Germany & Austria

Favorite discoveries or tips:

Karin Weiss Pension in Rothenburg is absolutely wonderful. The food and room are so nice, Karin provides free water and beer for her guests. I highly reccomend this Pension. You will not be disappointed.

Karen F in Cary, Il USA 09/26/2008

We stayed at Karin Weiss Pension in Rothenburg. She is absolutely so hospitable and warm. She treats her guests wonderfully. The rooms and meals were wonderful. She also treats her guests to free beer and water. We paid 23 euros per person and it was by far one of the highlights to our trip.

Karen F in Cary, il USA 09/26/2008

Everyone eats early in Vienna. Most places, even supermarkets, close early

Denise Schlotfeldt in Ann Arbor, Mi USA 09/04/2008

Recommend adding the Partnachklamm, a fantastic river gorge near Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the "Best of Bavaria" section. Our family really enjoyed it. Raingear and plastic bags to protect cameras between shots are advisable as it's kind of like the "Maid of the Mist" at Niagra Falls. 700m long, 80m deep and a 68m high bridge over it. Park at the Partenkirchen Olympic Ski Jump Stadium and hike up to the gorge.

R. J. Vanden Berghe in Springfield, VA USA 08/26/2008

We particularly enjoyed Luxembourg and have not seen it in your books. It's small, beautiful and has wonderful places to visit and stay north of Luxembourg City. We particulary enjoyed Esch sur Sure. We stayed at Hotel De La Sure (Phone 00352 83 91 10. Check it out!!!

Julie & Ed Wrabetz in Madison, WI USA 08/22/2008

During our stay in Vienna, we took Rick's walking tour through the center city. As always, it was a great experience. However, we took a one block diversion to St. Peter's Church and were astounded by the interior. They have just completed a 120,000 Euro renovation and the church looks as it must of looked the day it opened in all its Baroque/Rococco glory. They are also offering free concerts in the evening (with donations at the door) for string and organ. It was the best example of this architectural style we saw on the entire trip.

Mike Roberts in Cincinnati, Oh USA 08/18/2008

You need a section on SE Bavaria which is a paradise of empty scenic roads and unknown to foreign visitors. Passau is a beautiful City, as is Landshut and its castle. The road to the Czech border at Bayrisch Eisenstein/Zelena Ruda is beautiful as is the Bavarian Forest/Bohemian Forest national park areas. Crossing into Czech Rep has no frontier controls (Schengen). Was supprised to see many German banners and signs on Czech side. No problem speaking German in Cz - it's a new Euro-driven world. Danube and Inn valleys are interesting. Braunau am Inn on Austrian/German border is birthplace of Adolf H and south of the beautiful town square and old town gate is the actual(yellow stucco) building where he was born now marked by a sidewalk memorial in Mauthausen granite. Ironically, 30 km north west on German side is Marktl am Inn, bithplace of Pope Benedict. his village and house museum are delightful, and the local brewery puts out a beer under his lable "Papstbier". (See p. 654 of your Guide.)

Geoffrey Bocian in St. Albert, AB Canada 08/13/2008

I worked in Darmstadt, Germany all summer, and the program I went through had a big meeting in Heidelberg. Holy cow is Rick's advice right. Stay as far away from that town as you can get. It's incredibly over-touristed and not even that charming. There are many MANY more interesting places to go. I have no idea why so many Americans travel there.

Eric Almeida in Ames, IA USA 08/05/2008

It seems that some of the best hotel are off the beaten path. One such hotel is Hotel Weinberg (www.hotel-weinberg.de) This hotel is beatifully maintained, on a hill overlooking a small German village. The rooms are clean and bright and the price is very good too. It was the nicest stay of our trip, surpassing every hotel in the Guidebook I've stayed in (no offense, I don't pick expensive one) Thomas is very helpful and friendly. This hotel is in Artern, between Berlin and Wurzburg. From Berlin by car you can visit Schlosspark in Wörlitz (beautiful garden park/lake), Wittenberg (Luther's church), Schloss Allstedt (have coffee in this out of the way castle) and the Rosarium (the largest rose garden).

Dave Beck in Jefferson, WI USA 07/29/2008

Passau, Germany is a lovely town and a must see !! The Italian/baroque architecture town made us feel we were in Italy, not Bavaria. Don't miss the noon concert from the world's largest church organ (17,974 pipes) and visit the most delightful ex-pat, an former American tour guide/cruise director named Nancy Paredes. She and her husband opened a travel shop for all of us travelers. The website is: www.3rivershop.com

Dr. Darren Drayton in Louisville, KY USA 07/15/2008

Hinterholz restaurant at Hernalser Gürtel 47, across the street from the U6 Alser Strasse station in Vienna. Very good Wiener Schnitzel.

Charlotte in Vermillion, SD USA 07/12/2008

Bacharach - Hotel Altkoelnischer Hof (next to the Altes Haus) has great rooms with a beautiful balcony view and good food.

David A. Fiala in Melbourne, FL USA 07/12/2008

Dresden - We stayed in Grossrohrsdorf at the Pension am Rathaus. (www.pension-schwenke.de) We had two rooms for eight nights for 800 euros total. The place was very clean, breakfast was fabulous (they even set up a breakfast for us at 5:30 in the morning with plastic bags so we could pack it with us on a day trip to Prague!) We had a vehicle, which made the distance to Dresden no problem, but we took the train from the Hauptbahnhof for about 3 euros one night and it was about a 10 minute walk from the station. We also loved the Folk Art Museum in Dresden where we played with puppets and marionettes. Pfunds Molkerei was also a visual treat - although we had to endure several busloads of tourists while we were there (none of them were speaking English).

Janet Johnson in Manhattan Beach, CA USA 07/11/2008

I am a high school teacher, and don't have money to waste. Last year we went to Spain and London armed with another guidebook. This year we went to Germany and Austria after watching R.S. DVD's and with R.S. guidebook in hand---what a difference it made! Along with the rain coat, it was the best investment we made. Thanks!

Gwen Ashworth in Lake Charles, LA USA 07/09/2008

I'm not sure if you have included this in the guidebook, but when my brother needed to travel by train from Frankfurt to near Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it was far cheaper for him by local (vs. faster) trains. I'm not sure if that was because he was travelling on a Sunday, but we both were astounded that up to five people could travel with him on his Sunday ticket.

Susan Langin in Cranbrook, BC Canada 07/08/2008

Avoid the Romantic Road. It's more like the 18 Wheeler Road. Unless you like driving 35 mph, it's not worth it!

Mike Greene in Wildomar, CA USA 07/08/2008

We spent most of June in Germany, Austria and Italy and would not have had such a fantastic experience without your guidebooks!

Ann Doty in Juneau, AK USA 07/07/2008

Oberndorf bei Salzburg, is a nice little town only a 25 minute train ride from Salzburg, and is the site of the church where the song Silent Night was first performed in 1818. There is a little chapel built at the site of the original church (which unfortunately burned down)and a museum. Also this is a location of the German/Austrian border with a bridge spanning the river with beautiful golden arches and two shields, one of Austria and one of Bavaria. We spent a half day there, enjoying the nice scenery and interesting geography as well as the Silent Night chapel. I think many Americans would enjoy this location as a side trip from Salzburg.

Mark Weatherly in Orlando, FL USA 07/07/2008

Holocaust Memorial Wall in Frankfurt. This is a must see in Frankfurt and Rick Steves forgot to mention it in his Germany guidebook. It is right next to the Judengasse Museum, located 2 blocks from the Dom cathedral. It has the names of 11,000 of Frankfurts murdered Jewish citizens on it. Very moving.

Jodean in Frankfurt, Germany 07/06/2008

We took a great tour of the Reichstag in Berlin. It was free and just needed to be booked in advance by e-mailing besucherdienst@bundestag.de. I booked in April for a June tour. It's a free, 1.5 hour tour only in English and the best part is that you go in a separate entrance which means no waiting in the massive line!

Karis in New Berlin, WI USA 07/05/2008

Just got back from Munich (July 5, 2008), and you forgot to list the Munich Zoo as a must-see...Hellabrunn Tierpark is absolutely beautiful. It's located in a dense forest, the animals are in large natural settings, and they have a section just for kids, complete with pony rides, bumper cars, a little train and a petting zoo. I have 2 kids (ages 4 and 6) and we spent 5 hours there, including lunch. Very nice experience...

Jennifer Blitz in Chicago, IL USA 07/05/2008

Frankfurt has a new daily walking tour. The tour starts at 10:30 and 14:30 every day. You get to see all the main sights on a 3 hour tour that only costs 12 euro. Seniors, students, under 26 year olds, & military are only 10 euros. The website is: www.insidertour.com The tour guides are native English speakers. Insider also has tours now in London, and Prague, along with their tours they have offered in Berlin for over 10 years. The tours are always interesting and good value for the money.

Jodean in Frankfurt, Germany 06/27/2008

Riding the cable car to the top of Untersberg in Salzburg was a highlight of the trip. The ladies in the TI on Mozartplatz told me about it and where to catch the bus. The views were astonishing, and there are trails all over--hikers, bring your boots!

If you buy the 24-hour Salzburg card, it covers the cable car and the bus ride, and you can use the other half of the day to see other sights (like the obligatory, but not worth it, Mozart house)

Melissa in Rochester, NY USA 06/26/2008

In Vienna we had 2 dinners in the Spittelberg district, just wandering down the street and picking a restaurant more or less at random. The 1st nite was ok. The 2nd nite we were walking down a different street and saw one restaurant with a courtyard 2/3 filled with people, while the remaining places on the street were almost empty. And the customers were speaking German. Thinking that its a good sign if locals are eating there, we sat down at Witwe Bolte. It was probably the best meal I had in 3 weeks in Europe!

Mike Thompson in Los Angeles, CA USA 06/26/2008

this is not a discovery but we have been to baden baden twice and absolutely love both baths there. They blow away the baths in budapest, which we have visited too

mike in tempe, az USA 06/22/2008

In Staufen, try the newly opened "Kasestubl", or cheese restaurant! They specialize in preparing cheese-themed foods, such as raclette and fondue! Yuuuuum!

S & J in Freiburg, BW Germany 06/20/2008

Altotting, Bavaria, is a great place. It's a shrine (the Black Madonna), with pretty churches. Hotel Zur Post was great. Weinhaus Pachler in Ach, Austria, directly across the Salzer River from Burghausen, was excellent, and the view across to the castle cannot be beat

Jack in Newtown Square, PA USA 06/18/2008

We stayed in the Hotel Atel Lasserhof in Salzburg. I definitely think you should add it to your"recommended" hotels section. Although not cheap (92 euros/night double) the place seemed almost luxurious. Large comfortable room, very clean and well furnished, fabulous breakfast buffet, and although near the train station, it was in a very pleasant, residential neighborhood, as well as walking distance to the Altstadt.

Barbara in Eikenberry, CA USA 05/23/2008

I second the recommendation of Regensburg. The town is not only scenic, being on the Danube, but also makes a great base for Bavarian day trips. Nürnberg, München and Passau (the latter a three-river city, way nicer than Pittsburg) are less than two hours away using your DB Bayern Ticket (€27 for all-day travel after 09:00 in Bavaria on secondary trains for up to five people, AND it's good for city transport at your destiation).

Paul Kakazu in Walnut, CA, CA USA 05/02/2008

Kristallwelten Museum, Wattens, Austria (about 10 miles east of Innsbruck)

Bev Smith in Grand Junction, CO USA 05/02/2008

Regensburg, Germany is an interesting city, with a good local museum and other places of interest.

Nancy S. Jackson in Lakewood, WA USA 04/30/2008

I recommend heeding Rick's advice for booking tickets far in advance (maybe 6 months?) at the Historical Green Vault in Dresden. www.skd-dresden.de. I found it difficult to book tickets for visitation in 6/2008 even 3 months in advance. I had to go back to the web site several times over a number of days and there probably had been a cancelation. I was lucky and booked and paid for 2 tickets for EUR 23,00 for 6/25/2008. I could then immediately print the coded tickets. If you can't get an advanced booking, the Dresden tourist office via email suggested lining up at the "Tageskasse" (day ticket booth) by 9.00 am to try for same day tickets. I will write again after we visit this summer.

Ralph Posch in Dallas, TX USA 04/11/2008

Meersburg and Konstanz on the Bodensee are wonderful, historical places that deserve some featuring.

Paul Siebenand in Avalon, CA USA 03/31/2008

I would recommend including B&B Gummerer in Hallstatt. I know there are a ton of places in Hallstatt, however we really enjoyed our stay there. The accomodations were nice and clean. The price was right ~45 Euros. And having breakfast in a private dining room overlooking Lake Hallstatt couldn't be beat. Wonderful stay!

Robert Villigram in St. Louis, MO USA 02/28/2008

The Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart (Sindelfingen) was excellent. It was one of the highlights of our two week trip. My husband and boys 18 & 21 said it was "Man Disneyland". I really enjoyed it too. It has very cutting edge technology and architechture. Self audio guided tours of the 8 floors. We spent 5 hours and could have stayed longer. It even has a snack bar. There IS something worth seeing in Stuttgart. www.mercedesmuseum.com. It should be in the guide.

I also think the Heidelberg Castle is worth a quick look. We stopped for about an hour one evening after the tours were closed. We got some nice night photos from the old town below.

Just had to mention how helpful the RS Guide was. I got harrassed playfully by my husband and sons every time I said "in the book" or "Rick Steves says" but we got a lot of use out of it. We ran into two other groups of RS Guide users at the Pension Waldrast in Reutte. It was fun to compare notes and experiences.

Carolyn in Birrell, UT USA 02/06/2008

Don't go to Hallstatt in January and expect everything to be open. I showed up there January 7 and there was some totally random religious holiday and all but two places I went to were closed. The place that was open (Pension Hallberg-Tauchergasthof) was closer to the boat, so I stayed there..at a cost of 50 Euros. I would've just gotten back on the train if I hadn't wandered around for an hour and a half cold and miserable in the rain.

Shawn in L, NY USA 02/01/2008

1. We loved the automated restaurant called 'SBaggers in the outskirts of Nurnburg, Germany. The kitchen is upstairs, you order by computer at your table, and the food slides down spiral stainless steel rails to your table. Inexpensive and unique (and I might add very German) experience (www.sbaggers.de)

2. New budget rental car company called Interrent (associated with Accor hotels) has prices almost half of anything AutoEurope can offer. We picked up a compact for 17 days during Christmas and paid $751 US total. Also have good luck with same company in Lisbon last March -- low as 8 Euros per day in non-peak times. Also a GPS is essential (we brought our own with added software for Eastern Europe). http://www.interrent.com/

Gail in Albany, OR USA 01/27/2008

Just USE the book! We went to Vienna and used the book. We had NO trouble at all finding our way around and the general background info was extremely helpful.

Alan & Shelley Davis in Thornton, CO USA 01/23/2008

It might be worth adding that while the Egyptian Museum is on the 2nd floor of the Altes Museum, you can go directly to it without touring the first floor. Audio guides are given out on the 1st floor, but are floor specific. If you tour the first floor, after you are done, turn your guide in and receive the guide for the Egyptian Museum. If you prefer to go straight to the Egyptian Museum, then be sure to ask for the 2nd floor audio guide.

Tina Cox in Erlangen(formerly Lynchburg, VA), VA germany 01/08/2008

The Germany & Austria Guidebook's Munich section should include information about the Bayern train ticket. (http://www.bayern-takt.de/public_main_modul.php?unit=&document_id=334) For 29 Euros, one can travel with five other people for only 29 Euros. Salzburg is included and this makes it very ecomomical for people without a Eurorail pass or car.

Also, not covered in the guide book, was Herrenchiemsee Palace. Like Linderhof, it is a little out of the way but worthwhile for folks that may never make it to Versailles or Schoenbrunn.

Paul Wester in Dickinson, TX USA 01/02/2008

In June 2007 friends of ours and my husband and I stayed with Karin and Hans Weiss of Haus-Karin (there are two Weiss B&Bs in Rothenburg). This is a lovely B&B, just outside the city walls, a short 5 min. walk to the central part of town. Karin is amazing. First of all, for any who are fearful of not understanding or being understood, when attempting to speak in German, no need! She speaks flawless English. Her husband speaks only German, but is a sweetheart and very friendly. Secondly, she can run rings around most travelers. Her energy is unbounding and she is just so helpful with everything. She grabbed my suitcase before I even realized it, and it was the heaviest of the four (one suitcase each...we all had carry-on size, but each was crammed to its limit) She literally tore up the stairs, bag in hand, to show us our rooms. I was grateful, since I have problems negotiating stairs, but she didn't know this when she took off with the suitcase. The rooms were spacious and spotless, but for tall folks, it's a bit of a problem until one gets used to the slant of the roof that was over each of our beds inside the room. One's head can come in contact with the inside of the eaves quite easily. Her breakfasts are to die for, not at all the usual Continental breakfast of rolls and jam with coffee or tea. They include so much and each day is a little different. Plus she makes the best homemade jam you can imagine, right ffrom the fruit in her own garden. She and her husband divide up the work: he has the whole outside, she does the inside and each takes the job quite seriously. Inside and outside are lovely. Karin has tour books in a number of languages, which she loans to her guests to help them with the "what to do in the area" questions. Plus she can give great directions to wherever you wish to go, both in Rothenburg and around that whole area of Germany. Since we'd rented a car, we didn't have to take advantage of her wonderful service of picking up and dropping off at the train station, but while we were there, she took off to gather up a couple of different guests at the station. She suggested a wine stube/pub in town for dinner, which proved to be splendid, and a locals hangout, not touristy at all, tucked away in a corner of the town. Delicious food and great house wine. All four of us enjoyed our whole stay and we will be staying with the Weisses again when we plan to go back in two years. At that time, we will stay about two weeks, as we want to really explore the area. If you want to stay with at the Weiss B&B, just be sure to reserve early, since her B&B is very popular!

Cynthy Barnes in Glendora, CA USA 12/15/2007

The Lufthansa bus from the Munich airport into town was so easy and stress free (10 Euro). As soon as we came out of the baggage area, signs in English led us straight to the bus stop where we bought our tickets from the driver. No need to hassle with luggage on the metro. Upon arrival at the Munich train station, it was a quick 5 minute walk to our hotel.

Linda A USA 12/14/2007

Our first destination after arriving in Frankfurt was Burg Elz. We managed to miss the sign to this castle on the autobahn so therefore missed out on the hike through the woods. If you want to enjoy this hike make note there is only one sign posted on the autobahn as where to turn off. It was, however, very enjoyable and the fall foliage was magnificent.

Susan Jennings in Atlanta, Ga USA 11/30/2007

I second the recommendation for the Courtyard by Marriott near the Munich Hauptbahnhof. Very nice, clean and modern. I travel to Munich frequently for business and this is a newly discovered gem.

Two great Italian restaurants to recommend: Aquapazza, near the Deutsches Museum (www.aquapazza.com). Wonderful truffle dishes. And Osteria Veneta near the Viktualian Market at Utzschneiderstrasse 4 is also very good.

Brian Autke in Asheville, NC USA 11/10/2007

The guide (a young man) at Saint Stephen's (Vienna) was wonderful. I did not expect to laugh at all during the tour but the comments he made along with the historical information were hilarious. They are lucky to have him as an English tour guide.

Monica Petcovic in Snow Camp, NC USA 10/31/2007

I just sent a note with comments on Hotel Maximilian, off-season travel, complimenting Haus Karin in Rothenburg, and suggesting addition to the guidebook of Courtyard by Marriott. After sending it, I worried that I may have omitted the city where the Courtyard by Marriott is situated. It is in Munich, close to the Haupbahnhof and not far from city center. Address: Schwanthaler Strasse 33-35. Tel: 49-89-54884880. Found and reserved through Orbitz.

Mark Starr in Lincoln, NE USA 10/30/2007

Rick!! My aunt and uncle swear by your guidebooks and got me the Germany & Austria one before I left to come here to Vienna to study for a semester--it's great! I have to tell you about a great restaurant--it's called 1516 and it's a fabulous little brewery on Schwarzenbergstrasse right near the Haus der Musik. While many people traveling in Austria might not be interested in American/British food, for those craving it, it's to die for. The burgers here are SO juicy and delicious--better than most you get in the States-- and the beer is great and made in house (I like the Radler). Even better: the coasters are free postcards! Yours is in the mail! I highly recommend this for your book!

Emma McCullough in Winston-Salem, NC USA 10/23/2007

I tried to get a room in Munich just days before the beginning of Oktoberfest. Unfortunately a convention was in town and all the hotels I tried were either full or very expensive. We stayed in Augsburg instead where there a good sites to see and took the short train ride to Munich. I'd recommend the Privat Hotel Riegele in Augsburg. Its just across the Platz from the Hauptbahnhof, has good sized clean rooms and a great breafkast.

Chris Kern in Houston, TX USA 10/19/2007

It would be helpful to indicate more clearly to readers that there are 2 railway stations in Bratislava. We began our day trip by taking a train from Vienna that did not go to the Main Station. Not realizing our mistake, we tried to follow your map to the old town, only to find ourselves terribly lost! The experience did provide us with a picture we might not have otherwise had of a city still showing the ravages of Communism. Eventually we found a bus to the Old Town, using a dose of self-reliance that we found necessary.

Robert and Janet Reiner in Sierra Vista, AZ USA 10/17/2007

Yes. The town of Boppard, on the Rhine, has a really nice waterfront area a few blocks long. It's quiet and quaint, with brick paving and old-fashioned streetlights. At night, the businesses lining this street advertise with small, charming signs. It creates a lovely atmosphere. There are several very nice hotels with a variety of prices, all with rooms overlooking the water. We stayed at the Gunther Garni, a small family-run hotel, for a very reasonable rate. Our host was very accommodating. Breakfast, which was included in the price, was one of the best we had on the trip. A block from the waterfront is the charming and historic town square. I wish we had planned more than one night in this magical, romantic little town, but we will always have wonderful memories of our evening on the Rhine in Boppard.

Barbara Chamberlain in Mountain Top, PA USA 10/17/2007

Train travel in Bavaria-- for a flat fee of 27 EUROs you can get a "Bayern Takt" that is good on all regional trains, S-bahns, busses, undergrounds, etc. Good from 9 am until 3 am the following morning and good for up to 5 people-- this is a huge deal, especially for families. website: http://www.bayern-takt.de/public_main_modul.php?page_id=299&document_id=380

John & Diane Hearing in Maple Valley, WA USA 10/15/2007

Be careful when you buy a train ticket to Rothenburg. Make sure you ask for Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I bought a ticket at the Nurnberg train station from the automated machine with the assistance of a lady that worked there. She gave me the ticket and a slip of paper showing times, track numbers, where to change trains, ect. The slip showed a change of trains in Hof. I could not find Hof on the map (it was on the map but I was not looking northeast) but I followed the directions. I was also concerned about getting on the right train car because the separated before Hof. As the train rolled past beautiful countryside I noticed that none of the towns I passed was on the map, but not all towns are. I even got out my compass at one point and it showed we were going northwest. When I got off at Hof to change to Rothenburg I asked a girl if I was on the right train to Rothenburg. She then asked Rothenburg or Rothenburg with two different sounds. I said Rothenburg and she said yes. I looked at the map and could find only one Rothenburg, (I should have pointed on the map to her). When she told me I had to ask the train driver to stop in Rothenburg I started to get a bad feeling. When it stopped (the sign said Rothenburg) I got off. There was no station just a sign in the middle of nowhere. Luckily a girl also got off that spoke English. She told me I was in Rothenburg spelled with two dots over the u. I was in a different Rothenburg next to the Czech Republic border. I started to feel realy stupid. I had gone two and a half hours in the wrong direction. She said it had happened a few times in the last month. She told me to wait for the train to return in about five minutes and go back to Hof and change to Nurnberg. When I got on the train to Nurnberg, the train conductor made me buy another ticked from Hof to Rothenburg (34.5 euro). It turned out ok (I saw some very beautiful countryside ) but be careful.

Bruce Sienko in Pueblo West, CO USA 10/09/2007

We really enjoy the German spa/sauna experience. When I realized that our travels would begin in Munich I Googled 'Munich sauna' and it came back with the Therme Erding (www.therme-erding.de). We visited it the day we arrived and again two days later before we left for our next destination, Prague. We had visited Caracalla in Baden-Baden a year ago (our first spa experience) and thoroughly enjoyed it, but Therme Erding was phenominal! It was huge, new, and German immaculate. Its brochure bills itself as a "sauna paradise" and it hits that targets' bullseye. We visited only the SaunaParadies, but there are two other divisions to Therme Erding-Galaxy: a waterslide/pool area mainly for kids, and Thermen Paradies: a pool/jacuzzi area mainly for families. SaunaParadies has over 20 saunas-such as warm, hot, aroma, steam, Finnish, etc. There is a HUGE pool, part of which is outdoors. This pool has bubble loungers, jets, a swim-up bar and a lush, tropical decor. Two things to be aware of-they do not accept credit cards. We saw people using what looked like ATM cards, but mine did not work there. Also, almost the whole website, their brochures, and most importantly 100% of the signage within the spa are in the German language. At one point I was politely denied admittance to a sauna because an aroma session was in progress. There was a sign hung on its door, but I had no idea what it said! Price was 21.50euros for 3 hours, 25.50euros for 5 hours. Ammenities such as a towel, massage, hair treatments, food and drink were extra. Free parking garage. Ten minutes from MUC airport in the town of Erding. Tel: 08122-2270400 Address: Thermenallee 1-5, 85435 Erding

Doug Stansbury in Saint Cloud, FL USA 09/29/2007

Thanks to Lee who replied to a question of mine on the Travelers Helpline I found out the following which definitely saved us money: "Bacharach, Koblenz, Burg Eltz, and Cochem are all in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. For €25, you can purchase a Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket which will give 2-5 people unlimited travel together on regional trains and many buses in the state. "

Aimee in Anaheim, CA USA 09/26/2007

I highly recommend buying your tickets for the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna online. Just go to the website and purchase. You don't have to wait in line or wait for a timed entry just go up to the ticket entrance. No specific date or time either. Very easy to use.

http://www.schoenbrunn.at

travelfan in Washington, DC USA 09/24/2007

We read and took the 2007 Germany&Austria guide book with us on a 2 week Bravarian tour, We rented a car and used the identifiable marketplatz street and # if given to program our Tom-Tom GPS. It would really have helped if the recommended sighs and destinations,hotels,PARKING LOTS,& restaurants had all had a GPS identifiable street name and number listed.Please add this info to your guidebooks before our next European driving adventure. Thanks for all your great advice and tips; it made our self-directed Germany tour possible.(Your book is in most of our pictures, as one spouse held the camera and the other the RICK STEEVES Big Blue Guide Book!)Thanks, Sam and Nellene

John S Treadwell in McDonough, GA USA 09/22/2007

We purchased a Garmin Nuvi GPS system with the Europe navigation card (whom we lovingly nicknamed Dorothy) before we left as we planned to travel by car from Berlin to Munich and back to Frankfurt. It was incredible with its accuracy. The only time we got lost was when we doubted "Dorothy's" directions and tried to use the German map. We had complete security that if we chose to leave the main road, "Dorothy " would always take us back to the autobann and help us find our way. She even helped us navigate through the narrow streets of Rothenberg! This is the on;y way to travel on yoru own in a foreign country. "Dorothy also helped us find hotels in Munich- as we arrived in Munich at 7pm without any reservations. We found a hotel a block from Maximillanstrass within walking distance to the Residenz and the Opera House.

Jamie Galis in Southlake, TX USA 09/14/2007

Just returned from Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles...Rick is right, park at the lot on the right just after you pass the ticket booth. It saves you from having to climb one more hill and is a gorgeous setting . (parking is E4.50) Don't skip Hohenschwangau castle...the tour is so much better than Neus. castle tour, lessed rushed and less crowded. At Neuschwanstein castle the tour is overcrowded and rushed. We weren't even in the room when the guide was speaking and probably only heard about 50% of the entire tour. But still worthwhile... Try to get to the front so that you can hear.Be sure to do your homework before you go so you will recognize all of the paintings from Wagner's Opera's(maybe actually listen to some of his music or at least watch the movie Tristan and Isolde!!). You may recognize the painting related to the famous "Here comes the bride"? We kept our kids entertained by counting swans, dragons and steps!! There are TONS of them!! One of my favorite parts was the views out of the windows! Don't miss them - and you can take pictures out of the windows as well. There is a gravel "bike" path leading to Mary's Bridge which we took on the way down (because we went to the bridge last). It's much more "natural" and there are no busses,hords of people or horses (and thier 'deposits'). Our kids prefered this "hiking" to climbing the "road". At Mary's bridge... everyone hangs out at the first entrance to the bridge(Is everyone THAT afraid of heights?)... The views are great all the way across... Continue on to the other side where you can actually move around and get some great shots. Hope this is helpful! Enjoy your trip!!!

Tina in Erlangen(formerly Lynchburg, VA), Germany 09/10/2007

Don't miss Cochem, Germany! Our family had a great time there in April while staying in the Mosel Valley. Though the Cochem Castle tour is in German, we enjoyed it greatly! The guide used a lot of physical geastures so we usually understood her. But the best part was the view from the veranda in the last room!!! What a sight... plus in the room with the HUGE armour, the kids got chocolate coins out of the treasure chest! We also took the Sesselbahn(chairlift) there. There is a cute cafe overlooking the city at the top - though pricey, it's a good beverage/bathroom break. They also have small children's toys in the "garden" area for families. The shopping area is picture perfect and fun. We ate at an Italian rest. near the TI which was reasonable and good. BUT also don't miss Burg Eltz - it's worth the drive. Again a fun stop for everyone! The kids enjoyed playing in the stream at the castle base while we soaked up some rays from the pedestrian bridge. We listened for other English speaking tourists and got a group together for an American tour. Well worth it! We did have to wait a bit though. Try the Pommes Frites (fries) at the Castle cafe - buttery and crisp, with mayo.! YUM! If you park at the car park in Munstermaifield there is a 10 min. hike, but some great photo opps. of the castle. Plus, this is where we met the other American's to join our tour. There is also a shuttle bus from this area - so take care with little ones on the path down.

Tina Cox in Erlangen(formerly Lynchburg, VA), Germany 09/04/2007

St. Goar-Bacharach boat tours: Plan to use one direction of the trip to relax and enjoy a glass of wine or a beer and the other to take pictures. Also for families...many of these boats have slides or small "playgrounds" on the top deck. But always have your camera ready! In St. Goar: If you walk to the castle, there were 2 options. The one less traveled is to the right just after the underpass. We thought it was closed, but it walked along the train track then up steps along the base of the castle. At the top, there is a great lookout where we took my favorite family shot of the whole Rhine trip. There are a lot of steps, however. Rheinfels Castle is great un for the kids, as any ruins are, because they can "explore" and let there imagination take over! Be sure to use Rick's guide!

Tina Cox in Erlangen(formerly Lynchburg, VA), Germany 09/04/2007

Great food and beer in Cologne: Muehlen Koelsch, Heumarket 6, (www.muehlenkoelsch.de). It’s only a short walk from the cathedral and a favorite with the locals.

Pat D. in Lancaster, PA USA 08/28/2007

Mt.Zugspitze in Germany... parking cost 2.50 euro Be sure to book cable car return from the top when you arrive or expect to use the cog rail to get down.

Melanie Murnan in Columbus, Oh USA 08/20/2007

For driving a car, portable navigation unit was very helpful (such as Garmin with Europe maps). Keep in mind that highway, train, and public transport don't give compass directions, but destination directions for help deciding which exit to make or U-Bahn to take.

Craig Walker in Beaverton, OR USA 08/19/2007

Hotel Schlicker in Munich-fabulous and cheap. Sankt Maximillian in Bernkastel-Kues

Alex Griffin in Danville, Ky USA 08/19/2007

Grinzinger Heuringen Kaffee "RUDOLFSHOF" Cobenzlgasse 8, Wien, Austria Drove to the Grinzing to try the Wine Gardens. Very touristy, tried several different places, all offering Buffet, but not the Buffet lines most people think of, more like a trip to the Deli section of your lcal Supermarket and the waitress brings out your selections. Most of the food was in warmer oven type containers and looked like it had been made earlier in the day, perhaps not even that day. We were about to give up and head back to the Zentrum when we stumbled upon the RUDOLFSHOF. A bit hard to find up a gravel road, but worth the search. Totally Wooded setting less than 10 km from the Zentrum, you felt like you were out in the countryside. Huge Wine portions and wienerschnitzel that didn't fit on the plate, for about 10 Euros, Send your local contacts to visit it, it deserves mention in your next edition.

Nick Didier in Port Washington, WI USA 08/07/2007

We went to the Maisel Synogogue while we were in Prague and were able to take the 10:00 a.m. English speaking tour of the Jewish Quarter. Our guide, Zita, was absolutely fabulous. She knew so much information and told it in such an interesting fashion. Our small group was just enthralled by her. I would recommend to everyone that hiring a guide while in Prague is one of the best suggestions Rick makes in his guidebook.

Gary Hoffman in Baldwin, WI USA 07/30/2007

Discover the EU's number 2 pick for its most beautiful community--Weissensee, Austria. It's really a collection of tiny villages around a crytal clear alpine lake in the state of Karnten. You won't hear English spoken much as this national park is a secret kept mostly by the Dutch, Germans and Austrians themselves. Enjoy hiking, swimming, boating, biking and fishing in the serenity of a sunny valley high in the Austrian Alps. This is not a spot for nightclubbers or shoppers. Instead, Weissensee offers a true European experience with cozy pensions, grassy beaches, and a friendly face.

We have stayed for six years now in Gasthaus Weissensee run by the English-speaking Family Koch.

Weissensee is too beautiful to spoil but also too special to keep all to ourselves. American travelers who are tired of the crowds, high prices, and touristy sites in Europe will find that this little community provides a restful and relaxing getaway from it all.

Cynthia Mostoller in Reston, VA USA 07/30/2007

Hotel Monaco in Munich, Germany, Schillerstrasse 9, D-80336, Munchen, Tel: 0 89/5 45 99 40, Gax: 0 89/5 50 37 09, email: info@hotel-monaco.de, web:http//www.hotel-monaco.de

John Crabb in Modesto, Ca USA 07/21/2007

Great discovery in Dane, Slovenia, near the Lipica Stud farm. Hotel Grahor. We were staying at the Stud farm which was nice because I am a horse woman, but the food was not great, so we drove a few minutes back toward the highway and happened on to a really great restrauant in the town of Dane at the Grahor Hotel. The food was superior, fresh and the service friendly and professional Great local wine and local specialities, except they did have equine specialties which was annoying, but I didn't have to try any. We went back a few times and found it consistantly excellent. Didn't stay at the hotel, but would diffintely try it on our next visit. Contact info: Hotel Gostilna : Grahor, gostilna : tel: 00386 5/731 20 60 hotel : tel; 00386 5/7312061 fax : 00386 5/731 20 63 (don't have a web site)

Nancy Miles in Winnetka, Ca USA 07/09/2007

BERLIN - I think it should be noted in the guidebook that those traveling with children, as well as elderly, handicapped, or pregnant travelers may skip the line at the Riechstag building and enter at a special entrance down a ramp to the right of the main entrance. You have to skip the lobby because you ride an elevator straight up to the dome, but it's worth it to not have to wait in those lines. I guess traveling with kids has a few benefits!

Cori Morris in Grafenwoehr, Germany 07/07/2007

Rothenburg - one shop worker told us on our last day there that most of the shops in Rothenburg accept US dollars. This was a big surprise to us. They will also convert USD into euros at a fair rate without bank fees. 2 weeks ago the rate was 70 euros for 100 dollars. I wish I knew that in the beginning.

Marianne Sullivan in Newark, DE USA 07/07/2007

Wanted to recommend Hotel Laimer Hof in Nymphenburg in Munich. Although not located in the old town near city center, it is convenient to the Liam UBahn/SBahn station or Romanplatz Tram, Nymphenburg Palace, Hirschgarten, food and necessity shops, apotheke, and Hertz car rental. It was nice and quiet in the evenings after a busy day in the Munich area, no late night/early morning pub noise from the street. Fan in the room for the warmer summer evenings. Breakfast was very good. Excellent coffee. Good service. Yes, some walking is required, but that's the norm in Europe if you're going "Through the Back Door", right. Hunter 07/07/07

Hunter in Apex, NC USA 07/07/2007

When we travel, my husband and I buy a plane ticket and Rick Steves Travel book. That is it. OF course this proves to be challnenging when we arrive during Fashion week in Milan or the Tour de France is passing through. We arrived in Germany with no place to stay. We went to one of the hotels in the book. The owner said there were no more rooms. Tired and discouraged we pulled out the Rick Steves book. The owner looked at us and said "You know Rick Steves?" We said "Well we have his book". With that, the owner said he did actully have one more room. It was the largest room in the hotel. Apparently the room that Mr.Steves stayed in.

Jen Hengels in Rolling Meadows, IL USA 07/06/2007

For the side trip to Saxon Switzerland National Park from Dresden, note that you can buy a "Verbundraum Partner Tageskarte" more cheaply than buying 2 individual "Verbundraum Tageskarten." I do not recall, but I think it was a savings of at least 5 euros. I'm not sure if it covered 2 people or up to 5 people. We bought our cuckoo clock at the Friese shop in Rothenburg, but saw it for sale at the little souvenir shop near Linderhof Palace for a cheaper price, even without the special Rick Steves discount.

Marianne Sullivan in Newark, DE USA 07/04/2007

I would like to recommend a B&B to add in the Rothenburg area. Other contributors on this site commented on this which made me feel more comfortable when Karin Weiss met us at the train station at Rothenburg and asked if we had reservations anywhere, which we did not. Our stay was delightful. She speaks English. Rooms, bathroom, great breakfast - some of best value of our 2 weeks in Europe. She is outside of walls but truly a 5 minute walk. She will meet you at the train station and take you back. Contact info: www.haus-karin.de Hans & Karin Weiss, Phone (0 98 61) 39 62, email: karinweissrtbg@aol.com, address Hans-Sachs-Str. 26, 91531 Rothenburg o. d. Tauber

Jane Fl USA 07/02/2007

Hebe Jeffrey is a great Vienna guide. Reach her at +43 676 314 90 95, +43 1 87 67 111 or at hebe.jeffrey@gmx.at. She is just a delight as well as a wealth of fascinating information. We took her music tour of Vienna and she is fabulous! Her passion is exhilarating and we so enjoyed ourselves.

Ellen Langer in Dayton, OH USA 06/29/2007

Restaurant: The Alpenhotel Ammerwald (www.amerwald.at), located on the beautiful road between Reutte and Linderhof, is a wonderful restaurant if you want to have a special "splurge" meal. It was about 65 Euros with a bottle of wine for three, but the food was great, service was impeccable, the atmosphere and presentation very classy.

Visiting Ludwig's castles in Fuessen: If you are staying in the area for a couple of days, consider arriving about 4:00 on two successive days and see each of the castles on the last tour. It is a little more expensive than doing a combo ticket, but you will miss the crowds on day trips from Munich. Note that we did this in mid-June. It probably won't work in the high-season from late June to early September, when I understand tours get booked up early.

Time to travel: early June is great. The weather is as likely to be as good as any other time in the summer, but German kids don't get out of school until after June 15, so you are less likely to encounter crowds. There are plenty of accommodations available without prior reservation.

Mittenwald: Perhaps the most beautiful town in the Alpine area of Germany. Definitely worth a stop or overnight stay. If you do, eat at the cafe Bozner--great food in a lovely pedestrian-only zone.

Stephen Hoffmann in Upland, IN USA 06/28/2007

Berlin: The 3-Day Museum Ticket (3-TAGE Karte-Museen Berlin) pays for itself after 2.5 museums. But none of the 35 included museums promotes the card. If you start you Berlin visit at (for example) the Jewish Museum, the Pergamonmuseum, the Gemaldegalerie, or the Bröhan-Museum, ask for the 15-Euro card. It includes audioguides (bring a photo ID for the few places that hold it while you have the audioguide checked out), and you'll also never wait in another ticket line! (Checkpoint Charlie museum and Schloss Charlottenberg not included.)

Those interested in the award-winning play "I Am My Own Wife" might visit the Gründerzeitmuseum in the Berlin suburbs. It's only open Wednesdays and Sundays, and you must call in advance for an English tour (viewing only by guided tour). But it's a neat, obscure museum, and they really need the business! If you've seen the play, you know they have a complete Weimar-era neighborhood bar on exhibit. The play doesn't mention that they have the prostitute's room from under the rafters there too, including the spanking-table. http://www.gruenderzeitmuseum.de/ Take the S5 train, direction Strasberg Nord to "Mahlsdorf". The local tram runs infrequently, so you'll probably turn right out of the station and walk 850 meters down the main street. This is all on your AB zone transit pass or ticket, but it's a long ride.

Timothy Buchman in Wyckoff, NJ USA 06/27/2007

Saran Essbar in Salzburg is fabulous! I can't say enough about the restaurant and the owner's hospitality. Do NOT take it out of your next edition! Your readers shouldn't miss this!

Ellen Langer in Dayton, OH USA 06/23/2007

Mainz Germany is not as bad as it sounded in the Germany-Austria 2007 Guide. We spent 6 nights here at the end of our trip. It was a good location for my wife and I as we were traveling almost exclusively by train. Not a lot to see in Mainz itself, but it made a good base city for rail travel. Convenient for for the Rhine cruise from Mainz to Koblenz (which was the highlight of our month long vacation in Euope), good rail service, and Mainz had a fun Market one of the days (Tuesday) we were there. We didn't go to the Gutenberg museum.

Paul and Karen in El Sobrante, CA USA 06/19/2007

Was disappointed to not find any recommendations in the Garmisch area. We happened onto a great inn and would like to recommend that you include it in your next edition. The Hotel Garmischer Hof, Chamonixstrasse 10, hone 08821 9110. It was a wonderful experience. Small family run hotel with large rooms, wonderful views and a fantastic breakfast, not to mention an excellent restaurant in the hotel. Would certainly stay there again.

james hall in virginia beach, VA USA 06/04/2007

You should include the cities of Thuringia (Gotha, Weimar, Erfurt and Eisenach) The area has lots of outdoor opportunities plus lots of history and sightseeing including some really neat palaces.

Gary R. Smith in Moorpark, CA USA 06/03/2007

Restaurant L'Auberge Du Vin - Incredible restaurant experience, very intimate, owners make you feel welcome and special. This is a great opportunity to try a gourmet chef's tasting menu with outstanding local paired wines. Pricey but worth the splurge. Stay at Andrea and Hermann's place but eat here.

Chad & Ashley Lemons in Temecula, CA USA 06/02/2007

I recommend Romantic-Rhine-Shop in St. Goar. It is just across the street from the KD boat dock in St. Goar. After exiting the boat, look left across the street, you can't miss it. They have all kinds of souviners, and many many great wines. It is the cheapest tourist shop I have found on the Rhine (I have taken the Rhine cruise from Rudesheim to St. Goar 6 times) and has a wide varitey of items. There is something for everyone!The owners are VERY nice and very helpful. You can sample their wines before buying.

Karoline Neill in Elkton, SD USA 05/30/2007

In Vienna the bus from the airport will take you directly to the front door of Pension Dr. Geissler. It is the last stop before returning to the airport.

P Gordon NJ USA 05/19/2007

Bacharach restaurant: "Rusticana". Excellent food at a resonable price, very friendly

P Gordon NJ USA 05/19/2007

Dresden: Add the Hotel De Saxe right next to the Fraunkirsche, new as of April 2006. Also reccomend adding the Moritzburg Hunting Lodge of "Augustus the Strong" near Dresden.

Mike dela Pena in Shingle Springs, Ca USA 05/15/2007

For anyone going to Berlin this spring/summer, Knut, the orphaned polar bear cub, is quite a draw. When we were there two weeks ago, he was teething and therefore was only on exhibit from 1100-1200 and 1400-1500 each day. We got in line about 1030 and were able to get into the enclosure by about 1115 but I am sure there were people in line that never got in to see him. He is cute but am not sure how much longer he will be kept with his trainer. The only place we saw any Knut shirts/hats for our grandkids was at the exhibit and the line at the kiosk was at least as long as the line to see Knut. Ken

Ken Culverson in Dalton, GA USA 05/10/2007

There were no hotels listed in Berchtesgaden and we stumbled on the find of the trip there. A darling B & B up the hill with a fabulous view of the Alps. It is on Via guiseppe Giusti, 32 Viareggio 5509, a bit up the hill, but well worth it. Not only was the view spectacular, Maria, the innkeeper was so warm and friendly. Her English is perfect. There were down comforters and pillows, private baths and a yummy breakfast. This was all for about 27E a person. I wish we had planned to stay there longer. Also, if you are looking for a tour guide and driver, I would highly recommend Harry with Toot Tours (Take a Look Tours). We traveled as a family of 7... he had an 8 passenger van. That worked out so well for us as we visited many off the beaten path sites. He not only helped us plan the trip, but he was flexible along the way. In addition, he was quite friendly with George, the nightwatchman in Rothenburg. George came and had a drink with us at the "Hell" Restaurant in Rothenburg so we felt like celebrities.

Peggy in Nashville, TN USA 05/04/2007

If you have time, stay at an apartment. We stayed in one of Herr Heill's apartments. It was very roomy, very reasonable, very quiet, and very convenient to historic Vienna. We walked out of the front door (the Danube Canal is across the street), turned right, walked two blocks, turned left and walked across the bridge, and we were on the Ringstrasse.

Susan Myers in Chesnee, SC USA 04/20/2007

The fried, ball-shaped desserts that were sold at a stand below the Neuschwanstein Castle. These were fresh, warm, and delicious. But then again, we never had a bad dessert in Germany.

Russ and Mandy in San Diego, CA USA 04/15/2007

We loved visiting King Ludwig's castle on the island of HerrenChiemsee, an hour outside of Munich. We took the train & a ferry there on our own & were suprised this wasn't mentioned in the Germany guidebook. We also enjoyed the town of Berchtesgaden, great woodcarvings & crafts shops there.

janet Archibald in San Francisco, CA USA 04/08/2007

To clarify... for Bob's Special Tours in Salzburg, you get the discount of 5 Euros per person if you show them the guidebook when you pay for the tour. We have been on their SOM tour twice, and Bertchesgaden tour also. You can email or call them, mention you have the book, and then show the tour guide your book when you pay. We really like Bob's, they are kid friendly and flexible. We asked them to take us to the Nazi Documentation Center instead of Salt Mines on our Bertchesgaden tour and they were happy to make the change. Also, when we booked in January, we were quoted a price. By the time we actually took the tour in March, the rates had risen, but they gave us the cheaper quoted price, AND the discount on top of the cheaper price. I also liked that when our small group was ready to go, we could move on to the next thing and not waste any time.

Karoline Neill in Elkton, SD USA 04/07/2007

You can make your own train reservations from home (60 days in advance) @ www.diebahn.de. Just go through the motions of booking a train ride, and you'll get an option to just make the reservation. It's only 3.50 Euros, unlike the other services from home. I've only used it for travel in Germany, but I think it's possible to use it for other countries. We like to not lock ourselves in, but there's always a train you just have to be on.

Dana Hatch in San Francisco, CA USA 03/26/2007

Mike's Bike Tours (Munich) Neuschwanstein Castle tour -- what better way to see the castle and the surrounding area than by biking, hiking and touring! Guide was fun, crowd young, trip was entertaining and insightful. Worth the Euros!

New Munich Free walking tours -- can be rough on the feet, but the guides are humor, theatrical at times, but very historically based. Meets every hour at the statue in the center of the Marianplatz in Munich. Tips suggested at tour end.

Eric Eiss in Rockford, IL USA 03/19/2007

Don't go to a town or big city in Germany on Karnevaldienstag (the day before Ash Wednesday) and expect to do shopping downtown the same day. There is a high likelihood that a parade through the old town will take place at 2 PM, and as a result, stores will close about 1 PM for that day and not reopen until 9 or 10 AM the next day. Restaurants and bars will be at capacity with die-hard revelers until about 11 PM or so.

Josh Hanz in Frisco, TX USA 03/10/2007

I am not exactly sure where to share my feedback. I already emailed Rick's editor. It's about Bob's SOM Tours in Salzburg. I have both the 2007 edition of Rick Steves Best of Europe and Germany and Austria, both of which state that we only need to book direct with Bob's Tours and mention Rick Steves to get the 5E discount, is that per person? Reason I am asking is because when we sent an email to ask for the discount by metioning Rick's name, somebody from that company asked us to bring the book and said that was the agreement with you and also said that we either read an old book or that if we had read the book well, we would have known about it. That is bad customer service, comments like that are not necessary. Needless to say, we are going to get the services of Panorama's SOM Tour. Just to clarify, do we have to bring the book to get the discount with this company?

Maricel USA 03/03/2007

The small towns in Germany are so friendly. As a large group of USA folk we were hoping to find a place that would put up with us. We found it.

Beth Halle in New York, NY USA 02/04/2007

I'm going on my second RS tour in May. Since we arriving early, I'm looking for some day trips from St. Goar prior to the start of the tour but don't want to duplicate tour sites. I wish there were more info regarding day trips to Luxembourg, France and Belgium - - - - best way to travel, time, what to see.

Audrey Ellis in Keizer, OR USA 01/30/2007

We went to Dinkelsbuhl and stayed at the Hotel Palmengarten. This was the only hotel recommended for Dinkelsbuhl. We were surprised to find numerous (and I do mean numerous) hotels and guesthouses on our walk through old town Dinkelsbuhl. We had a wonderful experience there. The owners were very accomodating and even drove us to the bus station the next morning. They serve a great breakfast. Make sure you arrive before 8pm. Doors are locked at 8pm, but your room key opens the main door to get in. We had a 3rd floor walk-up - no elevators. But I would highly recommend this hotel.

Lorene Boyes in Lindenhurst, IL USA 01/13/2007

I would love it if anyone has any feedback about Aachen, Germany (the town). It is the resting place of Emperor Charlamagne. Other than that, is the town worthwhile to see (is it worth an overnight stay?, if so any good B&B recommendations?) or is it best viewed as a day trip from Cologne, Germany? I'd like to know what Rick and the backdoor travlers have to say.

karen in San Francisco, ca USA 01/09/2007

Munich, the best soup is available at the soup eatery in the center of the Viktualien-Markt. Six soups are avaialbe daily and you can see them before ordering.

The Altes and Neue Pinakothek art museums cost only one euro on Sundays. Go early or late and avoid the crowds.

The Deutsches Museum has a great transportation annex west of Theresienwise Park. It is new, large, and has great english translations for all displays.

Take the night sleeping train to Berlin. It will save you lodging money and give you an extra day in either Berlin or Munich. But the train stops at several stations in Berlin so make sure your porter knows where you wish to get off and he will tell you when to get up.

If you are headed to an art museum to see a particular type of art or artist, call in advance to see if the art is currently on display. Twice we arrived, paid, and discovered our art or artist had been shipped to another museum for a traveling exhibit.

Rick is correct, the best food in Berlin is not German. Our best Berlin eateries, for lunch the Meinekestrasse Resturant. This is located at the south end of Meinekestrasse walking away from the KuDam. Good German and Southern German food and beer. Very few tourists allthough they do have menus in english.

Two great Asian eateries. The first is "Hoh in Wah." I am not kidding! It is on the south side of the Kudamm between Meinekestrasse and Fasanenstrasse. While it had a great variety of food their soups and duck were excellent. Large portions and reasonable prices.

And the Asia Dragon at the cornor of Kantsrtasse and Fasanenstrasse just north of the train tracks heading into the Zoo train station. The crispy duck is simply fantastic. Large portions, reasonable prices and great service. It is just fun to watch a server cover twenty tables and never write a single order on paper and get the right food to everyone. Why can't they do this in the States?

And there is a good Mexican eatery on the same street as Checkpoint Charlie about 1/2 block to the south. I was shocked to find it and even more shocked to see good food, huge portions, and very reasonable prices.

Stan Biles in Blue River, or USA 01/03/2007

Found this Frankfurt hotel an excellent value (DB 60 EUR), and convenient too! Near the zoo, city center and easy s-bahn access to the airport. Plus they had the most comfortable bed (including duvet, pillow and linens) of our entire trip. Bathroom was a bit of a squeeze though! Staff always helpful! Hotel Admiral Hölderlinstr. 25 60316 Frankfurt/M., Germany • Telefon: 0 69/44 80 21

Linda Gillard in Bend, OR USA 12/31/2006

There was nothing in the Germany-Austria guide book north of Koeln! I discovered the Mittellandkanal, which transverses Europe from Warsaw to Rotterdam, when a friend moved to Minden from Berlin in ~ 1990. The canal crosses the Weser River at Minden via a concrete bridge built in 1911. It is 3 meters deep and maybe over 500m long (not sure of length). After the East opened up and the ships could again cross through East Germany, a second "lane" was added to this bridge in the late 90s. This is 4m deep and made of steel. Imagine the weight of water in those two bridges. The best part is to stand on the canal bridge walkway and see barges passing below you and also next to you! There are outdoor info posters all along this walkway telling you about inland shipping on German waterways (Wasserstrassen). Unfortunately they are only in German.

I found this whole "Wasserstrassenkreuz" (water intersection) fascinating, and I think everyone should know about it. I was just there again at the end of September.

Bobbi Trist in Champaign, IL USA 12/26/2006

I had no idea Octoberfest was such a great family event if done in the middle of the day. We dressed in Tyrolean gear (you are so correct that this stuff should be purchased in Austria; the prices are so much more affordable than in Germany!) and felt part of the party including the kids. We enjoyed the family level of the Hippodrome with noon-3 reservations. The beer was weak (a relief given the pressure to consume it) and drinking with the fabulous food they served was the way to go. The kids felt part of the package with their apfelsaft in minimugs. Nice keepsake mugs, too. The music was boring; the band played the same song over and over but it did afford us the ability to learn the words and to sing along convincingly. The kids loved the midway and the huge ferris wheel afforded great views (good since I got sick during the time scheduled for Munich sightseeing). No one lost at the shooting gallery as everyone (kids) took home a prize.

Rick, we so loved the Wies Church! My kids had endless questions and we bought books and murky holy water. We loved all the cows with the giant bells milling around outside the church, too. The little restaurant attached provided tasty food and we felt so happy to be surrounded by only Germans inside this little cozy spot.

My kids loved the museum at Ehrenberg Castle. They tried on all the armor, lifted the swords, etc. and had a great time thinking about knights and the Crusades (heavily sanitized version we've presented).

Everyone must eat sour cherry anything while in Berlin: YUM!

Playmobile Land outside of Nuremberg was a real shock to us American OSHA protected parents. Every 3 minutes a child was lost due to the many ways in and out of each exhibit. Climbing was encouraged on faux castles where the drop on the other side was 15 feet down to brick. A nail-biter yet interestingly, no ambulances were ever called so we learned that maybe we've been trained to be too anxious. The kids loved the place. You don't even have to go to the gift shop, either, though we did because the kids and their friends were so good. Plus, there's lots of places to play in water for self-soothing. Also good to see lots of Euro brats, too.

Berlin was truly a delight. We splurged on the Adlon and were happy for the place. The kids loved the ampelmannchen [street crossing symbol] and came home with gummi bears with the little guy, t-shirts and their own collection of photos. Precious. No lines ever at the Reichstag if you have little kids: they pulled us out and moved us to a separate door; gorgeous place at sunset and at twilight. Berlin has the best hot chocolate, Italian restaurants and sour cherry pastries, ice cream and preserves. The twins loved the TV tower "popes revenge". Those nice volunteers wearing military garb for picture posing at Checkpoint Charlie thrilled my kids.

We did the Mozart stuff in Salzburg and the kids loved it. Those early shows at night up at the castle were priceless for turning kids into Mozart nuts. We had to literally force them to leave the Magic Flute movie at the Mozart museum. Why is the Salzach River such a milky color blue? You must try the Pope Benedict hometown beer! It's great!

Bonnie Seto in San Rafael, CA USA 11/29/2006

The information about EurAide was very helpful when we got to Munich. However, they had very limited hours and we had to stand in line, but they were very helpful with train tickets and for the Castle Tour. Also the information on tipping at restaurants was very good. It really saved a lot of frustration to just offer the wait staff a flat fee at time of payment.

Roger Streu in Springfield, IL USA 11/20/2006

The Original Insider Tours in Berlin were packed with history and inside information unlike any tour I have ever experienced. We took two of them and they were experiences to remember for a lifetime.

Rose Ada Combs in Oregon City, OR USA 11/16/2006

Munich: the Bella Italia chain (we went to the one on Rosenheimer Strasse) has very good, very authentic, very cheap Italian food (no more than 3 or 4 Euros for many dishes).

John Bologna in Greenwich, CT USA 11/07/2006

Be sure to have the most current Germany guidebook. I was using a German guidebook only one year old (2005). Berlin is changing so quickly, there were a number of errors in the book and sites that had been created in just that one year. It is worth buying the current book.

Anne McRae in Dusseldorf, Germany 11/03/2006

The trains are good in Germany - even second class - but I would highly recommend First Class as it was much less crowded. Second class sometimes had large groups of school kids running up and down the aisles or just generally had "every seat taken". First Class gave us more options and after sightseeing all day, it was kind of nice to close the door to that First Class cabin and just "chill out".

Karen Landon in Orlando, FL USA 10/31/2006

The suggested Munich Found magazine was a godsend for us this month, with a feature article on cafes/bars that offer free wireless Internet. After almost three weeks on the road, dinner, drinks and free email was fantastic. The article, called "Wireless in the City" is posted on the publication's website.

Jane in Coppell, TX USA 10/29/2006

Having an enjoyable meal indoors in Germany can be a challenge for a reformed smoker who has a hard time with smokey environs. Restaurants that advertise "no smoking" sections(or even a table or two)are few and far between, and many that do have such sections will put a smoker in them if the alternative is to turn away the business. We found we could avoid a lot of the smoke by dining at the very beginning of restaurants' dinner hours...kind of a pain, but it is one way to minimize the exposure. Steve 10/10/06

Steve Walker in Kamuela, Hi USA 10/29/2006

We discovered the Hotel Pendrag (sp.) in St. Goar. We were sent their because one of your recommended spots was full. Our party could not have been treated nicer by Stana Jurkovic, the proprietor. The hotel was a little on the shabby side but she made up for things with little extras at breakfast like apple crepes. Another place in St. Goar to highlight would be Stefan's Wine Paradise. A very nice man with good products, a wonderful wine tasting time at the drop of a hat, and shipping of products to the U.S.

Dennis Pribbenow in Wisconsin Rapids, WI USA 10/22/2006

Ask anyone in Hohenshwangau and they will tell you the nearest internet access is in Fussen - but it's not. You can access the internet inexpensively from the Hotel Alpenstuben (From the TI walk up the hill towards the castles & it is the first hotel/restaurant on your right.) You will need coins to unlock the computer station, but it is not expensive.

Judy & Mark Anthony in Dallas, TX USA 10/21/2006

I am in Vienna at Pension Hargita. Since they are on top of a T Mobile store, the wireless internet comes right to my laptop from 2 floors below. Internet in my room - Hooray!

Also, the Segway Tour is fabulous! Also, Pedal Power (www.pedalpower.at) is a great company that will deliver a rental bike to your hotel at a very great rate. Having a bike in Vienna is fantastic.

Catherine Banks in Plano, TX USA 10/21/2006

Pedal Power rent a bike in Vienna. Their helping us do a day trip from Melk to Krems along the Danube Bike Trail. It was amazing and such a neat trip! contact info: Pedal Power Ausstellungsstr. 3 A-1020 Vienna 00043 1 729 72 34 www.pedalpower.at office@pedalpower.at

Lee Forman in West End, NC USA 10/21/2006

restaurant lenz around the corner from hotel uhland just a 5 min walk was wonderful and fun.food excellent prices vary our meal with beer and wine 50.00usd

sbraggins in tampa, fl USA 10/17/2006

Hennef, Germany. It's about 15 mn from Bonn in a wonderful biking area. We stayed at Hotel Marktterassen http://www.hotel-marktterrassen.de/en/zimmer.html. The rooms are well kept and a good value. (Doublezimmer for about 89 US.) The place quiet and nicely decorated and the hosts lovely. We really enjoyed it.

Melissa in Sartell, MN USA 10/16/2006

Suggest you check out the NordSee fast-food seafood chain with over 20 locations in the Vienna area and perhaps in others cities. Sorry I do not have contact information. Very good with low prices.

David Lermond in Wilmington, DE USA 10/15/2006

Gasthaus Stahl, D-55430 Oberwesel-Dellhofen Telefon: 06744 416 fax: 06744 8861 www.gasthaus-stahl.de 6th generation family B&B, winery, restaurant Drivers-only...about 1.5 km up the hill from the church in Oberwesel between Bacharach & St. Goar Outstanding hospitality, service, food and rooms

Gene Field in Tampa, FL USA 10/12/2006

1. Rothenburg has free internet access in the TI. 2. Mittenwald - a German town near the Austrian border, about 20 minutes SE of Garmish-Partenkirchen. It has a fun main street, summer concerts, and plenty of hiking (or skiing depending on the season). Mostly European tourists. We loved it!

Julie in Los Angeles, CA USA 10/05/2006

Munich: Alan Wissenberg/ EurAide very helpful; especially with Bayern Tickets. Tours great, Andechs great, Monaco Hotel great -but doubles beds too close together (brother dreaming hit me in the head twice), Weisses Brauhaus great restaurant. Bern: Recommend Arabelle hotel, Muhlebachstr.86; dble 85 Euro plus 5.68 Fruestuck. Easy walk West from Bahnhof with good instructions from TI (take elevator up to top from station).

Walt Keller in Malibu, CA USA 09/25/2006

In Bacharach, Hotel Krone is run my Mr Banfi and his wife. He's a former computer programmer for EADS and is restoring an old house across the street from Hotel Hillen, renting rooms for EUR20.00 per person including breakfast. Nice guy, offered lots of travel info and even made us breakfast at 5am for our early ride to the airport. Speaks excellent English, no CC. Some rooms have a bath, those that don't share a huge modern bathroom. Very clean, creaky old house that is reminiscent of the real Back Door discoveries of 20 years ago.

Paul Craig in Houston, TX USA 09/25/2006

I recommend the Cafe Rex in Luzern, at Burgerstrasse 22, 6003 Luzern, Tel. 041-210 79 55. It is owned and operated by Peter and Erica Huber. They have a good selection of main courses as well as light meals and appetizers. The quality and quantity of the meals are very good and for a reasonable price. The service and friendliness is second to none. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating.

Walter Humy in Roscoe, IL USA 09/24/2006

A tip - when on a train down the Rhine, make sure you're on the correct train - one line goes down the west side, one down the east side. Hint: if the milemarkers don't match Rick's guidebook tour of the Rhine, you're hosed. Get off and find a way across. In our case, a ferry to Bingen gave me adequate time to self-flagellate for misreading my timetable. But it's those kinds of events which seemed to bring out the very best in the German people, who were helpful without fail.

Craig Dandurand in Sacramento, CA USA 09/09/2006

Wittenberg - charming city! We stayed at the Goldener Adler Hotel in Wittenberg (Golden Eagle) -- stately, reasonable, right on the platz, huge breakfast buffet, perfect. Website is www.goldeneradler-wittenberg.de.

Linda in Souderton, PA USA 09/06/2006

1) in Munich, great restaurant off Marienplatz is Bratwursthatzle. Fabulous food, cozy interior, fast service, multilingual menus and not very touisty.

2) Town of Ulm. Has a spectacular cathedral and a beautiful town square around the cathedral. Great small hotel there - Hotel Neuthor. The best we stayed at during our trip (based on quietness, bed quality and room condition).

3) Bicycle rickshaws in Englisher Garten in Munich. For 22 Euros, someone will take you around the Garten for 30 min to see the highlights. We had limited time and were tired after doing a lot of hiking the week before. It was pleasant and relaxing. Plus, we never would have found the river surfers without having them pointed out.

4) Legoland Germany, near Ulm - great place for people with kids. A low key park, located in the town of Gunzburg, Bavaria . It is worth going to see the cities built out of Legos. Our son, age 7, loved it. My husband, a die-hard museum addict, spent hours looking at the Lego cities.

Maxine Weber in Merion Station, PA USA 09/04/2006

Braustuberl Restaurant & Cafe Alter Stadtgraben 2 91541 Rothenburg o.d.T.

GREGORY K MADDEN in ELBERTON, GA USA 08/29/2006

I just wanted you to know that we spent 3 1/2 weeks travelling in Austria and Germany in July and we could not have had the time we had without your book. It was invaluable in what to see, when to see it, time and prices- everything. We especially used the "At a Glance" Section which directed us in the top things to see. We used the maps, the guided tours and the best was the walking tours that were recomended. We used the book constantly and would never venture to Europe again without one. I have recommended it to all my friends. Thank you- it made the decision making on our trip a no brainer! PS- a guy stopped me in Vienna and asked me to take his picture, he was from New York and HE was holding your Germany and Austria book! He thought it was great too!

Patty Gerard in Half Moon Bay, CA USA 08/23/2006

Burg Hotel Restaurant - Cochem This restaurant has an especially extensive menu--great when you're tired of the usual offerings. Decor is classy, with starched white tablecloths, uniformed waiters. Upstairs, there's a large balcony overlooking the Mosel. Food is fairly priced in comparison with other restaurants in town. The restaurant is located at Moselpromenade 23, about half way down the string of buildings on the waterfront. The website is www.burghotel-cochem-mosel.de

Mary in Houston, TX USA 08/22/2006

Kreuzerhof Hotel Carni Fam. Maltz Millergasse 2-6 91541 Rotenburg O. T. 09861/3424 FAX 09861/936730 www.kreuzerhof-rothenburg.de Wonderful place,great price,great breakfast,family business.

GREGORY K MADDEN in ELBERTON, GA USA 08/11/2006

Found this guidebook to be excellent ....especially apreciated the comment about [not watching] the [Meistertrunk] clock show in Rothenburg, but instead focusing on the faces of the other people [watching it]. So true !

Hanora Sarro in Yorktown Hts , NY USA 08/10/2006

Rick discusses the Ehrenberg ruins in Reutte, but I just want to state that if you are in pretty good physical shape it is well worth walking up the hills to see this attraction which costs nothing. Spectacular views. It looks as though someone may be considering running a lift or some other public transport up to them, so if you want to see them in an unspoiled state, you'd better go soon.

Steve Huyck in Flossmoor, IL USA 08/09/2006

Ric, great suggestion of internet place in Fussen. You may want to add prices of copying photos to a CD. We had to find this service 3 or 4 times on our 15 day trip Also, I would recommend the Italian restaurant in Bacharach, and the bar.

Shannon Hammond in Hoover, Al USA 08/08/2006

Best tip I can give anybody is to give yourself just a little bit of leeway in your schedule to seize the moment. While staying in Bacharach in June we ended up at the local wine festival just up the hill in Steeg after seeing a little poster for it in Bacharach. We had a great time partying with the locals, met a lot of fun people who were not shy about sitting down with us, pouring us wine, and trying out some high-school English they haven't used in 20 years. Oh, but our aching heads the next day!

Brenda in Alameda, CA USA 08/07/2006

While in Trier, my husband and I started at the town center for the self-guided walking tour just as suggested. As we were reading Rick's book out loud to each other, there was a gentleman sitting nearby chiming in with other interesting tidbits. Within five minutes he began leading us on an entertaining, informative 2 hour walking tour with tons of local flavor and opinion. It was one of our best, unexpected experiences in Germany. He apparently is a history buff and does these guided tours as a hobby to keep his English (and Italian and Russian) fresh. He carries books with him to show how some of the Roman ruins looked in their prime and is super-informed and very Rick-like in his "they won't tell you this in the usual guidebooks" approach. Some of his language and discussion is a little spicy with respect to some of the details (like all of the fertility symbols in the celibate Monks' graveyard and the activity of the monkeys on St. Peter's fountain), so beware. His name is Johann Zimmer (or so he told us). He's tall, maybe 50 or so, and doesn't ask for any money. We did, however, offer to buy him a beer and ended up talking politics and history until the surly waitress glared at us to order more or move on. It was a very "Rick Steves" experience. In fact, I would recommend that Rick go find him and hire him -- he was that good.

Jennifer Henry in Dallas, TX USA 08/07/2006

At the Munich Viktualienmarkt, if you want to eat and drink INSIDE due to rain/cold, try the resturant Der Pschorr at Viktualienmarkt 15 (tel 089 518 18 500; www.der-pschorr.de). We loved the resonably-priced food and young not-so-kitchy pub atmosphere. And, we were surrounded by locals.

Katherine Tucker in Upper Arlington, OH USA 08/05/2006

For airplane fans. The Luftwaffenmuseum in Gatow on the westside of Berlin has a large collection of German military aircraft. It includes many old east German aircraft. Admission is free.

Mark Welter in Ham Lake, MN USA 07/26/2006

We wanted to recommend an addition to your places to stay in Zell on the Mosel. The Reinisch cafe/pension at Balduinstrasse 77 (Tel. 06542 4580, email: Egon-Reinisch@web.de) is great. We've stayed there twice. Nice guestrooms overlooking the Mosel, small balconies, nice baths, breakfast buffet and very pleasant hosts. We paid 60 euros a night, maybe there is a price break for longer stays? Right in the middle of Zell.

Barbara and Werner Kraft in Gig Harbor, WA USA 07/25/2006

The nightwatch tour in Rothenburg is a blast. This guy was really funny and very informative. Best guided tour I've been on.

Peter in Salem, OR USA 07/17/2006

Much to our surprise, we absolutely loved Vienna. We pictured it as being all palaces and waltzes and sort of dark and frumpy. It was one of the most alive and energetic places we've been, with lots of wide pedestrian streets.

Donna Peck Gaines in Seattle, WA USA 07/14/2006

Lindau, Germany. A delightful lakeside village in the south of Germany. We took a boat from Constance to Lindau--which was very inexpensive with our EurRail Pass. We only spent a few hours there, but it was great!

Mary L. McNair in Katy, TX USA 07/11/2006

Just returned fro Austria. We stayed at family run Pension Kraml in Vienna, 50-70 Euro doubles. One stop from Westbahnhof on quiet neighborhood street. Huge, clean room( with small refrigerator and hair dryer). Wonderful breakfast and breakfast room to rival Gasthhof Simony. pensionkraml.at

Thomas Reardon in Tacoma, WA USA 07/04/2006

great restaurant in Frankfurt - Pizzeria Rucola Berger Str. 10 tel 40590689. just steps from Merianaplatz on U4 station. wine, salad, pasta, dessert - less than 20 euros...

les abrams in garden city, ne USA 07/01/2006

the Museum Carolino Augusteum (toy museum in Salzburg)

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.smca.at/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCarolino%2BAugusteum%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

Cindy May in Hilliard, OH USA 06/22/2006

When in Hamburg, I highly recommend that you stay at Motel Hamburg. The front desk is manned by Christian Venner who was very friendly and helpful. I emailed him several times from home and he answered my questions very promptly. When we arrived, we took a taxi from the Hamburg airport which was 15 minutes away and cost 13 euros. Christian suggested a great restaurant a short walk from the motel. After the long flight from California, having “real food” felt like a luxury after the airplane food.

This small motel is very quiet – a plus in the downtown area. The good location, comfortable beds, the bathroom in our room, and the excellent breakfast with a big variety of items all made for a very pleasant stay. The cost for a double room in May was 80 euros.

The address is: Hoheluftchaussee 117 - 20253 Hamburg. Phone number: Tel +49 (0)40 - 420 41 41, Fax +49 (0)40 - 422 99 05. E-Mail: motel@hamburg-hotels.de

Carol Nyholm in Davis, CA USA 06/17/2006

In addition to the tours options that you listed for Trier, that is a double decker hop-on/hop-off bus. It is 10.00 for a 24 hour ticket, but if you want to take the complete tour without hopping on & off, the cost is 6.00. The bus not only circle the old town, but also goes down to the river and up into the hills for a birdeye view on the town.

It was raining when we arrived and we took the bus tour as an overview. The rain had stopped when we arrive back at the TI. We then took your self-guided walk.

Johnnie Guest in st petersburg, FL USA 06/11/2006

Trier. We had tried to stay in Cochen or Beilstein, but the hotels were booked so we stayed in Trier. I wish we had planned to stay two nights in Trier. Trier has what Munich, Cologne and Berlin have (marketplace, good food and beer and wine gardens, cathedral, Roman ruins) without all the tourists.

The Zing Restaurant, Grolmanstrasse 21, 10623 Berlin, 030 375 91 339, was not a Rich Steves' recommendation, but should be; great food and great service.

Paeffgen Bierhaus, Salzgasse 5-7, 50667 Cologne, but we like the original on Friesenstrasse.

Halver Hahn and Koelscher Kaviar are usually not on the English menu. You either have to ask or get the German menu. Both are great!

Fred in Austin, TX USA 06/05/2006

Using ATM's in Germany.

To avoid fees, stick to ATM's affiliated to a bank (for example, Deutsche Bank). The non-bank ATM's (usually at train stations) charge $5 fee, while the bank-ATM's don't. (I have a B of A account.)

Jo CA USA 06/01/2006

If you want to take one of the Berlin walking tours that Rick mentions in his guidebook, DO NOT reserve tickets in advance. You can very easily buy tickets there (tours do not sell out) and you can't get a refund unless the tour is canceled. There is absolutely no advantage to booking online.

Amy in Par, Fra 05/26/2006

Bike riding around Munich was outstanding on a nice spring day. There are excellent bike paths, but getting to them can be a challenge. The path along the Isar River is fantastic, and beer garden hopping via bike in the English Garden is a great experience.

Brad in Alpharetta, GA USA 05/24/2006

The Hostel in Cochem, along the Mosel River, was our best accommodation during our 10 day trip. The rooms were roomy, clean, modern and very inexpensive. And we had a wonderful view of the Mosel. It was hard to find, however, as it was across the river from Cochem, on the other side of the bridge.

D. Gorski in Minneapolis, MN USA 05/22/2006

Please explain to newbies EXACTLY how to use those damn Fahrkarte machines at the train stations. So often the ticket booth was closed and you HAD to have a ticket before you got on, but it took me 3 desperate tries and my savvy 11 year old to figure out that the flag button changed everything to English.

Jenny Anderson in Holland, MI USA 05/12/2006

Mid-April to early May is great. Weather is acceptable, tourists are down, priceses are lower that high season and service personnel are nicer (not tired from the tourist season yet).

R. Chartrand in Bellingham, WA USA 05/04/2006

Add guesthouse in Rothenberg hosted by Karin Weiss, (www.haus-karin.de, E-mail KarinWeissRtbg@aol.com). Karen is energetic and delightful and provides a wonderful breakfast and great recommendations for activities and restaurants. Speaks English very well. Home is clean, bright, appears to be newly remodeled, with parking on the street. Easy five minute walk into Rothenburg.

Kathy Glass in Verona, WI USA 04/29/2006

We ran into the Pension Hohenrainer in Austria in Ehenbichl and based on the recommendation in the book, we stopped since it was late. The owner was very friendly and the food she made for us was incredibly good. We would highly recommend this cozy place to anyone who likes to interact with the local people, be fed wonderful food, and enjoys the view of the Alps and castle ruins offered here.

daryl gelnett in mechanicsburg, pa USA 04/24/2006

Even though almost all of Rick's advice is great, I wanted to add my discovery of great sights in Frankfurt. I spent my first and last night in Germany at Hotel Paris, which was clean, safe and very adequate. I visited the Romerburg area, the Jewish Museum and four other museums which were fantastic.The film history museum was so interesting that I only left because I wanted to get to the Goerthe house and museum before they closed....beautiful rooms and garden area.

Natalie Garrett in Ashland, OR USA 04/16/2006

A very fine museum displaying the work of the edgy fashion photographer Helmut Newton is located directly behind the Bahnhof Zoo in Berlin. The museum also has an excellent shop specializing in photography books, as well as a delightful cafe.

Also in Berlin, an astonishing four-story spiraling showroom with hundreds of Mercedes Benz automobiles on display is located on Salzufer, about three blocks west of the Tiergarten S-Bahn station. An excellent cafe is at the back of the ground floor.

Harley Thronson in Fairfax, VA USA 04/16/2006

Th tipping issue continues to confuse me. Most of the Wait staff at the places we ate expected tips, even though the menu indicated service was included. Just about every bathroom and food counter had a plate out to collect a tip.

Jeanne Conboy in Albany, CA USA 03/27/2006

Volksfest Stuttgartt. A good alternative to Oktoberfest. Takes place the same time of year for the same reason but lacks the crowds especially the tourist crowds.

Marcy M. Eisenburg Jr in fayetteville, ga USA 02/27/2006

My family of four spent two weeks, over Christmas, in Germany and Austria, and I really appreciated your information about the self-service laundromats. I used the laundrette in Rothenburg on Johannitergasse 8 (bring exact change for the tokens) and in Salzburg near Linzerstrasse (the ladies there were very helpful). We really needed the laundry after trekking through the wet snow. Please continue passing on this useful information, because I really missed my washing machine. Note: I used your book for everything from sights, to where to eat, to traveling on the U-Bahn. I felt you were there with us on our self-guided trip through Germany and Austria.

Arlene Nickerson in Franktown, CO USA 01/15/2006