Germany/Bavaria family trip w/ a 3 yr old!

First two comments, I wasn't aware that Bavarian hostels allowed people over 25 to stay there. Better confirm that it is possible.

Second, a car is not necessary in Bavaria. Trains might give a 3 yr old some room to run around, especially if he is active. I'm older than you and I have traveled all over in Baveria using public transportation.

We double checked the hostel age--it's an extra 4 eurs per day for anyone over 25. Not a bad deal--we were able to get a family room as well. So you would vote no car at all?

Perhaps you could find a second hand store in Munich that specializes in baby gear and buy a stroller for the trip,then when you leave simply leave it or give it away ?! Don't know if they have second hand stores but even a cheaper new one may be fine for a short time only...

So,what would be the cheapest form of transportation? We only were voting on a car because the rails cost more than a rental and we want to be able to get the kid around more comfortably.
Thanks, Karen!! Never thought of a second hand store! That's a fantastic idea!

Sounds like a nice trip.

In Bavaria you can travel as a group of 4 for 27 Euros a day on the regional trains - use the "Bayern Ticket". All the cities you plan to visit are reachable by train.

The Nuremberg hostel is a nice one.

Adults can stay in Bavarian hostels if accompanied by children. If without kids, they are also admitted on a space-available basis at the last minute, but advance reservations are usually not taken.

I used a baby backpack carrier (there are some designed to carry up to 60 pounds or so) to tote my kid around until she was 5. But this will limit the amount of luggage you can manage. The car may be a better way with a child.

I would not visit Munich during Oktoberfest for a family vacation. Too crowded, too raucous, too expensive. Have a look at Bamberg and Würzburg instead, which are do-able as daytrips from Nuremberg. Or spend some time in smaller towns - Rothenburg is excellent, if touristy; Weissenburg and Eichstaett are also interesting places.

We took my son to Germany and Austria when he was 3. We had a sturdy umbrella stroller, but mostly my husband just toted him on his shoulders. Many pedestrian areas have cobblestones and/or stairs and were easier to navigate without the stroller. My son is used to riding on his dad's shoulders and was fine with this.

We've found that most towns we visited had parks and playgrounds (and most of the autobahn stops have a play area, too). Churches are hard with little ones since they're very echoey. Munich has a lot of hands-on museums. If the 3-year-old's still a napper, plan a place/time for him to nap, either where you're staying or in the car/train. Afternoon breaks for ice cream or cake are great fun. Have him pack some toys, but buy some more when you're there. They make great souvenirs and good distracters, too.

Have you considered a farmhouse stay? We did that with our son in Austria, and it was fantastic. Each one is different, but they'll have some animals and often things for the kids to play with (sand boxes, swings, small bikes). In Germany and Austria, the farmhouses offer daily rates that are very comparable to what you would pay for a hostel.

We traveled to places around the world including S. America, Asia, and Europe starting when my son was one. Would agree with Maureen to take a light umbrella stroller. It gets tiring trying to carry the kids all over the place. Also, they can sleep in the stroller when they get tired.

Just don't try and take a heavy duty stroller which will be a pain to carry and push everywhere even though it will be much sturdier than the umbrella stroller.

Sounds like a fun trip. I would think strongly about the train. Little kids adore riding the train. The best part is that you can often ride in a separate compartment that is just for families with little ones. They can spread out and sleep, or play games on the table in the compartment, walk up and down the aisles, go to the dining car, and there are bathrooms on the train which can be a lifesaver with a 3 year old. Compare that to sitting in a carseat in the back of a car for a couple of hours.

An umbrella stroller is perfect. I used one with my daughter for when she got really tired, though she loved walking everywhere.

We only were voting on a car because the rails cost more than a rental and we want to be able to get the kid around more comfortably.

I think that having a whole train car to move around in will be more comfortable for the kid than being restricted to a car seat for hours on end, but, unless you can keep your luggage to a minimum, the train might be less convenient for the adults. However, I have always found rental cars to cost more than train tickets if you know what you are doing.

Much of the travel you describe can be done easily by regional trains, for which, as previously mentioned, you can use one €28 Bayern ticket for a whole day's travel. You can hardly buy fuel for a car for €28/day, let alone the cost of rental.