General Info

[QUOTE=Akibono]The prices seem less that an IC train which can get expensive when you cross borders. Time will probably take a bit longer, but unlike trains you don't have to worry about transfers. I think what is appealing is the fact that most leave in the evening and arrives in the next morning. That saves the cost of a hotel room since you can sleep on the bus. This is certainly better than driving and seem rather practical for last minute travels. The trains usually require an advanced reservation and a saturday say for the best rates.[/QUOTE]

Your post has a phrase I don't understand. You wrote "sleep on the bus." I always thought that was one of the levels in hell. (smile)

OK, I can see the value in "stretching the Euro" by not paying for a hotel room if you really have to do a long distance trip point-to-point. I can also understand the the advantages of not having to transfer. I've done some long distance bus travel and I'd like to avoid it as much as possible

I'll put this in my list of travel resources. I'd be interested in the cost of last minute fares for the bus compared to RE, RB or even IC rail.

Rufus

[QUOTE=Angus Magee]You have to know that Angus knows a thing or two about cheap travel. I have bummed around Europe on peanuts in the past.
My experience with busses is that they can be very cheap but still you have to buy ahead to get the cheapest price and this cancels the main selling point for me which is spontaneity of travel.[/QUOTE]

Spontaneity and serendipity are among my favorite parts of travel.

[QUOTE=Angus Magee]Normal prices are about the same as a slow train. And these days even a discount air line can be cheaper than the bus. I am not sure why people take the bus except it is the most anonymous way to travel.[/QUOTE]

From what I've read, some of those airlines are not so discount when you add all the hidden costs or the costs for things which are free elsewhere. They also typically take you to an airport vaguely associated with a city which is isn't close at all. I've had great experiences with Air Berlin. Reasonable cost, real seat assignments, and no "cattle stampede" at the gate. The staff are very courteous and helpful. OK, maybe these aspects are the ones I don't want to be spontaneous or serendipitous.

Rufus

[QUOTE=Rufus T Firefly]Spontaneity and serendipity are among my favorite parts of travel.



From what I've read, some of those airlines are not so discount when you add all the hidden costs or the costs for things which are free elsewhere. They also typically take you to an airport vaguely associated with a city which is isn't close at all. I've had great experiences with Air Berlin. Reasonable cost, real seat assignments, and no "cattle stampede" at the gate. The staff are very courteous and helpful. OK, maybe these aspects are the ones I don't want to be spontaneous or serendipitous.

Rufus[/QUOTE]

Well for me busses have a certain nostalgia. In my youth I traveled by bus extensively in all parts of the world and had some hellish experiences. But then the hardship of bus travel can also be part of the charm with the right attitude.

By flying over a country you certainly miss the flavor of the country. Like the time I shared a bus ride with a three meter dead Sturgeon (the fish) that a fellow passenger had along for the ride as baggage....

Now a days I have to say I prefer a bit more comfort unless price is a major factor. I mean I figure if I am spending 300-400 euros on a single FKK evening I might as well cut loose a little bit extra cash to arrive in style.

But as a tip on bus travel I will mention that the bus can be very cheap if you go to the station to buy the ticket. The last time I took a long bus journey was Vienna to Berlin about 4 years back. The internet price was (if I remember correctly) around 40-45 euros. When I arrived at the station a couple of day in advance to buy the ticket I was told it cost 25 euros. This is a special price that they do not advertise on the internet and that you have to buy at the ticket counter to receive. They told me that they sell off a few seats on each bus like this and then the price goes up to the normal price.

So 25 euros over night Vienna to Berlin is pretty damn good. Only trouble was I couldn't convince the driver & other passengers to stop off and do some pooning on the way through the Czech Republic:-((

Thinking quite far ahead, next Spring actually, I'm wondering if anyone has ever done a bike tour, club to club. And, if so, if there exists a route guide, cue sheets and the like.

What I envision is, z.B., a week's tour, taking in 4-5 clubs, riding 50-100 km per day, possibly starting in the Lahn Valley at Marburg, riding to World, then Oase, then I'd need some help. Or is there a more suitable (for logistical purposes), more scenic area?

And, at the same time, I'm wondering if there are others who might be interested in going along for the ride.

[QUOTE=Regnad]Thinking quite far ahead, next Spring actually, I'm wondering if anyone has ever done a bike tour, club to club. And, if so, if there exists a route guide, cue sheets and the like.

What I envision is, z.B., a week's tour, taking in 4-5 clubs, riding 50-100 km per day, possibly starting in the Lahn Valley at Marburg, riding to World, then Oase, then I'd need some help. Or is there a more suitable (for logistical purposes), more scenic area?

And, at the same time, I'm wondering if there are others who might be interested in going along for the ride.[/QUOTE]

Interesting idea Regnad. And very German;-))

I don't know anything personally but I have a friend who might. It may take a bit but I will ask and if I have anything to report will post it here in a few days.

Old Angus could use a bit of getting in shape next summer along with his usual Zimmer calisthenics.

Gotta tell ya Regnad.

When I'm visiting the FKK clubs, it's not bikes I'm thinkin of riding!

CD

[QUOTE=Regnad]Thinking quite far ahead, next Spring actually, I'm wondering if anyone has ever done a bike tour, club to club. And, if so, if there exists a route guide, cue sheets and the like.

What I envision is, z.B., a week's tour, taking in 4-5 clubs, riding 50-100 km per day, possibly starting in the Lahn Valley at Marburg, riding to World, then Oase, then I'd need some help. Or is there a more suitable (for logistical purposes), more scenic area?

And, at the same time, I'm wondering if there are others who might be interested in going along for the ride.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Angus Magee]Interesting idea Regnad. And very German;-))

I don't know anything personally but I have a friend who might. It may take a bit but I will ask and if I have anything to report will post it here in a few days.

Old Angus could use a bit of getting in shape next summer along with his usual Zimmer calisthenics.[/QUOTE]
May be time to hit the spinning classes, Angus. I've found a route that looks about perfect. Starting from Marburg to World on day 1, on to Oase for day 2, Frankfurt and (perhaps) Palace on day 3. From there, the route goes toward Darmstadt and, for me, uncharted waters. Night and Day in Buerstadt? Feigenblatt in Worms?

[url]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Darmstadt-Marburg[/url]

This whole route is 133 km, or four very leisurely days, but one must save some energy for the ladies.

Regnad,

one forum member here, Willem2, who is also one of the administrators of the Dutch forum, once announced a bike tour, he did it, you can contact him for more info.


[QUOTE=Regnad]May be time to hit the spinning classes, Angus. I've found a route that looks about perfect. Starting from Marburg to World on day 1, on to Oase for day 2, Frankfurt and (perhaps) Palace on day 3. From there, the route goes toward Darmstadt and, for me, uncharted waters. Night and Day in Buerstadt? Feigenblatt in Worms?

[url]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Darmstadt-Marburg[/url]

This whole route is 133 km, or four very leisurely days, but one must save some energy for the ladies.[/QUOTE]

Anybody knows if and when, Palace, World and Oase are closed from 23 till 27 december ?

Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=Lukasek]Anybody knows if and when, Palace, World and Oase are closed from 23 till 27 december ?

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]
Usually these clubs are closed Dec 24the and open late, like 4 or 6 PM on Dec 25. Open regular hours all other days. FKK World website says this.

Same thing New Years (Sylvester). Closed Dec 31 and open 5 PM Jan 1.
beffen

[QUOTE=Beffen1]Usually these clubs are closed Dec 24the and open late, like 4 or 6 PM on Dec 25. Open regular hours all other days. FKK World website says this.

Same thing New Years (Sylvester). Closed Dec 31 and open 5 PM Jan 1.
beffen[/QUOTE]

Most clubs are typical closed Christmas Evening (December 24). Some are open First and Second day of Christmas (December 25 and 26).
If I remember well Oase is closed First Christmas Day but I am not sure. I know PHG and GT are open both Christmas Days. w.r.t. FKK world that is indeed the info on the website.
Do not expect then a lot of girls ofcourse. Last year December 23 I was in Oase and I think there were about 40 girls present.

Remember in Europa we have Christmas evening and the First and Second day of Christmas which are both public holidays. December 24 is not a public Holiday but mosts shops will be closed after 5 PM. New years day is also a public holiday. December 31 not but then also most shops will be closed after 5 PM.

Big30

[QUOTE=Travelerb69]Regnad,

one forum member here, Willem2, who is also one of the administrators of the Dutch forum, once announced a bike tour, he did it, you can contact him for more info.[/QUOTE]

That is correct! He did it in 2008 but not in Hessen but in Nord Rhein Westfalen visiting there the most major Clubs like GT, VV and PHG.
I remember we met then in happy, I was dry just getting out of my car Willem2, was soaked to the skin because of the heavy rain :-).

A bike tour in NRW is not that much of a challenge. Hessen is more interesting because of the hills, both for a race and Mountain Bike.
If you are a bike fan, then not far from Oase you will finf the Feldberg not a real mountain but a nice area. Actually part of a famous Bike Classic "Rundum den Henniger Turm" starting and finishing in Frankfurt (this info is only for the race bike fans!).

Big30

[QUOTE=Angus Magee]Well for me busses have a certain nostalgia. In my youth I traveled by bus extensively in all parts of the world and had some hellish experiences. But then the hardship of bus travel can also be part of the charm with the right attitude.

By flying over a country you certainly miss the flavor of the country. Like the time I shared a bus ride with a three meter dead Sturgeon (the fish) that a fellow passenger had along for the ride as baggage....

But as a tip on bus travel I will mention that the bus can be very cheap if you go to the station to buy the ticket. The last time I took a long bus journey was Vienna to Berlin about 4 years back. The internet price was (if I remember correctly) around 40-45 euros.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Angus and Akibono,

I did a little investigating regarding bus travel, focusing on the connections out of Frankfurt aM and Wien. I will definitely keep this in mind if I need to make a quick trip between cities and save some money (if the ticket is bought in advance).

My personal preference is to travel by rail. I like seeing the countryside and urban areas. I can usually save some money by taking the RE and RB trains, plus using the special Länder tickets. As Akibono points out, this usually means having to change trains, often multiple times.

I normally wouldn't fly within Europe but a couple of years ago I had to quickly travel outside Germany. In this case, airline travel was really required as, after much investigation, the rail travel on the fastest trains would have taken too long.

Rufus

Hi,

Afetr a dozen or more visits to Artemis, I have been getting a little bored of the place in recent months. In October I checked out Oase and FKK Palace in Frankfurt and enjoyed them both.

Next week I will be spending a couple of days in Germany again and I'd like to try out another club (s). I have a meeting in Berlin on Tuesday, which means that I don't really want to trek south to Bayern. I'd prefer to stay in the north of the country. I also need to find an FKK club that is not tooooo far from an airport to get back to the UK.

Possible cities in contention are, therefore, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Hamburg, Koln etc.

I prefer larger establishments with extensive facilities, hygenic changing areas and a wide selection of girls (cost immaterial). Who is going to be kind enough to suggest for me the next stop on my nationwide FKK tour, now that I've got Artemis, Oase and Palace under my belt. All (informed) suggestions gratefully received

Cheers

Charlie

[QUOTE=Charlie 123]Hi,


Possible cities in contention are, therefore, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Hamburg, Koln etc.

I prefer larger establishments with extensive facilities, hygenic changing areas and a wide selection of girls (cost immaterial). Who is going to be kind enough to suggest for me the next stop on my nationwide FKK tour, now that I've got Artemis, Oase and Palace under my belt. All (informed) suggestions gratefully received

Cheers

Charlie[/QUOTE]

I am responding to your question from the Oase thread here, because it fits better:

You don't have to be Einstein to bring GT to the top of your list of clubs to try based on the criteria you list. Not too far from an airport (D-dorf), very clean and best of all: Possibly the best day to day line-up in FKKland. Problem: If you go there you may never leave! It is not the easiest to get to via public transport, so you really should do it with a car. If you do get a car, you are not too far from PHG/VV and/or LR. These clubs can be more hit or miss than GT in terms of line up however, and VV has its own problems in other respects (see that thread for more info.).

One club getting good buzz these days is Samya in Koln, and it is public transportation friendly.

World is, as we said, a top contender, but it is not so easy to get to. Maybe leave that one for another time...

Ortos