Rhine in November- please help!

In this area of Germany, the Rhine flows from South to North. And it is much faster downstream. I recommend that you try to plan a downstream ride. Does your boat run in November??

Thanks Tim. Rookie error on my part.:) You have saved me some hassle with that info. KD are running one boat a day each direction in November. Looking at timetable then we could train it to Bingen and be in St Goar around an hour later or stay on boat til Boppard 12.40, training it back to wherever we end up staying. Any ideas on a town to shoot for that would be convenient to getting a train to Paris the next day? Any budget hotel recs please?

FYI Bingen and Mainz JDH are also full.

From Frankfurt, take the boat north to Bacharach. Stay overnight. If you need another town for the 2nd night, try Ober Wesel or take the ferry across the river and stay in Elteville or Ruedesheim, or for a bigger city where things will be open, try Wiesbaden. Will you be here at the beginning of Nov. or the end? Christmas markets will be starting the 1st week of Advent, so right around Thanksgiving. Otherwise, these small towns will be dead as doornails, so staying in a larger city for the night might be more fun. Take the train to Paris from Frankfurt: 3 hours and 49 min.

St Goarshausen, Kaub, and Rüdesheim are on the opposite side of the river so might present a problem. From Bacharach, go to Bingen (note: Bingen Stadtbahnhof, not Hauptbahnhof) or St Goar. Boppard has a number of nice (expensive) hotels (ie, Best Western Bellevue) facing the river (on Rheinallee), right across from the K-D dock. See http://www.boppard.de/index.php?id=6 For less expensive places, see under Pensionen. I stayed at Pension Pauly and liked it, although I didn't know they spoke Englisch.

Thanks Jo, not sure but I believe as we are arriving at the airport a train to Bacharach from the airport train station is most efficient? If not, where would I catch a oat from Frankfurt to Bacharach. What company does this trip please? Update- Pension Lettie Bacharach has just accepted us for second night in Bacharach. Phew! Now just need some rhine cruising tips please. Thanks Jo & Tim

I don't think there is anything from the airport to Bacharach more efficient than the train (certainly not a boat), although most connections require a change of trains in either Mainz or Bingen. Note: in Bingen, Gleis (track) 102 and 103 share a platform NE of the station island. In Mainz, trains to Bacharach go out on Gleis 11, which is NW of the station building, across the platform from Gleis 1. A regional ticket from FRA to Bacharach is 11,00€/adult.

Thanks Lee. Hows this sound? Day 1 Train Frankfurt Airport to Bacharach. Overnight Bacharach DJH. Day 2 Train to Bingen. (Forgot to mention that on Winter timetable boat does not stop in Bacharach) Boat Bingen to Boppard. Train back to Bacharach. Overnight Pension Lette. Day 3 Train to Paris. I think it will be best to stay on boat, but there is an option to get off at st Goarshausen and get back on 4 hours later continuing on to Boppard. What do you think? Any personal recs for eating, things to do in Bacharach? Thanks, Kath

As I mentioned before, the boat dock in Bingen is near the Bingen Stadtbahnhof. Make sure that's where you get off (you might have to change in Bingen Hauptbahnhof) or you'll have a considerable trek to the dock. The Bahnhof in Boppard is a bit of a trek, but doable, up the hill from the river. Some trains (RE) stop in Boppard but not in Bacharach. Make sure you board a train (MRB) that stops in Bacharach. The trains between the towns don't take much time.

You're a good bloke Lee! Thanks very much for your replies which I am sure will save us a lot of frustration.

Sorry for the confusion. I didn't mean that you could take a boat from the airport or Frankfurt. I meant to take the train from the airport to Bingen and then take your boat north to Boppard or St. Goar. Short train ride to Bacharach. This saves you coming and going the next day. It is very easy to get to the other side of the river with the ferry. The one going from St. Goar to St. Goarshausen is frequent, cheap and fun.

BTW, it is also possible to go down the right bank of the river (Rüdesheim, Kaub, St Goarshausen) from Mainz (or Wiesbaden), but you are already staying in Bacharach, so never mind.

My son and I stayed in the Bacharach DJH last October. We came from Ruedesheim via KD line ferry to Bacharach. From the ferry landing we followed the signs to the castle. Neverending stair climb. I am 68 yrs old and with luggage - the climb just about did me in! We were given a small room in the tower (Turmzimmer). 1 bunk (upper and lower) and a single bed. We thought we had the room to ourselves - but at 8:30 pm a Japanese teen showed up to claim the upper bunk. His first night in Germany (came straight from Frankfurt airport). He spoke very little English. We showed him how to set up a bed in a German DJH. We laughed a lot and exchanged gifts the next day.

Haha Herb! Great story. I remember the DJH being challenging nearly 30 years ago! Is it possible to get a taxi or similar pretty close to the top? I can't remember. Will be travelling with a couple of 18 year old Rugby players who will serve me nicely as porters! ;) I like your story about exchanging gifts, as an Aussie I always bring heaps of clip on Koalas for the local kids or to wrap around the notes when paying a bill.
KB in November doesnt stop at Bacharach but we will work our way around that.