Well der Kubaner, there are two big decisions you must make rather quickly; 1) when are you going and 2) how long will you go for.
In 2011, Oktoberfest runs from 17 September through 3 Oktober. We have been on every weekend, but seem to have settled on the 2nd weekend. This means the weekend of 23 September. The first weekend is interesting if you want to watch the big parade that kicks off the festivities. That weekend tends to draw alot more people at the Weisn (short for Thereisienwiese, which is the name of the area where Oktoberfest is held). Of course you don't need to go on a weekend, it just works out best for us that way due to vacation schedules.
We tend to arrive early Friday and leave on Tuesday, about 4 full days. This has always been our modus operandi, and seems to work well for us. We take trips during the day and drink in the evening. Not to say we don't drink during the day as well.
Anyway, these two decisions are important because you then need to worry about plane tickets and hotels. We usually have our tickets booked by the end of January/beginning of February. We try to use frequent flyer miles, but might need to actually pay this year. This then leads to a hotel. As you can imagine, rooms fill up quickly, so like flight reservations, we tend to get our hotel set up at the same time. We have been staying at a small hotel right by the train station everytime we have gone, and can provide info if you desire.
Welcome to the Blog, and keep the conversation going. Remember, no question is a bad question. We had to learn this the hard way, with lots of alcohol in our system.
I will let the others introduce themselves, but I am Chugger, in Dayton, OH, and have been on every trip this group has made since 1993 ! Only two of us can say that.
3 comments:
Awesome post. As I write this Aram and I are sitting on Little Gasparilla Island discussing our plans. (Please, don't hate us because we live in Florida and can go to the beach in late December.) We have decided that we are definitely going to join the group's travels if we are allowed to do so.
Aram is a retired Air Canada pilot and we will likely be traveling between Toronto, Canada and London or maybe Frankfurt. It's easier to get flights like that standby. Then maybe an Easyjet flight from London to Munich. But we are just now starting to formulate our plans.
2nd weekend is perfect for us as we can fly out on Wednesday and be ready for late Thursday and Friday.
Here are some things we have found:
1) How do we get tickets to the tents? Do we need them, or does showing up early enough?
2) Can we book at the hotel with you guys? If so, what's the best way to reserve a room? Internet? Phone?
3) What are some, "mandatory" day trips for us?
I'm sure we will have many more questions. Thanks for the info so far.
We are working on a good german name for Aram.
Yavohl!
We have had a great time through the years. We stay at a hotel right near the main train station in Munich (Hotel Alfa). It is nice and clean, but not luxurious. Kind of like a Best Western of the German world. If you want to spend some more $$ then the Excelsior is close by. Both are convenient to any trains you want to take.
The top day trips (w.r.t. having your sons along) are Salzburg/Berchesgarden, Augsburg/Dachau, and Neuschwanstien.
Welcome and so glad you will join. After so many visits looking at the same old faces and listeling the same old stories.
The warning is a only one time but every newbee has to learn a lot during his/her first trip.
I mention:
- drinking gallons of beer all day long
- eating kebap (unknown source) in the middle of the night.
- staying in a hotel with rooms where at least (sometimes 3 or more) festians "sleep"
- where cleaning ladies only enter when the windows first have been opened for at least 8 hrs.
- when the female festians join you will be tortured for shopping
- you have stand train/bus seats watching snarking people when the festians are "on tour"
But said so; it is a fantastic event and all together every two years we HAVE to go.
Although I am glad that my wife (Schlumberger Lady) years ago found a hotel more convenient. This was the Excelcsior, but I believe she has found a new one for this year. I will inform.
Post a Comment