unofficial accomodations during group play thread

[dsheon]

As some have already won the FIFA lottery, perhaps hotels have already been booked. I thought it might be nice to have one thread with hotel discussions for the Group Play portion of World Cup. I've found so many hotels already sold out that good advice could be valuable.

SO? Where's everyone stayin??

[rickinva]

I am making Stuttgart my home base during the opening round, and have booked 2 weeks at the "Pension am Heusteig" which is very near the city center. 81 euros a night for 13 night.

Stuttgart is not too far from our venues by train, and has more to do on off days then some of the smaller locations. Plus, I lived in Stuttgart as a child, so I am looking forward to seeing what I remember.

http://www.am-heusteig.de/index.php?lang=en_&selItem=aufenthalt

I found the hotel using the Db website, www.bahn.de. They have their own hotel section, which I found to have good options, and only list available choices.

The hotel has been very helpful in answering questions and getting my wife and I all set up.

[taylor]

I would really really recommend finding somewhere in East Berlin for more than a weeks stay. It is cheap and you will have a helluva good non soccer experience.

[doogiemo]

time to start making friends stationed in Germany!! :D

I have a few friends and will be camping in their backyard... also will have a rental, worse case will sleep in the back seat or in a "grassy" area somewhere :eek:

[T Nitty]

I was trying to use my girlfriend's hotel points, but nothing is available for Marriot. Luckily today she was able to book a room for match night in Nuremburg with her Holiday Inn points, though. I've got a friend stationed at Sembach (Ramstein Air Base), so if nothing else, I'll sleep on his couch for the Italy weekend.

For Gelsen, I may try to find something north as I will probably be exploring Belgium before, and The Netherlands after, the Czech match.

Between matches, I'm trying to get away from the host cities. I'm heading down to southern Germany after the Italy game. I booked 2 nights at Garmisch (a US Armed Forces resort) at the start of the Alps. After the Ghana match, I'll go to Prague for a couple of days before racing back to Frankfurt Airport on the 26th.

I'm renting a car from Frankfurt Airport. It looks like National and Budget are the cheapest for a compact car. If you have the money, I'd recommend experiencing the autobahn. It may be different this time, but I averaged 110 mph when I visited in summer 2003.

[Palermo10]

www.hotel4youth.com in Berlin.

two rooms for 4 people each (8 people) comes out to about $17 per night, towels, bed linens, AND breakfast included!

Should be a good one.

[doogiemo]

I booked 2 nights at Garmisch (a US Armed Forces resort) at the start of the Alps.

Got a link!? Thanx


I'm renting a car from Frankfurt Airport.

Got any quotes yet!?

Thanx for any info. :)

[T Nitty]

Got a link!? Thanx



Got any quotes yet!?

Thanx for any info. :)

For 8-26 June National and Budget are both about $750 for a compact. You can always go cheaper if you want one of their tiny clown cars. My plane tickets were covered by frequent flyer miles, so I guess I can splurge elsewhere.

Garmisch resort for US armed forces members
http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/

[Palermo10]

For 8-26 June National and Budget are both about $750 for a compact. You can always go cheaper if you want one of their tiny clown cars. My plane tickets were covered by frequent flyer miles, so I guess I can splurge elsewhere.

Garmisch resort for US armed forces members
http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/


How old do you have to be for the car? Do they have bigger cars available? i.e. I have 8 people.

[T Nitty]

How old do you have to be for the car? Do they have bigger cars available? i.e. I have 8 people.

Just go to the different car rental sites (National, Alamo, Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget). Or do a google search for european car rentals. You'll find all the info there. 25 is usually the minimum age, but it's Europe, who knows.

[Palermo10]

Smart friend: "You have to make sure they aren't charging you by the mile."

Are they? Or is it unlimited travel?

[T Nitty]

Smart friend: "You have to make sure they aren't charging you by the mile."

Are they? Or is it unlimited travel?

Okay, this is my last car rental post in the accomodations thread.

"unlimited free kilometers" is clearly displayed below the gauranteed rate (at least on the Budget site). I haven't been charged for miles in a very long time. The only restriction was them not wanting you to drive the car in the eastern european countries. They'll jack yo' ride.

[SnakeEyes]

I'm staying in Heidelberg, near Kaiserslautern, but only because it's a free place to stay courtesy of my GF's cousin. I'm definately going rail. Yes it will make things less convenient but i don't make saving the cash I will be saving plus I don't mind walking.

[Gabbster]

I am making Stuttgart my home base during the opening round, and have booked 2 weeks at the "Pension am Heusteig" which is very near the city center. 81 euros a night for 13 night.

Stuttgart is not too far from our venues by train, and has more to do on off days then some of the smaller locations. Plus, I lived in Stuttgart as a child, so I am looking forward to seeing what I remember.


Great price on the hotel. I couldn't find anything that cheap. When did you book?

I'll be staying in the InterCityHotel which is a bit expensive at 141 euros a night. However, I couldn't ask for a better location - my room is INSIDE the central train station. I won't even have to leave the building to go to another city.

[rickinva]

Great price on the hotel. I couldn't find anything that cheap. When did you book?

I'll be staying in the InterCityHotel which is a bit expensive at 141 euros a night. However, I couldn't ask for a better location - my room is INSIDE the central train station. I won't even have to leave the building to go to another city.

I booked about 3 weeks ago, and actually booked 4 different places all over germany, in advance of the draw. Once the draw took place, and we knew where we would need to be, I cancelled everything else but Stuttgart.

[Mikeymike15]

I've had 3 flats booked in Berlin for about 3 months now. The draw wasn't good for me but I love Berlin as a city so I'm staying their when not during games. Some of the people in my group have since expressed and interest to move around more since the games are on the western side of Germany, but all I know from having accomplished a lot of travelling is that you don't want to be uprooting yourself everyday, you'll wear yourself out.

Mike

[roadkit]

I just booked two rooms at the Hilton in Mainz which is about 15 minutes from the Frankfurt airport. It's costing about $190 per night USD including taxes. Well located since we're planning (tickets pending) on attending the Czech and Italy games. It's a nice city right on the Rhine and the Hitlon is decent - I'm well past my hosteling days. ;)

One other option for those of you looking for package deals: I know United airlines has packages that include R/T airfare, hotel, and car. Depending on how many are in your group, you might be able to get that for around $1800 per person (based on my dates of 11-18 June). Not too bad considering the best airfares I've found from Dulles to Frankfurt range from $800 to over $2,000!

One other note: when I booked the Hilton room, I originally checked the rates for a check-in on Saturday the 10th - the prices were at least 150 Euros more per night. By changing the check-in date to Sunday, the rates per night dropped considerably. Just something to be aware of.

Now all I need is confirmation that I have tickets and I can book my flight! (Fingers crossed)

[Sagz]

Im staying in villa located in Schalkenmehren & Daun which is part of the Eifel area. Its south of Cologne, which is also where we are flying into. I set that up as a base camp for 2 weeks, for a 766us dollars. Its a nice area south of Germany with lots of outdoor activities (and some good wine/beer country). I plan on travelling around with my (by then) wife. On the nights we travel around we may grab a hotel depending on how far we are from the villa.

I also will probably rent a car (which reminds me to check on the international drivers license policy) and posibly rent a bike.

I hope to have tickets to the games, but if not I still know Ill have fun, just not as much fun as I would if I had tickets to see the stars and stripes play.

[Swazicar]

I booked about 3 weeks ago, and actually booked 4 different places all over germany, in advance of the draw. Once the draw took place, and we knew where we would need to be, I cancelled everything else but Stuttgart.

Sneaky bugger. ;)

[FC Tallavana]

For 8-26 June National and Budget are both about $750 for a compact. You can always go cheaper if you want one of their tiny clown cars. My plane tickets were covered by frequent flyer miles, so I guess I can splurge elsewhere.

Garmisch resort for US armed forces members
http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/


Garmisch is also open to DOD civilians like myself. I was thinking about staying there but our draw and the fact I may leave the DOD before June has me leaning towards another hotel (it shall remain nameless until I decide to book) that has a great deal for a government rate.