Joe and I are going to a show in Munich this spring and are just starting to look at hotels, transportations, etc.

The show will be at the convention center and we will need to be able to travel back and forth from wherever we stay to the show with relative convenience on public transportation.

We participate in Hilton and Starwood programs and (being a little loony) actually enjoy switching hotels during our trips.

What Hilton or Starwood properties would you suggest?

What do you know about public transportation from the airport?

How easy is it to use public transportation in the city?

If we do rent a car for a couple of days, what should we go see?

Thank you, thank you, thank you, in advance.

Public transport is easy, clean and efficient.

The Munich Park Hilton is OK, with an Executive lounge and free French Champagne, but not that central, being next to the Englischer Garten (park).

Visits to Lake Starnberg (on Schnellbahn metro line), Neuschwanstein Castle (Prince Ludwig of Bavaria's folly in the Alps that the Disney castle was modelled on), Andechs ancient monastery where they brew a strong dark bier, BMW museum and Olympic stadium and Olympia tower(metro), and on a more sombre note, Dachau concentration camp (metro towards Furstenfeldbruck)
http://www.munich-airport.de/english/index.htm

Munich is FUN, FUN, FUN!

And EASY too!

What Hilton or Starwood properties would you suggest?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000311.html

On Hiltons:

Slight nod to the Park, depending on your choice of location:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000177.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000250.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000898.html

On Starwood Munich properties:

I believe they are all Sheratons from the original Arabella chain and so are "ok" but nothing special by any means!


What do you know about public transportation from the airport?

Train for sure!


How easy is it to use public transportation in the city?

Easy, and you can get a pass good for several days which I recommend!


If we do rent a car for a couple of days, what should we go see?

Salzburg, Austria!

BMW Museum (plan well ahead and reserve for factory tours) and the Olympic Stadia, where you can easily go by train! Maybe catch a soccer game in a great venue!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/001599.html

Have a wonderful trip!

Dear Punki,

I don't know your automobile preferences, but if you are in the market for a new car, and you are interested in a BMW, you can purchase a USA authorized and warrantied BMW from a local US dealer for pickup in Munich, under BMW's "Drive Europe" promotion program. Although each manufacturer's European Delivery option is somewhat different, you generally realize a cost savings at least comparable to the cost of the European trip one would make to pick up the car. I believe that BMW offers a month's free insurance to such purchasers. You will realize upwards of a 7% savings over the same vehicle offered for sale in the US. Now that BMW is offering some vehicles with optional 4 wheel drive, their product line is that much more attractive.

My wife and I bought our Volvo C-70 convertible in this way. We drove around the fjords of Norway in July, and then I brought the car and its 237 HP engine onto the autobahns of Germany and challenged many a BMW and Mercedes to a race!

I can't add much to the sites already listed, however, I would add that you might wish to visit the "Residenz" (?) the former palace of the Bavarian Monarchs located in Munich. Further afield, in addition to Neuchwanstein (sp.), I would also suggest you visit Mad King Ludwig's other palatial dwellings:

(1). Chiemsee which is located on an island between Munich and Salzburg. This is an unfinished palace and Ludwig's intent was nothing less than to recreate King Louis XIV's Palace at Versailles for the Bavarian Court. Indeed, this palace's "Hall of Mirrors" is larger than that of the original at Versailles!! Ludwig was a great admirer of the French autocratic King (his namesake), especially his ability to govern with absolute power. The construction of this palace nearly bankrupted the Bavarian government and is what brought about Ludwig's commitment to a mental hospital/rest home.

(2). Linderhof -- The smallest and only palace that Ludwig actually totally completed and furnished. It is a beautiful castle with much painting and architecture in the elaborate "over the top" Rococo style. It started out as a Royal hunting lodge but was much improved by Ludwig to finally resemble, shock of shock, the "Petit Trianon" at Versailles. On its grounds are many small pavilions, some dedicated to far flung cultures, such as the "Moorish Kiosk" which seems to come straight out of 1001 Arabian Nights! He also built the cave-like "Venus Grotto" where he would stage productions of his favorite productions of Wagner's operas.



[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 01-13-2001).]

Punki, Doc 2 Be knows what he is talking about. Another interesting trip, also close by and can be done in several hours, is Lichtenstein. Very bucolic.

All already said is right.
Just to add, that there is a "Lufthansa Airport Bus" which connects the airport with the city (main station). Very clean and comfortable. Costs about 15 DEM each way (add some 20 DEM for the cab to your hotel so this sums to 50 DEM). Stops are just outside the Terminal buildings (A, B, C). Runs every 20 mins and takes about 40 mins. One stop at "Nordfriedhof" (25 mins)where you have the driver ordered a cab to pick you up, so you don't need first ride in to the city and then back to the hotel again.

Cab ride is about 100 DEM to downtown hotels.

Train station is a loooong way to go. Costs about 20 DEM and b/c it's not an express train but regular commuting takes as long as the bus ride will. Very frequent stops.

Any chance you stop by in DUS (and bring the evergreen clematis with you ?)

How I envy your trip to Munich. You will love it--one of the really great trips--by the way, an easy train ride to Garmisch is suggested--beautiful! And be sure to stop by the wonderful food store(I believe it's Dallmeyer's or something spelled similar to that--I'm certain one of our readers will be able to give the correct spelling). Enjoy!

Don't forget the Marianplatz(sp?) with the fabulous Glockenspiel. And I know Punki will enjoy throwing back liter beers at the Hofbrauhaus.

I have a tough time with Deutche spelling.

Have a great time, Punky.

For dinenr- the old and beautiful Augustiner restaurant, on Kauflingerstrasse, the main street thru the pedestrian area, connecting Marienplatz and Karlsplatz. On your left, heading toward Karlsplatz.. about 3/4 of the way there.

A liter of beer at the Hofbrauhaus in "die Schwemme", the ground floor. Gets a ittle rowdy, but fun.

A fairly good Bavarian folk show at the Hacker Pschorr brewery.

Check out a concert at the Gastieg.

If available, take a tour of the oldest brewery in the world, "Weihenstephan". At the least, drink one of their beers.

Punki, during your time in MUC, the Munich Philharmonic (whose home is the above mentioned Gaestig) has a Schumann/Shostakovich program under guest cunductor Paavo Jarvi with Radu Lupu at the piano for the Suchmann (this is James Levine's orchestra).

The Bavarian State Opera is one of Europe's great opera institutions. During your time there, in the Nationaltheater they are performing Lucia di Lammemoor with a good cast with the production by the brilliant Canadian Robert Carsen (they are also performing Mozart's Don Giovani but the cast is IMHO so-so).

In the adjacent Altes Residenztheater (Cuvilli�s-Theater - very rococo and intimate, not like the giant barns in the US)is a world-class production of Handel's Rinaldo (featuring American counter-tenor sensation David Daniels) produced by the always-controversial David Alden (four hours but worth it).

Enjoy your time in one of the great cities!

Punki, I've been to Munich twice, and loved it both times. Even if one is not a churchgoer, some of the baroque Catholic churches with their over-the-top decor are worth visiting. And if the weather is nice, an outdoor lunch in the market (bread from here, cheese from there, etc.) is great fun.

We did rent a car for our last day there, and toured Linderhof and Neuschwanstein. Two very different castles, with two very different tour guides; both very worth visiting. There's also an abbey or some such on the way to Linderhof that's worth a stop. We did a circle out of Munich, and kept the car overnight to get us to the airport the next day.

I have a bridge tournament in DC starting April 26th, or I'd think about joining you!

Punki,
I worked in Munich for a month last February. I fell in love with it, it's one of my favorite cities. I went and visited again during the summer for fun during a Europe trek. All of the above mentioned treks are worth it, and I'll add Rothenburg on der Trauber - a great little medieval town. Don't forget to buy a schneeball to eat, you won't be able to miss them in the local bakeries!

For the neighborhood trains (S-Bahn) you should buy a strip ticket (karte) that has ten places to stamp it. You actually stamp the ticket at the station you get on the train at (you will see others stamping their tickets) every SECOND spot, so the ticket is good for five one way trips. It's also good on the U-Bahn (subways).

If you do happen to be driving from the airport to the convention center, just follow the "Messe/ICM" signs on the autobahn.

Punki: I lived in Munich for 10+ years.
If you are looking for conveniently located Hilton (there are only two in Munich), look for the City Hilton in Haidhausen. It is built directly above an S-Bahn station where you can catch every(!) S-Bahn. And it is neighbouring the Gasteig.
Very easy access to the Messegel�nde via S/U-Bahn. The hotel itself is quite new and comfortable. I stay there often during trips to Munich. Good corporate discounts.
Have fun.

Just got back from Munich. Great fun. Train is simple to use. You can take one from the Airport directly to the Munich City Hilton if you choose to stay there. Costs about $9 and takes 50 minutes. Piece of cake.

One neat side trip if you have a car is to head south about 90 minutes to Oberamergau, the site of the Passion Play. Quite a neat little town with all kinds of shops, restaurants, etc. Nearby is a 13th century monastary (that brews terrific beer). You can also see Garmisch and 2 of King Ludwigs castles (Linderhof and Neuschweinstein) in a very long day.

Agree with all of the above, EXCEPT for the comments on the Munich Park Hilton. It has recently been completely renovated and is far, far more comfortable and elegant than the City Hilton. Plus, it sits right on the beautiful Englisher Garden and is quiet quiet quiet. Each room has a large balcony and lovely amenities compared to the City Hilton. The executive lounge is open from 7 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. and offers a full breakfast, snacks in the afternoon and wine and beer all day long, all complimentary. And it is just a few tram stops from the Hauptbahnhof and the city center, hardly a chore.

By all means, take the Lufthansa shuttle between the airport and the city center. It is fast, clean and comfortable. I took the S1 train coming into town and it was dumpy, dirty and not any faster than the Lufthansa bus. For a few bucks more, the Lufthansa shuttle was fantanstic. It runs every 20 minutes during the day.