Subscribers recommend hotels on the Mosel river; in Rothenburg ob der Tauber; in the Swiss towns of Appenzell, Langnau, Kandersteg, Zermatt and Zürich; and in Schwangau, Germany, near the famed Castle Neuschwanstein.
Germany Hotel Bargains
Just returned from an early September 1999 trip to Southern Germany. A few tips: Hotel Lipmann (Marktplatz 3, D-56814, tel. +49/02673/1573, fax 1521, doubles to 150 DM/$82) in Beilstein on Mosel River is the best; Zum Goldenen Greifen (Obere Schmiedgasse 5, D-91541, tel. +49/09861/2281, fax 86374, doubles to 135 DM$74) in Rothenburg (Tauber) is a great value. Both are small medieval family-run hotels offering friendly service, historic locations on town squares, good restaurants, and antiques.
Also, don't forget Internet the airline ticket auction-type site priceline.com/. We got roundtrip tickets Minneapolis-Frankfurt on Icelandair for $250 each! Had to change planes in Iceland but went smoothly. Gute Reise!
Britt H.
Via email
(Ed. Note: Our experience with priceline.com is in the September issue.)
Neuschwanstein Hotel
My wife and I would like to apprise you of one of our favorite small hotels in Bavaria - the Gasthof Zur Post (Münchner Str. 5, D-08362, tel. 49/08362/982155, doubles to 160 DM/$88) in Schwangau, Germany. This jewel is extremely clean, has Bavarian hospitality, excellent food and been run by the Familie Lindner for many years.
We stay here often when we wish to visit the Castle Neuschwanstein. The ONLY drawback for the elderly is the lack of an elevator.
Jack Mason
Via email
Switzerland Recommendations
We had a fantastic time in five locations in God's country. I thought I'd give you some of my opinions of the areas we traveled.
Langnau, Switzerland
Hotel Hirschen... best food of the entire trip. The hotel is getting a little tired looking, i.e., carpets worn, not as clean as we expected, but the people were terrific. This area of Switzerland does not get the tourists they deserve. I feel that the economy is not as good in the Emmental and that effects the Hirschen and other good inns in the area.
Kandersteg
Enjoyed a wonderful 3-star hotel acting as a 4-star... Chalet Hotel Adler. Not all rooms, but certainly Number 51 with a 12 x 12 ft. sitting room, large bedroom adjoining, a sunken bathroom with a whirlpool and a large skylight looking at the gorgeous sky and mountains....all for 190 Sfr. ($128) per night for two....210 Sfr. ($142) in season.
Zermatt
Hotel Excelsior - a very pleasant room looking at the Matterhorn from our balcony over the steeple of the town's little church. Excellent food, especially the fixed- price menu.....210 Sfr. ($142) per night for two. A must is to go up to Gornergrat on a sunny day, outstanding and unbelievable.
Zermatt to Appenzell
...what a beautiful and long drive. We stayed at the Appenzell Hotel which was most gemütlich and had wonderful food...The manager was a gem... Two days in the Appenzell and I wanted to stay forever. We traveled the backroads to every little town in the area. The vistas were gorgeous as were the little towns and the people who put up with my poor try at speaking their language.
The last three days were spent in Zürich seeing the sights. We stayed at the Hotel Adler on Rosengasse directly off the quai. Not very "gemut," however, the people were gracious, the fondue in their restaurant was tops and we were in walking distance of everything for 210 Sfr. ($142) per night for two persons. By the way, they won the toilet paper challenge of all the hotels. All in all, a very good place to stay in Zürich for a reasonable price.
We flew American Airlines from Columbus, Ohio, for $485 per round trip through the AAActive over 62 program. It costs to join, but is for a year and you may take anyone along for the same price.
George J. Boser
Columbus, OH
(U.S. Dollar prices quoted in this issue of Gemütlichkeit may be inaccurate for these reasons:
o Prices in local currency have not been updated since the date of publication of this newsletter, and...
o The dollar prices shown were obtained by using exchange rates in effect at the time of publication.)
October 1999