ED in Aug - 3 nights

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by absoluteis350

While we are shaking heads, I shake MY head at ALL of you ! ;P
What are you doing driving around cities and seeing stuff you can do in a Ford Fiesta rental? Grab your car by the nuts, point your wheels south, and tear up the Alps on some of the most amazing roads you will ever drive. Get into the Alps, stay in the Alps, and only leave when you are ready to drop off. WTF u doing driving in the cities, highways and suburbs (except possibly for the brief pop-your-autobahn cherry).

The post of driving in cities goes to the OP's comment that he was traveling with his wife, and some of us suggesting that many wives won't enjoy all-day driving in the same way we do. That's why most of my EDs have been guy trips. Unfiltered driving as you suggest.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I've spent the last 30 years...
with young people...
over all those loooong years...
Every generation thinks ...
And all of my years have taught me that...

Geezus, how long is grandpa gonna drone on about them thar olden days...? (<- joking!)

Anyway, overall Italy's not tooo bad to drive through but the cities can be rough for a few reasons:

* Italians consider bumpers interactive
* Italian scooter drivers consider sidewalks and roads interchangeable and move freely between them
* Frequently what appear to be sidewalks are roads
* Italians consider traffic control signs suggestions
* Some Italians feel anything on your car is theirs too

Thus when it comes to risk of damage, Italy is at the top of the list for me.

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Geezus, how long is grandpa gonna drone on about them thar olden days...? (<- joking!)

Anyway, overall Italy's not tooo bad to drive through but the cities can be rough for a few reasons:

* Italians consider bumpers interactive
* Italian scooter drivers consider sidewalks and roads interchangeable and move freely between them
* Frequently what appear to be sidewalks are roads
* Italians consider traffic control signs suggestions
* Some Italians feel anything on your car is theirs too

Thus when it comes to risk of damage, Italy is at the top of the list for me.

This is exactly why we are opting to stay in Switzerland on the way to Nice. This way we can blow through Italy as quick as possible

[absoluteis350]

Originally Posted by hinckley

The post of driving in cities goes to the OP's comment that he was traveling with his wife, and some of us suggesting that many wives won't enjoy all-day driving in the same way we do. That's why most of my EDs have been guy trips. Unfiltered driving as you suggest.

Hmm.. I guess it depends on what the spouse enjoys.. I went with my wife too and the views in the Alps, and on the twisty roads between peaks, are absolutely breathtaking, even if you don't enjoy the driving part. I mean, the scenic views are absolutely stunning, and constantly changing from peak to valley. Sure, anyone would be bored being a passenger on the Autobahn/Nurburgring (maybe), but driving side road Alps is completely different, with new sights and vistas at every turn. I would think both passenger and driver would have to be pretty jaded not to drive around in awe at every moment in the Alps.

[Parabolica]

Looks like things have been delayed now. I changed my interior to an individual colour and now i am waiting to hear back on what the new ED date will be.

[Parabolica]

Okay all set for an early October ED. Wife is good with the Alps but not okay with Nurburgring so we will skip that this time around.

Here's my tentative schedule:

Oct 9 PM: Arrival & spend night in Munich
Oct 10 AM: Check in at Welt, browse the Museum followed by an early lunch.
Oct 10 PM: Factory Tour, Delivery set for 16:00. Spend night in Munich.

Oct 11 - 12:

Looking for a good route through the Alps. One night stay or maybe two. Then looking to head back to Munich to drop the car off for Oct 13. Either spend night in Munich or somewhere close. Suggestions?

Oct 13 AM: Rent Porsche C4S for 3 hours and hit the autobahn.
Oct 13 PM: Fly out.

[Nikolas]

Great post Hinkley!

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Okay all set for an early October ED. Wife is good with the Alps but not okay with Nurburgring so we will skip that this time around.

Here's my tentative schedule:

Oct 9 PM: Arrival & spend night in Munich
Oct 10 AM: Check in at Welt, browse the Museum followed by an early lunch.
Oct 10 PM: Factory Tour, Delivery set for 16:00. Spend night in Munich.

Oct 11 - 12:

Looking for a good route through the Alps. One night stay or maybe two. Then looking to head back to Munich to drop the car off for Oct 13. Either spend night in Munich or somewhere close. Suggestions?

Oct 13 AM: Rent Porsche C4S for 3 hours and hit the autobahn.
Oct 13 PM: Fly out.

Looks like a good plan. Our pick up is the day before yours in the AM. As for a good route. I would drive out to Grossglockner and then stay the night in Berchtesgaden. Thats what we are doing.

[Smiller155]

I just got back from my ED trip.

First, I just found out that BMW will pick you up at the airport if you email them in advance. Taxis and Uber are expensive and the train is sort of a pain after a long flight.

Second, I believe the BMW, Porsche & Mercedes factories are all closed during the month of July and August (they were when I was there a couple weeks ago).

As such, I'd give 1 day to picking up your car and going to the BMW museum. Afterwards, I drove to the Chinese Tower in the English Garden (google it). It's a great beer garden where you can have a nice dinner in beautiful woods with a lot of festive locals (about a 15 min drive from Welt).

If you are a car guy, the Porsche and Mercedes museums are about a 2-2.5 hour drive away in Stuttgart.

HAVE A GREAT TIME!

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by Smiller155

I just got back from my ED trip.

First, I just found out that BMW will pick you up at the airport if you email them in advance. Taxis and Uber are expensive and the train is sort of a pain after a long flight.

Second, I believe the BMW, Porsche & Mercedes factories are all closed during the month of July and August (they were when I was there a couple weeks ago).

As such, I'd give 1 day to picking up your car and going to the BMW museum. Afterwards, I drove to the Chinese Tower in the English Garden (google it). It's a great beer garden where you can have a nice dinner in beautiful woods with a lot of festive locals (about a 15 min drive from Welt).

If you are a car guy, the Porsche and Mercedes museums are about a 2-2.5 hour drive away in Stuttgart.

HAVE A GREAT TIME!

Congrats on your trip!

As to your comment about BMW picking you up, that information was in our ED packet and the ED confirmation email. Did you guys miss it?

[Parabolica]

Does BMW pick you up at the airport to take you to the hotel and then pick you up the next day from the hotel to go to the Welt? Or just one trip?

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Does BMW pick you up at the airport to take you to the hotel and then pick you up the next day from the hotel to go to the Welt? Or just one trip?

Just one trip. You can do airport to hotel or hotel to Welt

[Nikolas]

Aren't the hotel choices walking distance?

I'm starting to plan my trip. Flights from where I am to Munich suck. I'll most likely fly to Frankfurt, train to Munich. Does anyone know if the train station is at the Munich airport like FRA?

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Aren't the hotel choices walking distance?

I'm starting to plan my trip. Flights from where I am to Munich suck. I'll most likely fly to Frankfurt, train to Munich. Does anyone know if the train station is at the Munich airport like FRA?

Walking distance to where? There is only one hotel, the Leonardo, that is walking distance the rest require the U Bahn or a car ride. A ton of people like staying closer to downtown Munich (Marienplatz) to site see. The service can also pick you up from train station and take you to hotel or, if your hotel is close to train station, just use the ride from the hotel to the Welt.

Train station in Munich is in central Munich nowhere near the airport. You can theoretically go to the train station in Munich Airport but there is no need to unless you want to stay at the much more expensive Hilton airport

[Nikolas]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

Walking distance to where? There is only one hotel, the Leonardo, that is walking distance the rest require the U Bahn or a car ride. A ton of people like staying closer to downtown Munich (Marienplatz) to site see. The service can also pick you up from train station and take you to hotel or, if your hotel is close to train station, just use the ride from the hotel to the Welt.

Train station in Munich is in central Munich nowhere near the airport. You can theoretically go to the train station in Munich Airport but there is no need to unless you want to stay at the much more expensive Hilton airport

Sorry, walking distance to the Welt from the hotel.

Thanks for the info on Train station pickup. That should work out great.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

Just one trip. You can do airport to hotel or hotel to Welt

. . . or airport to Welt!

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by hinckley

. . . or airport to Welt!

Yes forgot about that.

[MFNATIK]

Originally Posted by ssuene93

With only three days, I would stay around Munch. Maybe a day trip to Neuschwanstein or Salzburg. I have done ED two times before and just stayed in Munich for three days/nights in my ED last June. It is never enough time visiting Munich.

Like others advised as well, this is exactly what I would do if I had only 3 days. Then go all out on the Autobahn!

[Parabolica]

Alright, flights booked. Went with LOT for the flight there. Hopefully their business class is decent.

Recommendation for hotels in Munich, preferably in the downtown area?? Looking for an inexpensive 4 star.

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Alright, flights booked. Went with LOT for the flight there. Hopefully their business class is decent.

Recommendation for hotels in Munich, preferably in the downtown area?? Looking for an inexpensive 4 star.

Hilton Munich Park is great for the price. Was recommended by a few people in my BMW CCA chapter, so that is what we are going with.

Congrats!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

Hilton Munich Park is great for the price. Was recommended by a few people in my BMW CCA chapter, so that is what we are going with.

Congrats!

I'll compete with Scout and throw out Hilton Munich City, which makes Munich Park look like a dump:

* Great secure ramp parking if you need it
* Few tourists, more of a business hotel, yay!
* EXCELLENT breakfast!
* Better area - nice stores and a farmers market right out the front door
* Has train station access right from the hotel!

Anyway, we tried Munich Park the first time we stayed but then switched the next time due to the train station and we've never gone back.

I'm just kidding about it being better, but for us it is as it's less touristy and more residential area with great train access so it's never more than 10-15 min away from anything and secure valet ramp parking ... but really there's not a ton of difference besides the nice train station connected to the hotel. I guess my point is, Munich Park is for pussies.

Oh, BTW, there's a direct train from the airport to the Hilton Munich City, takes about 40 min.

The orangey areas in google maps are "shopping and restaurants" and you can see Hilton munich city has lots of stuff right around it whereas munich park is, well, by a park.

BTW - see on that island on the river near the word "Isar"? There are lots of naked people there and you can take pictures of them on that bridge and then run before they catch you.

[Parabolica]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

Hilton Munich Park is great for the price. Was recommended by a few people in my BMW CCA chapter, so that is what we are going with.

Congrats!

The best price I'm finding online is $300 CDN. That's a bit more than I wanted to spend for one nite.