Heidelberg - Germany

therokerroar

Hi all,

Today it was announced that my football team (Sunderland AFC) are playing a pre-season friendly in Hoffenheim, Germany on the 8th of this coming August.

I was looking through some sites and that and came to the conclusion that the best option is to fly from Dublin to Frankfurt, and then get a train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg, which is only 10-20 minutes away from Hoffenheim's stadium.

I've totalled it all up, and it comes to, baring in mind this is for two people:

€250 for return flights with Ryanair

€120 for two nights accomodation in Hotelo Heidelberg, which includes bed and breakfast.

€88 for return train tickets to and from Frankurt/Heidelberg

In total, €458, which I think is quiet expensive.

As I've never been over there before, I'm just wondering if the above criteria I have posted is the best to go about getting to Heidelberg, or if anyone who has been before could recommened anything cheaper regarding accomodation and ways of getting to Heidelberg, that would be fantastic. I've checked on flight comparision sites, and those flights I have listed seem to be the cheapest around.

Cheers

mikedragon32

Try aer lingus to FRA, ryanair fly to Hahn, further out. There's a train station in the airport which has excellent train connections and you can pick up cheap tickets online. Car hire is plentiful and cheap too, the drive is about 45 mins.

The Ibis hotel is really basic but is next door to the train station and about €60 per night for the room with loads of options for brekkie on your doorstep.

undo

therokerroar wrote: »

get a train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg

As mikedragon32 said, do not be lured into believing Ryanair get you anywhere near Frankfurt. Hahn is closer to Luxembourg than it is to Frankfurt. And there is no train service there either, only bus or rental car.

Pythia

What about flying to Karlsruhe Baden? That would be fairly near.

therokerroar

Thanks very much for all the replies so far, they're much appreciated.

As advised by Mike, I've checked the Aer Lingus flights, and they work out at virtually the same price, so if I get the funds together for the trip, I'll book with Aer Lingus rather than Ryanair. Another couple of people on the Sunderland Football Forum have booked into The Ibis too Mike, it seems like a good option, they do cover breakfast, but it's €10 per person per day, which would work out at €40. Like you have said, there will be plenty of places around to get breakfast which I'd imagine would be cheaper. Invaluable advice though Mike, especially about the flights, thanks again, and if you have anymore advice I'd be glad to hear it.

Thanks for your response Undo, I was advised that there was a train from Frankfurt though, and on this website http://www.bahn.com/i/view/DEU/en/index.shtml they included Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg as one of the journeys, there is however, a change over of train needed. Unless of course, you mean no train from Hahn to Frankfurt? I wasn't quite sure, sorry.

Pythia, thanks for your response, like I said, it's much appreciated. I've checked for flights to Karlsruhe Baden, but haven't had any luck. Ryanair seem to have stopped that service, and Aer Lingus have nothing. Also on flight comparison sites there's nothing from Dublin to Karlsruhe. It seems close to Hoffenheim though, judging on Google Maps. I remember the England World Cup team in 2006 stayed in Baden-Baden for the duration of their stay.

Like I said, thanks for the advice, and if anyone has anything else/more to add I'd be very greatful

undo

Once you have decided whether you are going, make sure to look into the train tickets. The sooner you do that, the more discounted options you will have available. A journey from anywhere to anywhere in Germany will cost you €29 per person if booked early. For two people traveling together, it will be €49 total. This includes high-speed express trains and any changes required - but you will have to choose a specific train at the time of booking. Of course you can get your ticket later - but it might be dearer.

mikedragon32

The route from Frankfurt airport is to get an ICE to Mannheim then the S-bahn from there to Heidelberg. It takes 52 minutes in total, including the short wait in Mannheim. Booking on the day is €29 pp each way, booking in advance is a LOT cheaper.

Re The Karlsruhe/Baden option, not a runner, you have to get from FKB to Karlsruhe by bus, then S-bahn from there to H'berg, but it would still be better than flying into Hahn!

If you're looking to do some touristy stuff, check out the Schloss and Koenigstuhl, yake the funicular to both, it's excellent! Most of the decent bars and clubs are on or just off Kaiserstrasse. I can't remember the names of the good places I was in, but if Irish pubs float your boat, The Dubliner is about halfway along the street and is Irish owned.

munchkin_utd

theres other ways to make this cheaper.

a)
ryanair to Charloi in south Belgium which is not so far from that part of germany can be got for 50 euro return each.
Then hire a car. Typically a deal for around 100 Euro for a weekend is possible.
Petrol is 70 Euro or so.
Sleep in the car caters for accomodation.
So for 2 thats your weekend for 270 combined, or 135 each!

b)
same as before but make it cheaper.
Hostel in heidelburg is possible for 16 euro a night each (same in frankfurt if you dont spend all your time down there).
Lufthansa fly for 98 euro return (and you get your beer/ coffee/ snacks / bags/ newspapers on the flight for free with them, and coming back complimentary tea coffee is available when waiting to board)
The schones wochende train ticket allows unlimited travel on a saturday or sunday in germany on regional trains (and city transportation systems!!) for 35 euro for up to 5 people

So you could have your weekend for 330 euro for travel and accomodation.

therokerroar

mikedragon32 wrote: »

The route from Frankfurt airport is to get an ICE to Mannheim then the S-bahn from there to Heidelberg. It takes 52 minutes in total, including the short wait in Mannheim. Booking on the day is €29 pp each way, booking in advance is a LOT cheaper.

Re The Karlsruhe/Baden option, not a runner, you have to get from FKB to Karlsruhe by bus, then S-bahn from there to H'berg, but it would still be better than flying into Hahn!

If you're looking to do some touristy stuff, check out the Schloss and Koenigstuhl, yake the funicular to both, it's excellent! Most of the decent bars and clubs are on or just off Kaiserstrasse. I can't remember the names of the good places I was in, but if Irish pubs float your boat, The Dubliner is about halfway along the street and is Irish owned.

Mike, thanks again for the superb advice. I have been looking on the bahn website and I come up with a price of €88.20 for return tickets from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg and back, would that price be correct, or have I done it wrong?

The Irish Pubs would be ideal, and I'll have a look into Schloss (that's the Castle, isn't it? It looks superb) and Koenigstuhl.

undo

therokerroar wrote: »

€88.20 for return tickets from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg and back

This would be why you want to book ahead - get the €29 each-way price (which means €58 return). Or, with €49 tickets split among two, €49 per person return.

The Schönes-Wochenede-Ticket mikedragon32 mentioned is an even cheaper option but will not allow you to travel on ICE express trains.

John C

Schloss = castle. Koenigstuhl is a mountain with a panorama of Heidelberg. In German it is spelled Königstuhl, literally King's seat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigstuhl_(Odenwald)

Heidelberg is a lovely city on the river Neckar.

John C

The info posted by our fellow board members is sound.
- Flying into Frankfuer am Main Airport
- Booking a rail ticket in advance
- Touring Heidelberg area

ICE = Inter city express. S-Bahn = rapid rail.

Train Frankfurt to Heidelberg with ICE and S-Bahn takes 50-63 minutes.
With the Happy weekend ticket it takes 120 minutes. This is due to no ICE
and only local trains.
Local trains allowed on "Happy weekend" are RB=Regional bahn, RE = Regional Express, IRE = Inter Regio Express, S-Bahn .. and bus.

Funicular = funicular railway incline = cable railway. One sees them in some ski slopes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular

John C

That game will take place in Sinsheim in the Rhein Neckar arena.
Sinsheim (Elsenz) is on the S-Bahn S5 line from Heidelberg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinsheim

judas101

I lived there for a year.

Unfortunately, Ryanair have cancelled the Dublin to Karlsruhe route.

I would echo the advice earlier and fly Aer Lingus to Frankfurt.

Hahn is seriously miles away and transport connections are poor.

I often get the Lufthansa shuttle into Heidelberg. Its a 7 seater taxi. Its 20 each way although I think you can get a reture for less. You dont have to fly Lufthansa to get it.

Theres an Irish pub/Hotel on the main street (Hauptstrasse) that I would recommend to you. I think its 85 for a comfortable double room. Location is excellent.

Theres loads to see there, its a beautiful little town. Better nightlife on weekends obviously. Ill be back over there at that time too so PM me if you need any more info.