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    Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    I'm going to be in Germany on business for 1 week (Koblenz) and then liesure for one week and my 20 year old son will be joining me for the liesure week. I'm trying to plan my trip and I know I want to do three things for sure
    Stuttgart(Porsche Museum), Nurburgring and a bundesliga game. My home base will be Frankfurt as that is where I am flying in/out of.

    I'd like to rent a car preferably a porsche and see some sights (remember that my 20 year old son is with me and I'm sure he has his own agenda ) Any tips on where I can rent a car and suggestions for things to see? Is there special times to get into the porsche factory tour or museum? What do I have to do to get on the Ring and when is the best time to go? How do I get tickets to a football match and who would be good to see in that part of Germany?


    Any assistants from fellow rennteamers would be appreciated

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    You would have to contact the folks at the Porsche factory to arrange for a factory tour. I'm already set for May 21st to go on the tour which is about 2.5 hours long. You could always visit the Mercedes Benz museum and if you go early enough you could get in on their factory tour too.

    I'm not too sure about the Nurburgring but I do know that they typically are at their busiest on Sundays. I'm set to ride in their M5 Ring Taxi around the track. I probably won't have a Porsche rental so I might just drive around the track using my rental either before or after the Ring Taxi.

    A special note is that if you want to do all of these in May then you'd better get cracking soon. I arranged everything a couple months ago since they do tend to fill up rather quickly.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    Germany is not physically large, but you will fill up your off week quickly. For new-comers to Germany I suggest a leisurely trek by motorcar down and along the Rhine River (at Koblenz that will be convenient). Visit Wiesbaden,--due West of Frankfurt. A very pretty city and one of several "baden" towns. I would also encourage a trip to the Black Forest between Stuttgart (while doing the Porsche thing) and Karlsruhr and Badan-Baden. If you can, run down to Fussen and hike around the Neuschwanstein castle. Don't bother going in,--it's just a castle. But the views of the castle from the mountains to the south are spectacular. Another fun drive is along the Alpenstrasse,--the Alps Road,--between Garmisch and Berchesgaten. All in Bavaria. Berchesgaten is also the home of Eagle's Nest, one of several Hitler hang outs during the war. (Known in Germany more correctly as die Kelbsteinhaus). A trip by cable car to the top of the Zugspitz is also nice,--on the outskirts of Garmisch. It's Germany highest peak.

    To the West is Trier, a beautiful area along the Mosel River. As your first trip to Germany there is much to see and never enough time. Good luck with the time you will have!

    Dan

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    If you can get a copy of the latest Roundel (BMW) magazine, it has an excellent article on what to see in the area you'll be in. I would suggest a visit to Burg Eltz castle near Koblenz (you don't have to go to Neuschwanstein to see a spectactular castle and it has history to boot). The Mercedes museum is very large and it is suggested you allow up to 6 hours for it as you may find yourself walking upwards of 3 miles. An artsy fartsy town I'm sure both you and your son would enjoy is Rothenburg (very touristy), with its Kriminal (torture) museum and workers house from the middle ages. An interesting way to sightsee is take a boat ride up/down the Moselle and/or Rhine rivers (easy to spend an afternoon doing this). As for a drive on the Ring, you could hang out at the BMW Ring taxi and hope for an opening being available (it runs Saturday, Sunday and Monday) A ride might cost you about $90. Driving your rental car on the Ring without some prior knowledge/training would be rather risky IMHO. Years ago you could get away with it, but now traffic makes it problematical.

    PM me if you want to talk about your plans as I have had some experience traveling in the Koblenz area.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    Avis rents Porsches right at the Airport. Need to book in advance.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    I am going to Stuttgart for the end of April/early May, with a buddy. We are doing a "Porsche Weekend" driving their cars to Hockenheim and the Rhein Valley. We will also do a Porsche factory visit and Mercedes museum tour.

    To rent a porsche check out www.avis.de This is the german website - it does not have an English language version but you can do a translation through google. If you search the worldwide Avis website you will not find Porsches.

    I got the basic information from the website and then called them direct. They were very helpful. You need to have an Amex card (or maybe a Diners Club - i can't remember for sure). They will not accept either Visa or Mastercard. I think this is to secure the potential for a large deductible if you have an accident.

    We decided to rent an Audi RS4 from Avis for our subsequent road trip through southern Germany because of luggage space and the chance to try someting else after the Porsche Weekend trip. We are planning a round trip through the Black Forest, Lake Constance, Fussen, Neuschwanstein and the Deutche Alpenstrasse.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    Many thanks to all that have given insight! I may contact some of you over the next couple of days to discuss via PM. I'm just back from a business trip so I will have to digest and revert.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    Quote:
    sevoman said:
    I am going to Stuttgart for the end of April/early May, with a buddy. We are doing a "Porsche Weekend" driving their cars to Hockenheim and the Rhein Valley. We will also do a Porsche factory visit and Mercedes museum tour.

    To rent a porsche check out www.avis.de This is the german website - it does not have an English language version but you can do a translation through google. If you search the worldwide Avis website you will not find Porsches.

    I got the basic information from the website and then called them direct. They were very helpful. You need to have an Amex card (or maybe a Diners Club - i can't remember for sure). They will not accept either Visa or Mastercard. I think this is to secure the potential for a large deductible if you have an accident.

    We decided to rent an Audi RS4 from Avis for our subsequent road trip through southern Germany because of luggage space and the chance to try someting else after the Porsche Weekend trip. We are planning a round trip through the Black Forest, Lake Constance, Fussen, Neuschwanstein and the Deutche Alpenstrasse.



    And how about a "pit stop" in Munich? Fussen and Neuschwanstein are not far away. Btw King Ludwig died in the Starnberger Sea 45 min. away from munich.

    Greetings

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    I'm in for the Porsche factory tour on May 22nd at 1:30. I'm likely to do the museum in the morning so thanks for the heads up as spaces are really tight. I went through PCNA and they were very helpful.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    The current Porsche museum is very small and you could see it in anything from 5 minutes to 1 hour (depending upon how much you want to read each little plaque by each car and how many photos you want to take).

    AFAIK the new museum (which is much, much bigger) is still being built. I don't know when it will be completed.

    The factory tour will last 90 minutes.

    You could enjoy lunch in the "Guest Casino" which the VIP restaurant that visitors can eat in.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    Great to hear that you were able to get in on the factory tour! I think you're going on the day after me! I'll be on the factory tour on May 21st at 10 am.

    I wonder if we'll get to eat in the Guest Casino. They won't let you bring your cameras though. They make you check them in a locker by the museum before heading in the factory area. Pictures however are allowed in the museum area.

    When I was there last summer, they had a sign saying that the new Porsche museum would be completed this summer but I seem to recall reading somewhere that things had been delayed until this fall. I guess this means I'll have to go back again! Hopefully the BMW museum will have been completed by then too.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    When I went on the factory tour on 10 November 2006, I didn't have to lock my camera away in the locker room. I had my camera in my trouser pocket all the time while I was on the tour.

    As it happens, I didn't take a single picture of the factory tour out of my own sense of honesty. The tour guide did say that photography was prohibited but that was all they said or did. They didn't search me or anything like that!

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    I don't know much about the Guest casino but it sounds good - I'm going to call pcna to see if there is any way to insure access and I'll let you know if I find anything out.

    As others have stated the Porsche museum is a quick pass through but I'm thinking that the Mercedes museum should also be on the menu.

    I'm trying to get some tickets through another contact to the Eintracht Frankfurt game on the 19th of May as my son and I would really love to watch a Euro football game. Apparently being in the stands with the fans in Frankfurt is an absolute blast. Can't wait.

    Re: Planning my first trip to Germany in May

    You won't be far away from the Auto und Technik Museum in Sinsheim. Shouldn't miss it.

     
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