Germany - Oktoberfest Tour Inquiry

Has anyone taken an Oktoberfest Tour? We’re interested in visiting Munich’s Oktoberfest 2011, and not being familiar with the Oktoberfest experience, nor Germany, thought that it might be convenient to find a tour to make it easier to enjoy this fun occasion. On the Internet, I’ve come across a travel writer, Brett Harriman, who is offering an Oktoberfest Tour during the event’s first weekend. I was wondering if anyone here on TA has taken this tour who could share their experience. http://www.harrimantravelbooks.com/Tours_Oktoberfest.html

From the tour itinerary, this Oktoberfest package offers 3 nights in a contemporary hotel within the Old Town of Munich. Included are, walking tours of the festival grounds and of the Old Town, parade viewing, two dinners, a handful of beers, and a table reservation at one of the main beer tents on the opening Sunday of Oktoberfest, costing a total of $495 USD per person. For my group, I am particularly interested in the access to the beer tents, and hotel lodging. For the Oktoberfest beer tents, I understand that reservations are apparently required during weekends, and assuming I could get a reservation, I’d need to reserve from 8-10 seats. Well, there are only 4 of us in our family group, so I was thinking this tour might be a good way to get access to an Oktoberfest beer tent, without a lot of complications. Plus, due to the popularity of Oktoberfest, I was thinking it could be difficult to get reservations for a hotel in Munich during the opening weekend of the festival, without raised rates.

Therefore, I am thinking this offer might be a good deal for my group of 4 as the tour price seems to be a good value, at least not outrageously high as other tours I discovered while searching. Such a tour, with a personal guide, seems like it will make it easy for us to enjoy the Oktoberfest experience, have fun, and make it easy on us for our first Oktoberfest visit. I also like that there will be others on this tour, forming a larger group than my own, of hopefully fun minded people to share this experience. At this point in time, I don’t think I could do better on our own without such help. Nevertheless, I am hoping someone who has taken this tour, or knows of it, can reply and share their experience to help confirm if this tour is right for us. Thanks!

Does this rate include a food and beer allowance at the Oktoberfest beer tent? That can be quite expensive (last year was 8.80 Euro/mass, if I recall). I went last year but during the week, so while the tents were fairly full, there was seating both indoors and out.

The price doesn't sound too bad considering that it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation, but it also depends how many hotel rooms you get for the price, and whether or not the hotel is any good.

Does this rate include a food and beer allowance at the Oktoberfest beer tent? That can be quite expensive (last year was 8.80 Euro/mass, if I recall). I went last year but during the week, so while the tents were fairly full, there was seating both indoors and out.

The price doesn't sound too bad considering that it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation, but it also depends how many hotel rooms you get for the price, and whether or not the hotel is any good.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, for the Oktoberfest, beer and food are included, at least with what ever comes with a standard reservation. I think it's like two beers and the dinner. As for the number of rooms, that rate is per person, with two people in a room.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, for the Oktoberfest, beer and food are included, at least with what ever comes with a standard reservation. I think it's like two beers and the dinner. As for the number of rooms, that rate is per person, with two people in a room.

yes 2 Liters + usually half a chicken or 15Euro Voucher comes with a reservation. For a Sunday night it's an ok offer I guess. And you want a guide so I'd go for it. It's not a bad deal at all. It is pretty much the only chance to get a reservation on a weekend. Have fun!

Thank you for everyone's replies, information, and help. I sincerely appreciate all the help and information everyone has provided. My family group of four, have decided to go with the tour offered by Brett Harriman:

www.harrimantravelbooks.com/Tours_Oktoberfest.html

We've decided to take advantage of this opportunity for the three nights lodging in Munich, and access to reservations to an Oktoberfest Tent. Both of which I don't think we could have achieved on our own. After communicating with Brett, either on the phone, or via email, I feel very reassured and confident with booking this reservation. Brett has always been extremely friendly, helpful and informative. He has also since provided insightful information for the continuation of our visit after Munich, which involves traveling on to Salzburg, Innsbruck, and other destinations in Germany.

For further information on this Oktoberfest tour, the Oktoberfest Tent reservations are at Fischer Vroni (5pm till closing on the first Sunday) and include 2 liter beers and a 20 euro dinner voucher; the hotel, three nights lodging from September 16 to September 19, is at a contemporary, and located in the Old Town within a 20 minute walk of the festival grounds or one subway stop. Another aspect I like about this tour is meeting the other people joining this tour, and to be a part of a group, limited to 20, to have fun with and enjoy this Oktoberfest event.

Thanks again for everyone’s help, it’s much appreciated.