Basel & Black Forest suggestion needed
Feb 20, 2015, 9:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: AMS, Netherlands
Posts: 103
Basel & Black Forest suggestion needed
I am planning a 3 nights trip to Basel & Black forest area for our family of 5 (all adults) in early May.
The plan is to fly from Amsterdam to Basel and stay one night there and the next 2 nights to be spent somewhere in black forest region. We probably will rent a car at the airport.
Any itinerary recommendations? Which hotel(s) or cities should we consider?
Appreciate your suggestions! Thank you.
The plan is to fly from Amsterdam to Basel and stay one night there and the next 2 nights to be spent somewhere in black forest region. We probably will rent a car at the airport.
Any itinerary recommendations? Which hotel(s) or cities should we consider?
Appreciate your suggestions! Thank you.
Feb 20, 2015, 10:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 186
About 3 years ago we went through the Black Forest.
Freiburg is a good base for exploring the Black Forest. We stayed at the Hotel am Rathaus in Freiburg, right on a pedestrian walk - which you actually drive on to get to the hotel, but that's another story.
Exploring the small towns in the Black Forest is fun. There's a little clock museum in Furtwangen that's worth seeing. And a neat waterfall near Triberg.
Be sure to check out the Strausse "restaurants" in the Freiburg area. These are small places allowed to be open for 40 days a year and to seat no more than 40 people. You can get info on them in the tourist information center.
Freiburg is a good base for exploring the Black Forest. We stayed at the Hotel am Rathaus in Freiburg, right on a pedestrian walk - which you actually drive on to get to the hotel, but that's another story.
Exploring the small towns in the Black Forest is fun. There's a little clock museum in Furtwangen that's worth seeing. And a neat waterfall near Triberg.
Be sure to check out the Strausse "restaurants" in the Freiburg area. These are small places allowed to be open for 40 days a year and to seat no more than 40 people. You can get info on them in the tourist information center.
Feb 21, 2015, 4:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Nth Coast NSW Aust
Programs: qantas airnz
Posts: 150
In 2013 we had a great time in the Black Forest. We stayed in Kirchzarten & Gengenbach. The apartments in Gengenbach (very cheap at the time) were very comfortable-www.ferienhof-buss.de & let google translate for you
Feb 23, 2015, 5:06 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bollington, Cheshire, UK
Programs: BA, Best Western, Miles & More
Posts: 360
We regularly travel to The Black Forrest region and have stayed in Freiburg, Bad Kronzingen and Bad Peterstaal. If you want a city break, go for Freiburg.
If you are staying within the region for more than a couple of nights then the hotel will issue you with a KOnus Card which will give you discounts off various attractions as well as free local public transport. Basel is expensive and, depending on where you are staying, either use Basel or Stuttgart airports or even take the train from these airports. Basel is easy to get to by ICE from Freiburg and you could rent a car from the city centre and avoid paying the airport charges.
If you are staying within the region for more than a couple of nights then the hotel will issue you with a KOnus Card which will give you discounts off various attractions as well as free local public transport. Basel is expensive and, depending on where you are staying, either use Basel or Stuttgart airports or even take the train from these airports. Basel is easy to get to by ICE from Freiburg and you could rent a car from the city centre and avoid paying the airport charges.
Feb 23, 2015, 8:35 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 505
Keep in mind that Switzerland is expensive these days due the strength of the CHF, so staying over the border in Germany or France will be significantly cheaper. Public transport to/from is very easy - for example, there is a new cross-border tram from Weil am Rhein into Basel.
Feb 24, 2015, 2:16 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
I must admit that I read the title and thought, Oh no, you don't want to put basil in Black Forest Cake!
I hope you will come back and let us know what you decided and how it worked out, PoochieLaGrande. I am looking to plan a trip next year which will include this region.
I hope you will come back and let us know what you decided and how it worked out, PoochieLaGrande. I am looking to plan a trip next year which will include this region.
Feb 25, 2015, 3:30 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Karlsruhe / Germany
Programs: BahnCard Comfort, Bahn Bonus, Enrich Blue
Posts: 327
If "anything" means shops, then the answer is no.
Sitghts and attractions and the vast majority of restaurants, cafes and pubs will be open.
Concerning the strong Swiss Franc there is an easy solution for your visit to Basel: Stay just behind the border on the German side, for example in Weil or Lörrach.
Sitghts and attractions and the vast majority of restaurants, cafes and pubs will be open.
Concerning the strong Swiss Franc there is an easy solution for your visit to Basel: Stay just behind the border on the German side, for example in Weil or Lörrach.
Feb 25, 2015, 10:49 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: AMS, Netherlands
Posts: 103
Kathrin, thank you for the advice! If shops are closed on Sunday, then it will be sightseeing day then. I booked an apartment for 2 nights in Freiburg already, now looking for another place for one more night. It's quite hard to find a decent place with reasonable price in Basel for 5 (either an apartment or a room for 3). We considered booking 2 rooms (1 room for 2 and another for 3, but not many hotels offer aroom for 3)
Feb 26, 2015, 12:05 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 975
Recommend Freiburg and Titisee. Also a 'dip' in thermal baths like Bad Krozingen or Badenweiler (http://www.black-forest-travel.com/l...mal-baths.html) amongst others. You could always hop over the Rhine at Breisach to visit Colmar and the Alsacian wineries.
Do be aware of local bank holidays ...1, 8 14 and 25 May in France and 1, 14 and 25 in Germany.
Do be aware of local bank holidays ...1, 8 14 and 25 May in France and 1, 14 and 25 in Germany.
Mar 3, 2015, 10:24 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bollington, Cheshire, UK
Programs: BA, Best Western, Miles & More
Posts: 360
Staufen is a lovely town to visit on a Sunday. You can take the train from Freiburg via Bad Kronzingen or the bus from Freiburg. The train station is opposite a lovely ruined castle that is easily accessible on foot via some vineyards. On they way down you can stop off at the inn and taste the wine produced from the grapes that you've just walked past.
Going further afield, Titisee used to be very pretty but has been spoilt by tourism but the journey there is worth the trip. Feldberg and Belchen are also worth a trip up as the views are amazing on a clear day.
If you have a Konus card you can get a small discount on the Cable car rides and free rail/bus travel.
Going further afield, Titisee used to be very pretty but has been spoilt by tourism but the journey there is worth the trip. Feldberg and Belchen are also worth a trip up as the views are amazing on a clear day.
If you have a Konus card you can get a small discount on the Cable car rides and free rail/bus travel.
.