We are planning a trip for octoberfest in October and are wondering what is the best way to get from the either the airport to the hotel or from the bus. We land in Paris and werent sure if we should just catch another flight to Munich or take the train?
Coming from Canada, our first trip, wondering what is the best way and if anyone is familiar with this hotel, if it is decent for Octoberfest festivities?
krystal
I'm a little confused by your post. Are you flying into Paris and staying for a few days before going on to Munich, or are you flying into Paris and then immediately going to Munich? The answer to the latter would be to just book flights direct to Munich if you haven't already booked.
If you've already booked your flight, then you'd have to book a flight on a separate ticket to Munich from Paris, but allow sufficient time for possible delays, Passport control, checking in to your second flight, security, etc. Usually a minimum of 4 hours between flights. But this still carries a risk of missing it if your incoming flight is considerably delayed arriving.
Taking a train would involve going into Paris to catch a train from the Paris Est station. There are multiple trains per day taking over 7 hours and involving at least one change of trains: pretty exhausting after a transatlantic flight, but can be relaxing if you've already been sightseeing in Paris for a few days. Since you've never been to Europe before, I'd recommend reading up on European train travel on the Man in Seat 61 website BEFORE buying any advance tickets.
I've not stayed at that hotel, but it's in a good location- reasonable walking distance to the Oktoberfest grounds and near a metro station. You can look for reviews on TripAdvisor or the usual hotel booking sites.
I'd just fly into Munich. Flights and trains between those two cities are not really the best schedules for some unknown reason. Also, beware that most of Oktoberfest is actually in September, as it barely goes into October. Be prepared to pay handsomely for a room in Munich if you're there during Oktoberfest. I'd be looking at Booking.com when your dates are set.
Thanks for the info on the flights transfer. It’s best for us to fly in and out if Paris. We arrive sept 29th and thought we would leave immediately to Munich (from the airport) either by train or plane. Wasn’t sure what was best. We arrive at 10 am so that leaves a bit of tine to get to Munich. Our hotels in Munich are already booked Thursday to Sunday for October fest. We originally thought we would stay in Paris til Thursday then go to Munich but transferring back and forth between stations or airports might be silly so thought we will go directly to Germany sept 29, see a few other things in and around Munich, add to our existing reservation and then sight see Paris on our way back.
We fly home on the12th of October from a Paris. We thought this trip would be just Munich Germany and Back towards Paris via train to burgundy, champagne or Provence (or some version) then to Paris a few days then home.
Any suggestions is appreciated. Looks like flights are inexpensive from Paris to Munich so assuming we can make a connection that might be best. I’m thinking staying st the airport and going to Munich might be better than staying in Paris 4 nights, getting to Munich then traveling Sunday elsewhere might be more time in trains or sitting in airports than we would like. Is 4 nights in Paris enough? Is waiting at the airport to get to Munich a better idea? Flying or train a better option?
Thx !!
Have you already booked your flight? If not, you can book a flight from Canada through Paris to Munich, all on one ticket, which will be much easier (and may not even be more expensive).
If you already have booked your Canada to Paris flight, see how much it would cost to change it to "multi city" (into Munich and out of Paris if that's what you want) or round trip to Munich (again, via Paris is fine).
If you are on separate tickets, you have to allow a LOT of time, since CDG airport is huge. If you are on separate tickets, you have to allow time to get through immigration, pick up checked bags, walk through customs, and find your next terminal and go through security - all before the boarding window closes on your second flight. If you miss the second flight, you are responsible for getting to Munich both logistically (the airlines won't help you rebook) and financially (you have to buy a last minute full price ticket)
If you are on one ticket, the airline transfers the luggage, and if you miss the connection, they will put you on the next available flight for no additional charge. Much better, and worth paying extra for.
If you way which airport in Canada you are flying from, and what flights you are looking at (or have actually booked), people can give more specific advice.
We have not booked our flights and there are no add on flights with that airline. We have not booked our flights yet as we are waiting for them to go on sale. We have holidays from work booked and hotels for 3 nights in Munich but so far that’s it. We would need to book a fight separately if we were doing that... so that’s why I was asking. It might be faster to get on the train and go right from the airport by train to Munich? I’m assuming there’s a train station in or around the airport.
Our carrier does not fly there from western Canada.
Our carrier does not fly there from western Canada
Where exactly in western Canada? And why are you only looking at one airline's flights? Even if an Airline doesn't have direct flights, they are usually partnered with other airlines, so you can book a connecting flight all on one ticket.
You may be better off flying to one of the major Canadian flight hubs and then flying direct to Munich; then using the multicity option, fly home from Paris.
Yes, if from Vancouver, AC has direct flights to Munich and back from Paris. Look at "multi-city" flights. Into Munich, return from Paris. Same should work with connections from any large airport in western Canada with a single connection.
PS Sheraton Westpark should work good. About 1/4 walk to the Theresienwiesse. It is next to the Heimeranplatz S-Bahn station. You take the S-Bahn (S-1 or S-8) from the airport to Donnersberger Bruecke, then change to the S-7 one stop away.
It might be faster to get on the train and go right from the airport by train to Munich? I’m assuming there’s a train station in or around the airport.
No, it is faster to fly from Paris to Munich. Flying into Paris because you want to go to Munich is like flying into Vancouver because you want to go to Banff.
Sounds like you are using Air Transat, is that right? They can be cheap but as you already have seen the destinations are limited.
Comparing:
To get from Paris to Munich with an advanced purchase one way flight, Air France and Lufthansa are your best option and current prices are $77-132USD (same day price is $280-573USD today if the plane is not full). By high speed train advanced purchase ticket is 96€ (same day price is 230€ if the train is not full).
The big problem is here is if you miss your connection your are stuck, especially if there are not seats on alternate travel. So at best you can save $144USD but at worst you will have to pay $705 more, that is not a risk most experienced travelers would ever take.
My advice is to ditch Air Transat and book flights directly to the city you are traveling.
Your hotel is fine and just a few stops away from Oktoberfest on the U-bahn.
DJ
Ok so we have booked our flights from Regina to Paris. Arrive the 28th of September and stay in Paris til the 3rd when we go to Munich. We stay there 5 days and are just trying to figure out where we will go from there. Still looking at flying from Paris to Munich despite having to return to the airport but we assume it’s less work this way and less risky about missing connections. Staying in the Bastille (11th) so curious at this point if flying is better than train? I’ll check the previously mentioned airlines for times and prices. Any suggestions are helpful. Assuming most of the octoberfest traffic will have left by the time we leave the 8th on to our next destination where we have another 5 days til we have to return to Paris.
Krystal
Staying in the Bastille (11th) so curious at this point if flying is
better than train? I’ll check the previously mentioned airlines for
times and prices. Any suggestions are helpful.
Your options are as mentioned the train or flying. There is one direct TGV from Paris to Munich per day and several trains with one (simple) change along the way. They take around 5:30 to 6 hours city centre to city centre, and in Paris they depart from Gare de l'Est which is reasonably close to the 11th arrondissement. Currently the tickets cost around €60-70 so that would probably be the cheapest option.
Or you can fly, your choices are Air France or Lufthansa and it is a 1:30 flight, so in the end not that much faster than the train.
