We are travelling in June/July. My son has a mild ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) and does SO MUCH better if we have a home base -- hence the long periods of time in one place. We need ideas for day trips, things to do with a thirteen and fifteen year old, etc. We are planning to go biking in Germany one day, and my daughter has requested the entirety of one day be donated to the Prado (she's an art geek), but after that we are open.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Go in June, avoid the heat and crowds. For Madrid, rent an apartment; far cheaper than a hotel, and much more comfortable. Lots of websites on offer, but I've had good success with homelidays.com; lots of customer reviews. For the "art geek," set aside more time for the Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums to get the continuum through to modern art...all close to each other. Two of the best art protests against war are in Madrid, Picasso's "Guernica" at the Reina Sofia, and Goya's "The Shootings of May Third 1808" in the Prado. Lots of day trips from Madrid, too. Toledo (by hi-speed train), Segovia, El Escorial (both by bus) and Alcala de Henares, birthplace of Cervantes (by regional train). The Rastro market south of Plaza Mayor Sunday mornings (watch for pickpockets, walk downhill and take the metro back), the Royal Palace..on and on! For public transit, purchase a 10-ride Metro ticket for 6.40 Euro, a good deal since individual tickets are 1 Euro. You'll have a fantastic time!
Posted by
NYC area
2980 posts
Hi Kelley,
We just spent 4 nights on the Mosel in Cochem in October. We also took a day along the Rhine. Bacharach is very nice, as is St. Goar. The two highlights for me were...Marksburg Castle and Burg Eltz. To get to Marksburg, take the ferry from either St. Goar or Boppard across the Rhine and follow the road along the Rhine north until you get to Braubach (not too far). You'll see signs and Marksburg castle. Burg Eltz is a must in my opinion. We followed the directions in Rick Steves' book and had no problem finding it. The castle and it's location is just what I'd always pictured a medieval castle to look like. It's just fantastic. We really like Cochem, along the Mosel. Not too far away to make a day trip out of. Though we didn't tour it, Cochem castle looks like it would be worthwhile also. Our recent photos can be seen at:
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html
paul
Posted by
Paradise
7064 posts
A week in the Rhineland is a great idea; Bacharach is nice, but I agree with Paul that other towns like Cochem might serve as a better base. Bacharach is pretty much at the "end" of the core sightseeing area that extends from the southern Middle-Rhine valley north to Koblenz and then southwest to Trier along the Mosel. From Cochem it's much easier to get to Trier and Burg Eltz, and it's not that time-consuming to get to Marksburg Castle, St. Goar, or Bacharach. Cochem or Bullay would allow you to use the faster trains (RE) in addition to the "milk-run" trains (RB) which stop at every little town; some towns like Bacharach offer only RB service. If you want a base town on the Rhine, your best bet might be Boppard (RE service available) or St. Goar (gorgeous setting, ferry that gets you to train service on the east bank of the Rhine for getting to Marksburg Castle.)
Walter Huppertz' 2 BR "Rheinblick" apartment in St. Goar is an excellent choice - nice view of the river and castles.
Posted by
OP
Chattanooga, TN, USA
95 posts
We picked Bacharach because the kids best friends moved to Wiesbaden last summer, and a large part of that week we will be going there after school. There wasn't much choice in an apartment in Wiesbaden or Mainz, so we moved to Bacharach, but we are definitely trying to get toward that end.
Posted by
Levelland, Texas, USA
9 posts
Hi Kelley
My wife and I stayed in Bacharach in September. We enjoyed the smaller towns in Germany. Day trips to Frankfurt, Colone, and Cochem are possible and Burg Eltz is very good. At Burg Eltz they usally want at least ten people for an English tour, but it is worth the wait. Listen for others speaking English as you wait around the castle and gather a tour group. There is a place to eat at the castle if you are there at lunch time.
George