May 22 - June 7, 2010
This trip was for Matt and Wanda to visit parts of Germany and Austria in 2010.
By using points from airline travel and purchases through various reward credit cards, we were able to get the flights and hotel rooms mostly on points. This was a big savings in the cost of the trip.
Savings from using points for $4,442.64:
Holiday Inn Dresden - 3 nights for 45,000 Priority points - $472.87
Holiday Inn Berlin City - West - 4 nights for 40,000 Priority points & $120 ($30 per night) - $381.91 - $120 = $261.91
Renaissance Salzburg Hotel Congress Center Home - 1 night for 25,000 Choice points - $114.99
Quality Hotel Muenchen Messe (GE199) - 4 nights for 64,000 Choice points - $531.27
United Airlines Economy Plus flights - 110,000 points - $3,577.40 - $515.80 fees paid = $3,061.60
Train tickets: Capital One points for reimbursement of train expenses of $611.33
Frankfurt to Dresden, 1st class (€ 166.00) - $224.22
Dresden to Berlin (€ 29.00) - $39.17
Berlin to Vienna (€ 63.00) - $85.09
Vienna to Salzburg (€ 107.30) - $145.91
Salzburg to Innsbruck (€ 43.00) - $58.47
Innsbruck to Munich (€ 43.00) - $58.47
Total: $5,053.97 savings
We were able to pay for the following items before going on the trip:
We could have bought more items, but it did not seem reasonable with the shipping costs. Total expenses paid before the trip, including the airline fees and Holiday Inn partial payments, is $733.99 .
Summary itenirary of the trip plan.
The detailed plan for the trip is as follows:
Items that helped with planning the trip.
Note: for items paid for in Euro cash, I am using an average conversion rate of 1.248. This was based on acquiring 205 Euros before going over and getting an additional 1,200 Euros while in Germany and Austria. The cost of the initial acquisition and the conversion performed for the ATM withdrawals while in Europe was for a total of $1,753.70, which converts to 1.248.
May 22 (Saturday) - Houston, TX and Chicago, IL
Left home around 10:30 AM and ended up passing the exit for the airport without realizing it. Should have guessed at how the rest of the day would go from there.
We arrived at the The Parking Spot 2 location to park the car and took the shuttle to the airport terminal and there was no line for check-in or at the security check point. We checked our two large suitcases and carried on our backpacks. Done with check-in in about 10 minutes and through security about 5 minutes later.
Since we had a while to wait, we grabbed an early lunch at Chili's Too, which is located across from the security check point.
United Airlines changed the gate at the last moment, but no other problems on the flight to Chicago. United flight 7284 left Houston Intercontinental (IAH) at 1:42 PM and arrived at Chicago O'Hara (ORD) at 4:15 PM.
We went over to the gate for our connecting flight and had a couple of hours wait before it was time for it to leave. Grabbed a couple of snacks while we waited.
United flight 0940 left about 20 minutes late from the gate. It was scheduled for 6:32 PM, but the airline wanted to wait for a connecting flight that was running late. The plane from Chicago was full going to Frankfurt. When we boarded, a gentleman was already seated in the window seat, while we had the aisle and middle seats. He was asleep when we arrived and it turned out he was drunk. We had several instances of him wanting to get up, which meant staggering around and having trouble finding the right seat again, and then he was concerned he had lost his laptop. I showed him what I thought was his bag and he sat down happy after that and went back to sleep. Later on, he tried to get three beers from a stewardess later on, but she only gave him one. Close to the end, he disappeared for a while and came back with two more beers. Luckily, he slept most of the time, but Wanda, who was sitting in the middle seat, stated afterwards that his elbow kept hitting her side.
Expenses for Saturday:
Tip for shuttle driver from parking lot - $3.00 (cash)
Lunch at Chili's Too at IAH airport - $25.28 (credit card)
Drinks, snacks and magazine at IAH airport store (Paradise) - $18.77 (credit card)
Snacks and drinks from Zoot Cafe at ORD airport (2 purchases) - $14.18 (credit card)
Total amount: $61.23
May 23 (Sunday) - Frankfurt, Germany
There was also a medial emergency on the plane. A gentlemen in our row, but on the other side of the plane, ended up getting faint and passing out. Doctors were called and there happened to be two on the flight. They stabilized his blood pressure after finding it low and two paramedics pulled him off the flight first after we landed. They parked the plane away from the terminal to offload us and had to shuttle us in to the terminal.
Wanda says she doesn’t like riding on a 747 due to the seating and screen placement.
United flight 0940 actually arrived around the scheduled time of 9:55 AM at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Regionalbahnhof (FRA), but we had to wait for the paramedics to finish before they would allow anyone else to leave the plane. Customs took less than five minutes, since we slipped into the front of a new line that opened up. Our luggage was coming up on the luggage turnstile as we arrived in the baggage area, so we had both pieces quickly.
We walked around the airport terminal and found an ATM to get some Euros. Since we had discovered on our 2008 trip to London and Paris that it was cheaper to just withdraw money out of an ATM, we had set up an account just for this purpose with Capital One Bank. We also had pre-informed them that we would be using their credit cards over in Europe. We got the standard warning about still possibly having the cards put on hold in certain cases, but this never happened while we were traveling. We did take a couple of back-up ATM and credit cards just in case. We are pleased with the Capital One cards for use during travel in Europe.
Pictures from the Frankfurt Airport
After several attempts at various stores, we were told of a place that sold the Frankfurt Card which allows free travel in the central part of Frankfurt, from the airport, and discounts on various items. This turned out to be at the hotel reservation desk located on the left side after leaving the luggage area. The cards cost € 12.90 each and were for 2 days of use.
Pictures from the train to Frankfurt Hbf
We decided to go ahead and take the train to the main station Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) and grab lunch there. We only waited 3-4 minutes for the light-rail train at the airport station and then the trip took less than fifteen minutes to arrive at the main train station. We walked around the train station for a little while seeing what was there and then decided to eat at a McDonald’s. I know, not what we would expect to do, but it was quick and easy, and we were tired.
We then walked to the hotel and ended up passing underneath the signs a couple of times before a gentleman asked us what we were looking for and pointed to where we had been. All I can say was I had been up for about 26 hours by then.
The room (#308) was nice at the Comfort Hotel Frankfurt City Centre (GE148) and, contrary to postings on various sites, the area doesn’t look that bad to me. We had read some negative reviews on the area, not the hotel, but the immediate area at the hotel is fine.
Pictures of Comfort Hotel Frankfurt City Centre
After taking a nap, we went to O’Reilly’s Irish Pub for supper. I had a Cottage Pie (beef, carrots, peas, onions, potatoes) and Wanda had Bangors and Mash (sausage and potatoes). I also had a half liter of Black Velvet (Guinness and Cider) while Wanda had .31 liters of Guinness.
Pictures from Pat O'Reilly's Irish Pub
We returned to the hotel after finishing up our meal.
Expenses for Sunday:
Two Frankfurt Cards at Hotel Reservation desk at FRA airport - € 25.80 (credit card) - $31.87
Lunch at McDonald's at Frankfurt Hbf - € 12.80 (cash) - $15.97
Supper at O'reilly's Irish Pub - € 34.00 (credit card) - $42.53
Total amount: € 72.60 or $90.37
May 24 (Monday) - Frankfurt and Dresden, Germany
Pictures from the CitySightSeeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tour of Frankfurt
Pictures from the train going from Frankfurt to Dresden
Pictures from the Holiday Inn Dresden
Holiday Inn Dresden room #206
Expenses for Monday:
Housekeeping tip at Comfort Hotel - € 2.00 (cash) - $2.50
Comfort Hotel Frankfurt City Centre for 1 night - € 69.00 (credit card) - $85.24
2 CitySighseeing tickets at Tourism Information at Frankfurt Hbf - € 24.00 (cash) - $29.95
Lunch at Burger King at Frankfurt Hbf - € 10.98 (cash) - $13.70
2 light rail tickets for one-way trip - € 3.80 (cash) - $4.74
2 Dresden City Cards at Holiday Inn Dresden Hotel - € 42.00 (credit card) - $51.50
Supper at Holiday Inn Dresden Hotel's restaurant - € 29.20 (credit card) - $35.81
Total amount: € 180.98 or $223.44
May 25 (Tuesday) - Dresden, Germany
Volkswagon Transparent Factory
Pictures from the Volkswagon Transparent Factory
Expenses for Tuesday:
Lunch at VW Factory Restaurant - € 55.00 (cash) - $68.64
2 tour tickets at VW Factory - € 8.00 (cash) - $9.98
Souvenirs at VW Factory - € 8.00 (cash) - $9.98
Drinks for hotel at Saigon Market at Dresden Hbf - € 3.20 (cash) - $3.99
Snacks at Dresden Hbf Cafe - € 2.00 (cash) - $2.50
Supper at Dresden Hbf Cafe - € 7.00 (cash) - $8.74
Total amount: € 83.20 or $103.83
May 26 (Wednesday) - Dresden, Germany
Pictures from the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Pictures from the Sophienkeller Cafe
Glockenspielpavillon at the Zwinger Museum
Expenses for Wednesday:
breakfast at bakery at AlbertPlatz - € 6.70 (cash) - $8.36
2 tickets for the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Dresden - € 37.00 (cash) - $46.18
2 trips to public toilet at .50 Euro each - € 1.00 (cash) - $1.25
Lunch at Sophienkeller Cafe - € 33.00 (cash) - $41.18
Supper items from bakery at AlbertPlatz - € 8.03 (cash) - $10.02
Total amount: € 85.73 or $106.99
May 27 (Thursday) - Dresden and Berlin, Germany
Pictures from the train going from Dresden to Berlin
Pictures of the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Hbf)
Pictures of the Holiday Inn Berlin City - West
Pictures of the Brandenburg Gate
Reichstag (Germany's Parliament)
Pictures from the Berlin Pavillion Restaurant
Holiday Inn Berlin City - West room #447
Expenses for Thursday:
Housekeeping tip at Holiday Inn Dresden Hotel - € 4.00 (cash) - $4.99
Drink at bakery in Dresden Hbf - € 1.65 (cash) - $2.06
Lunch at Pizza Hut in Berlin Hbf - € 10.08 (cash) - $12.58
2 trips to toilets at Berlin Hbf at 0.80 each - € 1.60 (cash) - $2.00
2 Berlin Welcome Cards and 2 Berlin Museum Cards at Tourist Services at Berlin Hbf - € 94.00 (credit card) - $115.27
Supper at Berlin Pavillion Cafe and Restaurant - € 24.50 (cash) - $30.58
1 trip to toilet at Berlin Pavillion Cafe and Restaurant - € 0.50 (cash) - $0.62
Drinks and snacks from market at Berlin Hbf - € 8.03 (cash) - $10.02
Total amount: € 144.36 or $178.12
May 28 (Friday) - Berlin, Germany
One of many Berlin Bears seen in the city - this one displayed U-Bahn / S-Bahn routes (subway & light rail)
Pictures of other Berlin Bears
Pictures from the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in Berlin
Pictures from the Hard Rock Cafe Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie - famous crossing of the Berlin Wall before it fell
Pictures from Checkpoint Charlie
Expenses for Friday:
Drinks from train station machine - € 3.00 (cash) - $3.74
trip to toilet at AlexanderPlatz station - € 1.00 (cash) - $1.25
2 City Circle tickets for Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour - € 30.00 (cash) - $37.44
Lunch at Hard Rock Cafe Berlin - € 36.00 (credit card) - $44.45
Souvenirs at Hard Rock Cafe Berlin - € 36.90 (credit card) - $45.56
Total amount: € 106.90 or $132.44
May 29 (Saturday) - Berlin, Germany
Pictures from the German History Museum
Pictures from Fassbender & Rausch Chocolatiers
Pictures from Mamma Mia Ristorante & Pizzeria
Expenses for Saturday:
Housekeeping tip at Holiday Inn Hotel - € 4.00 (cash) - $4.99
Lunch at McDonald's at Berlin Hbf - € 12.78 (cash) - $15.95
drinks at the Cafe im Zeughaus at German History Museum - € 7.20 (cash) - $8.99
2 tickets for the German History Museum - € 10.00 (cash) - $12.48
2 audio guides for the German History Museum - € 6.00 (cash) - $7.49
Supper at Mamma Mia Ristorante & Pizzaria - € 60.00 (cash) - $74.88
Total amount: € 99.98 or $124.78
May 30 (Sunday) - Berlin, Germany
Pictures from the Jewish Museum
Charlottenburg Palace
Pictures from the Charlottenburg Palace
Pictures from the Scharf-Gerstenburg Collection
Pictures from the Berggruen Collection Museum
Expenses for Sunday:
Lunch at Liebermanns Restaurant at the Jewish Museum - € 23.00 (cash) - $28.70
Taxi from Jewish Museum to Checkpoint Charlie - € 5.00 (cash) - $6.24
Snacks at the cafe at Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection - € 5.50 (cash) - $6.86
market at subway station - € 4.10 (cash) - $5.12
Total amount: € 37.60 or $46.92
May 31 (Monday) - Berlin, Germany and Vienna, Austria
Pictures from the train going from Berlin to Vienna
Pictures from the Courtyard Vienna Schoenbrunn
Courtyard by Marriott room #513
Expenses for Monday:
Laundry, internet, phone call at Holiday Inn Berlin - € 37.25 (credit card) - $45.71
Drinks and snacks for train ride at Point Supermarket at Berlin Hbf - € 4.13 (cash) - $5.15
Sandwiches for train ride from Winer Feinbackerei at Berlin Hbf - € 11.80 (cash) - $14.73
Souvenirs for Wanda at Berlin Hbf - € 11.90 (cash) - $14.85
Drink on train - € 3.50 (cash) - $4.37
2 Vienna Cards at Vienna's Wien Meidling train station - € 20.00 (cash) - $24.96
Supper at Courtyard by Marriott restuarant - € 45.00 (credit card) - $54.28
Drink and snack at Courtyard by Marriott - € 4.00 (credit card) - $4.83
Internet access at Courtyard by Marriott - € 15.00 (credit card) - $18.09
Total amount: € 152.58 or $186.97
June 1 (Tuesday) - Vienna, Austria
Pictures from the Museum Quarter
Pictures from McDonalds at Karlsplatz station
Pictures from the Hofburg Palace Area
Spanish Riding School at the Hofburg Palace
Pictures from the Spanish Riding School
Expenses for Tuesday:
Drinks at market at Karlsplatz station - € 5.00 (cash) - $6.24
Breakfast at McDonald's at Karlsplatz station - € 5.00 (cash) - $6.24
Snack and drink at cafe at the Spanish Riding School - € 8.00 (cash) - $9.98
2 tickets for tour at the Spanish Riding School - € 32.00 (cash) - $39.94
Souvenirs at the Spanish Riding School - € 11.90 (credit card) - $14.52
Souvenirs at the Spanish Riding School - € 11.90 (cash) - $14.85
Supper at Courtyard by Marriott's restaurant - € 38.00 (credit card) - $45.80
Total amount: € 111.80 or $137.55
June 2 (Wednesday) - Vienna and Salzburg, Austria
Note: it rained most of the day.
Pictures from the Salzburg Hbf
Mozart's Birthplace
Pictures from Mosart's Birthplace
Pictures from Mosart's Residence
Sound of Music Tour - Bull (from Texas?) and Gazebo
Pictures from the Sound of Music Tour
Pictures from the Renaissance Salzburg Hotel Congress Center Home
Renaissance Salzburg Hotel Congress Center Home room #244
Expenses for Wednesday:
Housekeeping tip at Courtyard by Marriott Hotel - € 4.00 (cash) - $4.99
2 nights at Courtyard by Marriott Hotel - € 218.00 (credit card) - $263.11
Breakfast at Burger King at Salzburg Hbf - € 10.56 (cash) - $13.18
Locker for luggage at Salzburg Hbf - € 3.50 (cash) - $4.37
2 Salzburg Cards at Tourism Office at Salzburg Hbf - € 50.00 (credit card) - $60.99
Drinks at Salzburg Farmer's Market - € 5.20 (cash) - $6.49
Tip for guide and driver of Sound of Music tour bus - € 5.00 (cash) - $6.24
Supper at Renaissance Salzburg Hotel's bar - € 48.00 (credit card) - $58.62
Total amount: €344.26 or $417.99
June 3 (Thursday) - Salzburg and Innsbruck, Austria and Munich, Germany
Pictures on the train from Salzburg to Innsbruck
Pictures of the Insieme Cafe Restaurant
Swarovski Crystal World
Pictures from the Swarovski Crystal World
Innsbruck Train Station - Mountain view with snow
Pictures on the train from Innsbruck to Munich
Pictures from the Quality Hotel Muenchen Messe
Quality Hotel Muenchen Messe room #32
Expenses for Thursday:
Housekeeping tip at Rennaisance Salzburg Hotel - € 4.00 (cash) - $4.99
Drink from machine at Salzburg Hbf - € 2.00 (cash) - $2.50
Lunch at Insieme Cafe Bar Restaurant in Innsbruck - € 31.00 (cash) - $38.69
2 tickets for transportation and admission to Crystal World - € 184.00 (credit card) - $224.72
Souvenirs from Crystal World - € 36.00 (credit card) - $44.93
Drink at Innsbruck Hbf - € 1.69 (cash) - $2.11
Supper at Burger King near Innsbruck Hbf - € 11.96 (cash) - $14.93
Items from Supermarket at Innsbruck Hbf - € 20.91 (cash) - $26.10
2 one-way transportation tickets to U2 station from Munich Hbf - € 4.80 (cash) - $5.99
Taxi from U2 station to hotel - € 20.00 (cash) - $24.96
Total amount: € 316.36 or $389.91
June 4 (Friday) - Munich, Germany
Pictures from the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Picture of Wok n' Walk at Munich Hbf
Visit to the Hofbrauhaus (Beer Hall)
Pictures of the Hard Rock Cafe Munich
Expenses for Friday:
Partner single zone 3-day ticket for transportation - € 22.00 (cash) - $27.46
Lunch at Wok n' Walk at Munich Hbf - € 19.20 (cash) - $23.96
Drinks at kiosk at Munich Hbf - € 3.34 (cash) - $4.17
Snack at McDonald's at Munich Hbf - € 2.69 (cash) - $3.36
2 Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tour tickets - € 36.00 (cash) - $44.93
Drink from kiosk at Munich Hbf - € 1.69 (cash) - $2.11
Trips to toilet at Munich Hbf throughout the day, 4 at 0.80 Euros each - € 3.20 (cash) - $3.99
Snacks from kiosk at Munich Hbf - € 3.00 (cash) - $3.74
Souvenir from a shop near the Hofbrauhaus - € 5.60 (cash) - $6.99
Souvenirs from Hard Rock Cafe Munich - € 86.40 (credit card) - $104.25
Souvenir from the Hofbrauhaus - € 14.90 (credit card) - $17.98
Supper at Hofbrauhaus - € 43.00 (cash) - $53.66
Total amount: € 241.02 or $296.60
June 5 (Saturday) - Munich, Germany
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
Pictures from the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
Picture of the bus route (electronic)
Expenses for Saturday:
Partner Munchen XXL ticket for going to Dachau - € 12.30 (cash) - $15.35
Drink from kiosk at Munich Hbf to take to Dachau - € 3.00 (cash) - $3.74
Lunch at Cafeteria at Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial - € 19.10 (cash) - $23.84
Drink at Cafeteria at Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial - € 1.90 (cash) - $2.37
Supper at Quality Hotel's restaurant - € 55.00 (credit card) - $66.36
Total amount: € 91.30 or $111.66
June 6 (Sunday) - Munich Germany
Museum Brandhorst - modern art museum
Museum Pinakothek Der Moderne - modern art museum
Expenses for Sunday:
Lunch at Burger King at Karlsplatz - € 12.97 (cash) - $16.19
Snacks at cafe at the Museum Neue Pinakothek - € 7.00 (cash) - $8.74
Admission to 3 museums for 2 people at € 1.00 per person per entry (Sunday discount) - € 6.00 (cash) - $7.49
Supper at Quality Hotel's restaurant - € 60.00 (cash) - $74.88
Total amount: € 85.97 or $107.29
June 7 (Monday) - Munich, Germany and Washington, D.C., and Houston, TX
Expenses for Monday:
Housekeeping tip at Quality Hotel - € 4.00 (cash) - $4.99
Tip at breakfast at Quality Hotel - € 2.00 (cash) - $2.50
Tip for shuttle from Quality Hotel to light rail station - € 5.00 (cash) - $6.24
Partner One-Day ticket for transportation from Gronsdorf station to Munich Airport - € 18.80 (cash) - $23.46
Tax-free refund (VAT) on Wanda's Crystal purchases - € 21.00 (credit card) - $23.79
Snacks at Bar-Beleg at Munich airport - € 11.90 (cash) - $14.85
Supper for Matt at Wendy's at the Dulles airport (cash) - $8.40
Supper for Wanda at California Tortilla at the Dulles airport (cash) - $2.08
Drinks and snack at Faber News at the Dulles airport (cash) - $6.45
Tip for shuttle driver from IAH to Parking Spot 2 (cash) - $3.00
Parking at Parking Spot 2 (credit card) - $102.12
Total in Germany: € 20.70 or $28.25
Total for the day: $150.30
Expenses for the trip:
Contact Information |
|
10318 Sagegate Dr., Houston, TX 77089 http://www.matthewbeard.com Email addresses (select one): Copyright notice: Information contain on this site is the property of the owner and must not be used without written permission. Please utilize the above contact information for information. |
This site was last updated 06/23/10