Munich Airport Hotel
In the latest issue of Gemütlichkeit you suggested that you do not have a "crackerjack" hotel to recommend that is located near the Munich Airport for people to use for the "last night".
Two years ago I found and used the Hotel Hoyacker Hof run by the Schredl family. This is a relative new hotel, typically German, very friendly, exceptionally clean and well furnished. Parking is provided on the premises. The location is just off the A-9 in D-8046 Garching at Freisinger Landstrasse 9a. Their phone number is 089/3206965-68 and the fax is 089/3207243.
The rate charged in May, 1995 was 130 DM for a single with a great breakfast. The hotel is quiet and I highly recommend it not only for the "last night" but for any time you need an excellent hotel north of Munich (about 20 KM)
Gary P. Ford
Dayton OH
Rothenburg Hotel
We appreciate your Internet Travel tips. The Internet has certainly added a dimension to our travel planning that is most welcome. Thanks to Gemütlichkeit we are using Expedia for airline reservations and find it a great way to do business.
I especially want to comment on your mention of the Hotel Garni Hornburg. We stayed there last year for several days. It is a wonderful alternative to the more expensive hotels within the walls.
The Hornburg is literally just outside the walls and is a bit hard to find the first time around as it sits on a pedestrian only street, facing one of the town parking lots and the wall. This is not a detraction at all. The hotel garden is lovely as are the hosts, Martin and Gabi Wetzel, a delightful young couple who are anxious to make your stay as pleasant as possible. The rooms are spacious and attractive, the breakfast as good as any we've had in Germany. Gabi even made scrambled eggs for me one day!
While we were there a Volksfest was in full swing. The parking lot by the hotel was where the parade ended and was set up with food concessions, live music and the largest beer trucks we have ever seen! They looked like small milk trucks with hoses running from the trucks to the beer tents for true "vom fass." We had a great time. The Wetzels joined us in the hotel garden at a picnic table and we toasted everything we could think of. When the steins ran dry we walked back to the beer tent and got refills. We consumed more "beer and brats" that day than I care to admit but what fun we had. We could be part of the festival and yet had our own private spot to retreat to. It was a memorable experience.
A few more things: The hotel's Web page is in German, but the Wetzel's speak fluent English. When we made our reservations we did it via fax and got an answer from them in minutes. By the way, that is how we make most of our reservations now. We are planning a four-week trip to Germany and the Italian Tyrol in June/July and have made all our reservations this way. Next time we will try some of the on-line reservation possibilities.
'We heartily recommend the Hotel Hornburg and the Wetzels and think Gemütlichkeit should give it a try. (Of course then it will be always booked up when we want to go. We were jealously guarding this "find" but now that the word is out we just had to send an endorsement!)
Virginia & Eric Kiehn
Stoddard NH
Baden-Baden Report
To your very fine report on Baden-Baden recently, I would like to add the following:
The town which is known for ICE trains to stop for one minute only is constructing a new rail station. In the meantime the Bundesbahn is providing travelers with assistance for loading and unloading their luggage, and it is free.
The once dilapidated Roman-lrish Friedrichsbad, known for "mixed FKK type bathing" has been modernized and now provides a good and clean atmosphere for those who enjoy thermal waters.
While the Stahlbad under the direction of Uschi Moench remains the leading restaurant, a number of new eateries in the Neuweier section of town have opened up. Zum Alde Gott appears to be the best one. Their lamb and seasonal mushroom specialties are superb. So is the view from there, over vineyards and toward the Vosges mountains of Alsace. Unfortunately, this establishment does not accept U.S. credit cards.
A new convention center is being constructed so that commercial and political gatherings can be handled. The April conference between Boris Yeltsin and Helmut Kohl has reestablished Baden-Baden as one of Germany's leading diplomatic retreats, similar to The Greenbriar in West Virginia.
Herbert St. Goar
Chattanooga TN
Spa Near Zürich Airport
How convenient Hotel Verenahof (Kurplatz 1, CH-5400 Baden, tel. 056/203 9393, fax -56/2-3 9394) is for a Zürich flight; about 20 minutes by car from the airport and certainly accessible by train. Both times we have arrived about 9:30 a.m. and had immediate access to our room, a double superior - nice size, clean with balcony with table and two chairs. If this were not the case, however, one could always check the luggage at the desk and still use the pools and solarium which is filled with chaise lounges.
Food is good but not outstanding. One large dining room for breakfast and half-board and a smaller one for ala carte.
Everything is well prepared and presented, even exceptionally so, but it's that ill-defined genre "continental" when what I'm after is more traditional Swiss. No doubt this is an unfair criticism since there are few Americans here and no doubt the Swiss and Germans who form the bulk of the guests are not interested in more of their familiar food.
No doubt we'll be back on our next trip to Switzerland - we do enjoy the way it starts our vacation.
Joan Hawkins
Glen Cove NY
(U.S. Dollar prices quoted in this issue of Gemütlichkeit may be inaccurate for these reasons:
* Prices in local currency have not been updated since the date of publication of this newsletter, and...
* The dollar prices shown were obtained by using exchange rates in effect at the time of publication.
May 1997
