Guidebook corrections:Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.  Germany 2009-Munich page 63 -Getting there (Nymphenburg Complex)- tram #17 from Karlstor will NOT get you there- Take #37 from Central Station to get there. Cost us 1 hour of taking #17 to get correct route. David S. Davidson in Norwalk, CT USA 11/10/2009 Bringing food into a beer GARDEN comment: Rick states, and correctly so, that you can bring food into a beer GARDEN. The Hofbräuhaus is a beer HALL. steve in Richmond, VA USA 11/04/2009 In the Germany 2009 guidebook, on page 82, Munich's Beer Scene says that tables in beer gardens with no tablecloths can be used for buying beer and bringing in your own food. Not so at Hofbrauhaus. On our recent October, 2009 visit we found some tables with tablecloths and some without. We sat at one without a tablecloth, ordered a beer and pulled out a pretzel and sandwich bought elsewhere. The waiter was on us in a flash telling us we cannot eat food brought in from outside the beer garden. We also noted that the guide says the Hofbrauhaus only sells beer by the one-liter mug, but we saw on the menu and several customers drinking 0.5 liter glasses of beer. Hope this helps future visitors. Steve Kilpatrick in Arlington, TX USA 10/25/2009 Frau Liebler-No breakfast with room in Rothenburg. Russell Dole in Highlands Ranch, Co USA 10/15/2009 The tram to the Nymphenburg Place in September, was 37 not 17 as shown in the Germany Guide Book, it was apparently a recent change as the permanent signs still showed 17, but the posted paper schedules showed 37. I watched 3 trams go by before I checked the posted schedule. Tom Lammers in Omaha, NE USA 10/10/2009 Alpenhof Ernberg, Ruette Austria No longer offers self-service laundry. They will wash and dry your clothes in their equipment for 14 euros per load. Dennis Barrett in Austin, TX USA 10/09/2009 Fussen/Neuschwanstein map on page 105 of Germany 2009 has inaccurate "North" pointer. The map puts Neuschwanstein castle north-east of Fussen when it's actually south-east. Real confusing if it's the only map one has. Jennifer in Dallas, TX USA 09/24/2009 Book was excellent! V. Phil Tullar, Ph.D. in Tucson, AZ USA 09/22/2009 Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Gästehaus Viktoria has recently changed their website (and apparently their name and possibly ownership and location). The URL address cited in Rick's 2009 guide (www.romanticroad.com/gaestehaus-viktoria)results in a 404 error (file not found) and the romanticroad website has no listing for it on their Rothenburg page. Qype.com lists the address URL as http://www.gaestehaus-viktoria-rothenburg.de/ which results in a splash page that says in German: "Casa Nova Wir sind umgezogen!" or 'we have relocated'. If you click on the Eingang/Entree (enter) link, it takes you to this page: http://www.casa-nova1.de/Am%20Klosterhof/index1.htm which is for the Gästehaus am Klosterhof. Thomas Mercer in Seattle, WA USA 09/14/2009 This gift shop was wonderful and offered shipping to the USA. Claudia was terrific and even stayed open late for us when we decided to ship our purchases at the last minute. When our merchandise arrived back in the US broken we corresponded by email and without delay Claudia repackaged our order and sent it to us again without questions. I would recommend this shop very highly for their friendliness and good business ethics. Pay them a visit. You won't be sorry. They are right off the main town square in Cochem. Carol Galanter in Hamden, Ct USA 09/12/2009 The Egyptian collection at the Altes Museum has closed for its move to its new location (opens Oct. 17). Was disappointed on Sept. 5. Winnie in Houston, TX USA 09/07/2009 Dachau: The guidebook indicates that on Sundays a bus does not run directly to the memorial entrance/visitor center. I was just there on a Sunday, and the bus from the train station did run directly to the memorial. It was very easy, just follow the crowd onto the bus and off at the camp. Amanda in Dallas, TX USA 08/20/2009 --Admission to Alte Pinakothek in Munich is now 7 Euro. --Baden-Baden, casino no longer honors Kurkarte discount --Baden-Baden, Friedrichsbad - now uses a digital wristpiece which locks your locker and encodes whether you purchased the massage. (It was not obvious to us that it locks your locker.) Don't put it through the machine at the entrance until you're ready to exit the same way, as that decodes it. -Baden-Baden/Munich - as Lenbachhaus is closed for renovation, much of Blaue Riter works are in Baden-Baden through October. --Could the Baden-Baden bus info note where the stop is for bus 201 back to the train station from Leopoldsplatz? As it's not across the street, we had to go to Hindenberg Platz to catch it.... --A map of Cochem would be helpful (e.g., there is no need to drag luggage down and up stairs under the bridge to get to the Markt). --Walking BACK from Burg Eltz to Cochem, the paths splits in two. We took the left fork which took us back to town but are not sure if the right fork also works. Emily S in Berkeley, CA USA 07/21/2009 Nurnberg. The comments in the guidebook about the pedestrian only zone in the old town should be corrected; especially in the mornings when the street market vendors are setting up shop, watch out for cars. This is in no way a car free zone, I almost got hit twice looking around. Chere Weiss in Kelso, WA USA 06/29/2009 Germany 2009 Guide Book, Salzburg, pp172, Eating, Gasthaus zum Wilden Mann. Cheap but good meals and now is a NON-SMOKING establishment. Big No SMO Signs on the walls now. Salzburg, pp162-163, Mozart Dinner Concert Outstanding and enjoyable and worth every bit of 39 Euro with Guide book. "Smart" Dress code is recommended but staff insisted they don't turn away anyone. We were in Blue Jeans Tennis Shoes and short sleaved shirts.
Roger in San Diego, CA USA 06/26/2009 The 14-day palace pass does not include Hohenschwangau as stated in the new update to the Germany/Austria Guidebook Ronald Harris in Milpitas, CA USA 06/24/2009 Something you might want to add to your book. The HOtel Alexandra Pension in Berlin is all non-smoking. Yippie! Maureen in Park Ridge, IL USA 06/22/2009 The corrections I mentioned on 4/11/09 proved out to be true: my wife and I had 7 fine days in Berlin staying at the Karlito Apartmenthaus, and Stephan Sauer was a most helpful host. Latest info at http://www.karlito-apartments.de Bill Lakatos in San Jose, CA USA 06/10/2009 In Dresden the map has Hostel Louise 20 in the wrong location. The correct location is to the left of Alaunstraße not to the right if heading North East up Alaunstraße from Neustadt. Judge Leverich in SALT LAKE CTY, UT USA 06/01/2009 The Lenbachhaus in Munich is closed for renovations until summer 2012. Also, the guidebook says the synagogue next to the Munich Jewish History museum is "shut tight to the non-Jewish public" but museum staff says that is not true. We were there on a Saturday and they said that it was more an issue on the Sabbath, but that on most days one simply has to ask. Visitors to the museum should know you will be expected to turn over everything you are carrying to an attendant before entering -- no lockers -- because of tight security. Barbara McCauley in Boston, MA USA 05/28/2009 While in Bacharach, our hotel called the number in the Rick Steves Germany guidebook and arranged for a taxi at Moselkern. When we arrived at the train station, there was no one. After a walk into town, we finally found a restaurant and someone called for us. We were quite rushed for time that day and it was quite an inconvenience. I don't know where the breakdown occured, but I certainly wouldn't rely on having a taxi waiting. Ben LaGrone in McGregor, TX USA 05/28/2009 The Germany Guide also included Austria. My comments are directed to the Vienna section. For Vienna, the book suggested a visitor get on the No. 1 or 2 Tram for a tour around the Ringstrasse. However, neither of these trams goes around the Ringstrasse. Both trams spend some time on the Ringstrasse, but once turning on the northside,they take a detour into other neighborhoods. Unfortunately, this cost me valuable time. Also, the Vienna section seemed to warn visitors about the "touristy" Mozart Koncerts stating that if the music "comes to you," it's not serious. How wrong you were. Although the costumed salesman and musicians looked corny, the performance was wonderful. The musicians were not second rate, but were very competent. And all the musicians took their music very seriously. The performance I attended occurred in the Brahms Saal of the Musikverein - an absolutely gorgeous recital hall. I am glad my wife convinced me to attend. It was a highlight of my visit. For those visitors who cannot get tickets to the opera or a traditional symphony performance, the Mozart Koncerts are an excellent alternative!! Generally, however, I found the guidebook very helpful. Finally, you should separate the Germany and Austria guidebook into two books. The current book is too heavy. Alan Garber in Atlanta, GA USA 05/18/2009 The otherwise fantastic Germany guidebook explains on page 346 that Dresden build the Frauenkirche because it was "jealous of the mighty Catholic domes of Venice and London." That doesn't sound right -- St. Paul's is a Protestant "dome", and both Westminster Cathedral and the Brompton Oratory came after Dresden built the Frauenkirche. Tom S. (Reston, VA) Thomas Spahn in Reston, VA USA 05/13/2009 Unfortunately the Sans Souci Palace in Potsdam is not offering a two-tiered price anymore. Every adult pays 12 Euro and only gets an audio guide, no guided tour. In my opinion it wasn't really worth it because the whole thing took less than 30 minutes! But maybe if someone hadn't seen Versailles they would be impressed. Katy Strange in Berlin, Germany 05/07/2009 In Berlin, Brauhaus Georgbrau is expensive (10-13 Euros per plate), but you said it was cheap. Mark McKnight in Austin, TX USA 05/06/2009 For Germaný, Rothenburg ob der Tauber James Derheim in Sarasota, Fl USA 04/24/2009 The plumbing at Pension Lindner in Munich is described as "mediocre". There is nothing mediocre about it. We had a very comfortable stay there. The directions to Hotel Am Markt in Baden-Baden from Leopoldsplatz will get your heart pounding. Although it's the shortest route, they have you climbing three flights of steep stairs. There is a gentler slope with no stairs if you go left on Langestrasse and then right up Hirschstrasse. Gary P in Ramona, CA USA 04/18/2009 For the Berlin apartments I just posted, their e-mail should be info@karlito-apartments.de All other info is correct. Bill Lakatos in San Jose, CA USA 04/11/2009 In Germany 2009, the Steiner Apartments in Berlin (p.514) are now Karlito Apartmenthaus (www.karlito-apartments.de) run by Stephan Sauer of Cafe Lois (e-mail: lois@berlin.com, phone +49 179 7049 041). Stephan apologized for the current German-only website, but English will be forthcoming. I'll be staying there in May & will report how it was in late June. Bill Lakatos in San Jose, CA USA 04/11/2009 Hotel Atlanta in Munich has evidently doubled their rates from what is listed in the book. I smell a scam. David Gerberding in Rocklin, CA USA 03/22/2009 The Germany book is great! However, for Wurzburg RIck recommends the Residence. WOW! It is amazing. In this world of GPS you must put an address in. There is no address listed for the Residence. Must have! Stacy Addington in Bischberg, Germany, USA 03/07/2009 The information about Insider Tours in Berlin is completely incorrect. This company has been around for over 12 years, they do NOT do tours for tips only, the tours start at 10:00 not at 11:00, they start at the McDonalds by the Zoo Station - Not at the Starbucks at Brandenburg Gate, they also offer tours to Potsdam, Sachsenhausen, Bike Tours and day tours to Dresden when privately arranged. Considering the History Channel found them good enough to use in their special on the Berlin Wall, one would think they could at least rate a correct listing in the Rick Steves book. As I scrolled back through the archives, someone else made a comment back in June that the information was wrong in the 2008 book. Perhaps the staff could check out their information before printing something that is so incorrect. Rick Steves owes an apology to a fine company that give outstanding, quality tours. Research would show that one of their long time guides is even writing a book about Berlin. We have found their tours to be excellent and their guides passionate about what they do. Shame on you Rick Steves! Marie in L.A., CA USA 02/24/2009 NO Cindy MacWhinney in Bakersfield, CA USA 01/23/2009 Munich, Germany: Munich Walk Marienplatz office (Weinstrasse 6) does not exist! Whatever used to be here was boarded up. Additionally, Pension Lindner now has a different restaurant below it (Afghan cuisine) called Nigin Afghanisches Restaurant. It looked nice enough, though and was pretty quiet. Breakfast is served in a separate room in the pension. Dave W. in Seattle, WA USA 01/20/2009 In the Germany 2009 guidebook, Weingut Rademacher is listed for Cochem in the Mosel Valley. After communicating with them for reservations, I found that the prices listed in the guidebook (48 Euro train side and 54 Euro vineyard side) are incorrect. The prices quoted for reservation are those prices, but per person, so a double is actually 96 or 104 Euro per night, making it well into a $$$ establishment. Bob in Meridian, ID USA 01/18/2009 We disagree with the comment on Wiesbaden being too big, or too famous, and not worth our time. We greatly enjoyed Wiesbaden. We enjoyed walking in the pedestrian zone Marktplatz with the Rathaus (free museum inside), Lutheran Markt Kirche (11:30AM to Noon a free organ recital; at noon a free concert is held with the bells in the bell tower) sandwich shops, bakeries, and other small outdoor restaurants (blackfish fillet sandwich rolls, which are constantly replenished on trays), (a waffle cone with 3-flavors of Italian ice-cream with whip cream and berry sauce for 3.50 euro), (Backhaus Schröer, which is a large round onion with meat pie, & open bottle of wine for 6.50 euro), (a round apple, almond, raisin cake for 3.50 euro), outdoor fountains using naturally heated water from local hot-springs, the exquisite Kurhaus with a high-class casino and concert hall, Nerobergbahn (railway c. 1888), Russian Church (c. 1847 - 1855 with freshly applied gold on its onion domes), Thermalbad Aukammtal (recreational indoor/outdoor pool using thermal/mineral water with strategically positioned water jets), walked up Adolfsallee (within the city is a long growth of trees with a children's play park, along a long street of 19th century houses that due to their excellent architecture are considered historic monuments. Mothers and children had great fun on the long line of cleverly constructed, unique play equipment). Wiesbaden is a true representation of German daily life in a city designed for the economic, social and recreational benefit of its citizens. Leanne Roe in Everett, WA USA 12/31/2008 The Alanta Hotel in Munich only takes cash. Larry Snyder in Pittsboro, NC USA 11/03/2008 Frau Brigitte Strafinger Pension Suzanne
Liebe Vienna Experts Clubmitglieder, sehr geehrte Frau Strafinger,
wir hatten Ihnen im Juli die geänderte Verkehrslinienführung der Linie 1 und 2 bereits angekündigt und dürfen Ihnen jetzt die genaue Information des WienTourismus (auf deutsch und englisch für Ihre Gäste und Kunden) weiterleiten.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen
Ihr Vienna Experts Club-Büro www.viennaexpertsclub.at Ab 26.10.08: Tram-Linien um die Altstadt neu Bitte beachten Sie: Ab 26. Oktober 2008 ändert sich die Linienführung der Straßenbahnen auf der Ringstraße an der Altstadt. Hier die Änderungen im Überblick:
Linie 1 (bisher Linien N und 65) Prater Hauptallee – Schwedenplatz – Ringstraße –Oper – Stefan-Fadinger-Platz
Linie 2 (bisher Linien J und N) Ottakringer Straße – Oper – Ringstraße –Stadtpark (goldenes Johann-Strauß-Denkmal) –Museum für angewandte Kunst (MAK) –Schwedenplatz – Friedrich-Engels-Platz
Für Sie als Wien-Besucher/in wird damit die neue Linie 1 besonders attraktiv, denn sie verbindet die bedeutenden Sehenswürdigkeiten Hundertwasserhaus, KunstHausWien, Burgtheater, Rathaus, Parlament, Kunst- und Naturhistorisches Museum, Hofburg und Staatsoper.
Wie Sie welche Wiener Sehenswürdigkeit am besten erreichen, erklärt man Ihnen gerne an Ihrer Hotel-Rezeption oder in der Tourist-Info Wien (1., Albertinaplatz, tägl. 9-19). Infos gibt‘s auch unter www.wien.info
Ihr WienTourismus Starting October 26: New Streetcar Lines around the Center od the City Please note: Starting October 26, 2008, the routes of the streetcars on the Ring Boulevard will be changed. Here an overview of the changes:
Line 1 (until now lines N and 65) Prater Hauptallee – Schwedenplatz –Ringstrasse – State Opera – Stefan-Fadinger-Platz
Line 2 (until now lines J and N) Ottakringer Strasse – State Opera – Ring Boulevard – Stadtpark (golden Johann-Strauss-Monument) – Museum for Applied Art (MAK) – Schwedenplatz – Friedrich-Engels-Platz
For you as a visitor to Vienna, Line 1 becomes especially attractive, because it connects some of the most important sights such as the Hundertwasser House, KunstHausWien, Burgtheater, City Hall, Parliament, Natural History Museum and Museum of Fine Arts, Imperial Palace and State Opera. Your hotel reception or the Tourist Info Vienna (1, Albertinaplatz, daily 9 am - 7 pm) will explain how best to reach the individual sights. You will also find information at www.vienna.info
Your Vienna Tourist Board Pension suzanne in wien, Au USA 11/02/2008 Most prices for hotels/sights were higher than stated in book. Gilles Kay in Jacksonville, FL USA 10/22/2008 - German Clock Museum only had about 6 display signs that were in English, the rest were all in German - book says it traces clocks in English! - Also price for Van Gogh Museum apparently has increased since 2008 book was printed. C. J. Goodlander in West Chester, OH USA 10/15/2008 Yes -- I would eliminate Peter's Pension in Berlin from the list of recommended places -- Erik Duncan in Phoenix, AZ USA 10/12/2008 Yes! On page 239 of the Germany&Austria 2008 guide, one reads that the monument in the Bacharach Park has panels that honor "the sons of Bacharach that died for the Kaiser: in 1864 against Russia, in 1870 against France..." There was NO Kaiser before 1871, when the coalition princes and Kings in the war of 1870 agreed to make the King of Prussia Kaiser of the Deutches Reich! And the 1864 war was NOT against Russia! It was against Denmark, for the possession of the Schleswig and Holstein territories. Carlos A Camargo MD in Stanford, CA USA 09/18/2008 Although to guidebook indicates that EurAide in Munich is open daily through September, the EurAide office in Munich is not open on Sundays, at least as of Sept 14, 2008. Laura Lillibridge in Mountain View, CA USA 09/14/2008 Wanted to have a picnic in St. Goar but the supermarket is no longer there. The Montag Family confirmed. Bill in Buena Park, CA USA 09/10/2008 *Combo ticket to Melk Abbey is 44E, not 43 p 545 *Melk centrally located supermarket Spar has closed and moved to new location not so central p556. Denise Schlotfeldt in Ann Arbor, Mi USA 09/04/2008 Have used your books for a number of years in a number of countries and found them to be highly accurate but as feedback: 1. The Hotel-Penssion Funk, Berlin, refused (1-3 Sept) to honor your "these prices guarenteed through 2008" cited in your book, p 434, - asked them twice and they said they had never made that agreement. (105 paid vice 90 euros book). 2. Page 424, In Berlin, taking bus #200 to the Gemaldegalerie, the stop is not called "Kulturform" but "Philharmonic". We missed the stop wating for "Kulturform". 3. Gorlitz - can you really not cross to Poland on your cited EU citizens only bridge? No signs. Zero security or checks on the other distant bridge. Jack Ferguson in Plano , Tx USA 09/04/2008 Yes. The Adolph Kolping Strasse in Munich is not a quiet street at night at all. The casino's attract a very noisy clientele. Sheila Chalmers in Redwood City, CA USA 08/31/2008 1. At burg eltz, they would not sell a 'tour only' ticket; combo ticket including treasury was the only option. 2. At (beilstein?), you can no longer go to restaurant for the view for free. After climbinh stairs, there is now a gate and charge (2 euros?) to enter and enjoy the view. Bob in Edina, mn USA 08/13/2008 The Topography of Terror exhibit in Berlin is now also displayed in English, so an audioguide is not necessary. For the Portugal book: Bjorn and Sigrun mentioned they were going back to Denmark when I stayed at The Mare back in May. Eric Almeida in Ames, IA USA 08/05/2008 On a recent drivng trip in Germany, we encountered a type of parking lot (Wurzburg- Residenz) we weren't able to find referenced in the guide book. At this type of lot, you get your ticket when you arrive, and then when you're ready to leave, you have to insert it into a machine (away from the gate) to see how much you owe. Once the amount is displayed, you pay at the machine, which then activates the ticket (spits it back out) to let you out of the lot when it's inserted at the gate. Encountered another like this in a parking garage in Fussen. Mike CA USA 08/03/2008 Deborah Hubl at Hotel Gerberhaus in Rotherburg tells me the 10% discount is for the second night only for cash. Not a big deal, but it does make you feel like you are being taken advantage of when they tell you something different than the book. She even asked if I had a current book, which I do. Carolyn Fisher in Fremont, CA USA 07/23/2008 Today, Pension Nossek quoted me a rate of 143 euros which is a big jump from the rate in the guidebook of 115. This was for a 3 night stay. We are going to stay at Pension Suzanne, but did want to notify you of the difference. I have the email exchange but did not have an email address to forward a copy to. Ina Thompson in Boerne, TX USA 07/22/2008 Hello -- you may already be aware of these but thought I would share them just in case: 1. Frankfurt airport -- major construction of a new rail station at the airport is ongoing and could delay taxi or car arrival/departures. Eventually the new station will mean a re-write of information in the guidebook. 2. Bacharach to St. Goar boat tour using Eurail pass -- I did this about 3 weeks ago. While my Eurail pass was accepted in lieu of a ticket (I took the KD boat tour), the KD staff taking tickets upon boarding the boat asked me how far I was going and seemed to indicate that if I had wanted to travel father than than the short distance from Bacharach to St. Goar (and back) my rail pass would not have been accepted. You might want to check with the KD boat tour people to see whether their policy is changing. 3. Upon Rick's recommendation, I stayed at the Hotel Maingau in Frankfurt last week. Great spot! My only recommendation is that you might mention in the guidebook that all the hotels Rick recommends in that area of Frankfurt are much closer to the SOUTH rail station than the MAIN rail station. Holly Quan in Turner Valley, AB Canada 07/15/2008 You need to do a show on Passau and Regensburg...well kept secrets! Dr. Darren Drayton in Louisville, KY USA 07/15/2008 On the Central Berlin map on page 420 of the 2008 Germany & Austria Guidebook, Anhalter Strasse is shown to cross Wilhelm and end at Friedrich Strasse. This is wrong. Anhalter Strasse ends at Wilhelm Strasse. VK in Ann Arbor, MI USA 07/14/2008 Please check on local transportation changes for big events. I was disappointed that I couldn't take the Ringstrasse Tram tour in Vienna, because the trams were re-routed for the Euro2008 football tournament. The routes were still not running the full circle for the entire time we were there, June 30-July 4, the week after the games ended. Charlotte in Vermillion, SD USA 07/12/2008 Not really a correction, but I've seen quite a few gripes concerning the Munich EurAide office. Having visited in 2004 (very helpful) and then 2007 (cramped, zero enthusiasm), I have to agree with them. Do your own research, decide on the ticket you need, and buy it from a DB window - most tellers speak English anyway. David A. Fiala in Melbourne, FL USA 07/12/2008 The 2003 book listed free parking at Hotel Admiral in Vienna. In 2008, parking costs 10 Euros per day. More importantly, the parking area is quite small, accommodating perhaps 4 small cars. The entrance is a narrow passageway off Karl Schweighofergasse. With cars parked along one side of the street, there was not enough space to line up a standard-size vehicle to start through the passageway. We parked at Parkhaus Leiner across the street for 25 Euros per day. Janet in Scottsdale, AZ USA 07/09/2008 Rick - Most is not a type of wine. It is a cider made from hard apples and pears, similar to ciders in France or England Martin in Shoreline, WA USA 07/08/2008 Only one minor correction for the Germany/Austria guidebook. Salzburg Launderette hours are M-F 0730 to 1800 and Saturday 0800 - 1200. 10 Euros per load. Ann Doty in Juneau, AK USA 07/07/2008 Insider tour guides in Berlin do not work for tips only as stated in the guidebook. It is a legitimate firm that has been leading tours in Berlin for over 10 years. We found their tours to be outstanding. Jodean in Frankfurt, Germany 06/27/2008 It now costs 2E to go to the top of the tower in the city hall in Rothenberg instead of 1E It costs 9E (up from 8E) to ride the City Airport Train from Wien Mitte to the airport in Vienna Mike Thompson in Los Angeles, CA USA 06/26/2008 My friends and I used the 2008 Germany & Austria guidebook on our trip to Köln, and Rhine and Mosel Valleys in May 2008. On p. 280, the driving directions to Trier read “Drivers get off at Trier Verteilerkreis and follow signs to Zentrum.” When we exited at Trier Verteilerkreis, the signs read Centrum. On p. 287-88, the section on Trier’s Basilica reads “A good €1 English booklet brings the near-empty shell to life.” One of my friends was charged at least €3.50 for it. Dan Lee in Milwaukee, WI USA 05/26/2008 EurAide in Berlin does not sell any transit tickets (for local transit.) They said they stopped a couple of years ago. EurAide in general was extremely helpful to us. We got some train res. from them while in US, the Munich office was also extremely helpful with local transit, tickets etc. I think EurAide is a wonderful organization. Barbara in Eikenberry, CA USA 05/23/2008 Lots of entry fees, Pension Lettie's laundry service raised a few euros. Kate Buechler in Winnipeg, MB Canada 05/22/2008 Munich's Hall of the Nibelungen (Nibelungensale) in the Residenz Museum is closed for the next 3 years or so while undergoing restoration. When I was there (first week of April 2008), there was a giant cloth covering of the Residenz with a color photo of what it should look like. Nancy S. Jackson in Lakewood, WA USA 04/30/2008 I was in Berlin at the beginning of March 2008. The Hauptbahnhof baggage storage, Gepäck Center, was on level one (OG), open daily 24/7, and charged €4/day per bag. The book listed level EG, daily 6:00-22:00, and €3/day per bag. The WC is on level EG. I was thankful to have the Germany & Austria 2008 book, and this minor error was of no bother. William Downes in Portland, OR USA 03/26/2008 Our sons were able to get student discounts to some museums, etc with just their college id cards, rather than the international student id which we decided wasn't worth the fee. We also did not bother to get the international drivers license and had no problems. Carolyn in Birrell, UT USA 02/06/2008 Baden Baden, Germany: The Weblounge Internet Cafe listed as being at Eichstrasse 3 has moved (as of August 2007, I might add) to Kreuzstrasse, in the passage. I was here January of 2008. Salzburg, Austria: the guide book says that the Jugendherberge Salzburg is to the right of the Justizgebaeude bus stop. This is wrong, wrong, wrong. I don't know which Justizgebaeude stop you got off at (there are 3, I found all of them while looking around), but to get to the jugendherberge from the stop Bus 25 takes you to, you definitely have to take a left. If I remember correctly, it is the second street on the left side of the road (there is a small set of stairs to go into the old city on your right, then a big traffic intersection with a covered bus stop across the street from it). Once you cross the street, there is a sign that says Jugendherberge and the directions in the guidebook are good after this. Shawn in L, NY USA 02/01/2008 Institute St. Sebastin in Salzburg, Austria is NOT a place for people with a car as it is in a pedestrian zone with no parking anywhere near (this was low season and the lady at desk allowed us to use someone's private parking space). On p. 573 as an introduction to this section of accommodations, you say " in a pleasant neighborhood (with easy parking)..." Gail in Albany, OR USA 01/27/2008 The Museeum Pass in Berlin is now E19.50 per adult. (I puchased mine on Jan 2, 2008) Also note that some museums still want you to get tickets printed out at the ticket desks even with the museum pass. Ask before you stand in line. Tina Cox in Erlangen(formerly Lynchburg, VA), VA germany 01/08/2008 Big price difference on page 147 on Hotel Hirschen in Staufen. 2008 book says "they have a huge luxury apartment for 4 to 6 people for 140 to 150." I emailed using their website to reserve for May 2008 and they say it is 178 for 5 people, including breakfast. I referred to your 2008 book price when I asked the first time ... and again when I questioned why 178 a second time. Was this price checked for 2008 book? Jerry Daniel in Batavia, OH USA 01/05/2008 Halstatt's Bone Chapel was open on Dec. 30th. Per the guidebook, it should have been closed. Paul Wester in Dickinson, TX USA 01/02/2008 Please add www.Haus-Karin.de to your recommended B&B's in Rothenburg o.d. Tauber. The rates are very good and the service, breakfast and rooms are first rate! Fr. Weiss is wonderful!! Cynthy Barnes in Glendora, CA USA 12/15/2007 The section on the opera in Vienna is confusing at best. It really makes it seem as though you can just show up kind of whenever and hope to score tickets. We went in the off season even (February) and found it to be a very competitive task to get these SRO tickets. I don't have the book in front of me now but basically there's a time you can show up before the opera at which point they start selling the tickets. The book then mentions something along the lines of if you don't show up for that you can usually score tickets from people leaving and/or just getting them at the box office still. Thinking this was possible, we scoped out where we needed to show up and did so according to what we thought was the right time. We went to dinner then headed that way once we knew the tickets were for sale. When we arrived the side doors where you get the SRO tickets were closed. We waited for someone to come out, but it was someone who worked there. We were told there's no way to get in, even if someone comes out... (the other flaw I suppose is I don't think people necessarily have to exit out those doors if you can in fact get their used ticket). We eventually found our way inside, but we were watched like hawks by everyone working there and several people told us it's not possible to get tickets at the box office and there's no way to get them from someone leaving. Had we known it was so competitive to get tickets we obviously would have showed up earlier. The next day we did so (we showed up at least an hour and a half before the tickets went on sale, waited in line). People were very fiesty, people yelling at each other and what nots when they tried to get back in line after their friend was holding their spot. As the tickets went on sale, the guards would only let so many people in then locked the doors behind them, and so on. After re-reading the book we didn't think the book was accurate or at best was misleading. We actually changed our entire itinerary in Germany/Austria around and stayed a day longer in Vienna because we wanted to go to the opera and had missed this. Dane Kantner in Chicago, IL USA 11/28/2007 2007 edition, page 497: The Liechtenstein Museum has a cycle of Reubens, not Rembrandts. Nina USA 11/11/2007 On page 194 of the 2007 Germany and Austria book when about the middle of the page is says "Easy Parking is available in front of the Resisidenz pay at the machine marked Kasse before you leave your car." It would be much more clear if it said "...pay at the machine before you try to drive out of the parking lot with your car." The way it is currently worded makes it sound like you park your car and then pay at the machine to get a parking shield or something. Once you understand how the system works it is very easy, but the way it is currently worded caused us some confusion. Please have mercy and re-word this for future jet-lagged travelers. Ron Sanders in Albuquerque, NM USA 11/10/2007 Berlin, Schnell und Sauber Waschcenter : As of my visit in November, 2007, this launderette is now closed. Jim Greene in Las Cruces, NM USA 11/08/2007 Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Ruette, Germany-horrible experience, noisy, rude staff Sue Kerns USA 10/27/2007 The guidebook lists the meeting place for the Munich Gray Line/Panorama tours as Hertie department store right outside the Hauptbahnhof. It has changed it's name to Karstadt. Ingrid Duwe in Munroe Falls, OH USA 10/25/2007 Absolutely! In the book you state that the posted speed limits on the autobahn in Germany are recommended speed limits as in "while no one gets a ticket for exceeding them" or something to that effect (as I have lost those pages). When I told my friend the prosecutor in Koln that, she about exploded. Where speed limits are posted, they are meant to be followed and there are not just police cars, but rather speed guns with photos to mail you your ticket. The freedom from speed limits only exist where speed limits are not posted on the autobahn. This mis-information did not yield a ticket for us, but certainly could have if it had not been pouring down rain. Please inform you readers that where speed signs exists, they are enforced by camera and officers, and fines are very expensive. Rebecca Cosby in Evansville, IN USA 10/24/2007 I'd like to offer this addition to the guidebook for travel by bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden. When taking this bus the guidebook points you to pick it up at the bus station across from the train station. We caught the bus on Rudolfskai, right along the river on the old town side, near the Rathaus Platz. Tickets were around 8 Euros, buy them from the busdriver who can make change. The sign on the post indicates the correct bus number and arrival time. submitted by Chris Kern Chris Kern in Houston, TX USA 10/17/2007 P. 226 of the Germany & Austria 2007... We took the K-D boat trip from Bacharach, planning to get oof at St. Goar to tour the Rheinsfels Castle. Due to hours of heavy rain, we decided to continue on the boat to Koblenz to catch our reserved train to Nurenberg. P. 226 of the Germany-Austria 2007 Guide Book indicates "It's a 30-minute hike from the statin to the Koblenz boat dock." That's probably correct,but there is also the #1 bus which we picked up directly across from the boat dock, and for 1.45 euros, we rode to the train station in about 10 minutes. Susan Koenig in Northport, NY USA 10/13/2007 Just a tip decribing the trip to Halstatt. If you take the Southern route (A1) there is no exit at 166 to go north. Jeff Rittmueller in Chicago, Il USA 10/06/2007 In your Germany/Austria book, you state that Beethoven stayed in a certain house in Heiligenstadt when he wrote his 6th (Pastorale) Symphony in 1817. Beethoven did not in fact stay there when he wrote the 6th; he completed the 6th in 1808 (it was premiered at the Theater an der Wien on December 22, 1808 at a very famous concert that also introduced other well-known works such as the 5th Symphony). The plaque outside the building says he wrote part of the 9th Symphony there (possible, since he started sketches on the 9th in 1817). Also, some web site seems to be copying you. http://www.planetware.com/vienna/heiligenstadt-beethovens-house-a-w-hsb.htm also claims he wrote the 6th in 1817. Their text looks like an almost direct plagiarism from your guidebook. John Grabowski in Oakland, CA USA 09/30/2007 We searched all over for the lockers at the train station in Cochem, but we could not find any lockers. We were there on a Saturday and the station apparently is not manned on the weekends so there was no one there to ask. Aimee in Anaheim, CA USA 09/26/2007 In Munich, Rick says that hop on/hop off bus tours are not allowed. However, this must have changed because Grayline's tour that he is recommends is now a hop on/hop off tour though there are limited stops. Becca in Eden Prairie, MN USA 09/19/2007 The guide book leaves out several important things about Munich: ? It omits the sites pertaining to the Nazis and the Third Reich, such as the eternal flame to the victims of National Socialism and the building where Hitler and Chamberlain signed the Munich Pact. ? The ATMs in Munich are quite different from any others we’ve used. It gives you your card back first and then about 10 seconds later, your money comes out. If you don’t know this, you might think it’s not going to give you money, and you’ll walk away, leaving your money there. ? If you purchase tickets for any Grayline Tours at the Euraide Office in the main train station, you have to pay with cash. They don’t accept credit cards as payment for these tours. ? The people in the Euraide offices may be helpful, but we’ve found them to be quite unpleasant, not just in Munich, but in Berlin as well. They have a real attitude problem. Marcy and Jon Ruesch in Chicago, IL USA 09/16/2007 I'm not sure if this has been added to the most recent version of the guidebook (I have the 2006 edition), but I wanted to add something about Potsdam. I live in Berlin, and I was most disappointed when I took my mother there in summer of 2006 to discover that it was nearly impossible to get an English tour of any of the palaces (thus making it impossible to go inside Sans Souci). However! I went back with a friend this week, and it turns out they now have multiple-language audio guides and more frequent tours of Sans Souci palace, which made it great to visit with friends who don't speak German. Samantha in Berlin, Germany 09/07/2007 We enjoyed the walk up Elzback creek to Burg Eltz and found the HIKING FROM MOSELKERN pages 268 & 269 very helpful. The new maps in 2007 edition on page 267 were welcome but the placement of the Hotel Ringelsteiner Muhle on the map is on the wrong side of the road. We solved the problem by sitting down at their outside tables, ordering drinks and cherry/chocholate cake and watching a few obvious hikers and bikers head up past the hotel on the right side (contrary to map but consistent with text on p. 269.) Do you have to have German blood to be this picky ? Well I do even though my name is Wyruchowski. Thank you for your great guidebooks !! ED P.S. You could mention that this trail is by no means a desolate byway. There were probably a hundred people passing by us on the trail on a Wednesday morning in August. It looked like a favorite of bikers too, who mostly parked where gravel road became trail but we did see a couple mountain bikers on the trail as well. Ed Wyruchowski in Kirkland, WA USA 09/06/2007 Hotel Reinbold in Munich. The guide book said it is now Hotel Maximillian. The book also said it was on a quiet street. The hotel is still called Reinbold and it is anything but a quiet street. There were delivery trucks and lots of noise on the street as it is just a block from a public parking structure. Mike Plante in Golden, CO USA 09/02/2007 Munich Partner 3-day passes are 21 Euros now Krista Fouquette in Foley, MN USA 08/29/2007 On page 125 of the 2007 edition this is a section "Sound of Music Debunked". The last part details how a German film producer swindled Maria into signing away the film rights. That is true. However what ought to be added is that the American producers paid her a small percentage of the royalties even though they weren't required to do so. So they made more than the $9,000 cash the German swindler paid her. By some reports, it amounted to about $500,000 which is less than the full rights would have brought, but a lot more than $9K!! See http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E6D71E38F936A35751C0A96F958260&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=all and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_von_Trapp Mike in LA, CA USA 08/22/2007 Couldn't find free internet at Frankfurt airport, but plenty of terminals for E18 per hour! Frankfurt airport money exchange was expensive--minimum E3 per transaction, and 25% buy/sell spread Euros vs. $. Craig Walker in Beaverton, OR USA 08/19/2007 Usually spot on. Thanks Rick. Love your podcasts too! Alex Griffin in Danville, Ky USA 08/19/2007 The autobahn toll sticker for Austria is called a "vignette" and is easily purchased in any gas station. Our hotel told us it was only necessary for autobahn driving, but at E7 for a 10-day sticker, we bought one before heading out, just in case. So sorry other travelers got a big fine for not having one! Kathy Weeks in Portland, OR USA 08/16/2007 The Schnell and Sauber Waschcenter listed in the 2007 guidebook for Berlin on Leibnizstrasse is no longer there. They have relocated to Kaiserdamm 100. The closest metro stop is Kaiserdamm. Jill Lewis in Houston, TX USA 08/07/2007 I think it would be VERY important for Rick to include the part about the Austrian Toll Sticker IN the Austria section "Getting there by car" It is currently in the introduction to the book which we did not read that carefully. We have used Rick's books for years and were disappointed that it was not mentioned in a better place. We were given a 120 Euro fine for not having the sticker, the sign on the A8 coming into Austria is small and just says Toll Tariff with no other info. Robin Wissing in Vernon Hills, IL USA 08/06/2007 Rick says that you can visit the DDSG boat line office in Vienna. We tried to find the office and were sent to two locations and wasted time and just got frustrated. I would recommend simply calling the office even if their English isn't so good. We had to buy the train-boat tickets to Melk at the Westbahnhof railway station anyway and we were told that we couldn't buy the tickets at the DDSG office anyway. Gary Hoffman in Baldwin, WI USA 07/30/2007 Gabi from the Maximilian Hotel in Reutte got new bikes and now charges 8 Euros a day to rent them :) Just wanted you to know :) Shari Shaw in McHenry, IL USA 07/19/2007 Baden-Baden, Germany--The Baths of Carcalla The guidebook mentions that here you need to bring your own towel (or pay Eu 5 plus a Eu 10 deposit to rent one). Since we didn't pack towels in our backpacks, I was a bit worried about this one. We were not supposed to remove towels out of our hotel, but smuggled them out anyway. It turned out that while Rick's comments are true, I did not understand that the spa would not REQUIRE us to bring those towels. We are a family of 4....my husband & I could have easily shared a towel...and the kids pretty much air dry anyway. Also, a neat tip is to go into the room with the sunlamps and dry off that way--by laying under the sun lamp. You are dry in no time at all. So, all this to say, do not fret--the towels are not REQUIRED by the spa, but if you want them you will have to pay. Nancy Cox in Houston, TX USA 07/12/2007 Baden-Baden, Germany: The Roman-Irish Bath (Friedrichsbad) was closed for refurbishing and reopened June 23rd--PARTIALLY. We stayed in town on opening day so we could experience this spa. We were not charged full price, but the experience was not worth Rick's three triangle rating in it's present state. Part of the baths were still closed off to the public and under rennovation. The baths that were open have their temperatures listed, but 3 of the baths were definitely not hot enough to be at the correct temperature as shown on the sign. The staff seems to have changed over a bit also, as 2 of the ladies who attended me mentioned that they were new. At one point I had to stand in a hallway--wet, cold, and naked--while the attendant tried to figure out which way I was to go (we wandered through some of the construction area at one point) and then searched for a key to open the door to the heated spas. She apologized a lot, but it was still COLD! My experience with the brush massage was great, but my husband said that he was short-changed as they only did one side of his back and then sent him away saying he was finished. Overall, it was still a neat experience, but at the present time--until the work is finished on the building and the staff more experienced, I'd recommend sticking with the Baths of Carcalla. Nancy Cox in Houston, TX USA 07/12/2007 DRESDEN -- The IBIS described on page 350 (Hotels Bastei, Konigstein, and Lilienstein) are not honoring the prices that are printed in the 2007 edition. We paid 139 euro/night (2 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) in May. That price did include the buffet breakfast, but that isn't enough to make up for the price discrepancy. Cori Morris in Grafenwoehr, Germany 07/07/2007 Page 169 of the Germany and Austria 2007 book, in the Allergic-To-Tourists Wall and Moat Walk, I think in the 6th line, the Rodertor and Galentor are backward. It seemed to me that the Galentor came first, then the ROdertor. Howard Sears in Houston, Tx USA 07/07/2007 Berlin - TI is no longer located in Europa Center Reutte - add that Non Solo Pasta doesn't take cc Marianne Sullivan in Newark, DE USA 07/04/2007 Self-Guided Tour of Köln Catherdal: The reclining knight is located to the right of the Mary statue (when facing the statue), not to the left as noted in the guidebook. Loved all of the self-guided tours...really added to my experience of a lot of the sights! Jennifer in Chicago, IL USA 07/02/2007 1. Phones: Getting a pay-as-you-go plan for your cell phone, even if you have the right phone and the unlock code, is not so easy. I was told by two separate stores in Berlin wouldn't sell be a plan because German law required the owner to have a German address. However, a shop in Munich told me I could use the hotel address. By that time it was too late for it to be worth it. Phone cards are great for calling internationally, but if you don't have a room with a phone it can be inconvenient, as the card may be good only from a fixed-line (Festnetz) phone and not from a phone booth or cell phone. 2. Parking in cities: not necessarily as bad as Rick suggests. I found parking garages and metered areas in many places. But DO NOT make the mistake of proceeding to the exit without having first paid at an automatic booth. Otherwise you'll be stuck at the unmanned exit booth blocking the exit of everyone else! On the street instead of parking meters you are likely to find automatic machines which dispense a slip with the time, to be displayed on the left side of the dash. Sometimes there is no payment required, but an hour restriction. In this case you need a cardboard clock on which you set the hands to the time you parked and place it on the dashboard. Probably a tourist info office or service station could advise you where to get this clock. (I got mine from a city office in a small town in Austria.) Stephen Hoffmann in Upland, IN USA 06/28/2007 Re your suggestion on biking to Melk from Krems or vice versa: NO way is this a 3 hour trip. It took us 5. We went leisurely, but you'd have to be Lance Armstrong to do this in 3 hours. It's too much for a traveler who is not in shape. Ellen Langer in Dayton, OH USA 06/23/2007 I think the instructions for calling the Austrian rail booking centre might be wrong. The directions Rick states are: "to get an operator, dial 2, then 1". Not understanding the language, I've followed these instructions a couple of times and seem to end up with the wrong dept (eg train travel with a motorcycle). Perhaps the instructions should be "dial 1, then 2"? Help, anyone? Alison in Calgary, AB Canada 06/06/2007 The train to/from Frankfurt to Rothenburg was two transfers (not one as listed). You will need to transfer in Wurtzburg and Steinach. Time between trains was minimal and an enjoyable ride through the countryside. Rachel Tagge in Burke, VA USA 06/06/2007 The Pension Adlerhof in Salzburg is not honoring the prices in the guidebook. It says a triple is 87 - 105 Euros and we are being charged 120 Euros. I asked for a Rick Steves discount but their response was that July 28, 2007 is "high season" in Salzburg. All of the other hotels are booked so we don't have any choice but to pay the 120 Euros. Joellen in Houston, TX USA 05/29/2007 Hotel am Viktualienmarkt in Munich will not honor the prices in the guidebook. We tried to book a room for 3 and the best price they would offer was 115 Euros including on a weekend night. Joellen in Houston, TX USA 05/27/2007 Hotel Amadeus in Salzburg needs to have a correction that English speaking personnel are not at the front desk. We stayed two nights and finally spoke to someone with some English as we were leaving. The staff had deactivated our key on the second day and it took an American that could speak better German than me to explain our predicament. Debra Dennis in Raymond, WA USA 05/27/2007 In your Germany & Austria 2007 guidebook, you list the Hotel Weisse Taube, Salzburg rooms with shower as E96 with a 10% discount with the book. We are being charged E129 with a 10% discount. John Arvold in Waunakee, WI USA 05/25/2007 Berlin- the 2007 Guidebook mentions Bus 145 as the one to take to the palace in Charlottenburg. It is actually M45. Also - there is no Luisenhaus restaurant on the adjacent corner. There is, however, a Brauhaus Lemke at that location which is quite good Patti Siwajek in Toledo, oh USA 05/20/2007 I called the number in your guidebook for Zimmer - Walter & Emilie Hosp in Breitenwang and the people who answered said it was a private home and they do not let out rooms...so either the number is wrong or they have changed their minds! Judi Paffenbarger in Scottsdale, AZ USA 05/07/2007 The web address of the Salzburg-Gasthaus Stadtalm is now www.diestadtalm.com. Debbie McNeill in Burghausen, Germany 04/26/2007 On pages 327, the web address for Ibis Nurnberg Konigstor Hotel reads "www.ibis.com" which is incorrect. The correct URL is "www.ibishotel.com". Ron Heck in Saint Paul, MN USA 04/10/2007 No- GREAT info on transportation logistics! janet Archibald in San Francisco, CA USA 04/08/2007 From Germany and Austria 2007, Arrival in Cochem (p. 262): Drivers can park ... in a free lot behind the train station ...." I don't think the parking lot is free. It has automatic parking machines which I believe is where you pay for a set time and get a ticket to put on your dash. There wasn't much signage, but that's a pretty clear indicator. Brien Muller in Ballston Spa, NY USA 03/06/2007 The correct email for the Hotel Bon Aparte in Gorlitz, Germany is hotel@bon-apart.de notinfo@bon-apart.de as stated in the 2007 guidebook. I have emailed the owner, Francois, and he has been exceedingly helpful when booking a room for our trip there in July. He even offered to pick us up at the train station! What an offer. Gary Hoffman in Baldwin, WI USA 02/14/2007 I have used Rick's books for two European trips and found them invaluable, but was surprised to pick up the Germany & Austria book in a store today and read that the Guttenburg Museum in Mainz was a disappointment. Fortunately I spent 3 very profitable and enjoyable hours there before I read this! Iain in Edmonton, AB Canada 02/02/2007 Add more hotel recommendations to Dinkelsbuhl. The Christmas Market was decent for a small town. They have an internet cafe open until midnight every day except Sunday. Take another look at Dinkelsbuhl. It was a great side trip. Lorene Boyes in Lindenhurst, IL USA 01/13/2007 In Berlin several of the underground lines between middle and western Berlin are underconstruction. It makes it impossible to get around unless you know German and can hear the station instructions. We eventually shifted to the bus system. Buses took us everywhere we needed to go and the =view is much better than the underground. The Munich Euraid office has moved. I think Starbucks is building at their old location. I never did find their new location and none of the train officials knew where they were located either. In Berlin the euraid office has also moved. I was told by a train official "it had moved three stops to the east" whatever that meant. I never found them. Stan Biles in Blue River, or USA 01/03/2007 |
