My husband and I have been trying to schedule our travel dates to Germany. Between work schedules and kids schedules the only dates on our calendar that would work is Sept. 2 through the 15th, 2013. (We had planned on going earlier in the month but our niece scheduled her wedding right in the middle of our planned dates. LOL!) I know Oktoberfest begins on Sept 21st. My husband thinks it will be difficult to find accommodations and that prices will be higher due to people gearing up for Oktoberfest. Has anyone else traveled during this time and found that to be a problem? He is thinking we should postpone our trip until next year. Thanks.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Hotels only fill up during Oktoberfest, and Oktoberfest is an exclusively Munich affair. It has no effect on hotel occupancy rates in, say, Hamburg, Frankfurt or Berlin. Oktoberfest is the best known example, but Germany is actually filled with fall harvest festivals. Most of these don't attract huge numbers of international guests, so unless you plan to stay in a relatively small town with few lodging options during their fest, most of these won't affect hotel availability.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
I wouldn't worry about it. We will be in Germany a little later in September, so closer to and during Oktoberfest. Traveling from Berlin to Innsbruck via Bamberg, Munich, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I had no trouble booking good hotels, and did not find the prices elevated anywhere outside of Munich. (We decided not to stay in Munich anyway, as it will be during Oktoberfest).
Posted by
NYC area
2980 posts
Hi Sylvia, Hi, We've been to Bavaria during Oktoberfest twice, flying into and out of Munich airport. Never actually went to Oktoberfest though. Outside of Munich, we never knew that Oktoberfest was even going on. Prices in the area's we stayed (Berchtesgaden, Mittenwald/G-P and Fuessen) were the same as when we've gone later into October. I wouldn't even consider postponing your trip. You'll be gone 6 days before it even starts. Paul
Posted by
Nassau
53 posts
If you were going to Munich during Oktoberfest, I'd say you're already too late to find a decent room. But as pointed out by everyone else, you will be gone before it starts and it won't make a bit of difference. The German's are 1.) very efficient 2.) and like to complain. The prices do not go up until the event actually happens (and if they did consumer protection agencies would go crazy.)
If you are in Munich, you'll see plenty of hype for the festival, lots of stores selling Bavarian clothing and you might like to see the festival grounds – set-up starts in August. Oktoberfest is something you either like or hate. But it is the largest folk festival in the world.