Originally Posted By FerretAfros As I mentioned in the other thread, I registered for the Disneyland Paris 5K and Half Marathon with some friends, and will be making my way to the resort for it at the end of September. My goal is to tie it into a longer trip all over Europe, and figured you guys might have some helpful advice and experience I suspect that the Disney hotels will be outside of our budget and we'll likely stay in Val d'Europe instead, but it's worth checking on. When I searched the other day, I could only get prices for vacation packages, including park tickets and meal plans. Is there a way to find prices for room-only? And is there a way to get all of the prices to display at once, instead of having to go through each hotel individually? I know that the US resorts often fill up months in advance, especially for race weekends; do the DLP hotels typically have availability, or should I try to make my reservations soon? Since my time in Europe is pretty limited and I spent a few days at DLP and a few more in Paris during my last trip (albeit 4.5 years ago), I'm not sure that visiting the parks is the best use of my time. I've briefly looked into it, and it looks like there are some cities that could be done as a daytrip from DLP using TGV. It looks like Lille and Brussels are about 60-90 minutes away (which seems doable) and have some interesting stuff to see. Are there any other cities that I should consider? I'd even consider some small town that is charming, if not particularly noteworthy. I'll be running at DLP in the mornings, but should be done by around 9 or 10am, so there should be a good chunk of time to explore a destination On a bigger scale, are there any festivals or interesting things going on in any cities the first weekend in October. After the races we're planning on going to Munich for Oktoberfest (reserved that hotel room months ago!), and I'll likely wind up on Lake Constance/Bodensee for a race the second weekend in October, but I don't really have any particular plans for that week in between. If there are any interesting cultural events or festivals going on, that could help steer that decision (Tag der Deutsche Einheit is that Monday - October 3 - but I'm not sure if they do anything for it) I'm sure I'll have more questions along the way as we start to decide where we're actually going, but this seems like a good starting point
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>we'll likely stay in Val d'Europe instead,<<< We usually stay at Relais Spa Chessy in Val D'Europe and I can recommend it. We stayed there three times and it was always nice. During our recent trips they offered a free shuttle service from and to the parks, however transportation doesn't start before 07:45. >>>When I searched the other day, I could only get prices for vacation packages, including park tickets and meal plans. Is there a way to find prices for room-only?<<< We haven't booked directly at DLP for quite some time now, but back then we had to call to get a room only. I don't know if that has changed. >>>I'm not sure that visiting the parks is the best use of my time<<< Not even for a day? I mean I do understand that, but DLP is undergoing a lot of maintenance right now, so might see many refurbed rides. >>>It looks like Lille and Brussels are about 60-90 minutes away (which seems doable) and have some interesting stuff to see<<< I haven't been to both cities, but my wife has been to Brussels last year. According to here there are some lovely places in the city, but don't expect too much. >>>I'll likely wind up on Lake Constance/Bodensee for a race the second weekend in October,<<< I only know the Austrian area of Lake Constance. Bregenz is a nice little city, but there isn't much to see. As for the Oktoberfest, be prepared for many drunken people ;-)
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >> We usually stay at Relais Spa Chessy in Val D'Europe and I can recommend it.<< That’s one of the ones that’s coming up in my searches so far. It looks pretty nice, relatively inexpensive, and right next to the train station. The shuttle to the park would be a bonus too, even if we would have to take the train to the races in the morning If we have to call DLP to book a room-only, then it sounds like it just won’t be worth the hassle. Val d’Europe is close enough to be convenient, and the prices there are very attractive >>Not even for a day?<< In all likelihood, I’ll end up in the parks on Sunday after the Half Marathon, since the race will end a little later. I’d just like to have other options ready, since at this point it seems like I could get more value from my time experiencing something ‘real’ and new-to-me, rather than spending a day in the parks that I just visited on my last trip >> I only know the Austrian area of Lake Constance. Bregenz is a nice little city, but there isn't much to see<< The race starts in Lindau, passes through Austria, has a few kilometers in Switzerland, and then ends in Bregenz. From what I’ve seen, the area is pretty quiet, but the scenery looks fantastic, assuming the weather holds up. It would definitely be a different experience than a big city, but that’s part of the appeal >> As for the Oktoberfest, be prepared for many drunken people ;-)<< Oh, yes! I plan to be part of that problem! And dressing up, since the whole thing just seems so ridiculous and touristy to begin with. I don’t even particularly like beer, but I’m really looking forward to it!
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>That’s one of the ones that’s coming up in my searches so far. It looks pretty nice, relatively inexpensive, and right next to the train station.<<< The hotel has an indoor pool too, and the proximity to the Auchan supermarket is also a bonus. You can even walk to DLP from there. I would say it takes you 20 minutes. >>>The shuttle to the park would be a bonus too, even if we would have to take the train to the races in the morning <<< The shuttle worked great. It departs right in front of the hotel, it's driven by the concierge. So if there's no driver just go to the front desk. The shuttle is just a Citroen van, so don't expect a bus. The shuttle brings you to the round about at the WDSP/DV parking garage and they pick you up from there too. They give you a telephone number to call the hotel if there is no taxi waiting and a few minutes later they pick you up. That was very convenient. >>>The race starts in Lindau, passes through Austria, has a few kilometers in Switzerland, and then ends in Bregenz. From what I’ve seen, the area is pretty quiet, but the scenery looks fantastic, assuming the weather holds up. It would definitely be a different experience than a big city, but that’s part of the appeal<<< It is a lovely area, so I'm sure you will have a great time at the race. If you have some time left in Bregenz, take a look at the floating Opera Stage. They filmed the James Bond 007 movie "Quantum of Solace" there. >>>Oh, yes! I plan to be part of that problem! And dressing up, since the whole thing just seems so ridiculous and touristy to begin with. I don’t even particularly like beer, but I’m really looking forward to it!<<< That's good that you are prepared. I just mentioned it, because friend from the US didn't like it that much. The beer is quite tasty, but also stronger.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>If you have some time left in Bregenz, take a look at the floating Opera Stage.<< I'll have to check that out! I'm trying to decide between staying in Lindau (where the race starts) or Bregenz (where it ends), but it sounds like Bregenz has more to do so I may end up there I'll be flying back to the US the next day; do you know what the closest/easiest airport is? It seems like Munich is somewhat close, but travel to one of the ones in Austria or Switzerland may be easier >>That's good that you are prepared. I just mentioned it, because friend from the US didn't like it that much.<< I could see how it might easily detract from a normal trip to the city. I spent a lot of time in Munich on my last trip to Europe, so I don't feel like I need to revisit all of that (similar to DLP), so I'm fine with Oktoberfest sort of taking over that leg of the trip. Our hotel is within short walking distance (stumbling distance?) of the Theresienwese, so I expect it could be a little rowdy even though it seems like a nice-enough hotel (from what I remember of that neighborhood, it was a little seedy to begin with)
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I'll be flying back to the US the next day; do you know what the closest/easiest airport is? It seems like Munich is somewhat close, but travel to one of the ones in Austria or Switzerland may be easier<<< I would go to Munich. It's a big airport with many flights to the US. If you go to a smaller one in Austria or Switzerland, you have to take a connecting flight to a bigger airport and from there you have to take another plane to the US.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros That makes sense. I live close to a United/Lufthansa hub, so it would be easy to get a direct flight back from Munich, which would definitely cut down on the overall travel time
Originally Posted By dagobert If you plan to stay in Bregenz, I can recommend this hotel. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.hotel-germania.at/en.html">http://www.hotel-germania.at/en.html</a> We stayed there last year for a weekend and it was fine. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://reisewarnung.blogspot.co.at/search/label/Bregenz">http://reisewarnung.blogspot.c.../Bregenz</a>
Originally Posted By u k fan If your looking at Belgium I can recommend Mons or Ypres. I've been to both several times over the last 18 months on WW1 memorial trips. Of the two Ypres is my favorite as it has a good mix of olde worlde and modern. It also has a nightly ceremony at the Menin Gate to honor those that died in the war that is really special. I don't know about transport to and from Paris/DLP, but they could be worth a look!!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Have you guys been to Oktoberfest? I know we need to make reservations at the tents, but I'm having trouble finding differences between them. Any recommendations for which ones are the best (or which to avoid)?
Originally Posted By dagobert We have never been to the Oktoberfest. I guess all tents are basically the same, only the beer is different, because each brewery based in Munich has one or two big tents. There are Löwenbräu, Augustinerbräu, Spaten, Paulaner, Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr,
Originally Posted By dagobert Augustiner has a good Oktoberfestbeer. By the way the Oktoberfestbeer is stronger than the regular German beer.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo I vote for Spaten. Mainly because out of that list of brewers, I like Spaten's beers the best.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I vote for Spaten. Mainly because out of that list of brewers, I like Spaten's beers the best.<<< Spaten is indeed very good, but I don't know their Oktoberfestbier.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>By the way the Oktoberfestbeer is stronger than the regular German beer.<< Because when you're drinking massive quantities of beer, you want to make sure you get the high-octane stuff! : )
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Because when you're drinking massive quantities of beer, you want to make sure you get the high-octane stuff! : )<<< LOL If you can't reserve a table, which might be possible, be there before the tents open.
Not much at this point. I'm still trying to figure out how many days I can take off work, and whether to have them before or after the time in DLP As sort of a random question, do you know if the shared cabins on sleeper trains have much luggage space? I'm totally fine with sharing a room with ~5 strangers, but I would probably have a fairly large suitcase with me and wouldn't want to get in the way of everybody else One of my travelling companions may have one extra day after we do Oktoberfest before returning to the States, and I was thinking that Salzburg would be a pretty good day/overnight trip from there, so we may find ourselves in your area. Obviously that wouldn't be enough time to see everything the city has to offer, but I think we could get the highlights with one of those cheesy (but secretly fun-sounding) Sound of Music tours and a little exploring on our own
Are you taking the train from Paris to Munich? It has been some time since we used a sleeper train and I hardly remember it. That was ten years ago and we used the Austrian Railway Services from Salzburg to Paris. Honestly I didn't like it. We also got a room for six people, but I really don't know what we did with our luggage. I think we put it under the first bed, if you can call it that. But we were only four people. I'm sorry that I can't help you better. Salzburg is always great and there's a Sound of Music bus tour. I think there are different ones, because one is even oing to Mondsee.
