going to frankfurt 8 adults and 7 kids advice/help please!!!

nic-pink

HELP - Yet again I got sucked in by the latest ryanair free flights advert and booked for my family and 3 other families to go to the christmas fair in frankfurt, before booking I checked how far it is from frankfurt airport to christmas fair, it appeared to be straightforward jump on the railway 15 - 20 minutes tops however after booking flights and night before accomodation I investigated further and found out frankfurt hahn is a completely different airport 2 hours away from frankfurt. If it was just me and hubby I would just abandon this right here but you guessed it I told the kids about it - so now come hell or high water we are going to the christmas fayre!
Originally we were going to do a day trip but now I`ve booked flights for the next day coming back (going out 4/12/07 coming back 5/12/07) I was hoping that maybe somebody else may have been on this trip and could offer any advice tips - i.e should we take the train or bus? Can anybody recommend any reasonable hotels, we would need 4 rooms? Also what is there to do see once we are there?
Many thanks in advance. p.s This is definitely the last time I book any ryanair trips before I`ve done many hours of research on the internet first to locate the actual airport!!!!!!:eek:

magic_pants

hmmmm...the old Ryanair regional airport problem eh?!! Frankfurt Hahn is a long way from the City unfortunately whereas Frankfurt Main is only down the road. Sadly Ryanair fly to the wrong one!

Frankfurt isn't really what I'd call a tourist destination. I go there weekly for work and it's rather geared for Business in the main part. That said, the old town is surprisingly nice and the Zoo is definately worth a look. One thing is that you won;t be disappointed by the Christmas Market as this is something that the German's do very well indeed. You'll enjoy it!

nic-pink

thanks for your prompt reply.
Can anybody recommend any hotels?
thanks

pusscat

Hahn is about 70miles from Frankfurt. there is a bus service that takes about 2 hours (I think that is the only way to get there except by hire car) http://www.bohr-omnibusse.de/en/service/routes1.php?db=0

The Weihnachtsmarkt is always good - do a search on the German word and you should get far more interesting information (translate the page if necessary). http://www.frankfurt-tourismus.de/cms/tourismussuite/en/events_trade_fairs_messe_frankfurt/christmas_market_Frankfurt_xmas.html

Hope this is a start

Puss
xx

BernadetteN

Perhaps you may want to re-consider going to Frankfurt for the night. There are far nicer places to visit closer to that airport than Frankfurt (128km). For example, it's not too far to the villages along the Mosel river - Cochem (40km) is a very picturesque place. Otherwise there is Koblenz (65km), Bacharach (51km), Rudesheim, Boppard etc on the Rhein.

A quick google on Hahn airport transport links to Cochem lead me to this company which runs a service to Cochem and says it does group transfers as well as a scheduled service to Hahn (individual adults cost 9.25, child cost 5.65):
http://www.vuag.de/airporthahn/index.htm

Transport to Koblenz (you could even stay in Koblenz and go to their Christmas market or go by train to Rudesheim if you can't find somewhere to stay in Rudesheim):
http://www.bohr-omnibusse.de/en/service/routes.php

Taxi transport from Hahn to Rudesheim perhaps (just one of many) :
http://www.taxi-am-hahn.de/

How about car hire? Here's a quick link which shows 1 day car hire for a large 7/8 seater from Hahn as €130, cheap when divided between 7 or 8 :
http://www.holidayautos.de/v2/buchen/carrates.asp?sId=75647696330324

richardw

There is a Christmas market at Rudesheim http://www.ruedesheim.de/en/index.html

other markets http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/index_cities3.htm

SallyD

It is a bit of a traipse from the airport into Frankfurt. Rudesheim is a fairytale town (castle on the hilltop etc.,) as is Boppard and so much nearer.

Tabmow

As other people have already said you might want to reconsider staying in Frankfurt. Cochem is spectacular on the river Mosel, as is the twin town of Bernkastel-Kues. Timber framed buildings - but neither of them has a lot to do for very long. Ruedesheim (or Rüdesheim - the two dots over the u mean that the following "e" has been omitted) is a real winner. Lots of evening entertainment and restaurants. There's a little street called Drosselgasse (Thrush Alley) where the oompah bands are in full swing). Coffe and cakes overlooking the Rhein. Take the cable car up the hill to the Germania monument or just walk, short walk through the forest to the chair lift down to Assmanshausen (steep hillside over vine growing area). You can also visit the Asbach-Uralt distillery. Frankfurt is a commercial city with lots of big boring buildings - it was flattened in the war. If you can catch a bus or a train do so - the public transport system is excellent.

Tabmow

oh - and daft as it sounds, go both ways across the Rhein as a foot passenger on the car ferry for next to nothing and enjoy the view whilst you go...

suzywoozy_3

NO help or advice but we've done the same thing and told the kids too!

Ruedesheim seems to take almost as long to get to by bus as Frankfurt and the buses are only 3 times a day.