Each year I get more and more calls from customers wanting to know about Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I thought I might put a post up relaying what I know about the festival.

If you decide to go to the annual Oktoberfest gathering, you will have the opportunity to take part in one of the largest parties / festivals the world has ever seen. I have to say, my own visit to Oktoberfest years ago was definitely one of my more fun traveling experiences.

Every year from mid-September until the first Sunday of October Munich, Germany hosts the 16 day gathering for Oktoberfest. The festival has been in existence for almost 200 years, and over 6 million people attend the festival every year. Visitors to Oktoberfest generally spend their time in large tents full of tables. Servers bring beer to patrons in giant glass mugs called “biersteins.” These humongous tents hold thousands of people, and one particularly large tent seats as many as 8,450. For me, the size and volume of the tent was truly an impressive sight to see.

Oktoberfest is definitely the place to go for great food and drink. In addition to the 6.1 million liters of beer that are served, plenty of Oktoberfest food is available. Popular dishes are sausage, chicken (hendl), cheese noodles, sauerkraut, and even roasted ox tail. The sheer amount of food consumed is mind boggling. In previous years attendees of Oktoberfest consumed 102 roasted oxen, 438,884 sausages, and 459,279 roasted chickens! I have to say, the cheese noodles and the roasted chicken were my favorites. I wasn’t feeling bold enough to try the roasted ox tail, but maybe next time!

If you can, check out Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest this year, it’s an experience that you will never forget, unless of course, you drink too much of the beer (believe me, it’s much stronger than American beer).

I would definitely enjoy hearing your comments, or stories from your own Oktoberfest experiences!

Safe travels,

“Ted on The Travel Desk”

Ted Phelps, Customer Travel Consultant

Hi Everyone,

I get a lot of photo submissions from the trips that we plan with our customers. I was trying to think of a good way to share them with everyone without just making a standard, boring photo gallery. But, I was at a bit of a loss as to how to make it fun. Then it hit me…a contest!

So, from now on, Thursday will be “Travel Trivia Thursday.” I will post a picture of an unnamed destination so that people can write in with their guesses, and also a list of things that they would pack on a trip there. Post your guess and your packing list, and then after people get a chance to respond, I will reveal the answer. I’ll also highlight the person who answered correctly first so that the winner gets credit for their excellent trivia knowledge.

To make it fair I will also include a small hint with the photo, but if people are too good at this I might have to make it more difficult as time goes on.

Hint: This was once home to a famous Oracle.

Good luck everyone!

Safe Travels,

Ted “Travel Desk” Phelps

Customer Travel Consultant

5. Know Your Destination: I always make sure to do my research before I go on any trip. The more you learn about the various deals that your destination offers, the more opportunity there is for you to save money. See whether or not there are city passes that will get you into multiple sites around the area, and find out if the museums you are interested in offer free days (most museums do). When booking your lodgings try to find something that is centrally located. You may spend a little more on the room, but you will save even more than that by avoiding costly transportation fees.
6. Use Your Best Judgment: Finally, everyone can relate to having a tendency to over-spend while traveling; it’s easy enough to get carried away and spend money on things that you would never even consider buying in your home town. Be cognizant of this inclination and you can actually end up saving yourself a considerable amount of money, and room in your suitcase.

I hope that this series has been a benefit to everyone. As time goes on I will continue to pass along information that will help you make the most of your travels.

Sincerely,

“Ted on The Travel Desk”

Ted Phelps, Customer Travel Consultant

3. Travel Off-Season: If you travel to destinations off-season you can save a lot of money both on plane tickets and hotel rooms. Off-season rates even have a tendency to trickle down to many other facets of your destination, like food and entertainment. Locals know when there is going to be an influx of tourists and adjust their prices accordingly. Although it may not technically be the “ideal” time of year to visit that particular place, you won’t have to deal with crowds and you might actually end up having a better experience for going at an unusual time. The travel industry also has great “early bird” booking deals if you can plan your travel in advance.
4. Consider Alternatives to Hotels: There is a whole host of ways that you can save money by not staying in hotels. Most destinations have hostels, campgrounds and other alternative sleeping arrangements. On average, skipping the hotel room can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars over the course of your vacation. I’ve found hostels generally to be the best of the alternatives. However, if a hotel is definitely the way you want to go, Auto Europe can help you find the lowest possible rate on hotels in your destination area.

Here at the travel desk I am seeing the impact of the slowing economy on people’s choices when they are considering a trip to Europe. Every day I get calls from customers expressing their desire to save money on travel. Cost, of course, has always been an issue when it comes to planning a trip to Europe, and in some cases, people are feeling like they shouldn’t take a trip at all. I always hate to hear this because I know that your summer plans are often one of the highlights of the year, and offer a chance for people to spend quality time with their family. I thought I would do a 3 part series on how to save money when traveling. These are some tips that I have picked up talking to our customers. I think they offer opportunities to cut down on your vacation costs and enable you to enjoy your trip without worrying about money so much.

1. Cut Down on Meal Costs: Spending on food is one of the biggest factors in how much a vacation ends up costing you. I always try to eat breakfast at my hotel as much as possible; this is especially true if breakfast is included with the room. In my experience in traveling in Europe the food is almost always good, and of course, that’s one meal every day that you aren’t paying for. Another good tip is to visit the local grocer and purchase some fruit or ingredients for sandwiches and snacks. This is especially helpful if you plan ahead and book yourself a room with a refrigerator. If your hotel does not have refrigerators in the room, you can always ask at the front desk if they will store your food in the hotels refrigerator. Make yourself a small lunch before you go out sightseeing for the day; not only will you be able to eat whenever you get hungry, but you should be cutting your lunch costs substantially. If you combine these two tips, you can get by with paying to eat out only once a day. I also really like this method because I never feel guilty about going where I want for that one meal I’m actually going to spend money on.
2. Cut Back on Shopping Costs: Shopping during the course of your vacation can really add up to a significant portion of your overall expenditures. Everyone wants to take back souvenirs, gifts for friends, and other interesting things that you find along the way. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with spending money on items to remember your trip by, just remember to be smart about it. Avoid touristy souvenir shops with inflated prices. When I’m tempted to spend €12 on that “I Love Paris” coffee mug or ₤25 on a “London Bridge” sweatshirt, I force myself to stop and take a moment to think about it. Will the item actually get used or will it just be part of next year’s neighborhood garage sale? Instead, think about purchasing something from the local market - like a your favorite French candy bar you discovered or authentic English breakfast tea. It won’t cost much and your family and friends will appreciate that you thought of them and you’ll save a bunch on your budget.

Also, don’t be afraid to haggle with vendors (in destinations where this is acceptable, of course). I can’t begin to tell you how many people there are who don’t haggle on price simply because they’re not used to it. However, you can actually save a considerable amount of money on purchases with a little verbal finesse. When haggling with people, I always pick a price that I am not willing to go above. The key part of this is truly forcing yourself to stick with that number. If they are unwilling to meet it, then walk away. I’ve found that 90% of the time vendors sense that you are serious, and you get your purchase for less than that top number.

Another way to save money, even while spending it, is to use your credit card. While most credit card companies charge a flat 2-4% fee on foreign transactions, they also have the best exchange rates. Talk to your credit card company about getting a PIN number so that you can withdraw money from foreign ATMs at the optimized exchange rate. It seems trivial, but these small savings definitely have the potential to add up over time.

Hi Everyone,

This is the first post of many in our brand new Auto Europe Blog. I am hoping that this blog will create a forum for our community members to exchange information, make friends, and pick up some useful travel information along the way. Working at the travel desk, I spend a lot of time talking to people about their vacations. Over the past couple of years I have noticed many common questions, concerns and opinions regarding travel. My hope is that this blog will offer an opportunity not only for me to discuss these common themes, but also for you to offer any thoughts or advice that you have gained during your own travels. I am very optimistic that together we can create a really useful travel resource, and make everyone’s traveling experiences better.

I know that your vacations are important to you because not only does it give you a chance to learn about yourself and the world, but it is also a chance to relax and spend time with your loved ones. My sincere desire is that our shared experience and knowledge will help everyone involved make the most of the vacation time that they have.

I am really looking forward to hearing from you all.

Safe travels,

Ted Phelps

Customer Travel Consultant