Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Bingen or Mainz?

Posted by (Gettysburg PA) on

We will be flying into FRA to start our 23 night trip next May- have alloted 11 days to Germany and the rest to Salzburg, Prague, Amsterdam.
Our original plan had us taking train from FRA to Wurzburg for a night or 2 to get over jet lag and pick up a rental car there. We do not (will not) want to pick up car at FRA- do not want to deal with driving after an overnight flight.
Now we are rethinking how to begin our travels and would like to try to fit in some time on the Rhine.
Our thought is to take train from FRA to Bingen- stay there 2 nights- I have points and a discount to use for the NH Bingen which looks to be perfectly located for train arrival and the KD boats. We would spend the next day cruising the Rhine- stopping in Bacharach and St. Goar and probably taking train from St. Goar back to our hotel in Bingen.
Next am we would have to take train to Mainz to pick up rental car.

My question is this- what is wrong with Mainz? RS book is quite dismissive of Mainz and I have to wonder why? Would it be simpler to just stay in Mainz and start our KD cruise day from there?
Is there enough of interest in Bingen that our first afternoon won’t be a bore?
Our main goal is to keep our arrival day simple. Seems like going further down the Rhine- to stay in Bacharach for example is just too many changes then we would have the same issue when we need to get back to Mainz to get a rental car.

Any advice? Anyone ever stayed in Bingen and more specifically at the NH Bingen? Any experience with picking up rental car in Mainz?

Thanks

Posted by
7072 posts

The NH Bingen is great. Loved the BREAKFAST and the SETTING. Request a room on the river side of the building - great view and away from train noise.
"Is there enough of interest in Bingen that our first afternoon won’t be a bore?"
The riverfront scenery is terrific. The Promenade makes for a long and enjoyable walk. There are some nice cafes there. The town center is mildly entertaining. But anyway this is a day to recover from your transatlantic flight - jetlag - and just relax. And Bingen is just right for that.

"My question is this- what is wrong with Mainz? RS book is quite dismissive of Mainz and I have to wonder why? Would it be simpler to just stay in Mainz and start our KD cruise day from there?"

There's nothing at all wrong with Mainz! As long as you walk a few blocks from the dull station area into the pedestrianized zone and the old town, where Mainz comes alive. But NO, you don't want to start your cruise there - don't pay extra for the relatively dull ride to Bingen - just start the cruise in Bingen (take the train there if you decide to overnight in Mainz instead.)

But since you're going into Mainz to get a car later, you probably should just go straight from FRA to Bingen, then later when you arrive in Mainz for your car, allot 2-3 hours there for a walk around at least. (stow bags in a locker if you like.) Mainz has tons of things to see and do but it sounds like you want to be off and running to other places.
Mainz sights
Mainz pedestrianized streets in pink

I understand Europcar and Hertz have some sort of service at Mainz' main station - possibly they pick you up there and drive you to their Mombach location. I've never picked up there - In the past I've rented but now just don't want anything to do at all with rental agencies, contracts, etc... I have picked up in Würzburg previously - very simple to do at the station there.

What I would do... you have to buy tickets into Mainz anyway from Bingen - about €14 for that - the gas alone to Würzburg (if that's your goal) will cost €20. But the two of you can travel Bingen - Mainz and Mainz - Würzburg, with a 2-3-hour layover in between and using the fastest train connections - for €38 total with a pre-purchased saver fare ticket (that's what they sell for now anyway.) Then pick up your car after you're finished with W'burg.

Posted by
7170 posts

Thank you so much Russ.
Picking up car in Wurzburg sounds like the way to go for us. Perfect.
Booked room with a view at NH Bingen!

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.