Munich/Paris itinerary suggestions needed....

Since no one in my family has been to mainland Europe (I've only been to Ireland, and that was business), I'm at a complete loss as to how to plan for my ED.

Basically, I managed to talk my wife into getting me a new car this year because of the ED program, but the caveat is that we need to see as much of Paris as possible. Unfortunately, she can only get a week off of work which doesn't give us a lot of time. Thus, this is our current plan:

Fly to Munich overnight Oct 7th/8th. Spend Sat/Sun/Mon in Munich recovering from jet lag and seeing what we can see, pick up the car Monday morning the 10th. (that date is confirmed, yea!) Is there a factory tour available on Mondays in Dingolfing? Anyone have a phone number to call and arrange that? Monday afternoon/evening, drive to Zurich. Spend Tuesday and Wednesday morning there. Wednesday afternoon, drive to Paris. Spend Thursday/Friday/Saturday in/around Paris (drop car off on Friday or arrange for weekend dropoff). Fly back from Paris on Sunday.

So, my questions are:
1) What are your suggestions of thing to do in Munich on Saturday and Sunday? I've been told by a friend I need to find someplace that will serve Eisbein for dinner at least one of those days. Any suggestions? We'll probably do the Priceline 4star thing and hopefully get the Marriot.

2) I know NOTHING about Zurich. (yea, I know, typical American) Is it even worth stopping there or should we just head to someplace else between Munich and Paris? Any suggestions? Any suggestions for a nice place to stay? (My wife has this fear of crappy European hotels. She's heard some horror stories.) What about the car? Is it safe to park there? Would it make sense to do one of the "trolly type tours" that every city seems to have now?

3) I keep hearing about things like Vignettes and tolls and such. What are they? Do the tolls work like American tolls? (pull up the booth, pay some cash)

4) Are Radar detectors legal in those three countries? I plan on getting my V1 updated to the new firmware which has the European Ku band detection if it's legal to use it. I hear France is nasty with it's photo radar. Has anyone gotten a photo radar ticket on ED? How does that work? Would they actually send it to the US? I may even bring the hardwire kit and spend a 1/2 hour hardwiring it while over there. (I had it hardwired into my 323i less than an hour after I bought it.) Would the VPC take out the hardwire kit?

5) Would it make sense to leave Zurich early on Wednesday (instead of the afternoon) and see something in western France? If so, what?

6) How cold will it be in Oct? We aren't packing winter coats yet, are we? Possibly for Zurich?

7) Is it better to stay on the main highways? A map site a friend sent me has the "sort by most highway use, shortest, least tolls, etc..." options. I'm wondering if the back roads might be more fun for a while. (I'll have the NAV DVD so I'm not worried about getting lost.) Probably cheaper on the tolls as well.

8) How long after order does it normally take to get the VIN number? It's been two weeks so far. I want to call Lufthansa soon and see what the tickets are going to cost. When should I expect the ED info package from BMW? Patience is not one of my strong points. :-)

Anyway, I have a couple months to finalize things, but I'm really looking for suggestions, web sites, etc... to look into.

Thanks for ANY suggestions and responses!
Dan Kulp
Current: 2000 323i, Fern Green Metallic, Gray Leather, PP
Soon: 2006 330i, Sparkling Graphite, Black/Alum, Sport/Premium/ColdWeather/NAV

Reply » Munich/Paris itinerary suggestions needed....

I would skip Zurich and maybe go spend a night in Rothenburg Ob Tauber and then on to Luxembourg via St. Goar and then to Paris.

Radar detectors are not allowed and are confiscated on the spot.

Weekend drop off in Paris is probably not doable. Drop it off as soon as you get to Paris.

Book your flights now instead of waiting for the VIN. The VIN won't show up until the car is in production. Lufthansa will just verify with BMW NA before releasing the tickets.

Reply » Munich/Paris itinerary suggestions needed....

My europe travels are mainly in southern germany and austria so I can't help you with Paris but I can help on some of your other questions:
1) I've never had an Eisbein but Schwienehaxe (pork shank) is

so I'd imagine that Eisbein is all that and a bowl of grits. Unless you're on a budget and can get a good deal through priceline, I'd recommend staying at one of the local, non-chain hotels - the experience is much more personal and inviting. Recommendations are plentiful on this board but I like the Hotel Asam and the Acanthus.
Once you get settled into the Hotel (or at least drop of your bags there)a few recommendations in no particular order:
- visit the Viktualienmarkt (a big out door market) and make sure you have a traditional bavarian breakfast of Weisswurst, Brezen and Weizen (veal sausage, pretzel and wheat beer). You could spend an hour or two here here if you want
- Make your way over to the Marienplatz and the Rathaus. You'll see abunch of tourists waiting to see the Glockenspiel (giant clock with moving figurines) that only plays at noon and 6 pm, IIRC. Its interesting to see but don't plan your day around it. Poke around some of the shops in the area - the Weinstrasse/Theatinerstrasse and Maximillianstrasse have lots of little shops (upscale and downhome). If you want hig brow shopping make your way to Ludwigstrasse (the Rodeo Drive of Munich)
- Make your way to Dallmeyer - a gourmet/delicatessen with all sorts of interesting foods and potential gifts. Things are a little expensive here but worth a few purchases.
- Find a biergarten or nice outdoor cafe (assuming a relatively nice day) and enjoy a few liters of Bier (a few of my favs are the Augustiner Keller and Andechs - both outside the city center)
- The Englishergarten and Residenz are worth the trip.
- KZ Dachau (out of central Munich but accessible by public transport) is sobering but worth the trip.
- Starnbergersee is a lake south of the city (via publix transport) worth a half day.
- Museums - technology, Alte and Neupinakothek (art)

2) Based on my experience with Zurich, I find it an interesting city but a little sterile and VERY expensive. There are plenty of small town cities in Germany and Switzerland in that area that I'd recommend over zurich - Lindau im Bodensee or Meersburg to name a few. And as far as your hotel comments go, I've stayed in much creapier Holiday Inns and other chain hotels than the typical Gasthaus or German style Inn. You'll miss an unforgetable experience if you don't give one of them a try. Once you've nailed down your itinerary, I can give you a few recommendations (personal and from a German travel newsletter that has never lead me astray).

3) The vignettes are toll stickers that you need to drive on the Austrian and Swiss highways. You buy the sticker before entering the highway (at local gas stations or travel stores) or before the borders. You need to stick them on the windshield (lower left corner). You don't need them if you drive the secondary roads.

4) Leave it at home. Radar detectors are verboten. Besides, you'll get your speed fix on the autobahn and you'll be too busy with reading street signs, soaking in the scenery and reading directions to really pay any attension to a detector.

5) See my comment in 2. I dunno about France destinations but there are plenty of other places to see around Zurich. LEave this part flexible - if you like Zurich, spend more time there. If you don't, leave early.

6) The weather there is VERY unpredictable. I'd expect evening temps to be as low as high 20s to mid 30s so a winter coat may be worth while. However, the best packing advice is lots of layering. T-shirt, long sleve shirt, sweater and light to medium jacket. This will cover all bases as the weather changes throughout the day as well as let you adjust your comfort level to what ever activity your doing. You'll get warm doing all the walking and window shopping but cool down while relaxing in the Biergarten.

7) A good mix of both works best. You'll find the Autobahns are best for shifting regions all together and the back roads are best for day trips and sight seeing. Certainly, if you drive south of Munich towards Zurich, you should spend some time on the secondary roads (Alpenstrasse to name one) to really appreciate the views. Plus this gives you a little more freedom for the mid-trip stop at an interesting sight or for lunch at a Gasthaus.

8) not a clue - I've never done ED. I just travel to Germany a couple of times a year to visit family and sight see.

Hope this helps. PM me if you need hotel suggestions in particular cities.

Reply » Munich/Paris itinerary suggestions needed....

I am considering a side trip over to the Alsace region of France after Salzburg and Hallstatt, Austria. Everything I've read about the drive through Austria agrees it is really beautiful and worthwhile. And the scenic route is also recommended (names of routes can be found on this forum as well as in some of the better books such as RickSteves.)

My understanding of the 'toll' is that you buy a sticker upon entering the country (or near the border at a gas station, etc) and that covers you. No toll booths like you see in the US. At least that's my understanding. You will have just missed Oktoberfest, but a search on this forum will also yield plenty of suggestions on things to do/see in Munich. Of course, enjoying the food, beer and wine will be high on my list

Reply » Munich/Paris itinerary suggestions needed....

Quote:

.....4) Are Radar detectors legal in those three countries? I plan on getting my V1 updated to the new firmware which has the European Ku band detection if it's legal to use it. I hear France is nasty with it's photo radar. Has anyone gotten a photo radar ticket on ED? How does that work? Would they actually send it to the US? I may even bring the hardwire kit and spend a 1/2 hour hardwiring it while over there. (I had it hardwired into my 323i less than an hour after I bought it.) Would the VPC take out the hardwire kit?
.......8) How long after order does it normally take to get the VIN number? It's been two weeks so far. I want to call Lufthansa soon and see what the tickets are going to cost. When should I expect the ED info package from BMW? ....:

As arnolds said...

RE: Radar Detector:

http://forums.bimmerfest.com/showthr...Radar+detector

http://forums.bimmerfest.com/showthr...Radar+detector

http://forums.bimmerfest.com/showthr...Radar+detector

RE: Lufthansa: Call them and make a reservation NOW!! YOU DO NOT NEED TO have a VIN to reserve your seat and lock in the pricing. They just need your VIN prior to you PAYING for the seat.

Reply » Munich/Paris itinerary suggestions needed....

Zurich IS very expensive and not a lot to see...I'd pass it up. Lot's of other towns more interesting on the Romantic Route IMHO than Rothenburg...try one of them instead. We dropped off in Paris, stayed by the airport the night before (DO NOT use the Hyatt), got the car to TTTransit, took the Air France bus into town and then a short cab trip (That was an experience!) to our hotel. Then a cab to the airport, about E40 from city center. Don't even think about driving in Paris, it's dangerous and little or no parking available.

Page 1 of 3