Best and worst accommodations:

Best: Schwarzwalder Hof
Why: Great Location, nice rooms, breakfast provided, and a "regional" travel card. Much more than "local" transport card as said in the book. You can travel all over the region for free. It was great. This family owned hotel is a must if you are in area.

Bill in Buena Park, CA USA 11/15/2009

Best: Hotel Monaco - Munich
Why: It was everything Rick said it would be and more. Christine and her staff were terrific start to finish.

John in Pittsburgh, PA USA 11/08/2009

Best: Hotel Uhland (Munich) and Hotel Kloster Steuble (Rothenburg)
Why: Hotel Uhland was in a great neighborhood and perfect for our first few nights in Europe. 20 minute walk to the center of everything, less to train station. Kloster Steuble was quaint and in a great location. The hosts made sure they showed you where to park for free and were extremely friendly. Great breakfasts in both places.

Susan Cramer in Lynnwood, WA USA 11/04/2009

Best: Haus Lippman, Beilstein, Hotel Monaco Munich
Why: We had a room with a balcony over looking the river. It was clean, quiet, and nicely arranged. The host, Herr Lippman was very helpful in suggesting places to go, and how to get around. The Monaco is less than 5 minutes from the railroad station. The staff was very helpful and always cheerful. They printed our boarding passes for us and wished us a pleasant trip. In the past people have complained that there were strip clubs in the area. They are pretty much a thing of the past. We felt perfectly safe in the area. I would stay here again.

Worst: Hotel Colmar, Baden Baden
Why: The room was ok, but the service was poor. The manager acted like he was doing us a favor even acknowledging that we existed. He seldom looked up from his paper when we entered or left, and never exchanged a greeting.

Mark Henderson in Napa, Ca USA 10/30/2009

Best: Baden Baden, Germany
Why: We had a wonderful time in Baden-Baden with Frau Peter at Hotel Deutscher Kaiser. The food was plentiful, and the rooms were clean. Frau Peter was pleasant and very helpful. We would stay there again.

Joann Pelletier in Soddy Daisy, TN USA 10/25/2009

Best: Irmgard Orth/Orth Zimmer in Bacharach, Germany
Why: Irmgard was extreamly pleasant, very welcoming and a great host. The room was clean and airy with a balcony and a roof garden where guests can lay in the sun and relax. The shower is small but adaquate. Breakfast was delicious, offering eggs, and toast with her own honey and jams! Somewhat difficult to find, ask a local to help! :)

Lori Brubaker in Downingtown, PA USA 10/20/2009

Best: Haus Ballwein,Gruner Anger and Hotel Gute Quelle
Why: Haus Ballwein was quiet,clean, of the house with a great breakfast and the bus stops right in front of the house to take you to Salzburg.Gruner Anger in Hallstatt was excellent .Food was very good and they have a great dinner special.Our room was very modern with a great shower.Hotel Gute Quelle in Beilstein was another great place .The owner is the chef and prepared excellent meals.I would stay at any of these places again in a heartbeat.

Worst: Pension Winzerhaus and Hotel Sonne
Why: Pension Winzerhaus has a lot of noise from the auto traffic ,you have to keep the windows shut at night.Also the sheets they use are really rough,other couples said the same thing.Hotel Sonne in Staufen was way overpriced for what you get.The owner was rude and not very polite when we checked in.I would never recommend this hotel.

Russell Dole in Highlands Ranch, Co USA 10/15/2009

Best: Hotel Sonne, Staufen, Germany
Why: Hotel Sonne is superbly located on the edge of the pedestrian-only historic village center of Staufen so it is easily accessible by car but safely pedestrian-only just across the street. The owner Antonio is friendly, always available, and helpful. Hotel Sonne has only 8 rooms, each newly renovated, and each with a modernized immaculate bathroom. Our rooms were large, clean, and quiet. Antonio provided a hearty breakfast and great Italian fare for dinner. We enjoyed our stay and getting to know Antonio. We highly recommend Hotel Sonne.

Brenda Kish in Port Orange, FL USA 10/14/2009

Best: Pension Peters -- Berlin
Why: Great spot to stay. Extremely helpful staff that gave us a great gameplan to blitz the city's sites in two days. After a long day out, they provided food recommendations as well. Great, affordable place to stay while in Berlin.

Rob R. in Alexandria, VA USA 10/08/2009

Worst: Pension Lettie
Why: We found Lettie to be falsely friendly, insincere really. The breakfast was skimpy in the portions, as if she was trying to save money on food. The bed was hard, and a noisy party in the shared backyard went on until 3 am or so. All in all, not a good experience, tho the town of Bacharach is charming and well located for exploring the Rhine.

P. Osterbrink in Thousand Oaks, Ca USA 10/02/2009

Best: Hotel Altfrankische Weinstrube am Klosterhof
Why: Perfect in every way - small, cozy, dark, extremely comfortable bed and bath - and the food - Wow!! Absolutely beats the higher priced "modern" hotels. We felt at home!!!

Al & Sue Franken in Sioux Center, IA USA 09/30/2009

Best: Hotel Astoria, Trier, Germany
Why: Great location, wonderful hosts, fantastic breakfast and good parking accommodations. We were very pleased with this choice and greatly enjoyed the owners hospitality. This is not listed in Rick's books and we highly recommend this to all visitors to Trier.

Al & Mary Hermansen in Delano, MN USA 09/28/2009

Best: Pension Lange, Cochem, Germany
Why: Excellent accommodations, clean, large room with a balcony - so nice. We had wonderful breakfasts in the morning and the owners were so wonderful to work with. We admit that was a nice surprise and not listed in Ricks guidebook.

Al and Mary Hermansesn in Delano, MN USA 09/28/2009

Best: Pension Lettie, Bacharach, Germany
Why: We had a great time staying with Lettie, what a wonderful host. The room was large enough, very clean as was the bathroom. Breakfast was great in a nice sunroom with eggs, waffles, warm bread, etc.

A great place to sstay and tour this part of the Rhine River Valley.

Al and Mary Hermansen in Delano, MN USA 09/28/2009

Best: Suzanne's B&B, Fuessen
Why: This was our 6th trip to Fuessen and to Suzanne's B&B. We travel to Europe at least once per year and simply love the Alps. Suzanne has no competition in Bavaria....her rooms are immaculate, breakfast the best and information on everything within 100 kilomters of Fuessen. If you ask a question, listen carefully. She's been there 40 years and will give you the latest on anything Fuessen. We found her in an early Rick book can't imagine Bavaria without a few days in paradise. Leo Thomas

Leo Thomas in Anderson, TX USA 09/24/2009

Best: Berlin - Pension Peters
Why: Terrific staff, including Charly, the friendliest hotel dude around. Big, quiet, clean rooms with great beds. Especially nice breakfast spread.

Bill in Miami, FL USA 09/22/2009

Best: Pension Peters and Pension Elke
Why: Daisy Steiner and Christoph in Berlin were the consumate hosts - friendly and most helpful. It was a great place to stay and use as we explored former Berlin haunts from days gone by.

Erich and Klaus are the hardest working and most gracious hosts. Their pension in Rothenberg was excellent!

V. Phil Tullar, Ph.D. in Tucson, AZ USA 09/22/2009

Best: Frau Wolf's B+B
Why: Right in town off from the main square, she is friendly and works hard all by herself. The rooms were clean and the terrace outside each room is delightful

Carol Galanter in Hamden, Ct USA 09/12/2009

Best: Altstadthotel zum Hechten - Fusson
Why: The owner was friendly and loves Rick!! Explained how he was expanding his collection of Rick's collection. Discount on room. Nice room with balcony. Also restaurant with wonderful food.

susan knutter in rockford, il USA 09/07/2009

Best: Pension Peters Berlin
Why: Great place & staff, but no airconditioning. Great location. A 10 minute walk to the main station in old west Berlin. Staff was very helpful. We stayed on the 1st floor-one floor off the ground-it was loud in the family room with the windows open, but would stay again. No elevator, but great old building.

Scot Dailey in Arlington, Tx USA 08/15/2009

Best: Hilton Dresden
Why: Centrally located, best breakfasts we had anywhere in Europe. Good rates if you book over the internet and the concierge is extremely helpful and available during extended hours.

Chris Peter in El Cajon, CA USA 07/30/2009

Best: Pension Elke, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Why: This pension provides very reasonably priced lodging with an excellent breakfast. The hotel is approximately a quarter of a mile from the Marktplatz, so it is conveniently located.

Worst: Hotel Monaco, Munich, Germany
Why: The attractive point of this hotel is its proximity to the Hauptbahnhof as it is a two minute walk from Hotel Monaco. The downside, and why I would not recommend this hotel is that it is above a strip club. The neighborhood itself is not seedy, but from 2-5 am every morning, the noise from the strip club woke us up. To make it worse, there was such a thick cloud of cigarette smoke from outside the strip club, it floated upwards and into our room. Since it was summer and the hotel does not have AC, the choice was shutting the windows to diminish the noise and sweating due to the heat, or keeping the windows open and hearing the noise and smelling the smoke. There are several other hotels in the immediate vicinity that are neither above nor close to the strip club, and I recommend investigating one of those.

Bob Pearson in Upper Arlington, OH USA 07/26/2009

Best: pension peters, Berlin
Why: Clean, friendly, well maintained, quiet, perfect location, Christoph and his sister were wonderful, and not too many Americans like some of your recommendations. Mostly lovely, young German families who were very nice to us.

Bill Horton in N. Mankato, MN USA 07/24/2009

Best: Hotel am Markt, Baden-Baden
Why: Large suite and bathroom for the price (85 for 2) compared to other accommodations, and the computer and drinks for purchase were appreciated. However, the church bells did disturb our sleep, even with earplugs so I would suggest readers ask for rooms that don't face the church and plan to get up early.

Emily S in Berkeley, CA USA 07/21/2009

Best: Pension Peters
Why: This was the least expensive accommodation of a 5-stop trip, and by far my favorite. There's a diverse range of guests, including Germans and foreigners. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly. The rooms are clean and neat. The location is great and easy to get to all the sites. I was a bit worried that it was in the west, and most of the sites are east, but this wasn't a problem at all.

Abby in Seattle, WA USA 07/09/2009

Best: City Hotel
Why: good price, right smack in the middle of the old town. Shabby but clean. Breakfast room surprisingly bright and cheery with a nice big breakfast. Very quiet.

Chere Weiss in Kelso, WA USA 06/29/2009

Best: Pension Peters in Berlin
Why: Extremely friendly and warm people working there. Also the location in regards to Savignyplatz, only 2 minute walk from the S-Bahn, made it very easy to move throughout Berlin.

Jack Smith in Batesville, IN USA 06/26/2009

Best: Hostel Louise 20
Why: This was the only places I stayed that I had not been too before. Nice hostel, but pay for wifi was a little behind the times I thought; most places now have free wifi for guests.

Judge Leverich in SALT LAKE CTY, UT USA 06/01/2009

Best: Hotel Garni Probst in Nurnberg
Why: Lovely eager-to-please family, much nicer than expected room for three with all new furniture, great price and location.

Barbara McCauley in Boston, MA USA 05/28/2009

Best: Pension Lettie in Bacharach
Why: Lettie was as described - Very helpful. She helped us plan our travel, gave recommendations, etc. Room and food also very good.

Ben LaGrone in McGregor, TX USA 05/28/2009

Worst: Manhattan Hotel near the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof
Why: The distinctive lack of courtesy alone wouldn't have deterred us from an otherwise clean hotel with good breakfasts. However, the pervasive security warnings, the casual oversight of placing and retrieving valuables (such as a laptop computer) in the office while away from the hotel, and someone--claiming to be hotel personnel--knocking once and then immediately opening the door with a key just shortly after we arrived in our room was unsettling. The many signs regarding security are not confidence building and the dismissive desk staff attitude, in light of the obvious security concerns in an already unseemly area of town is not comforting.

James Johnston in Redmond, WA USA 05/28/2009

Best: Pension Fuchsmühle
Why: What a gem! I could write pages about this place. We came to stay two nights and remained for seven. Beautiful spacious rooms sit over or near a mill race. Alex Molitor is the most friendly and accommodating host yet. The fruhstück has fresh fruit! The setting is idyllic. He has CNN and WiFi. The walk to old town Rothenburg is gorgeous including over a covered bridge. Across the street is a stream ford. Nearly next door is Toppler "castle."

If you're willing to walk ten minutes to get to the town, stay here!

Worst: Hotel Hirsch
Why: The "lost" our reservation. We benefited by staying the the much nicer and new Hotel Goethe Garni.

Harry Keller in Marina del Rey, CA USA 05/10/2009

Best: Pension Lindner in Munich
Why: All new plumbing and furniture, flatscreen HDTV, two blocks from Marienplatz, great breakfast and conversation with Marion, elevator, and large rooms. For 80e their double rooms with shower can't be beat (discount if you pay in cash).

Worst: Gasthof Greifen in Rothenburg
Why: Although I would not remove the listing, it should be noted that there is no elevator, so schlepping yourself and your luggage up two flights of narrow stairs to the larger rooms is the pits, although the rooms are very modern and comfortable. Also for our 3-night special the included "Franconian Dinner" was schnitzel and pommes frites. You'd be surprised at how quickly you can get tired of pork cutlet and french fries.

Gary P in Ramona, CA USA 04/18/2009

Best: Rothenburg- Pension Elke
Why: Erich and Klaus made this the most wonderful experience for us! They were so kind and accomodating. They treated us like royalty. This was the most hopitable place we stayed in Europe. Breakfast was fantastic, the room was spacious and very clean, and the price can't be beat! This one is underrated in the guides, if you ask me!! We can't wait to go back!!

Roselle Okubo in Miami, FL USA 03/31/2009

Best: Yellow Rose Guest House in Rotenburg
Why: THe hosts were gracious, and really worked with us to make certain that our accomodations were comfortable and affordable. We came back and stayed with them two extra days because of there personable attention.

Cindy MacWhinney in Bakersfield, CA USA 01/23/2009

Best: Pension Peters (Berlin)
Why: Will definitely stay here again and recommend to my friends! Rooms have tall ceilings, they are very friendly and interested in conversing with you, and it ended up being the least expensive and most conveniently located place we stayed on our three week trip to Europe!

Dave W. in Seattle, WA USA 01/20/2009

Best: Hotel Gerberhaus, Rothenburg
Why: Excellent location, accomodations and breakfast!

Ken in Dallas, TX USA 01/02/2009

Best: Frau Kurz' B&B
Why: Absolutely the best B&B in St. Goar and perhaps the best B&B in all of Europe. Frau Kurz is highly gracious, friendly, helpful, etc. Her establishment is wonderfully set-up with views of the Rhine River and castle on the other side. I don't know of another establishment with these views. The rooms and furnishings are clean, neat, and in good order. Imagine being offered peppermint tea, apples, and homemade marmalade all home grown by Frau Kurz. Breakfast took me back to my childhood at my grandparent's house. Medium hard-boiled eggs served in china cup holders, many varieties of toast, meat, cheese, coffee. My son, husband, and I ate in the diningroom, overlooking the Rhine River, while Frau Kurz and her husband had their breakfast in the kitchen. She respected everyone's privacy. The 3 B&B rooms are all located on one level, and Frau Kurz and her husband live upstairs on a different level. Frau Kurz gave us our own key to the house and to our rooms. If we forgot our key, there was a doorbell we could ring and Frau Kurz would let us in. It was really like living with and being taken care of by a very loving and gracious aunt. She gave us her best. She is great and we are so grateful for the experience.

Leanne Roe in Everett, WA USA 12/31/2008

Best: Warsberger Hof, Trier; Haus Karin Weiss, Rothenberg; Pension Albrecht, Hoenscbwangau; Hotel Monaco, Munich
Why: We traveled in December with 2 young kids. All hotels were kid friendly. Warsberger Hof: We stayed in the hostel building - 4 bunk beds in the room. They provided sheets, but we made the beds. Great price, friendly and terrific location. Haus Karin Weiss: Very cozy, Karin is very friendly and has great breakfasts. Easy walk into old town. Pension Albrecht: Decor a bit dated, but comfy. Can't beat the location and castle view from the balcony. Hotel Monaco: SUPER friendly, easy walk to central area & train station, spacious room. Area around hotel has some strip bars, but we were never uncomfortable.

Kathy in Hainesport, NJ USA 12/30/2008

Best: Blobergerhof, Salzburg. Austria
Why: Eight of my family members just returned from 2 weeks in Germany and Austria this November. Blobergerhof was wonderful. Clean,with friendly staff,and great breaksfasts. Very accomodating to my 2 and 5 year old grandsons. We got the Rick Steves' discount. Highly recommend.

Worst: Pingswang,Tyrol, Osterreich Gutshof zum Schluxen
Why: The smoke from the bar area into the dining room was unbearable. Breakfast was not so good, but the dinners were excellent. The laundry room and the washing machines needed a good cleaning. The staff was fine but the dog aggressive.

Mary Law in Gaithersburg, MD USA 12/20/2008

Best: Pension Peters (Berlin)
Why: Great value, location and staff. We paid 75 Euros/night for a huge, high-ceilinged room on the 3rd floor with private bathroom and shower. Room was absolutely quiet and water pressure was great. The included buffet breakfast was adequate, and the staff were friendly and all spoke English. There's no elevator, but when we checked in the staff practically insisted on carrying our luggage for us. The Savignyplatz area is nice and quiet, with quick access to the Zoo (train and bus station) and an Ullrich supermarket.

Knut in New York, NY USA 12/02/2008

Best: Munich - Hotel Uhland
Why: Friendly and helpful staff. Excellent location and very clean rooms.

Mark Draganescu in Chalfont, PA USA 11/18/2008

Best: Pension Im-Malerwinkel, Bacharach, Germany
Why: They have a parking lot beside the hotel, nice clean rooms (ours overlooked the garden inside the city wall) and a nice buffet breakfast. Only issue is cash only but great price. We did not know this pension was in your guide until the other guests at breakfast mentioned it.

Frederick in North Vancouver, BC Canada 11/11/2008

Best: Augsbergerhof Romantik Hotel
Why: The room was adorable, the people were so nice! When we overslept breakfast, they actually brought us breakfast in bed!!!

Worst: Hotel Am Hafen, Cochem
Why: The proprietress was quite possibly the rudest person I have ever encountered. Not just unhelpful; mean! I tell you I usually get along with everyone. Not her. She yelled at me in German. She made me cry. On my birthday.

Marit in Merced, CA USA 10/31/2008

Best: Hotel Das Beck, Reutte
Why: A great breakfast, a great location, a quiet double room of decent size, and OK bathroom.

Jim Koster in Santa Fe, NM USA 10/17/2008

Best: Hotel Am Viktualienmarkt in Munich
Why: Nice, large, clean, airy rooms. Nice room atmosphere. Breakfast buffet included in room price. Right in center of town and good home base for touring city center.

Worst: Hotel de Nice in Paris
Why: Nothing was wrong with rooms there...just liked the least out of all the other places we stayed due to smaller room size, decor. It was in a convenient location and people very friendly.

C. J. Goodlander in West Chester, OH USA 10/15/2008

Best: In Vienna, Pension Suzanne
Why: Staff very helpful, Breakfast was awesome,Bathroom was ginormous and the Location was perfect. Just a steal for the price.

Jo and Walter in Hudson, Fl USA 10/13/2008

Best: Haus Lipmann
Why: The hotel, innkeepers, and restaurant were all incredible. By far one of the best places we have stayed on our travels to Europe so far. David is very helpful and made the trip that much smoother.

Rene Woolery in Denver, CO USA 09/27/2008

Best: Karin Weiss
Why: 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

Best: Pension Sarnstein in Hallstat, Austria
Why: The room was so nice and we had a beautiful view of the lake and Hallstat. The rooms were very clean and the hosts could not be more accomidating.

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

Best: Peter Weis apartments
Why: We stayed at Peter Weis apt in Zell and enjoyed it

Bob M. in Minneapolis, mn USA 09/14/2008

Best: Hotel Bon Apart -- Gorlitz
Why: Exceptionally friendly and helpful staff (carried our luggage up the stairs when we arrived and to the car when we left). Delicious and abundant breakfast buffet. "Luxury" style rooms. Finally, a great location with free parking.

R and B in Quincy, MA USA 09/10/2008

Worst: Hotel Bon Apart - Gorlitz
Why: Hotel Bon Apart, p 374, friendly, but we were on the 5 (US style) floor w/ you should indicate no elevator & possibly 4 flights of stairs to climb)- felt a bit like a fire trap.

Jack Ferguson in Plano , Tx USA 09/04/2008

Best: Alpen Hotel, Munich
Why: The atmosphere was great, the rooms were large and clean and the staff was friendly and helpful. The guidebook says that this is overpriced but we thought the prices were quite reasonable. And the breakfast was wonderful!

Worst: Hotel Reinbold, Munich
Why: The room reminded us of a hospital room. The TV was even mounted on the wall above your head facing the bed, just like a hospital. The breakfast area was unappealing. The room furnishings looked dated. Definitely not worth the price.

Sheila Chalmers in Redwood City, CA USA 08/31/2008

Best: Pension Hohenrainer in Ehenbichl outside Reutte
Why: Wonderful!! More reasonable than others nearby, very clean, modern and comfortable. Friendly owner and husband. We will stay again!!

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

Best: Best Hotel Trumer Stube Salzburg, Austria
Why: The owners were so friendly, warm and welcoming. The rooms were very clean and spacious. The breakfast was wonderful. I would sure stay there again!

Heidi Haugen in Kenyon, MN USA 08/14/2008

Best: Hotel Petrisberg, Trier
Why: A clean, roomy, welcoming hotel with a helpful staff, fine breakfast, and spectacular view of the town of Trier. We would go back in a heartbeat, and recommend it to others.

Worst: Hotel Mueller, Cologne
Why: The hotel may have been renovated, but not all the way. Beware of Room #31, where the light fixture over the bathroom sink was poorly installed and just stopped working. (This was Saturday afternoon, so no chance of getting it fixed during our brief tenure.) It sounds trivial, but the whole bathroom layout was incomplete, with flooring that was part carpet and part tile, with poor workmanship and -- it's hard to explain. The carpet in our room and on the stairs may not be very old, but the quality wasn't very good, and the edges of the stair treads are worn dangerously -- something I might not mention if the purported renovation had not been pointed out in the guide. We had reserved 3-4 months ahead, but because we arrived late in the day, we obviously got the worst room. At checkout the desk person (Frau Muller??) apologized about the light and was obviously aware of the problem -- and I think the city inspectors are as well. On the upside: Their breakfast layout is excellent -- something for everybody!

Nancy in San Carlos, CA USA 08/14/2008

Best: Gutshof zum Schluxen
Why: It is a very nice, central location to the different towns and provided a good base for me when biking.

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

Best: Rhein Hotel in Bacharach
Why: Great location, exceptionally warm welcome

Holly Quan in Turner Valley, AB Canada 07/15/2008

Best: Munich Hotel Uhland + Melk Goldener Stern
Why: Uhland is a great value with great rooms in a quiet area only a block from a U-Bahn stop. Stern has great rooms, great location, and very friendly owners. When I asked for an English menu, the server (and owner's wife) proceeded to explain every dish on the menu herself!

Worst: None
Why: After four trips, I have yet to be disappointed by a Rick Steves recommendation.

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

Best: Gorlitz: Dreibinger Hund
Why: The hotel was charming with a wonderful restaurant on the first floor. The room was lovely and the bathroom was spacious and modern. The elevator was very modern and had some interesting features. The staff struggled with English a bit but we managed to get through our transactions with our phrasebooks and lots of laughter.

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

Best: Alpenhotel Ernberg & Gasthof Goldner Greifen
Why: Sorry, I couldn't choose just one! Hospitality, cleanliness, and food. We've never stayed in B&B's before---they made us feel right at home.

Worst: None
Why: We hadn't planned to stay at as many of the recommended accomodations as we did, but were quite pleased. However, we visited Heidelberg on my brother's advice, (he'd been there 10 years earlier)and found Rick's "lowlights" after visiting, and Rick was right.

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

Best: Hotel Hillen, Bacharach, Germany
Why: Although not fancy, our room was clean, quiet and the beds were comfortable. The best part about our two-night stay at Hotel Hillen were the friendly, hospitable, and helpful owners, Erich and Iris. They were wonderful on the phone, by email, and in person. Erich provided detailed directions for our early morning flight out of Frankfurt (one hour's drive away), and Iris packed us a "brown bag breakfast" since we would be leaving long before breakfast was served.

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

Best: Hotel Gerberhaus (Rothenburg)
Why: Very friendly and accomodating! Fresh, updated rooms, and a great breakfast offering. Located at the quient end of town away from the main square. The garden in the back was perfect for a late evening beer.

Worst: Hotel Am Markt (St. Goar)
Why: Not bad at all! Just our least favorite of the five recommended hotels we stayed at. The only issue is the train noise, as they run on both sides of the Rhine at all hours. Had we kept the windows closed it would have been better, but with four in the room, it was a bit stuffy. VERY friendly staff with a good location and terrific restaurant. A solid B+

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

Worst: Hotel Lucas, Nurnberg
Why: Too noisy at night due to partying after the restaurant closed. Not the hotel's fault but unnerving to get so little sleep

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

Best: Gasthof Weisses Kreuz in Innsbruck
Why: Location and service. A bit noisy from the street at night.

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

Best: Gastof Greifen - Rothenburg
Why: Aside from being an amazing town this was our favorite place to stay in 5 weeks of traveling. The room was wonderful, the owners were so kind and willing to do anything to make your stay comfortable. The restaurant in the hotel was outstanding. Everything about this wonderful place was 1st rate.

Worst: Hotel Beaugency - Paris
Why: First, I must say the location is great. We have traveled quite a bit in Europe and have stuck strictly to Rick Steves recommendations and been very pleased. This hotel is in need of a little freshening up. It was very small and the rooms were pretty worn. The walls needed painting badly and our room needed new bathroom fixtures in the shower. We were there for 3 nights and would probably opt for someplace else in the future.

Susan Meeker in Sisters, OR USA 07/02/2008

Best: Pension Peters
Why: Everyone we met who worked here looked as though they loved their job. Whoever was working breakfast always spent time introducing themself to the guests and talking about the guests plans, etc. Met lots of Rick Steves' enthusiasts here! Also met a young couple who live about a mile from us in Bellingham! The rooms are adequate and clean. The location is wonderful - great area as well as close to transporation. We would highly recommend Pension Peters and would absolutely stay there again.

Nancy in Bellingham, WA USA 06/29/2008

Best: Hotel Cristalle in Koln
Why: Wonderful boutique hotel close to the train station. Great breakfast and did I mention it is air conditioned???? We also stayed at the Hotel Harmonie. It is right next door. It too was a good experience but would probably go back to the Cristalle - it was less expensive

Nancy in Bellingham, WA USA 06/29/2008

Worst: Hotel Gerberhaus (Rothenburg)
Why: Its actually a pretty nice place, but I did want to mention the showers. They are slightly sunken into the floor and have a partition, but there are no shelves of any kind inside the shower! So either you put your soap and shampoo on the shower floor (yuck!) or put it on the closed toilet lid next to the shower. Of course if you do that each time you reach out for something you drip water; by the time 2 people have showered the floor is a sopping wet mess.

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

Worst: Hotel Muenchner Kindl, Munich
Why: Although the place is clean, it was incredibly noisy. Our room was on the inner courtyard, and literally the slightest noise traveled up to our first floor room. Televisions, radio, and conversation from any room on the courtyard came through our window. Bathroom was okay (plastic, small, but clean). Breakfasts were poor -- Monday's rolls and bread showed up Tuesday and Wednesday. Owners were pleasant. A friend had a street-facing room, very small, and reported it to be noisy as well. Great location though.

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

Best: Pension im Malerwinkel, Bacharach
Why: Very nice, quiet rooms, and a wonderfully historic half-timbered location by one of the town gates. It's far enough from the river that there is no problem with train or traffic noise, but close enough that everything in town is an easy 5 to 8 minute walk away. Good breakfast and helpful hosts too.

G Weaver DE USA 06/14/2008

Best: Hotel Das Beck (Reutte) and Hotel Klosterstueble (Rothenburg)
Why: Both hotels had good, clean rooms and very friendly, helpful owners. I had a large single room at Das Beck. We shared food and drinks with the owners who said Rick was visiting the next week. They bought us a glass of Autrian red wine and prepared an excellent dish of local cheeses, meats, and bread . The Klosterstueble had an excellent restaurant. I ate there both nights. When I arrived the owner went out in the streets to find me a parking place. When I was leaving there was a parade blocking the suggested way out and she came to my car to give me alternative directions. I very much enjoyed both hotels and would go back.

Jim P. in Atlanta, GA USA 06/07/2008

Best: Hotel Lohspeicher, Cochem, Germany (Mosel)
Why: We looked at their website and found a special last minute booking deal that included half pension with the room. You're supposed to call only one day in advance for the deal but I called 2 days in advance and they let me book it right then. The room was fine but the food was exquisite and the dining was a wonderful experience. Breakfast was a typical buffet of cheese, meat, yoghurt, cereal, eggs, etc. but also included mimosas! The dinner was indeed "Fine Dining" with gourmet fare. The whole package cost us 75 Euros per person. All in all it was a great experience.

Sarah P. in Fairfax, VA USA 06/07/2008

Best: Lettie's Pension, Bacharach
Why: Extremely comfortable room, great price (45 euros/night, double) very accommodating host, great location.

Worst: Atlanta Hotel, Munich
Why: It was the MOST (by far) expensive hotel we stayed in (128 euros/night for a double) and the worst room. We had difficulty finding reservations during beginning of May,(even though we booked over two months in advance) which is why we stayed there. The room was so small we could hardly move around-no space for luggage, hardly any space for clothes, no hooks on the wall, no place to hang towels, bathroom in the hall. We don't mind simple accomodations, but not at this price! I don't think it should be in the "recommended" hotels section at all. Also, a number of rooms (not ours, thank goodness) had windows which opened on to common areas, such as storage room next to bathrooms!

Barbara in Eikenberry, CA USA 05/23/2008

Best: Hotel Uhland
Why: This place is much more than I expected. We booked two rooms, one regular, and one 'comfort' for our three college aged colleagues.They had plenty of room. The high ceilings, comfy beds, and excellent breakfast made our trip even greater. The hotel is about 20 mins from the Marianplatz, but it was a safe walk. Nicholas, who helped us find the Olympic park, was cordial and consistently helpful. There was a cute little dog in the hallway, the owner's pet, that our college girls fell in love with. I have already recommended this hotel to my relatives who are going to Munich in a few weeks.

Ramona Schescke in Alexandria, VA USA 05/22/2008

Best: Gasthof Griefen
Why: Great location, good breakfast, big room, friendly staff

Kate Buechler in Winnipeg, MB Canada 05/22/2008

Best: Hotel Kurcafe, Fuessen
Why: Beautiful hotel with scrumptious breakfast! They also accept VAT forms is you are American military or civilian and have access to them. You will want a room with the sound-proof windows (work perfectly) if staying in a room on the streetside. Great experience!

Amy in Wiesbaden, Germany 05/17/2008

Best: Hotel Uhl - Rothenburg , Gasthof Badl - Hall in Tirol, Austria, Institute St. Sebastian in Salzburg, Austria, and Hotel Sonya in Rome
Why: We love Rothenburg and have stayed twice at Hotel Uhl. Gasthof Badl's location overlooking the river, town, covered bridge, and the Alps is absolutely breathtaking. The owner makes you feel like family. The location of Institute St. Sebastian is terrific. The staff were very helpful and pleasant. Finding Hotel Sonya was a challenge but we enjoyed the location and the owner was very nice.

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

Best: Hotel Hornburg in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Why: Unbelievably nice, accommodating staff. They will truly go out of their way to demonstrate their hospitality and graciousness. They say they truly enjoy what they do and it shows! The owners really want you to feel as though you're "at home". Their breakfast is excellent (one of the best we've had and my husband and I are living in Germany, so we've had our fair share of travels here) and their rooms are lovely. A fantastic value for a special place to stay. HIGHLY recommended!!

S & J in Freiburg im Breisgau, BW Deutscheland 04/29/2008

Best: Hotel das Beck, Reutte
Why: Great staff, super value (family room with kitchenette!), delicious breakfast, fun bar, central location

Debra Livak in Boise, ID USA 04/20/2008

Best: Frau Ursula in Bacharach & Hotel BlauerBock in Munich
Why: Ursula is so freindly and offers amazing accomodations for the price - large, clean, right off the main street. She doesn't speak much english, but her breakfast speaks for itself. Highly recommended!!!

Location! Location! Location! We had a smaller room, facing the courtyard (a quiet sleep) at the Blauerbock. We shared a bathroom on the floor, but it was practically ours. Everything was nice and clean. I can't express how nice it was to be a two minute walk from the Marienplatz and have the Viktuleanmarkt right out our front door. Amazing place!

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

Best: Pension Waldrast in Reutte Austria
Why: We really enjoyed the family room (even though the bathroom had no fan). We stayed at the end of July and you could open the balcony doors. It was clean, the breakfast was good and the Huter Family was really friendly and helpful. We farm hay and they showed us their hay barn and fields and told us how they farm. It made our stay memorable and personal. They also recommended a good restaurant "Alina" that served many types of schnitzel, and they directed us to the Alpine Coaster in Imst, Austria which was a really fun activity.

Carolyn in Birrell, UT USA 02/06/2008

Best: Any Wombat's Hostel
Why: Good Internet prices, amazing rooms, awesome people.

Worst: Westend Hostel, Vienna
Why: Not that this place was horrible, but there were ants in the bathroom.

Shawn in L, NY USA 02/01/2008

Best: Catsrest B&B, near Frankfurt
Why: Professional couple Karin & Mattias Kohler are warm, friendly & exceptional hosts. They rent one large well appointed suite on the 3rd floor of their home located conveniently near Frankfurt airport. Coffee, tea, homemade cookies & fruit basket grace the room daily. We booked 3 days of a 3 1/2 month trip here. We have traveled Europe for 30 years and know when an accommodation is special. The location to Frankfurt airport could not be better. Kohler's graciously invited us to share special events in their lives. They stored some of our luggage for 2 months & collected tons of bubble wrap for all the treasures we collected. Being allergic to cats, I was a bit concerned when I initially booked the room. However, their two extremely well behaved cats caused me absolutely no problem. This is a super place to stay when in te Frankfurt area. Email is CatsRest@CatsRest.de.

Beverly Clauser in Ramona, CA USA 01/31/2008

Best: Hotel Das Beck in Reutte, Austia
Why: friendly hostess, great two-room family suite and located right in the middle of town near restaurants, lovely breakfast

Worst:
Why:

Gail in Albany, OR USA 01/27/2008

Best: Pension Nossek
Why: This was a wonderful place to stay. Accomodations were excellent, breakfasts were the same, and the Frau's and their help were wonderful. Most helpful for sightseeing advice and anything else requested. Found us a wonderful restaurant at which to eat before going to the New Years Eve concert of the Wiener Philharmoniker. NY Eve on the Graben was wonderful. Location is excellent.

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

Best: Haus Reichl - Salzburg
Why: We spent 5 days, including Christmas, at Haus Reichl www.privatzimmer.at/haus-reichl this year. Franziska Reichl was so welcoming and cheerful each day. Her rooms are large, very clean and homey. Each morning a large breakfast of rolls, breads, eggs, cereal, juice, hot tea or coffee and fruit were available, included in the cost of 52€ per night for 2 people. There is also a TV with international channels in the room.

Her home is located less than a 5 minute walk off Moosstrasse, which is just south of old Salzburg. It takes less than 15 minutes on bus 21 from the Old town to bus stop Gsengerweg where you will see her street, Reiterweg. Staying for 5 nights, 6 days, we bought the 7 day Netzkarte ticket from the automatic ticket machines at the train station, (they are also at the major bus stops) for 12.50€ which included unlimited bus transportation in Salzburg for a week.

On Christmas morning the Christmas tree was in the breakfast room, beautifully decorated with handmade straw ornaments and candles. In Austria, the trees aren't displayed until Chrismas Eve! It was so enjoyable learning of their customs from Franziska, and meeting her lovely family. At the end of our stay she was happy to drive us back to the train station, where we traveled onto Vienna.

Lorrie in Cincinnati, Oh USA 01/07/2008

Best: Apartments an den Frauenkirche - Dresden
Why: Best value for the accomodations provided the apartment was above the restaurant.

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

Best: Kings Hotel Center in Munich, and Weisse Taub in Salzburg
Why: Kings Hotel Center was welcoming, clean and had cozy, charming rooms. I immediately felt comfortable upon entering my room. This hotel has a professional hotel feel about it. Book ahead and get their early rates. The Weisse Taube in Salzburg was also very comfortable and decent, right in the old center with a nice breakfast included. It has a kind of old world charm about it. Good rates for its location.

Linda A USA 12/14/2007

Best: Haus Reichl in Salzburg, Austria
Why: Fransiska and her husband were a blessing to my mom and me on our first trip to Europe. We don't speak German and wanted to find our relatives. Fransiska called rental car agencies, set up a car with GPS, and then drove us to pick up the car! When we returned after finding our relatives near Eggstatt, Germany, she ran out of the house and eagerly asked if we had found them. She was truly interested in helping us fulfill our vacation dreams, rather than just being a bed and breakfast hostess. Her recommendations for the Salzburg card and Mozart dinner concert were not pushy. We thoroughly enjoyed two full days exploring Salzburg because of her suggestions. It was reassuring to know that our Rick Steves book also recommended all these places. After the late night Mozart dinner and concert, her husband even met us with their car at the bus stop so we didn't have to walk down the long lane in the dark! I have recommended Haus Reichl to some friends who live in Berlin, Germany. I would highly recommend them to everyone!

Nancy Zellinger in Eau Claire, WI USA 12/14/2007

Best: Hotel Weisse Taube-Salzburg
Why: This was one of my favorite hotels of all time. The location was within walking distance to everything we wanted to do, the staff was very friendly (one of the ladies packed us up a breakfast to take on an early train the day we left), they had giant umbrellas for us to use in the rain and their breakfast room is awesome with a lot of selection. Had a wonderful time!

Worst: Hotel Am Markt-Baden Baden
Why: Although the location was great, I guess I didn't realize how early the church bells start ringing in the morning. Otherwise, it was a nice place to stay.

china in maui, HI USA 12/01/2007

Best: Pension Peters in Berlin
Why: Excellent location and the rooms were very large and spotless, helpful staff, good breakfast and good shower. We had a room that faced the street, but the street noise wasn't too bad. The Savigny Platz area is our favorite area to stay in Berlin because of the abundance of great dining places.

H Bartholomew and T Brown in Pittsburgh, PA USA 11/13/2007

Best: Gasthof Zauner in Hallstatt
Why: When our reserved rooms at Braugasthoff Hallstatt were given to other people this hotel accepted 4 of us (2 rooms) with no reservations at the same rate as the other hotel would have charged us (at a loss to this hotel). Wonderful gentleman, very pleasant, fantastic restaurant and good stories. Very good location and large rooms.

Worst: Braugasthoff Hallstatt
Why: We had confirmed reservations, reserved on my Visa for my husband and I and my inlaws (ages 78,79). We arrived at about 2:15pm and our names were on their reservation board when we got there for 2 reserved rooms with balcony over looking water. They had our surnames for rooms 7 and 8 on their chalkboard. The daughter of the owner takes us up to the rooms to show us before we lug up our suitcases and she says someone is in our room already. She suggests we have lunch in her restaurant and her mother would be back in 1 hour to fix things. Well 2 hours later and we are still sitting in the restaurant and the mother has not shown up so the daughter finally says we cannot have the 2 rooms that we have booked for 2 nights even though they were reserved and they had our name on their chalk board for those rooms. She says she has called around and found us rooms elsewhere at Gasthof Zauner. We checked Rick's book and we found it in the book before we even agreed to go. We decided we liked it so much that we said we'd stay both nights there with Mr. Zauner because at the time the daughter didnt know if we'd be able to have our reserved rooms for the 2nd night of our reservations either. Mr. Zauner called them and told them we would not be back and then came up to dinner to tell us he had called and let them know we would not be back. Well the next day the daughter of Braugasthoff saw us and asked us if we were coming back for our 2nd night. Apparently when Mr. Zauner called and spoke to the mother (owner) she forgot (again) to tell her daughter. I suggest if you want to stay at this place DONT because even with guaranteed reservations you may end up NO room. We were very lucky, we were not prime season (end of Sept /07)so we could get alternative arrangements. It sounds like mother/owner is getting on in years (according to her daughter) and forgets to tell her things. ---I would never book with this hotel again for fear of them forgetting or losing my reservation -let alone having my reservation and just not honoring it -how sad is that? I would think twice about suggesting this hotel in your subsequent books.

Andrea Latendresse in Burlington, ON Canada 11/11/2007

Best: Hotel und Gasthof Dreibeiniger-Hund in Gorlitz
Why: Very friendly staff and beautiful with wonderful food, too. You do have to climb some stairs to the rooms. If you walk down the street toward the Nikolaiturm, there is a minimarket on the corner by the tower and the bus stop.

Jim Greene in Las Cruces, NM USA 11/08/2007

Best: Schweizer Pension, Vienna
Why: Our room were very clean, the location was great and the price was very good. The breakfast would have been better if it had varied a little but it was ok. I would stay there again. Also there is a grocery store directly across from it, something to note is that the store closes early (6-7 PM)and is closed on Sundays. I believe all the grocery stores are closed on Sundays.

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

Best: Hotel Hornburg
Why: Great location, friendly hosts, great breakfast, clean rooms, fun place to stay.

Worst: Pension Letties
Why: We had reserved a room with Pension Lettie several months ago for 10/26 and reconfirmed on 10/2 that we were all set. When we arrived, there was a sign posted that she was closed for renovation. We rang the doorbell, even had the tourist office try to reach her by phone but no luck. We found another place. We thought we might have an email from her once we arrived back home but there was nothing. Very disappointing experience.

Pat Dirschbeger in Phoenix, AZ USA 10/31/2007

Best: hotel Rosenvilla, Salzberg,, Hotel am Market, St Goar
Why: lovely rooms, wonderful staff-Salzberg, St Goar- minimal rooms- wonderful staff, incredible food, probably the best meal we had,

Sue Kerns USA 10/27/2007

Best: Pension Lettie, Bacharach
Why: We have stayed with Lettie on several occasions, on the Rhine, but just a one hour train ride to Frankfurt airport. At 5:00P the day before our departure, we heard the train would be on strike the next day. Lettie sent us to dinner while she worked the phone on our behalf. Once back from dinner she had lined us up to split a cab with a German businesswoman flying to Munich the next morning. Obviously not as cheap as the train, but we were at the airport and checked in for our flight at about the time the train would have gotten in. Lettie clearly went above and beyond on our behalf.

John Norton in Junction City, WI USA 10/23/2007

Best: Hotel Pension Chiemsee, Salzburg; Weingut Rademacher, Cochem
Why: At the Hotel Chiemsee we had a large, clean, remodeled room on a quiet street. Beware, there is no elevator. Rooms at the Weingut Rademacher are large and brand new. The hotel is at the base of the grape vine covered valley slope.

Worst: Hotel Keimel, Nuernberg
Why: Street noise!! The room was decent and the staff very friendly but we had a room on the street side over a weekend. The disco goers across the street keep at it until very late. Don't stay here unless you get a room like my mother did on the courtyard side. She slept peacefully all night.

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

Best: Hotel Grodek, Krakow
Why: We used your recommended accommodations during our 3-week trip through Eastern Europe. As in previous trips, we were very pleased. Hotel Grodek was a splurge, but well worth it.

Worst: Schweizer Pension, Vienna
Why: Breakfast was very minimal with a fruit salad that became browner with each of our 4 mornings there. When we used an extra pillow from the cabinet to be more comfortable the second night, it was removed from the room the next day.

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

Best: Hotel Gerberhaus, Rothenburg o.d. Tauber
Why: Superb hotel, great breakfast, super location.

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

Best: Hotel Maximillian in Ehenbichl
Why: Wonderful people who own and run this hotel, great deal!

Troy in Vancouver, BC Canada 10/13/2007

Best: K + T Boarding House, Vienna
Why: It's right on Mariahilfer Strasse which is very near a U-Bahn station, right in the middle of the action of a shopping and dining area. Just be prepared that it's 3 "double flights" of stairs with no lift, so it can be a chore to take a lot of luggage up. It's probably the largest room that we've had in our trips, comfortable with only limited street noise. The hosts are very nice and accomodating. Cash only and a good value.

John & Susan in St Petersburg, FL USA 10/08/2007

Best: Hotel Gerberhaus, Rothenburg, Germany
Why: Best breakfast buffet, lovely staff, clean, comfortable rooms at a very reasonable price.

Worst: Hotel Monaco, Munich, Germany
Why: Noisy location, thin walls. Owner requires a FOUR WEEK notice for cancellation of reservations. Very overpriced in comparison to other hotels in the area. This is barely a two star hotel. For 10 Euro more per night you can stay at the Hotel Regent, located at the opposite corner of the Hauptbahnhof from Hotel Monaco's corner, and have a quiet, beautiful room.

Kris Barrett in San Francisco, CA USA 09/28/2007

Best: Hotel Schwarzwalder Hof in Freiburg, Pension Lettie in Bacharach, and Hotel Moseltor in Traben-Trarbach (Mosel Valley)
Why: Hotel Schwarzwalder Hof was an excellent place to stay. We had a room in the Guesthouse. The rooms were extremely clean and modern and the beds and pillows were very comfortable. It was the best sleep that I had had on my entire trip. They also serve an excellent breakfast. Pension Lettie is basic and simple. It is not a particularly charming place to stay, but you can't beat the price. Hotel Moseltor was not in the guidebook. I couldn't find a place to stay in Cochem because there was a wine festival going on. I actually liked Traben Trarbach more than Cochem. It was way less touristy. The hotel was very nice. Their website is at http://www.moseltor.de/

Worst: Hotel Rathausgloeckel in Baden-Baden
Why: Actually, this place really wasn't the worst. It actually was a very nice place and Mr. Rothe is extremely kind. The only problem that I had with this place was that they used some type of perfume on the linens I guess to hide odors. (I have also run into this at the Courtyard here in the US.) I personally cannot stand this perfume smell. Anything that touches the sheets ends up smelling of perfume.

Aimee in Anaheim, CA USA 09/26/2007

Best: Freiburg, Germany Hotel Barbara
Why: Upon arrival the receptionist George was exceptionally helpful to us in locating the Eurocar office so we could return our rental car. He loaned us a map, made sure we understood the directions and checked on us when we returned. My husband accidentally left two shirts behind when we checked out the next morning, and when we called them from our next destination they were not only willing to mail them to us, but went out of their way to do so.In addition the rooms and breakfast service were wonderful!

Cheryl & Bob in Vancouver, WA USA 09/25/2007

Best: Did not use recommended ones(We would like to recommend the Flair Post Hotel Nesselwang,Hauptstrasse 25 * 87484 Nesselwang * Telefon: 08361 / 30910
Why: We are retired military and utilized mostly those installations we were familar with. But the one night we stayed in a gastehause, we went on line and the closest to Fussen we could find was in Nesselwang, which is about 19 km above Fussen. This centuries old hotel is regionally famous as a Brauerei-Gasthof, known for its beer as much as it's rooms. But the decor is charming, rooms are large decoraed in period style and very comfortable and clean, modern bathroom w/tub and shower. Wonderful breakfast included and Db room for 65Euro. And the drive through the mountains and lakes was over a "scenic route" amd would be so rated in any state in the US, lower 40. The hotel has a webbsite and responds immediately with confirmations. The town has a train station and a ski resort, too.

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

Best: Hotel Kloster-Stuble
Why: This hotel was recommended in the book and by the Euroaid office in Munich. The gentleman in Munich-which I forget his name- asked if we had the Rick Steve's book. He showed us the hotel. He had taken his wife there for her birthday and said it was a great place. He called and reserved a suite for us ( 1euro charge for the call). It was everything he and the book promised. Also, we had to leave early to make our flight out of Munich and the proprietor was kind enough to prepare beakfast early for us.

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

Best: Hotel Astoria Berlin
Why: An excellent family run hotel conveniently located near the Zoo rail station. They went out of their way to maintain personal touches, including coffee at your door in the morning. Spotless accomodations and delicious breakfast. The staff were always interested in helping you with your day. Bravo

Kevin Mott in Edmonton, Ab Canada 08/27/2007

Best: Pension Winzerhaus, Bacharach
Why: good price, 10% discount with book, nice breakfast

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

Best: Hotel am Hafen
Why: Great place. Great folks. Great location.

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

Best: Pension Bloberger Hof Salzburg, Austria
Why: The staff at the Bloberger Hof was very friendly and helpful. This is a family-run pension and they like it small and guest-focused. The decor was so charming! The meals were the best we had on our 2-week trip. It is especially nice if you have a car, but a bus into the center of Salzburg is very close. Would not hesitate to return!!

Kathy Weeks in Portland, OR USA 08/15/2007

Best: Pension Peters in Berlin
Why: Pension Peters has expanded and it is as good as ever. The rooms are large, neat and clean. The Scanidinavian decor is appealing. The new breakfast room is on the first floor and is very spacious. The staff was very helpful and was very willing to answer all our questions. This is the second time we have stayed there and I would recommend it without reservation.

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

Best: Gusthof Schluxen in Pinswang
Why: Nice room with a view of the mountains, helpful accomodating staff, fabulous breakfast. Hiking and biking trails leave right from the hotel. You can rent a bike at Schluxen and ride it over to the Neuschwanstein castle. Lovely country setting.

Worst: Schweizer Pension in Vienna
Why: My room was downgraded over what I had reserved and the reason I was given was an airline strike (not true). The toilet smelled horrible and the host was unwilling to address the issue. It was like a bad college dorm room. The hostess Anita was pleasant, but the man was fairly rude to us.

Kathleen Collins in Seattle, WA USA 07/23/2007

Worst: Schweizer Pension - Vienna
Why: Of all the accomodations, restaurants and tips we used from Rick's books (hundreds combined over a month long European trek), this was the only bad recommendation in all his books. When Rick says that "Anita runs a tight ship", he must mean "tight" like a prison warden means tight. In other words, sit down and don't speak. Certainly don't ask questions. We found the owners to be rude. We had two rooms and each smelled horribly from the toilets. While Americans do have a different sense of cleanliness, these were the least well kept of any of the rooms on our trip which included England, France, Germany, Austria & Italy. The building is run down and the lift was downright frightening. The only positive is that it is centrally located, close to St. Stephansplatz, metro, grocery store and many restaurants.

Matt Sears in Lafayette, CA USA 07/20/2007

Best: Guesthouse Annemarie, Prien, Germany
Why: Prien is a small town halfway between Munich and Salzburg. With a car, we used Annemarie's as a quiet location to take day trips to both cities. Great prices, excellent breakfasts (included), and our kids loved their farm animals-cows, horses, goats, dogs, and lots of barn cats.

B Werker in South Berwick, Me USA 07/20/2007

Best: Hotel Pension Corvinus, Vienna, Austria
Why: I would highly recommend this pension. The location is great in a very vibrant part of Vienna close to several subway stations, but also quite walkable to the city center. Our Hungarian host, Zoltan Esti, showed us to our very spacious room, helped us with questions about the area, stored our luggage when we checked out and even offered us coffee when we were leaving. We felt this was a good value and easy to find and access with public transportation.

Susie in Golden, CO USA 07/13/2007

Best: Hotel Rathausglockel
Why: Owner Michael Rothe was great. First, he honored my room request (I did not want room #2 as I had heard it was quite small). He was very accommodating about my request. Then, upon arrival he personally came out to greet us, help my husband with parking and pointed out the way to the spas. The food at the restaurant was FANTASTIC. They had some type of local mushrooms in that area that they were cooking with. I had the soup and it was honestly the best soup I have EVER eaten in my life. A friend had another dish prepared with the mushrooms and she too raved on it. Great experience.

Nancy Cox in Houston, TX USA 07/12/2007

Best: Suzann's in Fussen
Why: We have been visiting with Suzann and her family for the last nine years. She has always been warm and friendly. We visited with her this past May. We have always been made to feel like part of the family. She can be terse, but with the amount of visitors who grace her doorstep she does a really good job providing local information and assistance with planning for day trips. (Germanys pride themselves in being informative and exact). Would we expect anything else? We will always attempt to plan our yearly trips to Europe around visiting her and her family. We look forward to her warm smile and open arms.

Kirby in Nichols, TX USA 07/11/2007

Best: Hotel Maximilian near Reutte
Why: Hotel proprietor Gabi is quite helpful and friendly. Also, the view from our window of the medieval castle on the hill (lit up at night) was eerie and inspiring.

Karen Fremerman in Falls Church, VA USA 07/10/2007

Best:
Why:

Gary Fremerman in Falls Church, VA USA 07/10/2007

Best: Hotel Goldene Krone - Salzburg
Why: This hotel was great. It's located on a quiet street across the river the the Old Town but it was very quick to get to the Old Town by crossing a bridge. Also is was very close to bus transportation. The breakfast each morning was wonderful and our room was large and looked over the garden/patio at the back of the hotel. We even looked forward to hearing the church bells ring at night. I would highly recommend it as a hotel at a good price in a great location.

Jean in Carle Place, NY USA 07/10/2007

Best: Gerberhaus, Rothenberg
Why: Great and friendly hosts. The BEST breakfast in our whole 5 weeks in Europe. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. The room were specious and nicely decorated. Easy internet access and great location, far enough from the center square to be quite, but still easy walking.

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

Best: Pension Letie in Bacharach
Why: Best breakfast, most helpful (sold water, allowed use of internet, took time to just talk). Room was as advertised (though room had tv - didn't have to request). Location very good. Don't expect much from the town of Bacharach, but it was a very good base camp for doing the Rhine valley/castle thing.

howard sears in houston, tx USA 07/07/2007

Best: Rothenburg: Hotel Uhl, Reutte: Hotel Das Beck
Why: Hotel Uhl gets the best bedding award, also a convenient location, nice room and breakfast overall. Hotel Das Beck gets the best breakfast award, for the many varieties of rolls, homemade jam, fresh fruit, and soft-boiled eggs.

Worst: Pension Lindner
Why: Not that bad overall, but some problems. The bathroom was quite dingy/somewhat dirty. Our large windows looked right into the offices of many businesspeople. Some plusses -- breakfast was noteworthy due to availability of croissants and a tasty egg frittata. They also let us store our bags in the back of the cafe for a few hours. That was nice, but in her words "I won't be here when you pick them up, but probably someone else will."

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

Best: Haus Karin Weiss - Rothenburg
Why: This is not in the book, but it was recommended by others on this site. Clean, nice rooms, great bathroom, great breakfast. Karin speaks English. She will meet you a the train station. Outside of walls but easy 5 minute walk. www.haus-karin.de

Jane Fl USA 07/02/2007

Best: Pension Hohenrainer
Why: I want to affirm the several positive comments made about this place. Frau (Sieglinde) Hohenrainer could not have made us feel more welcome in this small hotel she runs with her husband Erwin. Our double room was large and immaculate for 24 Euros per person, including a good breakfast. Frau Hohenrainer also cooks very good meals at the restaurant (Schlosswirt), which is a short walk from the hotel. Free internet access. Those needing more amenities, such as a play area for children, should consider the Hotel Maximillian, but ended up extending our stay at Hohenrainer because it was such a good value in a great location (if you have a car).

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

Worst: K & T Boarding House, Vienna
Why: Might be OK in the fall and winter...we booked 3 nights w/ bath, and were given a room without a bath, and were informed that our room was the only one without AC (in 90 degree weather). When I explained the next morning that we would be leaving for a different hotel with the amenities we requested, we had to debate with the owner for several minutes so as to not be charged for the other nights we had booked.

Laura in Seattle, WA USA 06/25/2007

Best: Hotel Munchner Kindl (Munich)
Why: This hotel is a gem! My husband and I arrived here very tired after a long flight to Dusseldorf directly followed by a train ride to Munich. Renate, the owner, greeted us by name and was very warm and welcoming. She gave us a quick overview of the city and recommended some places to eat that were better and less expensive than the tourist places.

The hotel is centrally located, about 10 minutes walking from the train station and two short blocks to the pedestrian zone. We could walk everywhere which saved us money on taxis.

The hotel itself is very clean and the room we had was big by European standards. It even had a small sitting area with a couch, table and chairs. The bathroom was one of the most spacious, clean and modern we had in our 20 day trip throughout Europe. My very tall husband also appreciated the larger shower.

There is a neighborhood bar below the hotel where you are served a very nice breakfast each morning. You are also welcome, of course, to get a drink there in the evenings if you wish.

Renate makes this hotel special. She recommends great places to eat, is very hospitable and goes out of her way to help you. Another thing we appreciated was her promptness in emailing us back before our trip.

I highly recommend this hotel for the rooms, bathrooms, cleanliness, location and the wonderful hostess, Renate. You won't be disappointed.

Worst: Hotel Goldene Krone (Salzburg)
Why: Before our arrival, I emailed this hotel two times asking for good walking directions from the train station and never received a response. When we arrived, we asked the information desk at the train station and discovered it was a good 20 minutes away. I was more annoyed, however, that they never bothered to write us back.

The breakfast was below average but not bad. It was a small selection but your typical Austrian food.

Our room was large but the bathroom was extremely small. The shower was so small it made me, at 5'3", feel claustrophobic. The worst part, however, was the smell of sewage coming out of the toilet. Gross!

LeAnne Loeffel in Sarasota, FL USA 06/21/2007

Best: Hotel Royal - Munich
Why: My wife and I spent 4 nights here (June 2007). The hotel is close to the train station, S-bahn, U-Bahn, and is non-smoking. Great breakfast, and we had a big sofa in our room for relaxing in evenings. We had a room on the street side but only the first night (a Friday) was a problem noise wise. We were not bothered by the "neighborhood" (strip joints), as the comings and goings were hardly noticeable.

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

Best: Hotel Trumer Stube - Salzburg
Why: My wife and I spent 4 nights here (June 2007) and it was a delightful hotel, and we appreciated the non-smoking atmosphere. It is a bit of a walk from the train station with luggage, but there is frequent bus service. Silvia told us of concerts in the park, and other suggestions. We would stay here again.

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

Best: Hotel Kloster-Stuble in Rothenburg
Why: Our family of 5 stayed at the Kloster-Stuble for two nights and I was very pleased, with only one exception. We booked two rooms, #4 & #5 on the first floor (2nd to us). Room #4 was a double and #5 was a quad, which we used as a triple. Both great rooms, beds very comfortable in both rooms. My only complaint with understanding: room #4 was EXTREMELY hot. Room #5 was not hot but pleasant - had great big windows overlooking the restaurant so you could hear (& be heard) by others but restaurant closes at 9PM so noise doesn't last. Room #4 had no cross veniliation, thus no air movement. Yes, I totally understand Europe and the A/C not like what we're used to, try to plan for it, etc., old buildings, etc., etc. However, this doesn't negate the fact that that room was uncomfortably hot and we were there last week, not in mid-August! There was a fan in the room but didn't help much. So many good points to this hotel: nice staff, excellent food in restaurant (pork chops!) excellent table wine, great breakfast/breakfast room, pleasant rooms w/pretty canopied beds, excellent location. Would definitely stay there again, just not the hot room.

Sandra Potter in Arlington, TX USA 06/16/2007

Best: Gasthaus zur Goldenen Ente
Why: This was the best accomodation in our 3 weeks in Europe! Wow, just exceptional. Our family of 5 (daughters, 17, 13, 10) stayed in the 4th floor suite. Just beautiful! Two bathrooms, a kitchen with refrigerator, an elevator!, separate bedroom for my husband and myself, canopied bed for the girls, very comfortable beds, comfortable fold out couch for my 10 year old. The breakfast room/manager (there were 2 women; one older, one younger, I'm speaking of the older one but I hate to say older to because I'm nearly her age!!) was a true delight. She was so incredibly nice and helpful, practically doted on us. A wonderful breakfast in great breakfast room, free internet right there. They went above and beyond for all our needs. When we visit Salzburg, we'll stay here again defintely. I hope the owner knows what he/she has with this woman on his staff!

Sandra Potter in Arlington, Te USA 06/14/2007

Best: Hotel Das Beck, Reutte Hotel Gute Quelle, Beilstein Hotel Kloster-Stuble
Why: All went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. Thank you Rick, you make travel a pleasure!

Linda Bell in Sewell, NJ USA 06/12/2007

Best: Gasthaus zur Goldenen Ente
Why: We LOVED this hotel! The location was convenient to all of the city's best sites. The room was clean, comfy, and quiet. Best of all, the staff was helpful, friendly, and genuinely interested in making our stay memorable! The front desk/breakfast attendant (a lady whose name I wish that I could remember, but unfortunately cannot) was so delightful! We would stay here again just because of her! Her kindness was overwhelming. On the day of our departure, it was unusally rainy and VERY cold! She offered me the coat off of her back to wear for the day (since I had foolishly decided to leave my coat at home in Texas). How many people would offer their coat to a stranger from another country? Her kindness will always be remembered by my husband and I. Please, if your trip includes a stay in Salzurg, consider staying at the Gasthaus zur Goldenen Ente! You will not regret it!

Karen Ramirez in San Antonio, TX USA 06/09/2007

Best: Pension Hohenrainer, Reutte
Why: Pension Hohenrainer is run by a very nice older couple. Big rooms with wonderful views: snow mountains, castle ruins, Tirolean village. Clean, good beds, tasty breakfast. Free parking. (Car was really helpful.) Unbeatable for its price/quality (we paid 24 euros per person whether for double or for single), but be ready - bring your soap and shampoo. Good hiking. Fresh air. Same couple keeps restaurant. Mrs. Hohenrainer is a good cook and we enjoyed delicious tirolean home cooked dinners. Owners speak English.

Elena USA 06/09/2007

Best: Hotel Kloster-Stuble
Why: Newly rennovated/added non smoking wing. Small but quiet and beautiful bathroom tiles and fixtures.

Rachel Tagge in Burke, VA USA 06/06/2007

Best: Hotel Gerberhaus, Rothenburg o d Tauber
Why: Our room was immaculate and it had a great view of the little garden where we enjoyed a great meal and nice glass of wine and beer. The staff was friendly and the breakfast! Their "great breakfast buffet" was truly that. It's hard to imagine how they present such a great variety of sumptious food in such a small space. A great place to sleep in a great place to visit.

Les & Pat in Horseshoe Bay, TX USA 06/04/2007

Best: Hotel Wolf Dietrich, Salzburg Austria
Why: Clean Quiet Room, Great View, good value. Friendly efficient Staff

Worst: Hotel Uhland, Munich Germany
Why: The Hotel Uhland was OK but was far from everything. The room was OK but the carpet and furniture looked like vintage 1950s. The breakfast was OK but did not include some of the items that we found at all of the other hotels we visited.

Service was indifferent and mediocre at best. For example I had two shirts that I asked to be laundered. The two shirts came back washed but not pressed. Another example was the night before we left we checked with the desk to see whether we should checkout then since we were catching an early flight the next day. They told us not to worry that there was someone on duty 24 hours a day. However when we went to check out the person checking us out complained that we had woken him up and that we should have checked out the night before.

Overall the Hotel was a disappointment.

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

Best: Haus Ballwein in Salzburg
Why: Frau Ballwein is very nice. Also they have great views of the Alps. It is cheaper than staying in town, and the bus is easy to catch, since it stops right outside the hotel. They also didn't charge us extra for an extra bed for our 2 year old, and a baby bed for our newborn! Great service!

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

Best: Hotel Uhl- Rothenburg and Pension Lettie in Bacharach
Why: Lettie was awesome! She gave some great suggestions during our trip! Also Hotel Uhl was great too...great accomidations!

Worst: Pension Nossek - Vienna
Why: The place was nice and a great location...but one of the owners was not very friendly. She made the whole atmosphere of the place really negative and it was very uncomfortable to approach her. Also, the breakfast there wasn't as good as other places. The worst coffee ever...and they charge for Orange Juice???!!!

Taj in Sarasota, FL USA 05/29/2007

Best: Gasthof Lenz, Hallstatt Austria
Why: Nice clean family room with separate kids and parents rooms (though somewhat small) 70euros May 2007. Helga is very nice. The house is a good 10-15 minute walk uphill from the parking lot, but the unobstructed view from the room is amazing. Try a pleasant late evening walk through town when most of the other tourists have left.

Steve in Boise, Id USA 05/29/2007

Best: Gutshof Schluxen, Pinswang Austria
Why: Very nice clean & spacious family room (second floor corner room)has a separate kids room with bunk 104 euros May 2007. Kids love animals and playground with trampoline. Beautiful easy 3 mile walk through 1 lane forest road over border to Ludwigs castles. Other very nice hikes in the area. Best family spot on 2 week Austria trip.

Steve in Boise, Id USA 05/29/2007

Best: Hotel Kurcafe
Why: Wonderful room in Fussen with great views and good prices. The hotel's restaurant was one of the best on our trip.

Debra Dennis in Raymond, WA USA 05/27/2007

Worst: Hotel Schweizerhof
Why: Over priced, very rude staff. At one point we were locked out because the person at the front desk was sleeping, he did not apolagize but got angry with us for interrupting him. He was also rude and unhelpful several other times.

Rachel Vowels in Spokane, WA USA 05/16/2007

Best: Hotel Zur Post Melk
Why: The hotel was located two blocks from Melk Abbey the rooms were excellent and their restaurant and wine selection were great,also close to the Danube boat docks

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

Best: Hotel Mark - Munich
Why: For 78Euros a night including breakfast, we always stay at the Mark Hotel. It is only about 5 minutes from the main train station. The breakfast is very good, including scrambled and hot boiled eggs, along with usual ohe continental breakfast items.

The rooms are clean and although the building is older, everything was fine and functioned as needed.

Steve in Richmond, VA USA 04/24/2007

Best: Castle Liebenstein
Why: Awesome hotel in an old castle. Looks like ruins high above the Rhine on the outside, completely modern hotel rooms. Great hot water and shower. Great castle like furniture, awesome views and excellent dinner. The nice gentleman that checks you in and serves you a dinner is also the village baker; the desserts are worth the indulgence.

Pat in Vinkenes, VA USA 04/23/2007

Best: Hotel Kranenturm, Bachrach, Germany
Why: Wonderful atmosphere, great views, compfortable beds. You don't hear the trains. Even with somewhat unreliable hot water, we would stay here again in a heartbeat. Tip: if you want to eat dinner in the restaurant make sure you make a reservation when you check in or you won't get in.

Pat in Vinkenes, VA USA 04/23/2007

Best: Hotel Garni Struber, Salzburg
Why: Great location, excellent, helpful staff, free internet, great breakfast, clean and extremely comfortable room (CNN!), quiet with a beautiful view! Would definitely stay here again.

Tricia Phillips in Windermere, FL USA 04/17/2007

Best: Hotel Am Markt in St. Goar, Karin Weiss B&B in Rothenberg, and Hotel Uhland in Munich
Why: Great locations, breakfasts, and helpful owners/staff. Karin Weiss' B&B was especially a great deal at 23 Euro per person. This included free pickup and drop off at the train station -- as well as free bottled water/beer.

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

Best: Hotel Monaco Munich
Why: very friendly & charming, great deal also good: Pension Suzanne (Vienna), Hotel Berglund, Salzburg

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

Best: Hotel Maximilian in Reutte, Austria.
Why: The Koch family (the owners) make you feel right at home, they go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Gabi is the best when it comes to helping the guests, with her knowledge, experience and beautiful personality. She was born to be in the tourist industry. We will stay there every time we're in the area and commend others to do the same. Those unhappy from Suzanne's B&B at Fussen need to come to The Maximilian and reverse their bad experience.

Rigo in El Paso, tx USA 04/03/2007

Best: Peters Pension
Why: What perfect place to start the day. CHRISTOPHER was the best host. The most helpful person on my trip from U.S. to London, Germany (Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin) and back. Highly reccommended!!

Bill in Buena Park, CA USA 03/31/2007

Best: Hotel Hornburg, Rothenburg
Why: Property is beautiful, location is fantastic, owners are super-nice, room was great, breakast superb. We LOVED this hotel!!!

Debra Livak in Boise, ID USA 03/30/2007

Best: Paul & Roos Gheeraert-Vandevelde
Why: We stayed at this great B&B for 5 nights and it was fantastic. The breakfast was always wonderful and the room was huge, bright and clean. One of the great things was that they provided an electical converter in the room (the one I bought didn't work). Both Roos and Paul were friendly, attentive and happy to help out with suggestions. The location was excellent and on a quiet residential street. There is nothing bad to say about this B&B and we will stay here again when we visit Bruges again!

Julee in Seattle, WA USA 03/23/2007

Best: Munich-Rothenburg-Frankfurt
Why: First off, I have to say that every hotel I reserved for our trip to the 2006 World Cup, I did so under this books advice and was more than pleasantly suprised!! Rick knows his stuff...

Hotel Blauer Bock -- Munich Nothing fancy, but absolutely amazing location for the money! Literally across the street from the Viktualienmarkt, this hotel is near the Marienplatz and S-Bahn/U-Bahn stops. Simple and quaint. It was a prime spot for our World Cup stay... never a dull moment nearby!

Hotel Kloster-Stueble -- Rothenburg ob der Tauber Absolutely everything Rick described! Quiet, serene, extremely friendly, could have stayed another night! You MUST try their own restaurant for dinner as well... the white asparagus was exquisite!

Hotel Maingau -- Frankfurt In the Apple Wine district and within a brief walk of the lovely Main river and Museum District, this hotel was a very nice final resting spot prior to our departure home. The restaurant is magnificent (be prepared to spend)... well worth the Euros!

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

Best: Adlon Kempinski in Berlin
Why: Over the top service with smiles.

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

Worst: Suzanne's B&B in Fussen, Germany
Why: My husband and I stayed there with our daughter and her husband. We had two rooms. Suzanne was extremely rude to all of us the whole time we were there. She is not a very happy person. She also went into a rage when I asked for a receipt when I paid for the rooms. She needs to get out of the business. My husband and I have used Rick's books for many years and have never had such a terrible experience.

Trudy in Keizer, Or USA 02/03/2007

Best: Hotel Palmengarten. Dinkelsbuhl and Hotel Beeg, Baden-Baden
Why: Both hotels provided a high level of service and caring. The owner of Hotel Palmengarten. personally drove us to the bus stop to save us the taxi fare. Hotel Beeg was very accomodating. I was looking for a specific item and they searched catelogs for me and provided detailed instructions on check-in. They were great!

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

Best: Hotel Uhland/Munich Pension Funk/Berlin, Hotel Alleeehaus/Freiburg
Why: We have stayed at Hotle Uhland in Munich ten times. The rates are great, the service is great and the location in great. In Berlin Pension Funk is fine. We have styed there five times. The rooms vary to ask for details to make certain you get what you want. Freiburg is a perfect place to recover from jet lag. It is about two hours from the Frankfurt airport. It is very quiet and has some very large and comfortable rooms. Yet it is located justa short walk from old town. So it is perfect for those afternnon nops that are required the first fe days until you recover from jet lag.

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