Reservations needed in May??

Smaller towns shoudn't be a problem. I am going to be in Munich in May as well and I am finding a hard time securing a reservation at a reasonably priced hotel. The prices that are listed in Rick Steve's guidebook and what I have been seeing on various web sites are drastically different...and not to our advantage! It seems that there is never a shortage of rooms 150 euros and up though.
Good luck!

Sorry, forgot to mention we are traveling by car for these 9 days. Thanks!

Should not be. That is normally how we do it. With a car and in the country side it should be easier.

Check out the Ibis Hotel Chain. All the charm of a Motel 6 but clean, safe and conviently located near major roads plus parking is always available. Breakast is usually a really good deal.

In the larger cities check whether there are trade shows taking place during your days of visit. Example: Munich, 4-Star hotel with no trade show: €80 per room, with trade show: €280 per room. In Frankfurt, which you won't need, it's even worse. If there is a trade show taking place book ASAP. If not you can take your chances...

Hello Bob. I travelled in Germany and Austria in the month May. From my experience, I recommend telephone for a room reservation 3 days before you expect to arrive at a hotel (or B & B). Salzburg has loud and annoying noise, at all times of every day and night. I recommend have your overnight accomodations at a B & B located at the side of Salzburg. For a small B & B you might need to get a reservation several weeks before you go there. Those countries are very pleasant and beautiful in May.

You will be able to find lodging. You may not get your first choice without reservations but you won't go homeless. I call about 10am for where I expect to be that night. Some of the places that you couldn't get reservations may have rooms if you call that morning, otherwise try a few places until you find a room.

I like to make reservations in advance no matter the time of year. That way I know I will have the place I want. No last minute surprizes or having to take a more expensive place because what I might have wanted to take is full.

In Germany, look for accommodations using www.[town name].de. Accommodations are normally under "hotels", "unterkünfte", "übernachten", or "gastgeber". Often the hotels will have their own website and email address, some with English. I try to avoid hotels with stars, because I've learned that the best cultural experience is in simple, family run establishment that don't bother with them, but according to the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), any hotel with 3 or more stars must have a bilingual (German/English) staff.

Hi Bob, we have traveled 3 times through Germany in May for about 6 ot 7 nights each time and never had reservations. Never had a problem except in Trier and that was our fault. We waited until late in the day before looking and really got stuck. Ended up at a beautiful hotel just in front of the gate. It was $$$ but we look back now at how very nice it was. Just find your room before 2PM or so, earlier if you can. Then, room settled, play tourist.

If Bob says he prefers to "wing it" I say go for it.

Be flexible, keep it fresh, get a little lost, try something scary!

Your accommodations could range from crashing on someones sofa for the price of a last round at a Brew Haus, to - as Pat mentioned - having to stay at the Country Club because all the hostels are full.

I don't think you will have a problem finding a place without reservations. We have always found a place in May and June but we did have a car and that does help while searching for a place. The security of making reservations is comforting and we also do that but sometimes just winging it just seems to add some freedom to the trip and some of the more enjoyable experiences are spur of the moment decisions. You can usually find a B&B at a reasonable price. Take Rick's book for suggestions. I think you have planned well with the first and last part of the trip covered with reservations. The 9 days between should be fun for you. It has worked well for us.