We've got a slot for April delivery of a 2012 e91, and we're working out a tour route now. My S.O. says the sights need to include a castle. Do folks have suggestions for something that'll be open for visiting that early in the season, and open to our self-exploration? Guided tours mostly leave us feeling educated but not entertained. Our first time through the European Delivery experience; so far it's been easy as pie.
Neuschwanstein must be quite the sight, but apparently doesn't allow self-guided tours. These two websites seem to cover the details - it would appear to be open just about year around. http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm http://www.neuschwansteincastle.net/Neuschwanstein-tour.html If you could get together a group of 6, it appears you could schedule a 1 hr. tour (outside regular hours), vs. the usual 1/2 hr. tour. I've never been, although I wonder if I'd feel satisfied with a tour as brief as a 1/2 hr. I'm guessing you can walk around in designated areas outside of the castle, but I don't know for sure. If I recall, there were at least a couple of Roundel articles in the last couple years or so that were pretty detailed about some European trips. I don't know if anybody in the national office would have some insight, but might be worth a call, the club has had people that I think are well-travelled overseas. If nobody else pipes up, there's always google - http://www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com/german-castles.html http://www.frommers.com/destinations/germany/ http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/germany/rheinfels.htm http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/germany/marksburg.htm http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=159&id=381 http://www.germanytraveltours.com/ind/self_drive_tour_romantic_road.htm http://www.jochenphoto.com/general/the-ten-best-castles-in-eastern-germany/ Here's a place that runs tours, but you can draw on their destinations for ideas - http://www.europeancastlestours.com/tours/day-short-tours.htm another - http://www.infohub.com/specialty-vacations/germany.html You might want to go grab some tour-guides from a bookstore, and you should be able to pick something up for free from your local office if you're a AAA member. In fact, AAA would help you plan your trip, and should be able to offer advice on getting an international license, direct you to materials to familiarize yourself with German signage and driving rules, etc.
Exciting!!! But wow! what a loaded question. Castles in Bavaria?!!? I read once that, there are more castles there than any other European Country. I spend a lot of time in Bavaria and at the moment I'm liking the Coburg Fortress (Veste-Coburg) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veste_Coburg It's in the far north reaches of Bavaria, just before the old East/West boarder but it's only about 3 hours drive from Munich. You could also make stops in Nürnberg, and Bamberg for some Franconia (Frankische) twists on your trip. The Fortress allows unguided tours and has quite an amazing armory, architecture etc... Martin Luther was also housed there (Protected) for a period of time. Coburg is also famous for its Bratwurst. Get them from a stand in the town center and enjoy. Bamberg (2 hours north of Munich and 45 minutes south of Corburg) is also very cool. April can be a wonderful time there. If you like beer then Bamberg is the place. Check our a Rauchbier from Spezial-Brauerei or Schlenkerla. Peronally I like Spezial better but most of the tourists go to Schelnkerla. In all there are 9 breweries in the town and hundreds in the immeidate region. Franconia is THE beer capital. I did a Euro delivery in 2010. It was a fabulous experience. We had the luxury of keeping my car there for three months. We had a great time traveling all over this region as well as in to Austria and Switzerland. The three months meant we had pleanty of time to insure we properly broke in the car. Here are two photos. Regarding the Euro Delivery I have a few tips! 1) Schedule your delivery for the day-AFTER you arrive in Munich and plan a whole day at BMW World. You can always leave early but you can't add hours to a day. I wish I had gotten there earlier than I did. Also since many flights from the USA arrive in the early morning people are tempted to go directly to BMW-World and get their car on the same day. DON'T do it! Call now and schedule you delivery for the day following your arrival. That way you'll be rested, (more importantly showered) and have a much more pleasent experience. 2) The cars are deliverd with nearly no gas in them. Go buy gas immediately upon leaving BMW World. BMW does give you a map of the area with gas stations listed. 3) Make sure you have at least one bright colored (orange or yellow) warning vest in the car's passenger compartment at all times. This is required in Germany but for whatever reason BMW doesn't give these to you. If you plan to drive into Austria I think you are required to have one for every occupant. 4) Get the small parking clock at a gas station or the BMW Store. In places where they have timed free parking, you have to place a "parkuhr" on your dash showing the time you arrived. This is how the parking police know when you write you a ticket. Again, why BMW doesn't just give these to you I don't know. 5) Learn the Autobahn rules!!!! There are websites that will give you excellent information but please take time to learn the rules and signage before you go. It can get stressful enough traveling in the USA. 6) In rural areas they don't always accept Credit Cards (even for Gasoline). I always try to keep no less than 100 Euros on me at all times. ATM (Geldautomats) are abundant but not always at smaller gas stations. Okay WOW, my response got kind of long. Sorry about that. Hope this information helps. Also, If you find youself in Bamberg after April 20th, let me know. I'm planning on being there around that time. Eric
Gee Eric, life sucks, huh?! Seriously though - great, very informative post - that should be a sticky for Euro-delivery, travel to, & driving in Germany!
Love that message, Eric; it gathered steam like a old tyme locomotive and just kept'a going. We're tempted by Coburg (both for the brats and for the amazing fortress), but also by the Alps; and we're doing this whole thing in just about a week, so we'll probably pick just one direction (north or south). We'll drop the wagon off on the 17th, so I fear we'll miss ya. On your EuroDelivery points of advice, we had some covered, and we'll heed the others: ✓a whole spare day in Munich before pickup gas immediately, will do! ✓hi-viz bicycle vests are in the suitcase parking clock, also want a nifty USB charger from the BMW store so we'll get a parkuhr there signage and rules on the Autobahn on the study list ✓carrying a bit of cash in unfamiliar lands (thinking of BC Rallies here) is our practice.
I'd head south to the Dolomites. Let me ask some of my "pass-bagger" friends for their favorite routes. Before you hit the Autobahn, stop at the German version of Triple A---ADAC, I believe---to buy the permits for Austria (and Switzerland, if you go that way). (You can also exit at the border to buy them, but why delay your journey?) ADAC will also have all the vests, cardboard parking clocks, and other travel items you could want. Maps, maps, maps...
Tangent: We'd been slightly miffed that we couldn't order the 2012 wagon in Crimson Red. That non-metallic hue was available on e91s last year, but is no longer. And our request to get it anyway was answered with, "It can be done for an extra $4,500." That's a lot of coin. We could buy heaps of winter tires for that much money. We passed on that offer, and took Vermillion metallic instead. I admit I still had a longing for the Crimson. But! we visited the local dealer today (to check out the new F30), and got to see Crimson next to the Vermillion on otherwise identical '11s. We like the V better. Mmm, that metallic is sooooo rich in person.
One follow up: the castle in Burghausen is a serious installation. It's in a commanding location on a ridge above the river on the border with Austria. Its total length is about a kilometer, with the keep nested within five successive courtyards of increasing fortification. Getting to Munich from there means a lot of truck-crowded two-lane roads, though.
