dijon)
Oct 9-15: Alsace
Oct 15-22: River Cruise
Oct 22-23: Amsterdam (we were just there in 2022 and will spend an extra day after docking in Amsterdam before heading home)

My current planning issue is Alsace. We plan to take the train from Beaune to Mulhouse and pick up a car. We'd like to stay somewhere on the Route de Vin and explore the region. We'd like to ride bikes, explore quaint towns, wine taste, spend a day in Strasbourg (with the understanding that we'll get another opportunity on the river cruise), spend a day in Colmar, and explore a bit in the Black Forest if time permits. Eating good food is also a priority. Another couple will be joining us in Alsace and then we'll be taking the cruise together.

I've been searching for the ideal central location to stay for the 6 days. It's harder than I thought it would be to find someplace central, comfortable, and within walking distance of restaurants and amenities. I'm looking for a 3-4 star place that has nice bathroom facilities with a decent shower set-up (not a bathtub where you have to sit down and hold the shower nozzle over your head). It makes me wonder if I should split the stay between 2 places -- one in the north and one in the south. I would be grateful for any suggestions. On my list are: L'Ami Fritz (not central, but ticks all the other boxes), Pêche de Vigne, Hôtel le Parc Rest. Joséphine, Hotel Le Mandelberg, and Hotel du Mouton. Any feedback on these hotels would also be appreciated.

FYI -- I've also considered staying in Strasbourg and Colmar. I'm open to it. However, the guys would really like to rent bikes and do some serious bike riding in the countryside, so I've been leaning to a smaller town on the Route de Vin.

Thanks much,

Elizabeth

Posted by
7937 posts

We’re going in July, after the Tour de France bike race is done. We’ve decided to stay in Bergheim (renting a place, not staying in a hotel), which Rick Steves describes as a quiet Route du Vin village, and the best nontouristy one. Haven’t been there yet, so I can’t confirm that, and we’re planning on doing some bike riding, too, but I haven’t confirmed from where we’ll need to rent bicycles. This is all as opposed to Riquewihr, which his guidebook describes as an adorable and picturesque little village, but with midday crowds that can trample its ample charms.

We’re staying in Strasbourg for several nights afterwards, so splitting Alsace with two stays is our plan.

Posted by
99 posts

I'll be following this post because we're thinking of going to Alsace in late September for about the same length of time. We plan to stay in Colmar in an apartment but don't plan to ride bikes. Thank you!

Posted by
1474 posts

I'll suggest staying in Strasbourg. You can bike from there, or even put the bikes on the train and go to Colmar and bike around there. Plus you can day trip to Freiburg, or Hagenau, or even up to Wissembourg. you could also get to Baden-Baden (spas), or Bad Bergzaben (Westwall museum), or Nancy without any major issues.

When I stay in Strasbourg I prefer the Maison Rouge, which is a Marriott property and has nice bathrooms, and it's location cant be beat.

Be advised, it will rain 2 of every 3 days in OCT. That may impact your bike rides.

Posted by
7146 posts

We stayed in Eguisheim for 2 nights and Colmar for 4. We had a rental car to visit the small towns and we took the train to Strasbourg. On part of one day we parked in Hunawihr and walked to Ribeauvillé and back.

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