Our family (2 adults, 2 children) hope to go to Vienna, Salzburg, Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen over the Christmas holidays. We will start in Milan on or about Dec. 20 and head north to Germany/Austria most likely by train. Are these good choices for spending the Christmas holidays? Which of these places would be the best place to actually spend Dec. 24-25 (Christmas itself)? Do you have any recommendations for nice, but reasonably-priced lodging in any of these places? Which place should we visit first and in what order?
What kind of rail passes should we purchase? Any other suggestions/comments would be most appreciated.
Posted by
Ohio Valley, USA
123 posts
Lizanne, We are traveling over the Christmas Holiday also. We are going to be spending 12/21-12/25 in Munich. We are staying at Eden Wolff Hotel (it was very reasonable and close to the train station and downtown) chech expedia.com. We purchased point to point tickets but since you want to do more traveling I would probably get the Rail Europe Select for 3 countries...If you decide on Germany which I think you should you will get to see the Christmas Markets. From Munich you could do day trips to Rothenburg, Fussen, Salzburg, Mittenwald, or Innsbruck. It seems to be a great base. Happy traveling and posting!
Posted by
Niceville, FL, USA
154 posts
In Germany they are closed on Christmas Eve day. Keep this in mind if you are planning any shopping.
Posted by
Florida
151 posts
We took the train from Milan to Munich last summer. The train leaves Milan and goes east to Verona where you get off the train and walk about six feet to another track and then pick up the train from Verona to Munich. It took us 7 hours. We purchased our train tickets from DB (Deutsche Bahn) vs the Italia Rail and I purchased the tickets early. We traveled first class (which I would highly recommend given the length of the trip)and we were in a compartment car with four Europeans and we paid far less than they did. I am not sure if it was b/c we purchased it from DB or we b/c we purchased it early.
One year we did go to Germany for Christmas. We were lucky enough to stay with family and they lived in and around the Fussen area. It snowed that year and I would have to say that without a doubt, that Christmas was the most beautiful Christmas of my life! It was magical, beautiful, breathtaking and oh so simple. In Fussen, prior to Dec 25,they had nightly um pah pah bands playing outside next to the Chriskindlemarkt with people standing around outside under the heated umbrellas drinking thier beer or gluehwein. We also managed to get some skiing in as well in a town called Nesselwang. Breitenberg is also a place to ski that is closer to Fussen. We had our 15 year old son with us and he loved it. One last thing, Germans celebrate Christmas on the 24th, so mostly everything will be closed on that day as well. I am sure that no matter what city you choose, they will have your Chriskindlmartkts and music and it will be a wonderful experience. Your time there will be a lesson in the reason for the season. Lucky you... I wish I was going again! Gute fahrt and an early Frohe Weinachten!
Posted by
pacific grove, ca, usa
144 posts
We will also be in Germany for Christmas. We have spent Christmas in Garmisch a couple of times. The best value we ever had was at the Hotel Post on the Marienplatz. We paid 109 euros a night 2 years ago, including a big breakfast every day.
The Kornmuller and Sonnenblume apts are cheaper, but you have to do your own cooking. We paid 60 euros a night for a tiny apt last year.
Our favorite place is the Eibsee Hotel right on the lake, but it is also the most expensive and has a 6 night minimum over Christmas.
We have also stayed at the Rose in Oberammergau--very cheap a few years ago.
if you google Garmish hotels, you'll get more choices.
Posted by
Seattle
40 posts
Ciao Lizanne,
Our family really enjoyed Hotel Der Goldene Ente in Salzburg. They have a top floor family apartment that includes a separate bedroom (with canopy bed) for the kids. It's right in the heart of old Salzburg. We were there in the summer, but I imagine it would be a wonderful and beautiful place to spend Christmas, as it is a very festive and charming town. We traveled in and out of Salzburg by train, then took a taxi to the hotel. We also spent some time at Hotel Maximillian in Reutte, which is a wonderful place to stay with kids. If you are in the Oberammergau area, and your kids need to blow off some steam, consider going to the indoor water park just outside of town. We spent a few rainy days there this summer and really enjoyed it.
Posted by
Wayne, PA, USA
3 posts
Lizanne,
I would recommend flying from Milan to Munich or Salzburg. Trains through the Alps in winter tend to experience lengthy delays, and you will be required to change trains several times. Flying on a discount regional carrier may actually cost less and will considerably shorten your travel time. Having spent Christmas 2006 in Salzburg, I can tell you that it is a wonderful place to spend the holidays. We stayed in the Hotel Belmondo, along the river just outside the old city. Our room was just 99 euros per night and included breakfast each morning. The Christmas market is not to be missed, and every stand is open on Christmas Eve (some are even open on Christmas day). Best of luck. Enjoy your trip.
Rob
Posted by
Pendleton, SC, USA
41 posts
It is easy to want to see everything and visit too many cities. You would do better, I think, if you spent less time in a train or bus and stay in two maybe three places, tops. If you travel to too many cities, all your memories become a blur....
Posted by
North Bay, New York, USA
1 posts
We went to Munich and also Salzburg at Christmastime a few years ago. We really enjoyed the Christmas markets markets in Munich. We stayed at the Hotel Uhland near the Oktoberfest grounds and the christmas market there had indoor live music plus lots of artsy things for sale. TWe really loved the Christmas market at the Marienplatz best however, as it is more traditional. We had hot roasted chestnuts and warm gluhewein. It was wonderful. We also visited Rothenburg (Hotel Butz is quaint with really nice owners and reasonable prices, great food) and their Christmas market was nice too. We were in St. Johann in Tirol (near Kitzbuhel)for on christmas eve. We stayed at the Pension Schwarzinger and I would highly recommend it. Very reasonable, and our room had a balcony facing the mountains, tirolena painted furniture and the nicest hotel owners whose brother has a farm and supplies the guests with wonderful homemade sausages and cheese for breakfast. They have a communal room for breakfast, and for games etc in the evening. Christmas Eve, every guest was presented with a bottle of wine as a gift from the owners (Trenners). The town is small enough to walk everywhere and I had a great time xmas shopping at the many little shops. One of our best memories, however, was sledding (rodeling). If you dont ski, you can rent sleds, take the lift up the mountain and ride the sled down a special track complete with hairpin turns. Oh, and St. Johann (between salzburg and innsbruck) had a special russian ballet performance on christmas eve. Good luck. Hope you have as much fun as we did.
Posted by
Clarksville, TN, USA
959 posts
This is where we stayed while in these cities:
Munich: http://www.kurpfalz-hotel.de/indexe.htm
Salzburg: http://www.weissetaube.at/index.php?babel=en&page=prospekt
Garmisch: http://www.almenrauschundedelweiss.de/
We stay on a strict budget when we go and we always need ensuite rooms and breakfast. So that will give you an idea of what these hotels will be. I thought they were all nice, though! Never been to Vienna so I can't be of help there!