Planning a trip to Oktoberfest 2009?!
How do i go about planning a trip to a major event like that?
And what is the age limit for the consumption of alcohol in Germany?
And how much is this likely to cost?
thanks
Answers: Well me & my friends want to plan a trip to oktoberfest in 2009 when we are all 18, i know its well over a year away but all im concerned about is:
How do i go about planning a trip to a major event like that?
And what is the age limit for the consumption of alcohol in Germany?
And how much is this likely to cost?
thanks
Well, first of all make sure everyone has applied for or already has a passport. Seems self explanatory, but ya never know.
You can either call a travel agent and have them set up a trip with airfare, accomadations and anything else you want for Munchen (Munich) in late September. Remember, Oktoberfest usually ends by the first weekend in October so if you don't keep that straight you can wind up missing it as it is a common misconception (for Americans) that it is actually in late October.
What I have done in the past is just booked my airfare and stayed in a youth hostel that I found once I arrived. There are tons of places to stay and it's not a big deal. Just make sure you have your money converted and a good translator (albeit person or book, if you don't already speak the language). And of course, looking up everything you can about it online is always helpful and handy. Going with a group of friends is always a good idea because there is more brain power and less of a chance of anything going wrong. Usually...haha Though I do have some stories, especially at Oktoberfest!
Anyway, have a good time!
EDIT: And buy a Euro pass at the airport once you arrive or online, if you plan to do any travelling outside the country. It will be much cheaper this way and one less hassle.
And sorry, I forgot to answer you about cost - it really depends on what you are planning to do. I can't give you any set numbers. Once you have your airfare and factor in youth hostels (which are cheap), then you really just have to worry about food, drink and recreation. I have allocated $2000 USD for a 2 week trip, and been perfectly fine. But it just depends, especially with the value of the dollar right now. And it depends on how cheap you can backpack it or if don't plan on doing it that way, it will be more too.
When I was a chef, myself and 3 other chef friends went in 1985, we were there for 9 days, one thing if you go be there for the whole thing or the bulk of it, and it was not bad, for hotels I would recommend sharing the room with your friends it lowers the cost, most place can setup for 3-4 people per room.
As the first person said get your passports in plenty of time, make the hotel reservations in the fall of this year to get the best choice, and if the rates go up your locked in, there are websites to check out, there are some hostels to with shared rooms, but they have more restrictive rules about coming in intoxicated.
Figure in a hotel there is a free breakfast, so your going to have to figure for lunch and dinner each day, beer is in large (1 liter) steins and stronger than most American beers, the Hoftbraus and Beer Halls at that time have meals for purchase at them and are relatively cheap, but you will have to be in the mood for German fare, no burgers or hot dogs??
Sit down with your friendr, call the charter airlines, in the U.S, Zoom from the UK does fly to Germany or Luftansa, they have direct flights also, start getting everything arrange no later than January or February, and make sure to confirm all plans and hotel reservations 90-120 days before, just to make sure there is no problem.
One extra word of caution, German laws are very strict about public drunkeness and other minor infractions, so enjoy yourself and have a good time but be careful and make it an enjoyable trip, one you will remember, I still have some memorys, some what foggy, we were out until 5 am and had to catch a 8 am flight, most of them slept on the plane, jst remmebr it is a long flight and there air and altitude make being off kilter even harder, but the coffee is stronger there to help in the morning for sure, I had 4 before we took off, all black!!!