Here's where we go and what we do:
Oktoberfest Tours
10 days/9 nights, including hotel and round trip airfare. Flights depart the USA on dates shown and arrive the following day in Munich, Germany
O’Fest Tour 1 – Sep 12-22, 2024
This tour starts just before the Oktoberfest begins, and includes daily tours to many places not included in other tour packages, such as Weihenstephan – the World’s oldest brewery, Andechs – the ascent up the Holy Mountain, Bamberg – home of some of the World’s greatest smoked beers, and motorcoach tours to the castles of King Ludwig II, the Salzburg Lake District, Swarovski Crystal Factory near Innsbruck, the Parade of the Brewery Wagons, and a full day at the Munich Oktoberfest – the World’s largest beer festival.
$3899/pp, or $3099/pp if you purchase your own airfare (based on dual occupancy)
Single Occupancy
There is an additional hotel room charge for single occupancy of $75 per night, per person. I will try to match single travelers as roommates, wherever possible to minimize room costs. The best tour rates are achieved with dual occupancy.
Trip Details
Daily Tour Information
Sample Daily Itinerary – Tour 1
Day 0 – Depart the USA
Depart the USA on Sep 12th, for Munich, Germany, arriving before noon on Sep 13th. Once in Munich, we meet in the Munich Airport Center (MAC), then use local transportation to head for our tour hotel. This tour stays at one hotel for the tour’s duration so you can “UNPACK ONCE”
Day 1 – Hotel and Unpacking
Once we’ve dropped off our bags at the hotel and are settled and unpacked, we’ll explore the mall and various facilities near our hotel and have dinner locally. We’ll discuss the upcoming tour and travel plans.
Day 2 – Bavarian Castles and Beer Garden Dinner
We will take a tour to see the Bavarian Castles of King Ludwig II. After returning to Munich, we’ll meet with some local Munich homebrewers, share some brews, and have dinner at one of Munich’s best and biggest outdoor beer gardens.
Day 3 – Train Trip to Bamberg – Smoked Beers
We’ll travel by express train to Bamberg, where we’ll enjoy smoked beers for the day. We’ll have dinner in Bamberg and then catch the express train back to Munich.
Day 4 – Lake District, and The Sound of Music
Have your passport ready, since you’ll be leaving Germany for the day. Motorcoach tour to Salzburg, Austria – with free time in Old Town. Tour the Salzburg Lake District via motorcoach and boat, near movie sites for the Sound Of Music.
Day 5 – Swarovski Crystal Factory and Innsbruck
Motorcoach tour to Swarovski Crystal Factory and Innsbruck Austria, so bring your passport for today's travel. If the weather is good, the scenic views of the Alps north of the city of Innsbruck are spectacular.
Day 6 – Brewery Wagon Parade and Andechs Monastery
We take local transportation and a short walk to travel to the parade route for the Oktoberfest Opening Day parade – the entry of the brewery beer wagons and marching bands to the festival grounds. This is a 60-75 minute standing room only event. Once the parade is finished, we will travel to the Andechs Monastery (Kloster Andechs) to enjoy great monk beers.
Day 7 – Munich Oktoberfest!!!
This is why you came on tour!!! We’ll arrive at the Oktoberfest grounds as the tents open. Plan to spend as much time as you like drinking Oktoberfest beer, and we’ll visit as many tents as possible. At the conclusion of our Oktoberfest activities, we’ll meet at a well-defined landmark and return to the hotel on local transportation, to get a good night’s rest.
Day 8 – Open Day for Local Sightseeing
We will visit downtown Munich and conduct our own casual walking tour, or you may travel to nearby destinations on your own. At 4:45 PM, we will meet at Marienplatz to travel to the Weihenstephan Brewery, in Freising, the World’s oldest continuously operating brewery, established in 1040 A.D.
Day 9 – Oktoberfest and Nymphenburg Palace
For the hearty of spirit, we’ll visit the Oktoberfest grounds one more time for a couple of hours, just to make sure we haven’t left any beer behind. Once we’re finished at the O’Fest, you have the option to see the rest of the city and Nymphenburg Palace by the “Hop On/Hop Off” bus service. We’ll visit a local craft brewery early in the evening for our tour farewell dinner and then head back to the hotel to pack for our travel home tomorrow.
Day 10 – Travel to the USA
We’ll coordinate our hotel departure and head for the airport together. Depart the hotel and take the S-Bahn to Munich Airport and catch your flight back to the USA. There are plenty of opportunities for last-minute snacks and souvenir shopping before boarding your flight.
Tour Pricing Details
All tour pricing is finalized prior to purchase. Tour prices are firm and based on dual occupancy, and there is an additional $75 per day fee for single occupancy travelers but I’ll do my best to pair single travelers where possible to minimize costs and fees. Pricing includes round trip airfare, hotel, all motorcoach tours, and local transportation costs. The only costs not included are daily meals, drinks, travel insurance (optional), and souvenir shopping.
Tour Deposit
$700
Due prior to May 1st and fully refundable if travel plans change, up until flight and hotel plans are made. Once flight and hotel plans are complete, tour fees are non-refundable and trip refunds are conducted with the travel company providing tours, transportation, and lodging, based on their published travel policies.
Air, Hotel, Local Transportation and Bus Tours Fee
$3199, or $2399 if purchasing your own airfare
Due by June 5th. Includes round trip airfare, hotel, local transportation fees, and all motorcoach tours. You have the option to choose your own flight itinerary, and I’ll book your flight, hotel, and the tours, as soon as your tour fee is paid. My booking process is what provides substantial tour savings, and flexibility in your flight schedules.
Travel Insurance
Optional
Travel Insurance is available at an additional cost, by a number of insurance providers, such as travel companies (Expedia, Priceline, etc…) or Berkshire-Hathaway. This can be a very cost-effective option, should anything go awry in the travel process, and I can advise on options to select, once you elect to go on tour.
To see Oktoberfest Tour photos, CLICK HERE
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Best Beer Halls in Munich
Places to visit during open time
Beer Halls
Weisses Bräuhaus – Tal Strasse 7, 80331 Munich – Any S/U Bahn Line to Marienplatz and walk East
Hofbräuhaus – Am Platzl 9, 80331 Munich – Any S/U Bahn Line to Marienplatz and walk East, then North
Der Pschorr – Viktualienmarkt 15, 80331 Munich – Any S/U Bahn Line to Marienplatz and walk East, then South
Augustinerkeller – Arnulfstr. 52, 80335 Munich – Streetcar (Tram) 17 from Hbf stops at the Biergarten
Paulaner Bräuhaus – Kapuzinerplatz 5, 80337 Munich – U3/U6 to Goetheplatz Walk NE, then South
Löwenbräukeller – Nymphenburgerstrasse 2, 80335 Munich – U1/U7 to Stiglmaier Platz
O’Fest Tour 2 – Sep 23-Oct 3, 2024 (Currently On Hold)
$3899/pp, or $3099/pp if purchasing your own airfare (based on dual occupancy)
This tour starts just after the Oktoberfest begins, so it doesn’t include the Parade of the Brewery Wagons but does include all the same daily activities and motorcoach tours as O’Fest Tour 1. Some motor coach tour availability will dictate the daily tour schedule, which may differ from O’Fest Tour 1.