Munich, Germany
This was another one of those great finds on American Airlines. I came a cross a special promotion for American Airlines partnership with Brussells Airlines. If you fly through Brussells the round trip from DFW to Munich was $500.

To answer your first question, no we did not go to Oktoberfest. We visited Munich in March. During this time of the year flight and hotel rates are a fraction of what they are during Oktoberfest. Hotel rates can easily triple in price. The way I see it, it is not like after Oktoberfest and after the tourists go home, everyone in Munich stops drinking beer and having fun. Beer is a way of life and they drink it all year long.

This time we travelled with our friends John and Stephanie. Our hotel was the Hotel am Viktualienmarkt. The prices here are more than we typically like to spend but the proximity to the train station, the market, resturaunts, and convienence stores makes up for it. Everything is just a short walk away. Be warned, if you are a homophobic you may want to pick "alternative" accomidations. The hotel sits in a gay and lesbian neighborhood; which we did not realize when we made our reservations. Of course none of us have any issues and in fact it made the trip more intersting.

Hofbrauhaus
Yes, the legendary Hofbrauhaus beer garden. Many say it is a must do destination in Munich so we decided to check it out for ourselves. The beer was plentiful, the food was heavy, the music was traditional, and the tourists were plentiful. The only problem was that I felt like I was in Disneyworld. You know that beer garden in Epcot. It's a lot like that.

For a more authentic beer garden experience head to the Augustiner-Keller near the main train station. Since the Augustiner is not near any major tourist attractions or hotels, you get only locals. Practice your German and meet some wounderfully interesting people.

Viktualienmarkt
The Viktualienmarkt is the main market in Munich. Here you can find thousands varieties of fresh fruits, vegetables, delicatessen items, breads, etc. etc. Use the market to stock up on picnic items and other "on the road" snacks. When traveling on a budget always eat like the locals do.

Even though we were in Munich in the middle of winter there were still plenty of stalls for us to poke our heads into and explore.

Hauptbahnhof
The "main train station" is the perfect base of operations in Munich. Train, trolley, and subway service are plentiful. The MVV is Munich's main transportation authority and offers an all inclusive pass good on all forms of transportation. Also at your convienience are clean restrooms and a handy food court. The Raduis Tour office offers great English speaking tours of Munich and the surrounding attractions.

Dachau, Germany
Not all vacations should be fun and games. We try to include at least one educational or cultural enriching activity in each of our trips. The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is a short train ride from Munich's city center.

Because of its close proximity to a major city, Dachau is the most accessible of all the holcaust sites. Dachau's significance is that it was the first concentration camp in Germany and served as the model and training site for future concentration camps.

Travelling to Dacau is an easy train ride for the novice traveller but we recommend going with a tour guide. Our guide was well versed in Dachau's history and answered all of our questions. Take consideration if you are traveling with small children.

The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is open all year and has no admission. There are no food vendors inside the camp so eat before, afterwards, or pack a light picnic.

Neuschwanstein Castle
One of the must see stops for all travelers is Neuschwanstein Castle. If this castle looks familar that is because it is the castle that inspired Disney artists to create Sleeping Beauty Castle and Cinderella Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Europe. The up side is that it is breathtaking and worth seeing. The down side is that it is swamped by crowds and long lines year round. For me most of the good stuff is on the outside. If that is all you want to see then we recommend taking a train to Fussen then hop on one of the many busses to Hohenschwangau, the tiny town that sits at the base of the castle.

If you really want to see the inside of the castle then I recommend using Raduis tour desk in Munich. Tickets to the castle are frequently sold out well in advance. Your tour guide will take care of all the details.

Tough the inside of the castle is impressive, only a few of the rooms are finished. King Ludwig II died during its construction. And given its incredible cost, the state never finished it.

I repeat; if you want to see the inside of the castle, to not travel to Hohenschwangau without tickets! You will end up with a dissappointed 3 hour train ride back to Munich. This is where it pays to spend a little more money and plan ahead.