This year Oktoberfest in Munich will be from 17th September until 3rd October.
I suggest you to come in Munich in weekdays because weekends are so crowded. I was there in 2009.

I stayed at the CY last year during the festival for 5 nights on points. The points are a fantastic value considering it is a category 5 and the going cash rate for hotels. I even managed to find a pointsaver rate. The location could not have been better, either; easy walking distance to the grounds as well as most other sites in the city. I would definitely recommend this over the Ren or FS, you are not going to want to deal with public transportation afterwards.

go to the schottenhammel tent!
for more informations you should visit: http://www.oktoberfestguide.info

Thank goodness for points
I just googled Oktoberfest Flyertalk.

Sorry to post this in MR forum but LeMeridien is 484 EUR per night or 10,000 starpoints and Sheraton is 378 EUR per night or 7000 starpoints

over 5 EUROcents per point in value! Not that I would ever pay those rates, but still.

The Marriott W of the Norfriedhof stop is an excellent choice for any trip to Munich. I have stayed there a number of times and don't really miss being downtown because it's so accessible on the U6. Quiet little residential neighborhood, great room design and a nice bistro-type bar in the lobby. They still had the American Sports Pub motif in the main bar early this year but it's not overdone. I think their Sunday breakfast buffet in main restaurant is about the best Ive seen anywhere in Germany.

And their fitness center/spa is small but nicely set up - and it has a steam room.

There's a nice bakery to a grab coffee around the corner from the Renaissance which sort of fronts a small pedestrian mall right by the U6. There are little markets out there even in fall and winter.

Slight hijack of the thread regarding Octoberfest, but I have a couple of quick questions for those of you familiar with Germany (specifically Munich or Berlin) and the Marriott options there. My wife and I are planning a quick sight-seeing trip to Germany during the third week of October, after Octoberfest, on our way to Switzerland. We have never been to Germany before and thought that Munich/Berlin would be a good spot to spend 2-3 days in.

We are looking to do the general tourist stuff and are probably not going to get a car and rely instead on public transit or cabs if necessary. Which of the Marriott locations would be best for us to consider? I am a MR Plat if it matters in terms of upgrades or lounge access.

Thanks in advance!

I haven't stayed in the CY downtown but others above have. If it's the first time in Munich I would try it. I was downtown - but not in a Marriott property - on the first few trips and you might prefer that to get used to the city. Any of the Marriott properties are easily accessible to the U-bahn and/or S-bahn. You'll really like their rail system, above and below ground.

Unless it's been added recently, the Munich Marriott doesn't have a concierge lounge but once I was offered the breakfast buffet gratis. They call them Executive Lounges over there; I know there's one in the Frankfurt Marriott.

None of the Munich properties have exec lounges, so usually offer full breakfast 7days/week - or at least they do to Plats. In Munich you have the option of the Courtyard or the Munich Marriott. I've been told the CY is a 15-minute walk from the center, and the Marriott is about a 15-minute tube ride.

When I was in Berlin I was at the Hilton, so can't address the Marriott there (although I think it's gotten good reviews).

Both Munich & Berlin offer good public transport options.

Cheers.

The Courtyard City Center is a very nice hotel and treats Plats very well, including free breakfast seven days a week. They do not have many rooms to upgrade you to - their studios are frequently sold and there are not that many of them. I stayed there three nights a week for ths first six month of this year and had a studio about once every four to six weeks.

Since June I have changed over to the Marriott and now stay there because of the availability of a pool there (plus Sauna, yet I do not use that) and the fact that they have a new GM since January who has improved the hotel very much. They still have no lounge (and probably will not get one since they simply have no space for it) but offer Golds and Plats a free snack and drink from a special menu every day of your stay (one coupon per day good for all persons in your room), and as mentioned offer free breakfast buffet seven days a week. Additionally some rooms you may be upgraded to include the free usage of the mini-bar, yet that has been hit-or-miss the last two month (free on about 50% of my stays) so I would not count on it.

Depending on what you intend to do in Munich, both locations will have it's benefits. I however like the Marriott currently much better because of its more quiet location in Schwabing and do not mind the subway-ride to downtown. Note there is another Courtyard (City East) and a Residence Inn opening in October - these are located a short stroll from Ostbahnhof and also close to the city center. If you intend to use points these may be a very good option at Cat 3 for the Courtyard and Cat 4 for the Residence Inn.

Greetings - Dirk

Just noticed this today... "Depending on tent and brewery, a �Mass�, a liter of beer, will cost you between 8.70� and 9.20�."

So, make sure the wallet is full before you go!

For a first time visit to Germany - which do you prefer...Berlin or Munich? Again, we it would just be my wife and myself and we really enjoy walking around, seeing the city, enjoying the architecture and history, going out to casual dinners, etc.

Coincidentally, I just got back from a business trip to Germany that included my first visit to Berlin and my fifth to Munich.

Having grown up in the Cold War era, with vivid memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the history buff in me really enjoyed the visit to Berlin. Seeing the remnants of the Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate will end up high on my "things I've seen" list. Also visited the Ladeburg Bunker (another Cold War relic) and the Fassbender & Rausch chocolate shop, which has some just amazing chocolate sculptures.

On the other hand, Munich is in Bavaria! I find Munich very picturesque, and very lively. I think it will always be my favorite. Definitely hit the Hofbrauhaus. If you are a car buff, think about a tour of the BMW plant. A day trip to Neuschwanstein or Eagle's Nest in the Alps is also possible.

So, it kind of, as always, depends on what you like to do. If you are really into history (or chocolate sculpture), I would suggest Berlin. If you are more into scenery and nightlife, I would suggest Munich.

Off-topic:

Have to agree w/ Michilander's input, although I can't address the nightlife in Munich (or Berlin for that matter; I pretty much did dinners & back to hotel after in both).

I was recently in Munich, and did tour both BMW World & BMW Museum, as well as head out to the Alps. Also did a bit of walking around central Munich, although I didn't make it to the many museums it has. Munich has a version of Harrod's food halls; yummy.

I don't think you can go wrong with either Berlin or Munich. arizonawildcat, you might want to do a search on both locations in this forum re: properties, but also head over to the Germany forum & do a search on both cities. I'm sure there's lots of info there, and if not, you can ask questions there.

On-topic:

Both Munich properties are probably good for Ocktoberfest. Just depends if you want the walk or the subway to get to all the beer places. BTW - at the prices mentioned, you're paying about $13-15US for a liter of beer

Cheers.