August '09 Itinerary, Germany, Austria

Lee, It sounds like fun! You definately should see those places - they are touristy for a reason you know! Hallstatt can easily be seen in a leisurely day if you include the salt mine, and maybe an excursion on the lake. Of course I'm sure you'll be traveling by train so you'll get your excursion on the lake coming and going. My husband is very "tech" minded, but was disappointed with the Deutsches Museum.

I hope you'll post a blog when you get back so we can read about your adventures. It seems to me I remember reading about your excursion up the romantic road once before and really enjoyed it.

Have fun - I'm jealous:)

Hi Lee,

We weren't planning on going this year either, but the airfare was too low ($441) to resist!

Of the places on your itinerary, we've been to and loved Herrenchiemsee, Zell am See, Hall in Tirol and Mittenwald. We weren't "thrilled" with Hallstatt, but we're glad we saw it.

After 7 trips to Bavaria, Austria and the Dolomites, we haven't had enough and continue to keep going back.

Just a suggestion, we really liked the Berg Tavern in Berg Hasegg in Hall in Tirol for dinner.

Have a fun and safe trip.

Paul

Hey Lee - I got to Herrenchiemsee & Halstatt on my trip. There's not a whole lot in Prien am Chiemsee except for the boat ride out to the island the palace sits on but the people are very friendly and the countryside is gorgeous. Halstatt is a sleepy little place but we enjoyed the quieter pace during our stopover - also, as with Prien the countryside is breathtaking. I also enjoyed visiting Bad Ischl on the way to Halstatt. Have a great time!

I was about to comment that it looks like you're trying to do too much... then I realized who wrote this post. I would only add that Hall is good for about two hours of strolling and seeing other Ricknicks, but there's not too many reasons to linger any longer.

Lee - What no Garmisch or Salzburg or Eagles Nest? Don't you want to go on a Sound of Music tour. Kent liked his. :-)

Please remind us when you are heading out. I like to follow your exploits online.

Regards, Gary

When are you going? Does this mean there is no July get-together for the South Denver folks.

Arnold, I'm going the end of Aug to early Sept. I will be gone the third Saturday in Aug, so either we reschedule the meeting for the 2nd Sat or you can do it by yourselves.

Jo, already seen Garmisch, Salzburg, and Kehlsteinhaus two time each. I've been in Salzburg and seen most of the sights of SOM (the fortress, the convent, Maribelle palace - Do Re Mi steps, etc.), and, because I own a copy of the DVD with commentary by Robt. Wise, I know how contrived the tours are. I do hope to see the church at Mondsee en route to Hallstatt.

Tom, I do have three 1-nt stands, Munich on arrival, Freilassing between Herrenchiemsee and Hallstatt, and Mittenwald, four 2-nt stands, Hallstatt, Hall (base for Innsbruck and Italy), Bayrischzell (base for Wendelstein, Schliersee, and Fischbachau), and Pfronten, and one 3-nt stand, Munich. I am going to do a "checklist" tour of Italy - take the train over Brenner Pass to Brennero or Bolzano, get out look around, say "Italy, check", and go back to Innsbruck.

One of the very few things I have ever spoke poorly of in EU is the Deutches museum. It probably was not my cup of tea to begin with but the real problem was that it is intended to be very interactive, and while we were there almost everything was broken. You would press a button and nothing would happen. It happened over and over. Now that was 3 years ago - so maybe it has been fixed. But it stands out as one of the only places that I wish I had done something else that day.

Lee,

Knowing who posted this, I imagine you've got all your transportation worked out precisely, so I won't comment on that. I initially thought the Itinerary looked a bit "busy" but I'm sure you have it all sorted. A few comments:

• The trip through the Brenner Pass is beautiful! I've done it several times, and always enjoy the scenery. Travelling to Bolzano would probably take a few hours though. Depending on which train you choose, it will probably stop in Verona so you may want to do a walkabout there for an hour or two before heading back.

• As you've got a trip to Dachau planned for your arrival day you've obviously got more energy than I do. After a long flight, I've only got enough strength to "coast" for a few hours, and then have to "crash". Were you planning on taking a guided tour there, or going on your own?

• I wasn't disappointed in the Deutsches Museum at all. There's a LOT to see (16 kM of exhibits in the main centre, and as I recall there are two satellite Museums in the outskirts as well). I'm interested in WW-II history, so enjoyed seeing the V1, V2, aircraft and other exhibits. It's so big, I kept finding new rooms to explore! From what I remember, from the closest Metro stop, you have to walk a couple of blocks and then turn right and walk over a bridge. At the end of the bridge, another right takes you to the Museum entrance.

• It's great that you're spending a few days in Hallstatt. It's wonderfully quiet at night, but be careful walking between buildings (I witnessed an unfortunate pedestrian MVI there one evening). If you're going to tour the Salt Mine, go early so that you can stop at Rudolfsturm for lunch on the way back (it's the large Castle at the top of the Funicular). The view is incredible! Which Hotel are you staying at? The Net Cafe & Bar was opening the day after my departure - hopefully they're still operating? If you need any other info, send me a PM.

Cheers!

The two places I can recommend on your list are
Dachua and Deutsches Museum.

The Deutches Musuem has so much and I believe you will enjoy the rooms related to military history.

b>Dachua was in no way touristy in 2008. We took a guided tour and also did our thing. Because you know your history, a tour will have the "repetition of knowledge you know thing" theme. But we found as others did that you usually learn something new. Then there is the personal experience you will have forever.

Coming from Rothenburg ob der Tauber, We stored our bags at the train station. Lockers are located upstairs and outside next to the bike rack. Then we took the bus to the Dachua camp, before continuing on to Munich.

You probably already knew about the lockers. I mentioned it as your itinerary has you on the move on arrival day.

It's nice to return a favor. You are a great asset to this site. Have a wonderful time!

Di

Ken, your confidence in me is flattering. However, I don't yet have all the transportation worked out precisely. When I was "roughing" out the schedule I did do a cursory check on the times between venues to see if it was feasible, but I still have a few details to decide on. I know that I could go from Bayrischzell to Mittenwald in about 3 hours if I went from Holzkirchen to Munich to Garmisch, but that doesn't seem so interesting. On the other hand, going via Innsbruck would get me on the Innsbruck to Mittenwald stretch, on which I have never been, but would take 5½ hours. Actually, the fastest stretch appears to be Bayrischzell to Holzkirchen to Bad Tölz by train and from there to Mittenwald by bus via Kochel and Wallgau. That should be a pretty scenic route and one not often traveled on by Americans.

You folks in the East are lucky ! The lowest rate I could find from California is $641, and that's with 2-stops each way. At least it's open leg.

"in the East". Denver?

I have to laugh because I grew up in So. Cal., and I was always told I had relatives "back East" (in Kansas City).

Then I went to college in NY State, and people saw I was from the West and said, "Oh, I was out west last year, in Cleveland."

So I guess it's all relative, isn't it.

But, seriously, this is an example of why, when we talk about the cost of traveling in Europe, we should talk about only the expenses "in Europe" (and in Euro). It obviously is going to cost more to go to Italy from California than to Dublin from Boston.

Wasn't planning to go this year, but... Charlotte to Munich for $493 nonstop was enough for me too. I've never been to Austria so I guess this is my chance. These posts have been helpful.