Favorite discoveries or tips:

I am im Germany right now visiting my brother who has lived her for 30 years. We're American. I thought Germany 2009 would be a book I could carry around and get info from when visiting western Germany. Not so. Steve, I realize some places are too Touristy for you but keep in mind we are tourists and you deleted almost every place I went from your book. Heidelburg, Stuttgart, Ulm, Tubingen,even the surrounding castles, have so much history to offer and you just pretend they don't exist...your book is misleading in its title, should be called, Rick Steve's favorite trip, or something but it sure isn't a comprehensive guide to Germany...I should have bought Frommers....

Molly Jaber in Beaverton, OR USA 11/13/2009

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

My wife and I had just arrived in Rothenburg and were searching for one of Rick’s recommended hotels when we stumbled upon the Biohotel zum Barren. This turned out to be the best hotel and value by far in our 3week journey across Germany and France.

Much of the hotel is newly renovated and is a member of a growing number of hotels across Europe that support bio friendly operations and organic food and drink in their restaurant and included breakfast.

The following is why I highly recommend this hotel:

The new owner, Marcus Paweletz, and his staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Marcus was very busy with the renovation, but broke away from his tasks several times to personally attend to our needs.

Marcus and his staff spoke perfect English, which was very helpful since my German is very poor.

Our room was very large and beautifully furnished. The bathroom was also very large with double sinks, bidet, and a great tub/shower.

The hotel is very conveniently located about a block off the main town square.

The room, which included a very good all organic breakfast, was 89 Euros per night.

Contact info: Biohotel zum Baren Hofbronnengasse 4-9 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tel. +49 9861-93 80 11 info@biohotel-zum-baeren.de www.biohotel-zum-baeren.de

Gordon Turner in Austin, Tx USA 10/14/2009

Neuschwanstein Castle has what they call a "Walker and Wheeler tour on Wednesday afternoons. This allows those using walkers and wheel chairs to see the castle. You make the reservation via E-Mail, as far ahead as possible. The cost is 8 Euro, which covers the person using the walker or wheel chair and a companion. You are permited to drive to the castle, where you pick up and pay for the tickets. This allowed my wife to see the Castle which would have been impossible without the special tour.

For drivers with GPS it would help if the postal codes for the various cities; recommended sights and accomadations were included. In several cases when I typed in the city name, the GPS did not recognize the name, but when I had the postal code it did.

You also need to mention the need for the environmental badge for those driving into the center of most major German cities, it only cost 5 Euro, but the fine in 40 Euro for not having it, if the Hotel Uhland, hadn't mentioned it on their Website, I would have been in trouble with my leased car, which did not have the Badge.

Tom Lammers in Omaha, NE USA 10/10/2009

Alpenhof Ernberg, Ruette Austria now includes WiFi Internet in the rooms at no extra charge. We ate dinner there every night we were in Ruette, and the food was very good!

Dennis Barrett in Austin, TX USA 10/09/2009

We just completed a brief auto tour of Germany - Berlin,Nuernberg,Rothenberg,Baden Baden, Bacharach/Rhine,Frankfurt/M. Your guide book was a great asset to our travel. Having lived and worked for over eight years in Germany as a linguist for US intelligence operations, I was almost cavalier about planning the trip, thinking I knew everything I needed to know. I was surprised by the detail of your guide and the great asset it became to the success of our trip. By chance a friend recommended we use a GPS to assist us in driving. It was a fantastic adjunct to maps in finding locations and routes. We can not recommend the Garmin more highly -- for navigating Berlin city streets it was superb. We recommend auto drivers invest in a chip for Germany from Best Buy or other computer supplier for their GPS use in country. It was a a very important component of a delightful 1500 mile road trip. A further suggestion we would make is to try to secure a diesel rental auto. We had a delightful Peugot diesel crossover -- comfortable,roomy and economical. Dielel fuel, on the average, is E 0.30 - 0.35 less than gasoline. For an extended trip the savings could be significant.

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

Those of you planning a trip to Berlin this year be forewarned that the much-touted transit system is undergoing a meltdown of epic proportions. It started in July when cars were being pulled from service for emergency axle repairs. Last week an astounding 70 percent of the fleet was yanked for a new problem with cracked brake cylinders. Right now there's no S-Bahn service on several lines including the all-important trunkline west from Alexanderplatz to Westkreuz, including stations such as Friedrichtstrasse, Hauptbahnhof, Zoo, etc. The U-Bahn and bus systems are jammed. Go to bvg.de or s-bahn-berlin.de for updates. Good Luck!

Paul Kakazu in Walnut, CA USA 09/16/2009

Die Geschenkidee (gift shop) Claudia Heimes Herrenstratte 13 Cochem, Germany 56812

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

My wife and I just got back from visiting Munich,Salzburg and Berlin.We really found your guidebook very helpful(we also carried another guidebook but ended up using only yours). In Berlin,we discovered a Vegetarian eatery called "Supergood"which is right next to the Melia Hotel on Freidriche Strasse.Its a large place with great ambience and terrific food. Vege Burgers,Vege Sandwiches and Wraps and salads. And inexpensive.

Vijay Goradia in Houston, Tx USA 08/03/2009

In Dresden check with the tourist information office for wifi hotspots. The huge number of sidewalk cafes in this town provide wide variety and reasonable dinner prices. In Berlin the entire Egyptian collection in the Altes museum is closed for relocation to the new museum but the bust of Queen Nefertiti is displayed in the open part of the museum. The dome on the Reichstag building was closed beginning in July for maintenance but you can still go on the roof of the building and get a great view of the city. They do not allow you to walk freely through the building unless you arrange a special group tour in advance.

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

We enjoyed visiting cities previously of East Germany. Wittenberg, Leipzig, and Erfurt were all charming and enjoyable cities, and worth visiting again. We were on a tour, otherwise we would have missed seeing them. Please include them in your next edition! "Planning your time" was very helpful for making best use of our free time in Berlin.

S Nuss in Keller, Tx USA 07/27/2009

You can buy the Germany-only railpass from the DB website for a better price than ordering through a US agency - the ordering is in German but a helpful guide is provided with English translation: http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/prices/intercontinental/german_rail_pass.shtml

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

Garmisch Partenkirchen is a beautiful town especially the Partnach Klamm, with the 360 degrees of waterfalls.

Robert Candelaria in El Paso, TX USA 07/03/2009

Nurnberg. Don't miss the Dokumentation Center. On Friday mornings between 9-10 you may be lucky enough to run into organists practicing in the churches. I ran into 2 on my recent visit-wonderful surprise!

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

We stayed at Haus Andrea in Cochem, Germany. The room was simple but very nice and our hostess could not have been nicer. There is one thing that you should know if you are considering staying here. The pension is located on the only street that leads up to a high school. Every morning like clockwork, we could hear the kids from nearby villages as they walked to school from 7:15-7:40, shouting and laughing with each other. (This was late June - school does not end until the beginning of July here.) I would stay here again - but not on a school day!

Robyn Shapiro in Austin, TX USA 06/28/2009

In Berchtesgaden you can now get a Berchtesgaden Pass from your hotel. It cost if I remember correctly 2.40€ per day but it allows you to travel free throughout the region on the bus system.

Also, our Salzburg Card allowed us to ride their city bus to the Berchtesgaden area for free. (The bus stop was around the corner from the McDonalds at the central bus stop across the street from the train station.

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

My wife and I drove from Berlin to Paris recently, necessitating our own pre-trip internet "tourguide" work between Berlin and the Mosel Valley, not covered in Germany 2009. A noteworthy stay was at the unique Hotel in der Grunen Zittadelle (www.hotel-zitadelle.de) in Magdeburg, home of Otto Von Guericke, the inventor of the vacuum pump in 1650. Also, on the road south of Duderstadt we came upon the Boundary-Land Museum (www.grenzlandmuseum.de --only German) a great museum of the "iron curtain" --the border between East and West Germany that was felled 20 years ago along with the Berlin Wall. Future editions of Rick Steves' Germany might mention these.

Bill and Rhonda Lakatos in San Jose, CA USA 06/10/2009

There is a nice pizzeria in Salzburg on Linzergasse that I discovered in '05 and returned to in '06 and '09. The same gentleman runs the place and it has great street tables to sit in the evening for people watching. I don't remember the name of it at this moment, I took a picture of it but have it on my laptop. It is right next door to a gentleman's club which my buddy and I was wondering in '05 why all these good looking ladies were walking into this building all dressed up. One would have never guessed it to be that from the looks of the place.

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

1)The Munich Euraide office connected us to a group tour of Dachau that was led by an extraordinary young man and was a highlight of our 16 day trip. No one advised us, however, that there would be no opportunities to purchase food or water from 10:30-4 and that there would be long periods standing in open areas in the hot sun. Recommend packing water and small energy snack. 2)Burg Laundrette in aldstadt Nurnberg just behind the Frauenkirche-- intersection of Obstmarkt & Bindergasse. Self-serve washers (purchase tokens from attendant)and dryers (one Euro coins). Six washers and two dryers, also used by the attendants who appear to be washing for hotels/restaurants.

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

I just wanted to highly recommend the Friese Shop in Rothenburg. I have visited there on two different occasions, and upon seeing my Rick Steves guidebook, they have immediately mentioned that they will give me a 10 percent discount. I did not even have to ask. They are friendly without being too pushy, and their prices are fair. I would highly recommend them.

Andrea in Bamberg, Germany 05/26/2009

Rothenburg, Germany-- Rothenburg has a fabulously funny puppet theatre. It's quirky and a little goofy, but after a week or so on the road, quirky and goofy was just what we needed. They have a "Late Night English Show", which, when we were there, went up at 9:00 pm. It's run by a lovely group of folks, who really put their hearts into puppeteering! I reccommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh and a release from travel-related stress.

Catherine Palazzola in St. Louis , MO USA 05/22/2009

In Staufen, a new accommodation: Hotel Goethe Garni has just opened. At €80 per night for a double, it's a great choice. See www.goethe-hotel-staufen.de. The two young men runnning the hotel are eager to please.

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

Hello Rick! I am an American living in Friedrichshain (East Berlin). To some tourists this half of the city may be too edgy, but I really think a few things are worth a mention. Specifically Simon-Dach-Strasse, which has hip bars and boutiques and a much better atmosphere than Unter den Linden, before or after dark. In my opinion, this is real Berlin. Also fun is to ride the U-1, it runs above ground and if you ride it toward Warschauer Str. after dark you will see all the clubbers and their wild outfits. Of course you will also see drunks, but they are harmless and can be funny.

Katy Strange in Berlin, Germany 05/07/2009

Alter Keller in Rothenburg ob der Tauber submitted by James Derheim, info@europeanfocus.com

James Derheim in Sarasota, Fl USA 04/24/2009

The best prices we saw for large, Made in Germany cuckoo clocks were at the Munich airport! Clocks that were 1400-1500 euros in Rothenburg were only 900-1100 there.

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

Travelling with Rick Steve's guidebook was easy, economical, and secure. We never made reservations, we just used the guide to pick our next destination and called and made arrangements at one of the suggested guest houses and had a safe, fun experience.

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

Munich, Germany: Lieberkase (meatloaf sandwich) is cheap, local and tasty (+ it can be carried!). Across the street from the Neue Pinakothek, Deeba Pakistanisches Spezialitaten Restaurant is cheap and has good food (they were very pleasant and spoke some English). If you are looking for wifi it is very expensive in Starbucks, but relatively cheap at the San Francisco coffee company.

Berlin, Germany: Café Einstein on Savignyplatz has wifi access. There is a really cool large katamari sculpture about a block east of Checkpoint Charlie that is pretty cool. The Stasi museum (quite a ways down Karl Marx Allee) at the old Stasi headquarters is a must see if you speak German (very little English signage).

Wiesbaden, Germany: The Kaiser Friedrich Therme are excellent!

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

Dear Rick and Crew, My husband and I would love to share with you a place that 'fell' upon quite by accident. We were looking to find a place to stay outside of Trier. Late in the afternoon we rolled into a quaint little village named "Fell." What an amazing place! We stayed at the Gashaus Kasler. The food was absolutely delicious and very resonably priced. Our rooms were very comfortable and affordable. There was also a bar attached to the establishment; lots of people were there having a great time. The place was also immaculate. The owner, Laura Stark, was there running the every aspect of the business. It was very obvious that she was a dedicated hostess. It was one of the highlights of our trip; it made a long day on the road very enjoyable and entertaining. I'm certain that other travelers would love experiencing Fell, Germany. You can reach Laura at: Laura.Stark@web.de or at info@gasthaus-kasler.de Thank you for allowing me to share this with your and other readers.

Carol Kirk in Eau Claire, WI USA 01/04/2009

In Munich, street parking is free from Saturday 11PM until Monday at 8AM. So if you want to use a rental car for just a couple of days to get around Munich's outlying sites (i.e. Dachau, Schloß Nymphenburg - the Bavarian Summer Palace, etc.), doing it during the time when street parking is free can be a major cost-savings and also adds a lot of convenience. Otherwise, the next best thing is to find a parking garage that tends to be costly and could be many blocks away from the hotel. We fell upon this tip when we arrived at Munich in our rental car on a Saturday night. It worked very well for us.

Leanne Roe in Everett, WA USA 01/01/2009

Brandon Walker - brandonw7@mac.com

Brandon Walker in Clovis, CA USA 01/01/2009

Stay in St. Goar with Frau Kurz. But go down to Bacharach to get the best döner I've ever had. It was at Bacharacher Pizza & Kebab Haus. It is located on Oberstrasse just south of TI & Post Office. We had Big Döner mit salat und soße (sauce) for 6 euros. The roll it was in was fabulously made in a pizza oven, which gave it extra flavor and texture. It is a great pity this is something we cannot get in the U.S.

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

At the Ritterstub'n restaurant in Füssen, if you want the fondue (recommended by Rick), you have to order it ONE DAY AHEAD! We left VERY disappointed.

Mike Greene in Wildomar, CA USA 12/29/2008

Creglingen, Tauber, Deutschland Landgasthof zum Rappen This is a small country Inn, in a farm village, outside Rothenburg, Germany They were very accomodating and offered half-board. Very large, clean rooms and excellent pricing.

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

Heidelberg set the stage for a good stay in mid-October. It wasn't overrun with American tourists as others have posted. While the place was short on blockbuster sights it had a nice ambiance because of its scenic location, quaint Altstadt and large student population. While we stayed across town next to the Hauptbahnhof, we dined gloriously each night in the Altstadt at a randomly chosen restaurant and easily got back to our hotel using the city buses. But the main reason for staying in Heidelberg was the high price of hotels in Stuttgart where there are a couple of must-sees. By using Deutsche Bahn's Baden-Württemberg Ticket we daytripped to Stuttgart and visited the Kunstmuseum and the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The former has the largest collection of paintings by Otto Dix whose best works reflect his experience as a soldier during the Great War, while the latter is a wild, outrageous celebration of....itself. The M-B Museum is housed in a beautiful building, and venturing inside doesn't dissappoint the heightened expecation. I highly recommend it. BTW, the Baden-Württemberg Ticket not only covered our travel aboard secondary trains but also included passage on Stuttgart's city transport system and a discount at Mercedes-Benz (the museum, not for the autos).

Paul Kakazu in Walnut, CA USA 11/11/2008

Great neighborhood restaurant in Trier, Germany (the type Rick really likes...lots of locals..lots of fun) need a car to get there. Herbert Oberbillig Olewiger Straabe 192 Tel: 065 31118 email weinstube-oberbillig@t-online.de

Also, we dropped Berlin and added the Alsace area of France for us this was a great choice....especially if you are into white wine.

Larry Snyder in Pittsboro, NC USA 11/03/2008

I found the history of The Outer Neustadt section of Dresden to be truly fascinating in regards to the Bunte Republik Neustadt and the movements that were going on there during the reunification including their own currency and artisitic endeavors and thought more could be said in the book about it.

Sarah in Dublin, CA USA 11/02/2008

Dear Rick, ur hotel is listed in your guide book, wher yozu recommend the trram line 1 or 2 travelling around the phantastic ringstrasse to get afirs impression of the architecture. This has beeen changed ! All details below ! Best regards, michael

Pension suzanne in wien, Au USA 11/02/2008

In the Reutte/Ehenbichl area, we were originally booked at Hotel Maximilian with Gabi. She had a huge bus booked upon our arrival, so she sent us to the Pension Hohenrainer. What a great place! The older couple who run it were wonderful, the price was less, and the view/ambience was fantastic. Ate at Hotel Maximilian for dinner one night. Gabi has gone modern with her decor. I don't really care for it. Pension Hohenrainer still has that old wonderful Tyrolean charm. Give the pension a try. You won't be disappointed.

Gilles Kay in Jacksonville, FL USA 10/22/2008

We traveled with a GPS (Nuvi 370) and as other reviewers mentioned, it was almost impossible to get lost (for long, anyway). Particularly in Germany, street signage was very hard to find - but the GPS tells you WHEN to turn as well as what you are turning onto. This had applicability both on remote rural routes and navigating in the middle of Munich (or Salzburg). We highly recommend this tool for those driving.

Jim Koster in Santa Fe, NM USA 10/18/2008

Gasthof und Tafernwirtschaft Pritzl, Wayern (Munich area) was a great gasthaus 20 minutes outside Munich. We escaped the Octoberfest crowds and had a very quiet room and could hear the cows' bells in the fields adjacent. The breakfasts and dinner were delicious at their restaurant.

Feldkirch in Austria is beautiful and a charming stroll through the pedestrian streets. It is across the Rhine valley from the Appenzell area of Switzerland. Beautiful. While there, we stayed in the Central Hotel Lowen - which had a VERY large room with a fantastically new, modern bathroom.

We followed the earlier recommendations to focus our King's Castles tour on Hohenschwangau rather than Neuschwanstein and were not disappointed. At Stein Terrasse in Salzburg you can actually go up to the Terrasse and walk out on the patio for the best (quick and or free) view of Salzburg - without getting a table and a snack - if you wish. Frankly, a view not to be missed.

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

I've traveled throughout Germany using Rick's recommendations and am always pleased. However, I think Bamberg should be included. The entire town is a medieval wonderland and few American tourists. I stayed at Hotel Weierich(www.hotel-weierich.de)in the center for 54 euros and was very pleased. It is similar to Rothenburg without the hoards.

Jan Polkinghorne in Boulder, CO USA 10/11/2008

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

Great discovery: On a trip through Vienna in August, my wife and I discovered that our 1st class Select Railpass gave us FREE access to the ÖBB club lounge at the Wien Westbahnhof train station. Not only is was it beautifully air conditioned, two drinks of your choice and a selection of nuts and gummy bears were complimentary. So the question is what other club lounges do a 1st class Railpass provide access to?

Peter in Calgary, AB Canada 01/06/2008

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