Budget flights to Germany
Note that budget airlines come and go, routes change and that even large national carriers offer budget fares that may compare to those of the ‘cheap’ airlines (from the UK and Ireland). Check with your local travel agent or search the Internet for current bargains. For bargain fares from the UK, Ireland, North America and elsewhere in the world, visit (among others) www.cheapflights.co.uk, www.expedia.com, www.travelocity.com and www.statravel.com (for student travel).
Ryanair’s main port of call in Germany is presently Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (www.hahn-airport.de). There are also flights to Salzburg in Austria from Dublin and London Stansted. For more information visit www.ryanair.com.
EasyJet offers flights from London Stansted to Munich (www.easyjet.com). Eurowings (www.eurowings.com) offers flights from Dublin and various UK airports to Munich and Salzburg.
Getting around
Mittenwald is one of the prettiest towns in the Bavarian Alps
All the base towns and mountain groups in this guidebook can be easily reached via bus or train, or a combination of both. The transport system is efficient and reliable and will get you to the smallest village and the start of many routes. The bus system in Oberstdorf is especially well organised, and makes dispensing with the car a real pleasure! The ‘Alex’ trains from here to Munich also provide a comfortable connection for a day in the big city.
Details on transport to the start of a route, or from the end of a track, are given at the start of each route description. However, some routes may begin in town (for example, in Füssen, Mittenwald and Oberammergau). Oberammergau is especially interesting if you are without a car as the starting points of most of the walks described can be reached on foot.
Whether you travel around by car or bus depends on how you want to spend your holiday. Those who want to do a lot of travelling will find a car the most comfortable option. If you are content to stay in one place, or intend to spend a lot of time in mountain huts, then you can probably do without a car.
Information on timetables (Fahrpläne) and discounts for trains and buses can be obtained from the German Federal Railway’s website at www.bahn.de (also in English), and for the local bus network in Oberbayern from www.rvo-bus.de (German). See also the English-language site www.bayern.by for travel discounts.
As discounts on transport services are subject to change, it pays to enquire at the local tourist offices about current offers (or visit one of the above websites). They can also help you with timetables and so forth.
The free Kurkarte or Gästekarte (visitor’s card – see below) that you receive from your host usually allows free or discounted travel on the town and, quite often, regional buses.
Bavaria’s bus network is excellent
Accommodation
Campsites, rustic farmhouses, simple bed and breakfasts or luxury hotels combined with stunning alpine views; the Bavarian Alps offers the whole gamut of possibilities to satisfy the varied budgets of tired mountain walkers seeking shelter for the night. For those who cannot bear to leave the tops, well-equipped mountain huts ensure a measure of comfort, some even with hot showers and double rooms.
All the base towns in this guidebook, along with many other towns along the alpine fringe, are Kurorte (spa or health resorts). All visitors staying in such towns are required to pay a visitor’s tax. This daily surcharge is paid to your host on top of your accommodation costs, and is used to provide and maintain the various amenities offered by the resorts. All guests receive a Kurkarte or Gästekarte (visitor’s card) which entitles them to various reductions on local attractions and free use of town buses.
Local tourist offices (contact details are given at the start of base town descriptions) are the best bet for information on accommodation in a specific area. It is often possible to book accommodation via their websites or by phone. For Bavaria as a whole, try www.tiscover.com. Refer also to the comments under the categories listed below.
Campsites
There are numerous campsites scattered throughout the region. Standards are high and you can usually expect facilities for camper vans (mobile homes) or caravans, an attached restaurant and small shop for daily necessities. The local tourist office in your base town will be able to provide addresses of those in the vicinity. Try also www.eurocampings.co.uk. Note Wild camping is forbidden in Germany.
Youth hostels
German youth hostels (Jugendherberge) are open to anyone holding a current membership card. The German network is affiliated with Youth Hostelling International. For more information and a listing of sites in Bavaria and Germany, visit www.jugendherberge.de or contact DJH Service GmbH, Leonardo-da-Vinci-Weg 1, D-32760 Detmold, Germany. Information is also available from the international site www.hihostels.com.
Bed and breakfast, guesthouses
Known in Germany as Gasthöfe, Gästehäuser, Pensionen or Privatzimmer, the range and quality of the accommodation is as varied as the terminology. The common denominator, however, is that breakfast is usually included in the price of a room.
Generally speaking, a Gasthof or Gasthaus is a small, privately run hotel or inn and is usually more expensive than a Pension or Privatzimmer. The Privatzimmer are always just that: a room in a private home. They are the cheapest alternative and the local tourist offices provide lists on their websites, along with other forms of accommodation. For addresses in Munich and other towns in Germany try www.bed-and-breakfast.de or www.wimdu.co.uk.
Many German B&Bs offer reductions for stays of three days or more; some also offer reductions for children. These usually apply to children up to 12 years of age, but it is best to enquire beforehand. At some establishments there will be a surcharge for a stay of only one night.
Holiday flats
Self-catering holiday flats (Ferienwohnung) are excellent value for those who want to stay in a place for three days or longer; many landlords require a minimum of one week. This is an especially good option for families or if you are travelling in a group. Facilities vary according to price but may include a fully equipped kitchen, a lounge and separate bedrooms. Once again, the websites of local tourist offices are the best place to search for this kind of accommodation. Other websites for holiday flats in Bavaria and elsewhere in Germany include www.novasol.co.uk, www.interhome.co.uk and www.interhomeusa.com.
Holiday flats are often available in beautiful