Germany Traveling help

The S-Bahn runs from Frankfurt through the airport to Mainz/Wiesbaden. The airport is a little closer to Frankfurt than to Mainz, but there's not much difference. Last time I had a flight out of FRA, I stay in Mainz at Hotel Königshof, right across the Bahnhofplatz from the Hbf and the S-Bahn to the airport. A single room costs €62 (€59 on weekends) with free Wifi and a great breakfast buffet included.

I'm sure that Jo, who lives in Frankfurt and follows this website closely will have a tour suggestion.

The biggest problem is going to be the date of your arrival. A really large trade fair begins on the 27th, which is going to make hotel rooms really expensive, and also scarce. It is a shame too, as our biggest and best fest is that weekend, the Museums Ufer Fest. This is one of the premier events in Germany, drawing over 3 million people for the weekend. For 4 euro, you can visit all the museums, watch the dragon boat races, and there are over 500 stands with food, drink, art work, and 20 stages with music, all along the river.

You may have to search around in other small towns a good ways outside of Frankfurt for a room. Mainz may have something, but they usually get booked up too, but check anyway. You can also try Wiesbaden.

The Frankfurt City tour you are looking at is a bus tour. There are cheaper walking tours available that will show you much more. I have tried the ho-ho bus here and they completely neglect the Jewish history of Frankfurt, say nary a word about the war or the Holocaust, and obviously don't take you into any of the beautiful churches here. Nor is there a guide to answer questions.

As to the Rhine tour, if you are staying in Mainz or Wiesbaden, just hop on a train and ride up and down the Rhein all day, get off and on where you like. If those Rhein bus tours are run by ETS and I think they are, they have an awful reputation. Purchasing a Länder ticket for Rheinland Pfalz will cost you less than 28 euro. That is more than 50 euro less than that bus tour.

If you can't find reasonable accommodations in Frankfurt the first night, you might consider going on to Saarbrücken a day early. I often advise people who are going to be using a non-refundable Sparpreis ticket to wait a day in Frankfurt before going on. However, you don't need to use a Sparpreis Ticket. There are direct (no change) Regional Express trains going from FRA to Saarbrücken in about 2½ hr. You can purchase a Rheinland-Pfalz Ticket from the Bahn automat at the airport for €20 (single) and an RMV ticket to Mainz for €3,80 to cover you the entire way.

If you want to look around in Frankfurt for a little bit before going on to Saarbrücken, a €3,80 ticket will get you into downtown Frankfurt. When you're ready to go on to Saarbrücken, a €7,15 RMV ticket to Mainz and the Rheinland-Pfalz Single will get you there.

Or make the short trip down the Rhein to Bacharach or St. Goar, then go on to Saarbrücken using a RL-P-Ticket the next day.

Thank you so much for the replies!

I am planning to stay in Mainz for the way back from Saarland. I called a hotel there and found that they have rooms available for that time period.

I would love to able to go that Fest, Jo. Any hotel recommendations there? In case I get lucky and am able to find reservation in Frankfurt, it would be good. Also, could you suggest any of the walking tours?

Thanks again!