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German Gasthaus

In 1970 when I hitchhiked through Europe we could often stop in towns and get a place to sleep in a Gasthaus-usually rooms above a restaurant. Do they still exist and if they do do you have to make reservations these days or just find one and stay as we did then.

Posted by
7209 posts

Driving through the country roads off the beaten path we often found "Zimmer Frei" signs hanging out front of houses. Of course that was back in 1988. It was a fun excursion back then not knowing what you might find around the corner. It's probably a bit different now.

Posted by
1275 posts

They still exist and for me personally I prefer to stay at these type places rather than a fancy hotel. Usually 1-3 stars and some still have the 1960-70s deco that would remind you of your 1970s experiences. There are some real gems out there though with new owners that have remolded and have good food at a good price. I usually do a Google map search, then check the places out on line. Don't expect an American/English type of breakfast at these places and at some the dinner menu consists of 10 different kinds of schnitzel, Jäger - Schnitzel, Italiener - Schnitzel. Hawaii - Schnitzel. Zigeuner etc. At some places the local Stammtsch still hangs out there playing cards and such, but without the cigarette smoke anymore. Probably will not find many American tourists at these places either, but Germans who speak English are more common now than 1970, so language is not an issue. I would say only at the best on the weekends require reservations.

Posted by
980 posts

Yes they exist and many can be found online. I haven't found that advanced booking is needed unless the place is in a popular town or there is a festival nearby. The quality can vary wildly but hey, that's part of the fun isn't it?

One more thing, they are not only found in town but larger cities as well if you ask around. Here is one above a gelato shop in Munich: http://www.eiscafe-adamello.de/. I've never stayed there but something tells me they don't do online booking ;)

DJ

Posted by
14482 posts

What you describe above was typical of the scene in Germany in the 1970s...nice memories. Good that the smoking is gone now. But the rest of the milieu with the sign Stammtisch on an empty table meant you had better leave that table unoccupied, when the daily specials were written on a chalk board, when it was expected that one had to speak the language, when the jukesboxes played Schlager as well as American music, etc....all part of the Wirtschaft or Gaststätte experience.

Posted by
1231 posts

Yes, they still exist! I just left Rothenburg where I stayed in one, 600 years old. That's the kind of place I love. Saw many signs for rooms there, too.

Posted by
4 posts

Do you remember what the name of the Gasthaus was in Rothenburg? That's the kind of experience I want. Studied at the Padegogische Hochschule in Reutlingen and found one there. We are then heading to Rothenburg. Not till fall but I am researching ahead.

Posted by
19052 posts

It was probably Gästehaus Raidel. Their website says it is 600 years old. It's not rooms over a restaurant. They have a breakfast room for guests; that's it.

You can't book Raidel on Tripadvisor, so, of course, they don't give contact information. I find this to be the rule, not the exception. There are many, fine Gästhäuser and Privatzimmer in Germany that run on a bare budget and can't pay the 15% commission to Tripadvisor's booking websites. In my experience, the best way to find these intimate places, particularly Privatzimmer, is to use the town's own list of accommodations. Raidel is listed, with their website, on page 3 under Guesthouses on www.rothenburg.de.

Posted by
1477 posts

I have stayed at the Raidel that Lee mentioned and enjoyed it. Very nice owner.

I liked both the food and the room at the Gasthaus Goldener Greifen in Rothenburg. BTW they do laundry, which can be handy.

http://www.gasthof-greifen-rothenburg.de/english/inn-hotel-rothenburg.html

I ate at the Gasthof Butz during our last stayed. Good food and pleasant folks. I have seen other folks recommend their rooms. I may try them next time.

http://www.kreiselmeier.de

Posted by
16893 posts

Rick's Germany book still contains the advice that you can either look for Zimmer Frei signs as you go (easier when you have a car) or find listings through local tourist offices, in addition to those specific listings he recommends in the book.

Posted by
19052 posts

If you drive around looking for Zimmerfrei signs (German for vacancy) how do you know that the perfect place isn't on the next street over. When you have a linkable list, you can compare virtually all the places in town.

I've use the TI office twice. The first time they sent be to a nice enough place, but I had no way of comparing it. The second time, I arrived a day early at a town where I had reservations the following day. Again, the place they sent me to was nice enough, but more expensive and farther away then where I stayed the following night. Lesson: the TI probably gives you the next place on their list, not necessarily the least expensive or closest.

Several of the places I've found on my own, I later found were recommended by Rick's books. Most places were not. When I went to Prague, I didn't have as much confidence in Czech hotels that I have in German ones, so I used Rick's book. One of his recommendations, Lida, was perfect.