Cities!

[jennifer]

Hi everyone!
I know most of you have read my itinerary before, but I have some questions, a whole lot that I am all going to post here. Please help out if you can! all dates are from sept to nov

Prague 17-20, I've posted already about the hostel I should stay in, but If you have any comments, please help me choose one!

Nuremberg 20-23

Ingolstadt 23-25

Passau 25-27

Munich 27-29

Fussen 29-30 sept can anyone tell me about exactly how to get from the jh fussen to the castles, how long it takes, how much it costs, how exactly?

Lake Konstanz 30-4 oct we've talked about it before, but it seems cycling around the lake is not really possible considering all the hills..is it really that bad? The cities I would mostly like to see are Konstanz, Isle Mainau, Meersburg, Lindau, Friedrichshafen, Insel Reichenau, Unteruhldingen, Salem, Bregenz. Am i forgetting any interesting ones? Besides the YH in these cities, do you know any cheap and interesting places to stay? Does these cities sound like a good tour of the lake? Which transportation mode should I use? Etc..

I don't know which city I should arrive in around the lake, meanin Fussen to where, by train.
I also don't know which city I should train out of, meaning which city to gimmelwald.

Gimmelwald 4-9 oct I'll be there a little long, I was thinking of visiting interlaken on the 4th and heading out to gimmelwald on the 5th? Would it be better to visit any other city in switzerland that the train crosses into like bern or lucerne or zurich? what do you suggest?

Freiburg 9-11 oct

Heidelberg 11-14 oct

Frankfurt 14-16 oct

Koblenz 16-18 oct

Leverkusen (visting friends) 18-29 oct

Amsterdam 29-2 nov Many hostels, just don't know which is the best, is the flying pig really up to it's reputation?

Oldenburg 2-5 nov

Hamburg 5-8 nov

Lubeck 8-11 nov

Berlin 11-17 nov

Londres 17-20 once more, the hostel thing, is the generator also living up to it's reputation. Which is best, london pass and transport + extra things to see or travel pass + pay point to point for attractions?

I thank everyone that will help out so much!
xoxo
Jen

[Kim]

Are you set on staying in Fussen? We just did it as a day trip from Munich. It's a longish day but there isn't much in Fussen.

Gimmewald - Definately the Mountain Hostel

Berlin - One of the two Circus hostels.

As far as Bern, Lucerne, Zurich or Interlaken..

Not Bern or Zurich. Lucerne is a very nice city, covered bridges etc., Interlaken has very nice scenery, touristy, with lots of outdoor sports.

Kim

[jennifer]

Actually for Fussen, I was kind of eurked (not really a verb but hey!) at staying there for the night. The thing is, I was thinking on leaving Munich real early in the morning, visiting the 2 castles and then taking a train to Lake Konstanz.

I just am not settled on time frames to visit the castles!
Any advice?

Then....my real misery right now is Lake Konstanz....advice?
Thanks guys!

xoxo
jen

[jennifer]

Does anyone have other advice! Please please please!

[me]

Jen,

how wedded are you to the cycle idea? as i recall, there are ferries that go all over the Bodensee. actually, you *could* take a cycle onto those boats!

Some friends live in Ueberlingen. there are several nice towns near there.

If the Zeplins (airships) are of interest to you, Friedrichshaven has an interesting museum.

the city of Konstanz is an interesting Uni-city. i'm sure you'll find stuff of interest there. [historically, John Calvin spent time there, if the reformation is an interest]

[jennifer]

Thanks for the info!
The thing is, I am not so into cycling, but I am in to cheapness!
I think the ships must be expensive, no?
Do you have any information on that?

THanks!

[me]

sorry, don't have specific info about the boats. i don't think they're *that* expensive! you'd need to take ferries to get to Mainau & Reichenau, i think.

[jennifer]

Yup!
I had planned for those, but didn't know about city to city!
If I could, i'd rather not bike, maybe in a city yes, but not from one to another, especially with the hills and all, I just don't really know how to plan all this because the info isn't out there!
I really hope someone knows,
also if someone knows about other precious info on the other cities I mentionned!
xoxo
Thanks

[muzicfreak]

Fussen to the castles.. Is very Close.. You get off the train and u go to the ticket booth inside the station buy a roundtrip bus tickets and it takes u right to the foot of the hills where the castles are located.. I believe it's a 5-10min bus ride real easy. Fussen is a nice town lots of good places to eat and some touristy shops.
With Gimmelwald. I made the mistake of going to Gimmelwald then going back down to Interlaken then back up to Gimmelwald.. It costs about 10-15euros everytime u go from the two towns. So i would suggest stay up in Gimmelwald and leave one night for Interlaken. Don't stay at Balmers in Interlaken.. That place is a mess... I saw a huge brawl in the pub downstairs when i was there and people complained about the noise all night.. I would stay at the Funny Farm due to the staff is great.. it's not the cleanest place but you will get sleep.. Also has a center for all the extreme sports.. So you can just pay and go..
Munich i would stay at the International youth hostel.. I stayed at the 4u and it was alright.. Good sleep everyone was in bed by 10pm in my room and rose around 9am. So it was a nice sleep but it's mostly groups and non-adventure types staying there.
With amsterdam i stayed in a Great!! hostel it's called the Stay O-kay of Vondel Park. It is walking distance to everything and has the park in it's backyard. The place is huge the rooms are always clean.. Has a shower in the room and a bathroom and great staff! So check that place out..
As with London transportation.. Check out the transportation section of the board under "Double Decker Bus tour" there is a whole discussion under that.. But since you are only staying 3 days.. You should just get Zone 1 and 2 daily passes.. it will be about 4lbs a day and if u decide to go into other zones all you have to do is go to the booth and ask for an extension. Real easy
Well hope this helps
Cheers
Gary

[jennifer]

WOw!
Thanks for the great info!
Resolved some of my problems!
Thanks!
xoxo
Jen