Hi there - would love some help figuring out a plan for our 5 days in europe. We arrive May 26th at 11:30am from San Francisco. Here are some questions - 1. Is the drive from Frankfurt to Amsterdam via the Rhine river or is that a totally different direction? 2. If it is via the Rhine - is there a castle hotel we can stay with (my kids are 3 and 5).
3. If not can you give me a recomendation on a castle hotel we can stay at that is enroute to Amsterdam or a castle hotel with a slight detour is fine too. Thank you so much appreciate your reply. Swati
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
There are multiple routes between Frankfurt and Amsterdam by car, even by freeways only. It is easy to take a route along the Rhine without adding much distance at all (just some extra time). Take a look at this suggestion on Google Maps http://goo.gl/maps/N8Uxu
Posted by
Green Bay
21145 posts
You can't get any more castle than Rheinfels.
http://www.schloss-rheinfels.net/castlehotel/rheinfels-at-a-glance/
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Rheinfels is a castle ruin...not a real castle hotel. Have a look at this website of castle hotels: http://www.germany-castles-hotels.com/
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8319 posts
We've stayed at Hotel Kranenturm in Bacharach, which is close being a castle. It was built in something like 1588. Fatima runs the hotel, and her husband, Kurt, runs a very good in house restaurant. You can read about them on Trip Advisor and the internet. The Rhine River is across the street. The railroad that runs from Frankfort Airport (90 minutes) to Koblenz to Cologne and ultimately Amsterdam is close, very close. Bacharach is a rather popular place to stay, as it's a nice, quiet place. They're famous for their sweet white wines. If you're traveling through this region, I suggest you look at Bavaria Ben's website: http://www.bensbauernhof.com
He covers all the popular places to stay in Bacharach and other cities.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
Bacharach has a real castle as well: the "Burg Stahleck". It's run as a youth hostel and you can make a reservation for a family room. This place is extremely popular so reservations asap are a must. http://www.jugendherberge.de/en/hostels/search/portrait/jh.jsp?IDJH=390 Neighbouring Oberwesel also has a castle: "Burg Schoenburg". One part is a hotel, the other part a Kolpinghaus, which is kind of like a youth hostel. We stayed in the youth hostel part and loved it! The website for the hotel is in German and English, the website for the Kolpinghaus in German only. However, the managers do speak English fluently so do write them an email if you have any questions. http://www.hotel-schoenburg.com/
http://www.kolpinghaus-auf-schoenburg.de/
Posted by
Princeville, Hawaii, USA
29 posts
We stayed in Burg Schoenburg in Oberwessel and loved it, even with a minimum three night stay and dinner and breakfast included. Had the topmost room in the tower and a magnificent view of the Rhine. About 300 Euro a night as I recall but worth it for a once in a lifetime experience.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
We stayed at Burg Stahleck in Bacharach and loved it.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"Is the drive from Frankfurt to Amsterdam via the Rhine river or is that a totally different direction?" The section you probably want to drive is from Wiesbaden to around Bonn. This is by far the most scenic stretch, and you can drive on either bank of the river (well, starting at Bingen on the opposite bank from Wiesbaden). If you only want to drive on specific areas, you can take either of the major Autobahn routes on either side of the river, A61 on the west bank, A3 on the east. You can't see the river from either road. A61 is a little shorter, but more prone to traffic jams ("Stau" in German). A3 is a little more scenic. North of Bonn, the scenery along the Rhine is mostly flat and Industrial.