Help with Germany in October

Oberstaufen is not a lake town, it's a pretty alpine town, but it's only about 40 minutes by train to Lindau. Even without the boats running, Lindau is worth a visit, even if only as a day trip.

As for staying in Lindau, Hotel Möve appears to be open at your time.

4 years ago, we were planning a trip to Southern Germany in October. We were assured that the Southern part is usually dry in the fall. Guess what: it rained every day. My brother-in-law had reservations for an upscale pension at Lake Constance (with lake view). The rain with wind almost hit the windows horizontally. We visited a lot of cathedrals and museums. Just plan ahead for possible indoor activities.

Hi Herb

Did you stay in other parts of Southern Germany as well? I’ve decided against Lindau now, but need to replace it with somewhere else.

I wonder how Garmisch will be in October also? I guess Regensburg and Rothenburg will be ok as we can look at museums if it’s raining, but most of the things I planned to do from Garmisch will be outdoors.

What's the parking situation at Hotel Move, or for Lindau insel in general?

Hotel Möve (by the way, Möve means seagull) has a gated parking area behind the hotel. I don't know if they charge, or how much. It's probably on their website.

However, for those of us that eschew cars (and it notice the OP is going by train), everything on the island is within walking distance for most people. My partner, Robin, has a disable parking tag at home and chose not to walk with our luggage. We took a taxi, and it was around 5-10 euro. Lindau has a very good bus system, but it has only a few stops on the island. Before we chose Möve, I looked at some Ferienwohnungen and Privat Zimmer on the mainland and most were close to one of six bus lines to the island.

There are a few hotels on the harbor, with a few astronomically priced rooms with harbor views. For those of us financial mortals, hotels away from the harbor are more reasonable, and the harbor view is more enjoyable when you have to make a little effort to see it (see Frank Lloyd Wright and Fallingwater).

Hi Lee

Hotel Move doesn’t have any availability for our dates when I look. Apparently there’s a food festival on in Lindau at that time which would account for everything being booked out.

I’m still trying to decide on another town to stay instead of Lindau. We could stay in Konstanz and get the car ferry over to Meersburg for a day.

Or else we could add Munich to the itinerary. It dosn’t really interest me but there’s a direct train to Zurich from there.

Hotel Move doesn’t have any availability for our dates when I look.

Apparently I'm not the only one who likes it.

Another possibility, would be Immenstadt or Oberstdorf. Unfortunately, you are planning Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and Oberstdorf is more-or-the-same only a whole lot better. Immenstadt is on the main line from Munich to Lindau, and Oberstdorf is a short spur line from Immenstadt. From Oberstdorf there is a bus ride up into the Kleinwalsertal, a beautiful Austrian alpine valley.

Historically, the area aroud Freiburg will be one of the driest and warmest in late October, though no guarantees, free train rides within the Black Forest if you have the Konus Card, pleasant hiking if you are up for it, some attractive villages close by.

FYI..... Coupled with Rick's accommodation recommendations, I use booking.com extensively because you can filter location, dates, parking issues, air condition, etc. Try booking.com or other accommodation type websites when doing your research. Booking.com has never let me down and I have used them for years. (I don't work for them either...)

Konstanz isn't as charming as Lindau, but it wouldn't be a bad place to stay, and has plenty of services. Friedrichshafen is also more modern, but is on the train line and has the Zepplin museum and would be a fine place to base on Lake Constance as well.

I normally don't recommend the Black Forest as I don't think it's that "special" but Freiburg does have the sunniest weather in Germany, is close to the French border if you wanted to pop over, and the point was made about the Conus card. It's a charming little university city.