Help with Rhine Itinerary

"I was thinking of stopping at St Goar on our way from Amsterdam and visit Rheinfels then the boat to Bacarach." Plan on getting to Bacharach closer to dinner than to lunch.

Thanks Tom that is exactly what I was thinking. Ending our day close to dinner in Bacharach.
It's the rest I can't figure out.

Make sure you check the boat schedule between St. Goar and Bacharach (www.k-d.de) to make sure there will be a boat. The last boat leaves St. Goar for Bacharach at 5:20 PM. There will be trains (10 min) between the towns all evening long.

Also note that the trip against the current from St. Goar to Bacharach take 30 min longer (70 min vs 40). Of course the fare is the same either direction, so I guess you are getting more boat time for your money.

Why don't you check some of the itineraries with the river boat companies--such as Avalon or Viking just for some ideas?

I think she is looking for a part-day boat trip, like from St. Goar to Bacharach. Viking, at least, shows eight day trips from Amsterdam to Basel. I hardly think that is what she is looking for. Also, except for the section from St. Goar to Bacharach, the rest of that trip would be an absolute bore.

Day 1: You could visit Cologne (at the end of your list) for a few hours on your way between A'dam and the Rhine. The 8:04 out of A'dam gets there in under 3 hours. Stow bags and stay until late afternoon.
Arrive late in Bacharach.

Day 2: Lots of walking today. Leave early. The 8:27 gets you to Moselkern at 10:10. Plan on an hour's walk to the castle. Tour Burg Eltz. Train to Koblenz, change for Remagen, walk to museum (open 'til 6 pm.) Return to Bacharach via Koblenz.

Day 3: Cruise boat to Braubach 10:15, arrive 12:20; 1:00 tour of Marksbur. Take train to St. Goar via Koblenz or train to St. Goarshausen + Ferry to St. Goar. Rheinfels is open until 5:30. Train back to Bacharach.

I would stay in Koblenz on Day 1 instead near the station (Hotel Höhmann?) and pick up bags after Day 2 activities before going to Bacharach. Bacharach on Day 1 adds excessive train time to your Day 2.

Thanks Russ,
I like your idea. I will look at the hotel you recommeded.

Wendy