Spyns is an active travel company offering small group tours to Munich's Oktoberfest festival. For more information about Oktoberfest and our company, please visit http://www.oktoberfest-germany.com/ or contact us info@oktoberfest-germany.com or toll-free at 1.888.825.4720. Copyright Spynstours Ltd. 2008-2012.
Munich/Hotels:
So you’ve decided to go to Munich for Oktoberfest so everything else is secondary, right? Wrong. Where you stay is one of the most important decisions of your trip. So before reading our review, here are a few misconceptions about Munich and Oktoberfest.
I’ll just show up and find a hotel.
Bring a tent because you’ll be sleeping outside. Over 6 million people come to Oktoberfest, many of whom made hotel reservations. Whether or not you travel with us (and after visiting our website you will do the smart thing and book a Spyns tour by calling 1.888.825.4720), you should book your hotel room at least 6 months in advance.
I just want a cheap, comfortable hotel.
“Cheap” during Oktoberfest is around US$200/night. Most hotels will charge between $250-$450/night for standard double rooms. Why? Because demand far outstrips supply. With 6 million people fighting for bedspace, the hotels can charge whatever they want.
I want to stay near the fair grounds.
No problem, but hotel rates are high, rooms are scarce and get ready to walk past a lot of strip joints on the way home. The closest hotels are just east of the Oktoberfest grounds. By no means dangerous, this friendly area houses a large immigrant population so you should expect to see a lot of Kebab restaurants, strip bars and pawn shops.
Bavaria Hotel Munich***
Rooms: 50 Price Rating: $$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 2 minutes walking. Location: Less than 1 city block from the Oktoberfest fairgrounds but on the west side of the grounds so a bit of a trek to the city center. Nice small courtyard, good breakfast, and clear modern rooms. Décor similar to a standard airport hotel with a lot of light brown Ikea-like furniture. Stand up showers and small balconies standard for all rooms. Neighborhood nicer but more isolated than the Bell Blue, Maritim and Marriott so expect a longer walk to the subway or train station. Pros: Clean, modern, reasonably priced, good service, and excellent breakfast. Cons: No air-conditioning. Recommended for: Cost-conscious clients who want to fall into bed after a day at the festival.
Hotel Bell Blue Munchen**
Rooms: 30 Price Rating: $$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes walking. Location: Within walking distance of Munich train station, the Oktoberfest grounds, and Munich’s main square (the Marienplatz), Hotel Bell Blue is an excellent mid-sized hotel. Almost everything in the hotel is blue so you may wish to stay elsewhere if you’re not a fan of this color. Pros: Location, service, cleanliness, air conditioning, modern bathrooms. Cons: Although close to everything, the neighborhood is a bit seedy with lots of strip joints and kebab shops. Recommended for: Cost-conscious travelers who plan to spend a lot of time at Oktoberfest and prefer family-run hotels to large chains.
Maritim Hotel Munich***
Rooms: 339 Price Rating: $$$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes walking. Location: Mid-priced hotel (but expensive during Oktoberfest) just across the street from Munich train station. Easy access to the center of town and Oktoberfest grounds. Like Hotel Bell Blue, the Maritim Hotel is located in a seedy area with a lot of strip bars. However, it is very safe particularly during the festival. Pros: Location, rooftop pool, one of the biggest buffet breakfasts in Europe, clean hotel. Cons: Room rates expensive during the festival, rooms a bit worn. Recommended for: 40+ couples who want the festival and certain comforts (like a heated pool) and easy access to Munich’s excellent transportation system for travel around Munich and region.
Marriott Munich City Center***
Rooms: 248 Price Rating: $$$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes walking. Location: The Marriott is in the same neighborhood as the Maritim and Hotel Blue (see above) so expect to a lot of strip bars, gambling halls and kebab restaurants. As with most of Munich (and Germany in general), the area is clean, orderly, and safe but the suggestion window displays may offend a more puritanical clientele. Unbeatable location as the Marriott is about 2 blocks from the train station and is about 4 blocks from the Oktoberfest fair grounds. Pros: Location, free lobby internet, clean, good service, excellent (but expensive) breakfast. Cons: Hot water fluctuates, in-room internet very expensive, expensive breakfast, seedy area. Recommended for: Clients 25-35 who don’t mind walking by the odd sex-shop on the way home.
Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Hotel*****
Rooms: 303 Price Rating: $$$$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes (via subway) Location: Located on Munich’s Maximillianstrasse (similar to the Champs Elysees in Paris) within walking distance of the Marienplatz and local landmarks, this hotel is part of the Kempinski chain – like a German version of the Four Seasons. While exclusive, its rates are similar to the Martim (see above) during Oktoberfest so we highly recommend it. Pros: Location, concierge, excellent bar & restaurant, top floor pool/deck, and good service. Cons: Standard rooms small and somewhat run down, breakfast (while good) is very expensive, expensive wifi, Recommended for: Seasoned travelers in need of concierge-level service. If you want to enjoy Oktoberfest and not have the party in your hallway, stay here.
**************************************************************
Spyns is an active travel company offering small group tours to Munich's Oktoberfest festival. For more information about Oktoberfest and our company, please visit www.oktoberfest-germany.com or contact us info@oktoberfest-germany.com or toll-free at 1.888.825.4720. Copyright Spynstours Ltd. 2008-2012.
Munich/Hotels:
So you’ve decided to go to Munich for Oktoberfest so everything else is secondary, right? Wrong. Where you stay is one of the most important decisions of your trip. So before reading our review, here are a few misconceptions about Munich and Oktoberfest.
I’ll just show up and find a hotel.
Bring a tent because you’ll be sleeping outside. Over 6 million people come to Oktoberfest, many of whom made hotel reservations. Whether or not you travel with us (and after visiting our website you will do the smart thing and book a Spyns tour by calling 1.888.825.4720), you should book your hotel room at least 6 months in advance.
I just want a cheap, comfortable hotel.
“Cheap” during Oktoberfest is around US$200/night. Most hotels will charge between $250-$450/night for standard double rooms. Why? Because demand far outstrips supply. With 6 million people fighting for bedspace, the hotels can charge whatever they want.
I want to stay near the fair grounds.
No problem, but hotel rates are high, rooms are scarce and get ready to walk past a lot of strip joints on the way home. The closest hotels are just east of the Oktoberfest grounds. By no means dangerous, this friendly area houses a large immigrant population so you should expect to see a lot of Kebab restaurants, strip bars and pawn shops.
Bavaria Hotel Munich***
Rooms: 50 Price Rating: $$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 2 minutes walking. Location: Less than 1 city block from the Oktoberfest fairgrounds but on the west side of the grounds so a bit of a trek to the city center. Nice small courtyard, good breakfast, and clear modern rooms. Décor similar to a standard airport hotel with a lot of light brown Ikea-like furniture. Stand up showers and small balconies standard for all rooms. Neighborhood nicer but more isolated than the Bell Blue, Maritim and Marriott so expect a longer walk to the subway or train station. Pros: Clean, modern, reasonably priced, good service, and excellent breakfast. Cons: No air-conditioning. Recommended for: Cost-conscious clients who want to fall into bed after a day at the festival.
Hotel Bell Blue Munchen**
Rooms: 30 Price Rating: $$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes walking. Location: Within walking distance of Munich train station, the Oktoberfest grounds, and Munich’s main square (the Marienplatz), Hotel Bell Blue is an excellent mid-sized hotel. Almost everything in the hotel is blue so you may wish to stay elsewhere if you’re not a fan of this color. Pros: Location, service, cleanliness, air conditioning, modern bathrooms. Cons: Although close to everything, the neighborhood is a bit seedy with lots of strip joints and kebab shops. Recommended for: Cost-conscious travelers who plan to spend a lot of time at Oktoberfest and prefer family-run hotels to large chains.
Maritim Hotel Munich***
Rooms: 339 Price Rating: $$$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes walking. Location: Mid-priced hotel (but expensive during Oktoberfest) just across the street from Munich train station. Easy access to the center of town and Oktoberfest grounds. Like Hotel Bell Blue, the Maritim Hotel is located in a seedy area with a lot of strip bars. However, it is very safe particularly during the festival. Pros: Location, rooftop pool, one of the biggest buffet breakfasts in Europe, clean hotel. Cons: Room rates expensive during the festival, rooms a bit worn. Recommended for: 40+ couples who want the festival and certain comforts (like a heated pool) and easy access to Munich’s excellent transportation system for travel around Munich and region.
Marriott Munich City Center***
Rooms: 248 Price Rating: $$$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes walking. Location: The Marriott is in the same neighborhood as the Maritim and Hotel Blue (see above) so expect to a lot of strip bars, gambling halls and kebab restaurants. As with most of Munich (and Germany in general), the area is clean, orderly, and safe but the suggestion window displays may offend a more puritanical clientele. Unbeatable location as the Marriott is about 2 blocks from the train station and is about 4 blocks from the Oktoberfest fair grounds. Pros: Location, free lobby internet, clean, good service, excellent (but expensive) breakfast. Cons: Hot water fluctuates, in-room internet very expensive, expensive breakfast, seedy area. Recommended for: Clients 25-35 who don’t mind walking by the odd sex-shop on the way home.
Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Hotel*****
Rooms: 303 Price Rating: $$$$ Distance to Oktoberfest Grounds: 15 minutes (via subway) Location: Located on Munich’s Maximillianstrasse (similar to the Champs Elysees in Paris) within walking distance of the Marienplatz and local landmarks, this hotel is part of the Kempinski chain – like a German version of the Four Seasons. While exclusive, its rates are similar to the Martim (see above) during Oktoberfest so we highly recommend it. Pros: Location, concierge, excellent bar & restaurant, top floor pool/deck, and good service. Cons: Standard rooms small and somewhat run down, breakfast (while good) is very expensive, expensive wifi, Recommended for: Seasoned travelers in need of concierge-level service. If you want to enjoy Oktoberfest and not have the party in your hallway, stay here.
**************************************************************
Spyns is an active travel company offering small group tours to Munich's Oktoberfest festival. For more information about Oktoberfest and our company, please visit www.oktoberfest-germany.com or contact us info@oktoberfest-germany.com or toll-free at 1.888.825.4720. Copyright Spynstours Ltd. 2008-2012.
