http://www.activehotels.com/wl/servlet/xmlbrochure/index.do?hotelid=63435&trkref=KW7
Here is the link for a hotel just around the corner from our house. It is called, literally, Hotel "Nice View" - but would be more accurately described as " Hotel 5 minutes walk away from fantastic view". The view from the hotel is just okay.
A double room not on the top floor, not on the street-side of the building, no-smoking, breakfast buffet included for three nights starting on 25 June is 100 Euro per night. No hotels in the area have air-conditioning.
The Gasthaus Adler, across the street, is significantly cheaper. They are doing noisy renovations right now, but I will inquire there!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Add a Country: Stein am Rhein, Switzerland
Stein am Rhein, Switzerland is just a 40 minute train ride from downtown Konstanz along a finger of the Bodensee as it tapers into the Rhein river. The city itself is a tiny well preserved medieval village with a beautiful pedestrian area which is generally safe for 4-year-olds and toddlers. Each of buildings have detailed paintings on them. Water drainage pipes shaped like dragons! Drop in for a coffee, a meal, an ice cream, and one of the most picturesque little places you will ever see.Meisterwerkstatt fuer Gitarren und Zupfinstrumente
We are still looking for local guitar makers for Thayr. Sean found the following guitar shop in Koblenz, which is an 1 3/4 hour direct train trip from Essen. www.gitarren-gose.deMoney, a Necessary Evil
The easiest and usually the least expensive way to obtain Euros while in Germany is to use a debit card at an ATM. It is worth a call to your bank to be sure, but nearly all ATM cards work here. ATMs can be found everywhere, including the airport, and can be used 24 hours a day. There is usually a daily limit on how much money you can get from an ATM, generally 200-300$. A four-digit pin number is required. Using a debit card at an ATM gives you the most current exchange rate and is associated only with withdrawal fees from your bank and maybe a few little other mysterious fees, but is almost always the least expensive way to get euros.
Money exchange places at airports and train stations are rip-offs.
If you want to exchange large quantities of dollars, do so at a bank. Bring your passport. They will charge an additional percentage and might not give you the best exchange rate.
Travellers cheques are out of fashion, can only be converted at banks during business hours, and banks charge extra for them.
Major credit cards ( visa, MasterCard, American express, cirrus) can usually be used, but not always. Always ask first. Certainly at fancy restaurants, major hotels, and most grocery stores a credit card can be used. If you want to get a cash advance from a credit card, you need to have a four-digit pin number and your passport.
Call your credit card company and bank before you go on a shopping spree in Germany so they don't put a hold on your card for "unusual activity".
Click on this link for further discussion about obtaining foreign currency in Europe: www.thereareplaces.com/infgdes/money/buycrncy.htm
Money exchange places at airports and train stations are rip-offs.
If you want to exchange large quantities of dollars, do so at a bank. Bring your passport. They will charge an additional percentage and might not give you the best exchange rate.
Travellers cheques are out of fashion, can only be converted at banks during business hours, and banks charge extra for them.
Major credit cards ( visa, MasterCard, American express, cirrus) can usually be used, but not always. Always ask first. Certainly at fancy restaurants, major hotels, and most grocery stores a credit card can be used. If you want to get a cash advance from a credit card, you need to have a four-digit pin number and your passport.
Call your credit card company and bank before you go on a shopping spree in Germany so they don't put a hold on your card for "unusual activity".
Click on this link for further discussion about obtaining foreign currency in Europe: www.thereareplaces.com/infgdes/money/buycrncy.htm
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Munich to Konstanz by Train
The following link connects you to the German train schedule website: www.db.de
The easiest and shortest way to get to Konstanz from Munich is to make transfers in Ulm and in Radolfzell. Trains with these connections leave from Munich Hbf at 8:24am ( arrive 12:16) or 10:24am ( arrive 14:16) on the morning of 25 June.
When you arrive in Munich Hbf, just go to the ticket counter and request tickets to Konstanz going through Ulm and Raldolfzell. The train people will speak English. There are a million ways to get to Konstanz from Munich, some involving up to 6 transfers...so you may want to bring the following itinerary with you!
Mo, 25.06.07
Train leaves from Munich Hbf at10:24 from gleis (track) 13
The train will be a white ICE train, train number ICE108 InterCityExpressBordRestaurant ( you can get a coffee and a snack on this train only)
Train arrives at Ulm Hbf 11:49 on track 1
You then have 10 minutes to get to gleis 6 (Sud = south). (Train stations generally have very good signs. You can count on most train staff to have functional English. Often, announcements on German trains are also made in English. )
Train leaves from Ulm Hbf at 11:59, from gleis6 Süd The train number is :IRE 3106 InterRegioExpress
Train arrives in Radolfzell at 13:48 , gleis 4
You have 12 minutes to get to gleis 6.
Last train leaves from Radolfzell at 14:00 , gleis 6 , IRE 5191InterRegioExpress
Train arrives Konstanz Hbf at 14:16 , gleis 3
Dauer ( duration of trip): 3:52
Important train station vocabulary:
Hbf = Hauptbahnhof = main train station
ICE= InterCityExpress train, usually white and shiny and fast
IRE= InterRegioExpress, makes more stops
RE= RegioExpress , makes even more stops, often red in color
Gleis = track
umsteigen=transfer
Zug= train
Bahnhof=train station
"Wohin?" and frantic gesturing = "I say, can you please tell me where that train is going?"
Mist! = Darn it!
The easiest and shortest way to get to Konstanz from Munich is to make transfers in Ulm and in Radolfzell. Trains with these connections leave from Munich Hbf at 8:24am ( arrive 12:16) or 10:24am ( arrive 14:16) on the morning of 25 June.
When you arrive in Munich Hbf, just go to the ticket counter and request tickets to Konstanz going through Ulm and Raldolfzell. The train people will speak English. There are a million ways to get to Konstanz from Munich, some involving up to 6 transfers...so you may want to bring the following itinerary with you!
Mo, 25.06.07
Train leaves from Munich Hbf at10:24 from gleis (track) 13
The train will be a white ICE train, train number ICE108 InterCityExpressBordRestaurant ( you can get a coffee and a snack on this train only)
Train arrives at Ulm Hbf 11:49 on track 1
You then have 10 minutes to get to gleis 6 (Sud = south). (Train stations generally have very good signs. You can count on most train staff to have functional English. Often, announcements on German trains are also made in English. )
Train leaves from Ulm Hbf at 11:59, from gleis6 Süd The train number is :IRE 3106 InterRegioExpress
Train arrives in Radolfzell at 13:48 , gleis 4
You have 12 minutes to get to gleis 6.
Last train leaves from Radolfzell at 14:00 , gleis 6 , IRE 5191InterRegioExpress
Train arrives Konstanz Hbf at 14:16 , gleis 3
Dauer ( duration of trip): 3:52
Important train station vocabulary:
Hbf = Hauptbahnhof = main train station
ICE= InterCityExpress train, usually white and shiny and fast
IRE= InterRegioExpress, makes more stops
RE= RegioExpress , makes even more stops, often red in color
Gleis = track
umsteigen=transfer
Zug= train
Bahnhof=train station
"Wohin?" and frantic gesturing = "I say, can you please tell me where that train is going?"
Mist! = Darn it!
The Island of Mainau
One of the most popular nearby tourist destinations is the Island of Mainau. It is a beautiful garden island with both planned and unplanned flower gartens.
There are also playgrounds, a butterfly house, a petting zoo, a castle, and a few restaurants on the island.
Mainau is just a few minutes away by bus or car, or a beautiful 30 minute walk.
Click on this link and enjoy a virtual tour of the island: www.mainau.de/htdocs/en/0101.htm
Meersburg
One easy day trip from Konstanz is a visit to Meersburg. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meersburg
From our house, Meersburg is a short walk down the hill to the lake. Then you take the ferry across the Bodensee for twenty minutes to Meersburg. On a nice day, you can see the Alps of Switzerland and Austria from the boat. On a not-so-nice day, you can get a coffee in the boat Bistro.
The main attraction in Meersburg, besides getting an ice cream and window shopping, is the old castle. In addition, there is a Thermal bath, perfect for weary travellers. Wine tasting is also a possibility.
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