We arrive in mid sep't in Frankfurt airport for a tip to Black Forest (maybe Mosel Valley first). Any suggestions on a charming hotel/pension outside of Frankfurt but not too great a drive or train ride to reach. This is for one night, but don't want to start our trip in a depressing place.
My choice would be Pension Im Malerwinkel in Bacharach. Beautiful setting. Bacharach is 1 hr by train from the Regionalbahnhof at FRA.
I am confused. I can understand if someone wants to overnight in another town that is closer to their destination, but Frankfurt is anything but depressing. In fact I can't think of any city or town in Germany that is depressing. Wondering why you think this about a lively, fun, historic, city.
If you're headed to the Mosel, Frankfurt, which is EAST of FRA, isn't in the right direction. Bacharach - an attractive village full of charming places to stay on the way to the Mosel - makes perfect sense in this regard and offers you a chance to see a little of the Rhine prior to the Mosel. That said, it's only about two hours from FRA to Cochem, in the heart of the Mosel valley, by train. If you have the time, do Bacharach first, if not go straight to Cochem. Ben has a fine list of Cochem and Bacharach options: http://www.bensbauernhof.com/accommodationsrhinemosel.html A 3-day mini-group ticket for 40 Euros covers 2-5 people on the trains along the Rhine from Oberwesel (one stop north of Bacharach) north and along the Mosel from Koblenz to Bullay (a few stops beyond Cochem.) http://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets-and-fares/ticket-offers/network-tickets/
Agree with Jo that Frankfurt is anything but depressing. But if you're headed in the direction of the Black Forest (which for once, I don't feel like mentioning all the other similar, less touristy forested mountain ranges you'll pass on the way... wait, I just did it again...), I might recommend Heppenheim. Its a beautiful town that sits at the foot of the Odenwald mountains, overlooked by a castle, and has a great old center. Don't know of any lodging recommendations, though. It's about a 30 minute drive south of the airport.
Russ will like this. If instead of Mainz, you go to Wiesbaden, you can take the train down the right bank to Braubach. I had lunch there at Gästehaus Wieghardt. They also have rooms. I thought it was a delightful place, right on the town square. Above it is the Marksburg, the only undestroyed castle on the Rhein.