It’s already mid-February, and I’m starting to think about plans for the June trip.
I figure I’ll make airline reservations sometime in March, since you supposedly get cheaper prices if you book early. Considering the recession, etc., it wouldn’t surprise me if prices fell a bit during summer, so I might end up paying a bit more by booking early. But we shall see.
I have to get with Philllip soon and see what he might want to do post-reunion while we’re still in Germany. Don’t know if he’s given it any thought yet.
Anyway, just thought I’d try to kick off some discussion, maybe get some ideas. I’m sure Charlie will post something soon about the reunion, fest plans and plans to join up with our German comrades as discussed here.
Someone asked earlier about hotel choices. In the past, almost everyone has stayed at the Bayerischer Hof. (Just got a really nice mailer from them this month, as well as several e-mails about Valentine’s Day specials.) A bit expensive, but very nice. I’m sure Charlie will have more to say about all that as well.
I’d like to keep most of the reunion discussion centered here on the forums instead of the old e-mail list. The forums have twice as many members, including several who have talked about attending the reunion, but are not on the e-mail list.
It is still a bit early for final plans. My friend Cindy Kunicki and I really hope to come but we still have to settle the finances on our recent trip to Australia and New Zealand.. We hope to be there for the weekend but as of now not for any other group travel. We also think the Bayeriscer Hof would be a great place to stay. Like you, we will be able to say more in March after taxes have been paid and finances are resolved. Tentative plans would be for us to be there in Rimbach 12-14 June
Due to the severe economic conditions, there have been actual reductions in air fare. I spot checked Kayak today (3/4/09) and discovered I could have saved another $200 by book with tne new Northwest/KLM consortium. Apparently demand has dropped that airlines are forced to drop fares. If you thought you couldn’t afford the ticket prices, PLEASE CHECK AGAIN!
Maria and I jumped the gun this year. We bought our tickets in January, which in retrospect is not looking like a wise decision. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again. It’s quite unusual for us, but we plan to rent a vehicle this time and travel. Hopefully Charlie Hess can come up with a side trip, despite the number of people coming. The Prague trip was fantastic!
Been giving a bit of thought to what other places I might go after the Rimbach weekend, but haven’t yet given it serious thought. It’s about time I start doing that, though. Four or five days seeing some other places is always good!
I’ve checked ticket prices DFW-FRA a couple of times this year, and they’ve been going down. I had planned to buy ‘em in mid-March sometime, but we’ll see. Might take a chance and see if they drop even more.
Thanks, John. I always check for Munich too, for just those reasons. But that adds a connection, mostly at the hated Heathrow in London, and also puts me into Munich late in the afternoon. So it makes for a longer journey, and I’d end up staying a night in Munich before heading to Rimbach. (Not a bad thing in itself, but ...)
The good new is that the price for my usual AA non-stop DFW-FRA has dropped like that proverbial rock now, down to $1,055 from DFW and back again. (The non-peak fall 2007 price was $867; this year’s price started out about $1,400.) That flight leaves in the afternoon here and arrives in the early morning in FRA, giving me a day’s travel time to get to Rimbach long about 2-3 p.m. Just in time for beer with everyone. Works out nice.
I’ll keep an eye on things, though. Probably make reservations mid-March-ish.
I share your feelings about Heathrow. It is one place I try to avoid. We are lucky as we have a direct connection to Munich from Washington Dulles. We got our tickets through Orbitz which offers a refund of the difference if they sell a like ticket for less. It was not the deal I was hoping for, but last time I got a cheap flight they took me through Heathrow. What a mess. Even though we had two hours to catch our connecting flight, we almost did not make it. We will look forward to seeing you and everyone else there.
The months are rolling by and the projects are building up a resonance of their own. Sort of a mix between hard rock and chamber music. More at another time of my relocation at 60 - “what a stupid thing to do in a recession or any-other-time“. Still snow on the ground so a bit of delay is built in.
I sure hope many of you will be able to obtain the somewhat less expensive new air fares. I will be travelling the other way to Seattle in November for my Mom’s 90th birthday and sure hope to squeeze in to the in-between Thanksgiving high fares and off season. Maybe a side trip to Mexico to warm the bones before arrival in Seattle.
As it is my trip across Germany for the reunion is much cheaper when compared to the gas price highs. It’s 600 KM each way and takes about 6 hours with stops for the dog and my legs. But I will be there on the day and probably a week before and after so I should be able to assist some travellers with the odd outing.
Organised side trips are nearly impossible to plan when it is not known how many people are actually going to arrive and how many of that lot that would want to make a side trip. A very nice and easy trip using public tourist bus if enough people or pack-em-in rent-a-cars and a few privates cars if smaller amounts would be something like Regensburg. (1-1 ½ hour s´drive) Wonderful old town with lots to see and do for a day trip.
Just a word on travel plans. Most of you I am sure have shopped for tickets and know the the prices quoted are often just for the ticket. What is not included are the taxes (usually many times the cost of the ticket )and surcharges. Sometimes a discount seller offers an incredibly low price (one way based on a round trip), but going to another source there will be a larger price for the same price, and another will offer a larger round trip price. Sometimes even it is cheaper to deal directly with the airline which will give you the total price including taxes and other fee. For those of you who may not be familiar with where to shop for deals, I suggest “Cheap flights”, “Orbitz”, “Travelocity” and “Kayak”. They offer different alternatives and way to show pricing, Good hunting and Waldmanns Heil! (Good hunting!)
Looking forward to seeing you and everyone else again, Pivo!
I checked again last night, and the daily DFW-FRA flight on AA keeps dropping. It’s down to $979 now, from a high of more than $1,300 a couple of months ago. It’s approaching what used to be low-season prices. I may give to the end of the month and see if it drops some more.
Still looking for a side trip, maybe just a day or two, to some interesting place nearby to add a little travel icing to the reunion cake. Any ideas, anyone?
Did my reservations today, just making it a long weekend in Rimbach.
American Airlines, leaving DFW for Frankfurt Wednesday, June 10, arriving in Rimbach the afternoon of Thursday, June 11 (was about 2-3 p.m. last time, I think). Leaving Rimbach Monday, June 15, for a Tuesday flight back to Dallas.
Can’t wait! Looking forward to seeing all you guys again! (And the fest, of course. And our German mates. And hopefully one or two of our CZ mates maybe. )
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