Octoberfest

I too will be traveling to Munich for Octoberfest, Oct 1&2. This will be my firsy Octoberfest. I have not tried to order tickets on line. By your posting you have attempted but were unsuccessful. I have found a small hotel where we (4) will be staying. I will e-mail my host and ask them to advise the ordering of tickets. I have been asking him numerous questions and he has been very helpful. Not sure where you will be staying but you might contact your hotel as well.

I went last year with a group of 16. We went opening weekend. We never did get tickets to any tents. Your best option is to go as early as humanly possible and wait to get into one. (Some people bring beer to drink in line) However this is extremely hard to do when jet lagged and hung over.

When we went on day 1 we could not get into anywhere and we spent the majority of the day at the "Weissbier Schacke" which is near the Hippodrom. It's an outdoor beer garden and was plenty of fun, but most definitely not a tent. We were able to walk through some of the tents and experience the awesomeness, but could not sit and drink or eat. So we walked through a bunch, then returned to our Weissbier exile. . .

On day 2 we were determined to get into a tent. We split up into groups of 4 hoping that would improve our chances. My group ended up at the Augustiner tent and we found a picnic table outside. These are good as they are first come first served and you can get beer and food ordered to your table. However, again, you are missing the tent-band-awesomeness.

We ended up splitting the table with a group of 4 Munchers. Well we chatted with them and proceeded to buy them a couple rounds. They knew people inside who ended up getting us in through a back door. FINALLY! It was beyond awesome. We were pretty well into our 6 or 7th liter at this point and we all had a rip roaring good time dancing and singing.

So my advice? Head to the Augustiner tent, befriend some locals and bribe them with beer to get you in.

They also explained to us that it is important to understand the different tents. Some, like Nymphenburger Sekt or the Hippodrom, are known for the "schiki micki" (as I gathered from the german's description: rich yuppy pretentious jerk types). Note they also have dress codes. Other are for hard-drinking locals: Augustiner. Finally I was told the Hofbrau tent is for Americans and Australians only and avoided by most Germans.

I don't know if reservations are required for groups.

It seemed getting into the tents was easiest in late afternoon. The first wave heads to dinner and the second wave arrives around dinner time. I eat an early dinner outside the tents then head in.

Some tents are less crowded. I prefer the Lowenbrau tent over the touristy Hoffbrauhaus tent.

Weekdays are easier than weekends. Days are easier than evenings and I am assuming opening day will be the hardest of all. My exp in 2006 was the tent was wide open at 11am on a Wed, but we got kicked out at 6pm when the resv started which is when we moved to a small tent. By the weekend lines were out the door at the start of the day. We are going back this year and I can't wait. I planned on a midweek day on hopes of getting the same luck of the draw as in 2006. It is the most fun thing EVER!!!