sleeping in Germany

I've been to Germany and Austria, but it's been awhile, and before discovering Rick Steves. I do remember staying in what they call Zimmers- they are basically B & B's, especially if you're not in the big cities. These were very reasonably priced compared to big city hotels, include a good breakfast, and every place we stayed, there was at least one person, usually the owner that spoke English and was very accomodating with any questions we had about things to do, places to go, etc...

Two double beds in a single room? That's pretty rare unless you book an American style hotel.

A Ferienwohnung is indeed an economical option - you won't find them centrally located in major cities, but elsewhere, they're commonplace. Each town or region's tourist office keeps a list and usually has them posted on the town's website. There are also commercial websites like this one:

www.accommodation.de

My wife, daughter and I stayed a couple of years ago in the northern Bavarian town of Neustadt an der Aisch - a good base town for Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg and Wuerzburg - in a Ferienwohnung. It actually was one big living room w/ a double bed and a pull-out couch, kitchenette, bathroom, and balcony, and cost us about 30 Euros per night total. On other occasions we've rented places with multiple bedrooms for a few Euros more.

If you'll post your destinations, perhaps you'll get some more specific recommendations.

Some of Ricks hotel recommendations specify the types of rooms available. There are rental apts called fehrienwohnungen (excuse spelling)in most tourist areas. They usually rent per person. We have twice rented a nice one in Garmisch from the Sonnenblume (also known as Kornmullers). We stayed there with our daughter and 2 grandchildren, and it was very clean and reasonable, also convenient. I think the best resource is each hotel's website. Most of the places we have stayed have a variety of accommodations available, from tiny rooms where you can hardly turn around to luxurious suites,to full apartments.

A regular German hotel room comes with one full or queen size bed. Very modern chains like Radisson SAS, Park Inn, NH and others come with two full size beds just like in the US. However, the older and less fancy ones still provide you with two twins. In some cities, especially in Munich, a single room really only comes with one twin size bed.

I just came back from 19 days in Germany and Austria traveling with three teenagers. I used many of Rick Steve's recommendations. I asked for a quad-room and all of them were very large. Some were two separate rooms. When we stayed in hotels in the bigger cities- Berlin-Holiday Inn Express and Salzburg- Renaissance Marriott- they were like American hotels with two double or queen beds. The hotel we stayed in in Munich, the Hotel Creatif Elephant, had a very small room- a room with a double bed and then two additional cots. There was very little space to walk around in the room. It would have been fine for two people but not for us four!

You won't find 2 double bed, outside of the large "American-style" chain hotels. What you will find, especially in smaller towns and family-run hotels, are quad or family rooms with a double bed ply two twin (single) beds.

Ricks book does indicate the hotels that have these room in his listings.

Bob, If you've never been to Europe, then you're probably not aware of how the beds differ from here. If a room has a "double" bed, it's usually not like an American double bed. ALL of the budget hotels that we stayed have the European style which is sort of like two twin beds pushed up next to one another. And it's almost literally like two beds, two duvets, two pillows and the beds have wooden frames around each mattress. So if your daughter and granddaughter shared a bed, they would practically be in separate beds, just close to one another. It really depends on the hotel as to whether they'll have separate beds. The hotel we're staying at in Garmisch had a room for us with one double bed and then two twin beds when we went as a group of 4. If you go to a website of a hotel you're interested in, it will usually show you what the individual rooms look like. You'll be surprised how different a European hotel is from an American hotel. But I find them cozier and more personal! Enjoy!

Hi Bob, I read your question at this website (Traveler's Helpline). I am sending this as a private message, because some people reading the Travelers' Helpline have a hostile attitude toward people posting a message that expresses an opinion of where to go , or where not to go. In some of the replies to your question, the hotels recommended are very very very expensive. If that is what you want, that is okay. But most people reading Rick Steves' trave guide books are seeking accomodations that are not that expensive. I suggest look in Rick Steves' book, and other travel guide books (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Cadogans) for Hotels and B & Bs in your price range, that have an internet website. Some internet websites have information on more than one place, in one country or city or region. You can see color photographs of rooms in some hotels and B & Bs, at that website. If a place that you are interested in has only E-mail, ask about that place at this website. - Ron in Missouri.

Ron, your post went public, but it wasn't offensive! I'm a budget traveler all the way. The hotels we're staying in are all 90 Euro or less a night. I found them on TripAdvisor and some of the guides that Ron posted. Bob, he's right, the other posters may have been referring to expensive hotels. You don't have to go 4 or 5 star in Europe to be comfortable. I've never stayed at a fancy hotel in Europe, but I bet if you do it's a lot less cozy/personal. Here's where we have stayed and are staying again next month when we go:
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Hotel Almenrausch und Edelweiss, 82 Euro/nt
Munich: Hotel Kurpfalz, 73 Euro/nt
Stuttgart: Ibis Marienplatz, 72 Euro/nt

Most of the places I stayed in were 98 Euros or less for 4 people. The Alleehaus in Freiburg was the most expensive at 150 Euros for 4, but the place was fantastic and worth every cent! (And in Rick Steves book) The hotels we stayed at in Munich, Salzburg, and Berlin were covered by free credit card/travel benefits. I recommend Rick Steves' books for finding a nice place. They have much more personality than the bigger hotels we stayed in and much more room!

Thanks for all the great info on the sleep options. Yes that is why we are reading Ricks books. We want to enjoy the area. We plan on doing the Rhine cruise between Bacharach and St.Goar. Then off to Rothenburg and area. Munich and Fussen and last 2 days at Salzburg. If we get to do all we will but will enjoy if we don't. Thanks again everyone. It's nice to have experianced help.