After Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, and Rothenburg, we have two days left, Saturday and Easter Sunday, April 3rd and 4th, 2010. We are traveling by train, and have a morning
flight (9:45) out of Frankfurt on Monday. Need suggestions
of where to spend those last two days, traveling from Rothenburg to ????? Perhaps just stay another night in Rothenburg and the last night in Frankfurt to get morning flight? Or somewhere in between? That would be my preference, but it might be nice to be in one place for three nights for a change. Thanks!! Joanna
Posted by
Phila, Pa USA
144 posts
Two alternative places that come to mind are Wuerzburg and Heidelberg. Both are easy to reach from Rothenburg, and either one would be a lovely place to finish out your trip. Both picturesque and historic with a smaller-town feel.
As for your last night, your decision basically comes down to how much stress you want to have the next morning. You can commute back to Frankfurt from either of the towns recommended above. However, you will need to be @ the airport pretty early for a 9:45 a.m. flight - maybe 7;:30 a.m.- so you will need to catch a really early train if you don't get back to Frankfurt the night before. Are you OK with getting up really early? You would have to be on a train by 6:30 a.m. or so to get to the airport in time.
So think about if this is OK with you. Or does an extra hour of sleep mean more ? how about the comfort of knowing that you are right near the airport? what is your your tolerance for potentially missing your flight due to a missed train, unexpected delay, etc. Personally, I am paranoid about potentially missing my homebound flights, so I always spend my last night of a trip at the Steigenberger Hotel right @ the airport. I treat myself to a wonderful last German dinner in their restaurant for my final evening, and have no worries to end my trip. Then the morning of my flight, I have a nice breakfast and jump on the hotel's shuttle bus, which takes me right to my terminal, with no rushing and no stress. But that's just me ... everyone's different. Do whatever is more comfortable for you and your style.
Posted by
Burbank, CA, USA
85 posts
Traveling in Germany around Easter last year, my husband and I were surprised that many things were closed. We landed early on Good Friday and were fortunate because the car rental agency WAS open -- but only from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. that day! We were able to find a restaurant which was open on Friday evening, but all the stores were closed on Good Friday AND on Easter Monday as well.
Just want you to be aware of this so you can plan accordingly.
:)
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8950 posts
Yep, things close down here in Germany on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Stores are closed, restaurants are open, but check with the individual museums or other tourist attractions if they are open on any of those days. This will be valid in any of the cities you are in.
I would not travel far on a flight day. It is easy to stay overnight in Frankfurt and you don't need to stay near the airport either, since the city is just 11 min. away by S-bahn. Frankfurt has a lot of wonderful things to see too, and in the springtime, it is gorgeous. The parks are so pretty then. Last Easter is was 80° for the whole weekend, which made it nice to walk along the river, sit at the cafes, etc.
There are some nice, reasonably priced hotels and B&Bs located in some of our beautiful old neighborhoods. I have plenty more bookmarked if you don't see anything here that you like.
http://www.hotel-am-berg-ffm.de/
http://www.bandb-ring.de/zv/frankfurt/r15638e.htm
http://www.bedandbreakfast.de/inn.php?id=118569&lang=en&rid=17
Posted by
Paradise
6663 posts
On Saturday, I'd head to Würzburg to see the Residenz (palace) then head for Mainz for two nights; it's nearly as close to FRA as Frankfurt but you can handle Mainz easily on foot and it's full of nice pedestrians-only areas with lots of shopping, bars, and cafes around the Marktplatz and cathedral (Dom). There's also an attractive city park south of the old town center with a nice view over the Rhine.
On Sunday, take a train excursion on a Rheinland-Pfalz ticket (27 Euros for 2-5 people) through the Rhine River gorge and past dozens of castles to Braubach for a tour of Marksburg Castle, which only closes on Christmas Eve and Christmas day:
http://www.marksburg.de/english/frame.htm
You could also stop in another village along the way - maybe Bacharach? - for a closer look at some half-timbered buildings.
You'll probably need to hit a hotel back in Mainz for an evening meal or settle for whatever you can find in the train station.
The next morning, hop on the S-Bahn and you'll be at FRA in about 20 minutes.