Mosel and Rhine Valley September 2011

Last June, we took a Rhine River/Mosel River cruise from Antwerp, Belgium to Basel, Switzerland. If I were to return I'd want more than 3/4 nights just on the Mosel alone, using bicycles or the train-and you haven't got to the Rhine yet-just my perspective.

In two trips, I spent 5 nights (4 days plus a little extra time) on the Rhein and 4 nights (3 days plus a little extra time) on the Mosel. One of the days on the Rhein I had planned to go to Burg Eltz but it was raining so I just "bummed around" Boppard, looking at the Roman Walls and what was left of the town walls. I could have omitted that day. A day on the Mosel I "wasted" going to Beilstein, just because everyone says it is a must see (it isn't). So, I don't think 5 days ( 6 nights) would be too much.

Hopefully you will have a car for the Mosel area where 2 days(driving is slow) , 1 night is just right. =incl Burg Eltz for sure and stay in Beilstein. Rhine river warrants 2 nights and stay in Bacharach. Paris -well the more time there the better. Never short cut Paris! Whatever you decide you will love these areas.

How are you getting from one place to another? It seems as if you have a car, you don't want it in Amsterdam or Paris and if you are going from Amsterdam through Belgium west to Paris and then back to Germany, you will be spending a lot to time traveling. I would skip Paris this trip. There will always be Paris and just think that you will get there. Good luck.

Hi Cindy, We spent 4 nights on the Mosel in 2007. We stayed just across the river (Mosel) from Cochem in Valwig at the Hotel Rebenhof. Loved our time at the Rebenhof and along the Mosel. www.hotel-rebenhof.com Burg Eltz is a must see in my opinion. www.burg-eltz.de/e_index.html During our stay we visited Burg Eltz, Cochem (our favorite along the Mosel), Trier, Beilstein, Zell and Bernkastel. If interested, we have photo's at: www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html Paul

You probably won't be able to visit everything you want to see, but the same would apply if you allocated a week. 3 or 4 nights is enough for a decent sampling.

Is there enough to do? Plenty. Trier: Germany's oldest city, interesting Roman relics Bernkastel: adorable half-timbered village; Bacharach and Linz am Rhein have similarly well-preserved buildings Castles to tour: www.marksburg.de www.burg-eltz.de www.st-goar.de/17-0-burg-rheinfels.html www.reichsburg-cochem.de/ (on the Mosel river in Cochem.) Free-flight falconry show at Reichsburg: see photos: falknerei-reichsburg-cochem.de/fotobuch.htm Wineries are everywhere. In September there are lots of wine fests often with Saturday fireworks in one town or another: Oberwesel 9/9-12, 9/16 & 17; Boppard: 9/23-26; 9/16-18, Rhine in Flames weekend (fireworks Sat.) Chairlift rides: Boppard: http://www.sesselbahn-boppard.de/ Cochem: http://www.cochemer-sesselbahn.de/ WW II museum in Remagen - very good: www.bruecke-remagen.de Koblenz: several sights in this major city and the big national garden show all summer long. River cruises: Rhine - www.k-d.de
Mosel from Cochem to Trier: http://www.kolb-mosel.com/ Biking: the Mosel is a great place with paved paths separate from the road in most cases - a very scenic way to experience the area. Innkeepers often have bikes in house.

Thanks everyone for the ideas. Ok - Paris is out on this trip (I have been there several times and I have a "new" person in our group of 3 traveling to Europe for the first time.) We are spending 3 nights in Amsterdam - most likely renting an apartment (Sun - Tues). Taking a train to Antwerp or Ghent for one night - Wed. Train to Koblenz or city near this area and rent a car for 4 or 5 days - any suggestions as to the best place to accomplish this? We will spend the 4 to 5 days in the Mosel & Rhine area. Any suggestions as to good base cities and/or private zimmers to stay in would be greatly appreciated. We would prefer not to do too many one night stays. We will take a train to Munich arriving on a Tuesday to meet more family, etc. This trip is intended to be a slower paced, enjoy the cafes, scenery and local people type of trip. Good food, good beer & wine and good friends! Thanks again everyone!!

"Train to Koblenz or city near this area and rent a car for 4 or 5 days - any suggestions as to the best place to accomplish this? We will spend the 4 to 5 days in the Mosel & Rhine area. Any suggestions as to good base cities and/or private zimmers to stay in would be greatly appreciated. We would prefer not to do too many one night stays." This is maybe the last place I would consider the expense and trouble of a car. You should read about the very affordable daypasses and multi-day passes available for the VRM (local transit authority) and the daypass called the Rheinland Pfalz ticket (wider coverage than the VRM pass.) The 40-Euro, 3-day VRM mini-group pass has no weekday time restriction and is good for 2-5 people on all trains and buses, including city buses within Koblenz, for the area between Oberwesel and Remagen on the Rhine and up the Mosel to Bullay: http://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets-and-fares/tariff-zone-map/ http://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets-and-fares/ticket-offers/leisure-ticket Where to stay? Not Koblenz, a big busy relatively expensive city. Try a riverside village like Boppard, Cochem, or St. Goar. With 4-5 days, I'd suggest settling in to an apartment for your entire stay and doing daytrips from there. The apt. we had in St. Goar a few years ago had a wonderful view of the Rhine and Burg Katz castle; it's a couple of blocks to the station, where you can begin a daytrip easily by train: http://www.loreley-apartments.de/unsere_region_en.php Alternatives: http://www.bensbauernhof.com/accommodationsrhinemosel.html

Hi Cindy Let me rececommend Cochem as wonderful place to stay. We stayed in wonderful hotel called Hotel Moselflair across the river and woke up everyday to a fabulous view of the castle and town. 10 minute walk to town, sort of out of the fray with all the ability to enjoy a wonderful small town. Trier , if you like Roman antiquities has a terrific museum, and lovely and fun main drag. Great vineyards, charming small towns , the Mosel has it all. Happy traveling Mike
DC

Hi Cindy, I think I would second the vote for no car along the Rhine/Mosel. The trains and boats will get you everywhere you really want to see. Also, with all that delicious wine and beer that needs to be tasted and enjoyed, who wants to be designated driver?!