Who from you stay in Cologne-Rhein Area?

[nowherenova]

I'm now considering leaving Dusseldorf a couple days early to set up in Munich before the Italy game...it'd be more expensive (about $40-50 in total) but would make things a lot easier not having to lug all my crap around on gameday (not to mention being able to get to Munich and go straight to the hostel to crash, rather than having to again lug my crap aroud the city all day until I can check in), and the 2 cities are about equidistant from Kaiserslautern. Plus 6 days in Dusseldorf might get to be a bit much. Gonna wait and see how much I end up having to pay for tickets, if I can get my tickets for face value or close to it then and there's still room at the Munich hostel I'll probably go ahead and make the switch.

I stayed at the Munich Hostel during Oktoberfest about 6 years ago and it was nuts. I had to wait in line for a bunk and the only reason I got in was because 2 Kiwis let me cut in line with them. I would guess the crowd for the WC will be comparable. Be ready to get there early, unless the rules have changed since then or will be for the Weltmeisterschaft.

[bltleo]

bltleo,
What do you know about Bödingen. We are looking at renting a house there for the two weeks we are in Germany. All I know is that it is between Cologne and Bonn. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

it is actually part of Hennef - the town between Cologne and Bonn, more closely to Bonn I would say...

here some pictures and info - just in german language only ..
http://www.hennef.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=53&topmenu=17&keepmenu=inactive

don´t forget visit Ahrweiler and Bad Neunahr - both great small romantic cities..Bad is something like Spa

http://www.meinestadt.de/bad-neuenahr-ahrweiler/home
press: Bilder der Stadt - picture of the city.

bltleo
Germany

[dfb547490]

I stayed at the Munich Hostel during Oktoberfest about 6 years ago and it was nuts. I had to wait in line for a bunk and the only reason I got in was because 2 Kiwis let me cut in line with them. I would guess the crowd for the WC will be comparable. Be ready to get there early, unless the rules have changed since then or will be for the Weltmeisterschaft.

Well I've already got a bed reserved in Munich from the 18th-22nd, now it's just a question of whether I get it extended thru the 16th (and would have to cancel the last night of my reservation in Dusseldorf).

don´t forget visit Ahrweiler and Bad Neunahr - both great small romantic cities..Bad is something like Spa

That's funny, I did an exchange thing in Germany in high school and spent 3 weeks in Ahrweiler...tiny little town, cool place though. My favorite thing about it was the place that sold shots of 90-proof apple Schnapps for 1 DM each (about 50c) and huge mugs of beer for 2 DM. Plus if you put a deposit down (I think 5 or 10 DM) they let you take their glass and wander around the town drinking from it, then bring it back for your deposit. Yeah, for a bunch of 15-17 American kids that was paradise.

[roadkit]

My favorite thing about it was the place that sold shots of 90-proof apple Schnapps for 1 DM each (about 50c) and huge mugs of beer for 2 DM. Plus if you put a deposit down (I think 5 or 10 DM) they let you take their glass and wander around the town drinking from it, then bring it back for your deposit. Yeah, for a bunch of 15-17 American kids that was paradise.

Shoot, that sounds like paradise to me and I'm 45! :D

[bltleo]

Shoot, that sounds like paradise to me and I'm 45! :D




yes Ahrweiler is a lot of fun...and if you stay in Mainz, you will have much more fun....you can also visit Ahrweiler....I would recommend you travelling
from Mainz to Cologne....




GERMANy

[bltleo]

Any suggestions for restaraunts, cafes, etc. in Mainz? I'd like to find a good beer garden to hang out in while I'm there. ;)

i have not forgotten this question....I will send you list of good beer gardens
and restaraunts.....let me a moment...today i need to learn.... i try to send you links in english - if they are available.....or send you PM..

bltleo
GERMANY

[gschroeder]

We have reservations at the Four Points in Cologne on the 16th-18th. Just a block or 2 from the big cathedral. Then we're going up to Amsterdam for 2 nights and then down to Munich from 20th-23rd. Unfortunatly we can only catch the last 2 games.

[bltleo]

Any suggestions for restaraunts, cafes, etc. in Mainz? I'd like to find a good beer garden to hang out in while I'm there. ;)

here are more information about MAINZ in english:

http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/hpkr-5nkgnz.en.0

restaraunts and clubs in Mainz: going out:
http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/mkuz-5u3hhz.en.html

WINE and DINE in Mainz:
http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/mkuz-5tvffq.en.html

Have a look at these web-sites and let me know if you have any questions

Mainz is really worth to visit and stay...

and don´t forget to do travelling from Mainz to Cologne along Rhine
bltleo
GERMANY

[bltleo]

more people who stay in Cologne-Düsseldorf-Mainz? Rhine Area?

[Justin O]

My plan now is to be at a small hotel in Worringen, north of Cologne, about half way to Gelsenkirchen. I could possibly end up in Düsseldorf. Trying to get Angola-Portugal tickets in Cologne through FIFA the day before the US match.

[dfreshsf]

Looks like I'm doing 2 nights in Dusseldorf for the Czech match. Much cheaper options than Cologne. Where's the party on the 11th for those staying there?

Anyone venturing up to Munsterland? Looks like a pretty cool stretch of moated castles to explore.

dh

[klattamaniac]

I'll be staying in Dusseldorf from June 11-13, then in Cologne from June 13-17. Sounds like there'll be a fair number or US fans in each city...

[bltleo]

it is advantage for me to live in Cologne!:)

we should definitely organize good US supporter meeting in Cologne

[3BlindMice]

We have reservations at the Four Points in Cologne on the 16th-18th. Just a block or 2 from the big cathedral. Then we're going up to Amsterdam for 2 nights and then down to Munich from 20th-23rd. Unfortunatly we can only catch the last 2 games.

I'm also staying at the 4 Pts in Cologne, though my stay is 10 Jun - 13 Jun for the 1st game. It seems like a nice place and close to the train (important to me since I will be using rail for my entire trip). I'm then heading to Munich for 3 nights, back up to Heidelberg for 2 nights, down to Salzburg for 3 nights, and finally to Rothenburg for 3 nights. Most of my trip consists of starwood properties (free stays), but two unique places I'm staying at which I've read good things on is Weisser Bock in Heidelberg and Altfrankishe Weinstube in Rothenburg.

While in Cologne, I plan on exploring the city on the 10th (any recommendations would be appreciated), and then on the 11th, I plan on visiting St Goar and Bacharach. It is my understanding that the boat ride between these two cities is one of the best areas on the Rhine.

[Bison1997]

btleo - I and several friends of mine are staying in Cologne for the entire first round and traveling to the US games.

We are all about picking a bar as soon as we get there and making it our bar. Do you have any suggestions for bars/biergartens downtown? Also, how far away is Wiesbaden?

Thanks for making this thread - it's already been very helpful.

[bltleo]

btleo - I and several friends of mine are staying in Cologne for the entire first round and traveling to the US games.

We are all about picking a bar as soon as we get there and making it our bar. Do you have any suggestions for bars/biergartens downtown? Also, how far away is Wiesbaden?

Thanks for making this thread - it's already been very helpful.

Yes we should definitely find good pub in Cologne. I´m working on this. There are many good pubs in Cologne in downtown. So I need to select few. Then I will post it here. I will make proposal of 5 pubs and then we all can agree on one. I will also speak to this pub and ask about making it special pub for US fans. This is what I´m working on.

Wiesbaden is ca. 2 hour car driving or with train ca.1,5 Hour. I think you need to take train to Mainz and from Mainz S-Bahn to Wiesbaden. Mainz and Wiesbaden are very close to each other. By the way Mainz is very nice city. I can only recommend to visit - famous Rhine tour from Cologne to Mainz.
The train (rail) route from Mainz to Cologne is one of the most beautiful in Germany.

I will post all news about Cologne here

bltleo
GERMANY

[roadkit]

here are more information about MAINZ in english:

http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/hpkr-5nkgnz.en.0

restaraunts and clubs in Mainz: going out:
http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/mkuz-5u3hhz.en.html

WINE and DINE in Mainz:
http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/default/mkuz-5tvffq.en.html

Have a look at these web-sites and let me know if you have any questions

Mainz is really worth to visit and stay...

and don´t forget to do travelling from Mainz to Cologne along Rhine
bltleo
GERMANY

Fantastic! Thank you very much.

[Suckafree]

btleo -
We are renting this house;
http://www.vacationvillas.net/Germany/holiday-house-Boedingen/p21392.htm
I got some information from you before but was looking for a little more now that we have indeed booked this location. How far is it from Cologne? From the discription we are gonna be in the outskirts between Cologne and Bonn. Would you suggest renting a car or traveling by Rail (looking into it costs are going to be about the same)? The closest rail station is 5 Km away as well as resturants, bars ect. Thanks for any info.

[120North]

My Brother and I are staying in the Media Harbor Area of Dusseldorf. It looks to be a fairly new development in the city. How far away from the Old part of town are we? Are there any good places to meet up there?

[OffToGermany]

I am staying in Konigswinter, an incredible little city on the Rhine river. A couple hours from Gelsenkirchen by train, but its a really neat place. Gives you a feel for German countryside. Easy train access to Bonn, Cologne, and Dusseldorf.
Hotel rooms available there still for reasonable prices.