Fussen alternative? Charm and reasonable.

Hi Scott, We liked our two stays ('01, '03) at the Hotel zum Hechten in Fuessen. We also like the old town of Fuessen. For an "interesting" experience for the kids (and adults), have dinner at the Gasthof Krone in the pedestrian zone. www.hotel-hechten.com www.mittelalterlich-fuessen.de/_vorlagen/gasthof.php Don't forget the luge ride (Sommerrodelbahn) at Tegelberg, about a mile or so from Neuschwanstein. A lot of fun for kids and adults! www.schwangau.de/the-summer-luge-636.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIOSP9ivbZA Paul

Have a wonderful trip. We stayed at Suzanne's B&B in Fussen in 2008 with our family of 4. We went on day trips and used Suzanne's thorough knowledge of the area and suggestions for travel and Mass at the Monastery the night before Easter. We dusted the snow off our car Easter moorning! The rooms were wonderful, clean, and the breakfast was hearty. Easter lamb cakes were a thoughtful German tradition she gave our children. We would stay there again. We made deposits into a US bank account. Internet was available for a small fee. http://www.suzannes.de/index_en.php?PHPSESSID=fkl1kgci296011t8ujlp53ivj6 The castles are close by, wonderful pub of sorts in Fussen with hearty potato soup. Small quiet town, her place is in a neighborhood, convenient for trips to Munich, Dachau, Garmisch and a long ride to Venice for our next stop. Suzanne reminded us of Brenner Pass traffic on a holiday weekend so we adjusted our travel plans.
Enjoy apple strudel and huge pretzels!

Are you asking for an alternative town to stay in besides Füssen? Will you have a car, or will you rely on public transportation?

In my opinion, the best place to spend a night while visiting the King's castles is Pfronten. It's less expensive than Füssen and a lot prettier than Reutte. Pfronten is a few miles NW of Reutte on the Ausserfernbahn, the rail line that goes through Austria from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Kempten. Although it goes through Austria, the Ausserfernbahn is run by German Rail, and the Bayern-Ticket can be used to get from Munich to Pfronten. When you stay in Pfronten, you'll get a bus pass for free use of the buses to Hohenschwangau and the castles. I haven't stay here, but I went in and looked at it, and I would recommend it. An alternative would be to stay here, in Oberammergau, and visit Lugwig's palace at Linderhof. Everything is easily accessible by rail and bus; no need for a car.