Great value accommodation
by wildstrawberries about Hotel Deutscher Kaiser
We stayed in this hotel for a couple of days and had our dinner there every night. The room is clean and comfortable and everything we ordered for dinner were so good!
If you intend to drive to Baden-Baden, you can park your car at this Hotel and take bus 201 to the town centre.
Visitor’s tax is duty in holiday regions
by Trekki
.. and non-refundable.
I searched google to find something comparable for other countries but was not successful. But if there is something similar existing in a country, please let me know! Thanks!!
Regular visitors to Germany might know about this already: Kurtaxe or visitor’s tax. This has nothing to do with the VAT and is thus not refundable. It is a tax every visitor has to pay in specific holiday regions like the northern coasts or Bavaria or any specific spa/cure/treatment/resortlike city, i.e. the ones that have Bad (= bath, spa) as a prefix or somewhere hidden in their name: Bad Dürkheim, Bad Reichenhall, Bad Pyrmont, Bad Vilbel, etc or Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden. Some health resorts don’t have this prefix at all, so it can get quite confusing to know if the town one is visiting is actually a health resort. Wikipedia has lists of these towns, but the English list of health resorts isn’t complete, so better check the German list of health resorts.
The idea behind this tax is that these cities have set up and built several facilities for visitors like swimming pools with treatment possibilities, beaches with services (like beach chairs, showers, toilets) or similar things. Typical visitor tax per day is between 2,60 and 1,50 €, sometimes there is also a daily tax/fee for dogs. Please see VTer's Don (@Nemorino) description of the term Bad = spa, he has the better words :-)
Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg
by DrewV
Baden-Baden -- Taking the Cure
You know when you set foot into Baden-Baden's bathhouses that you're going to be turned into sauerkraut. That's what happens in the steamrooms, saunas, whirlpools, and massage tables of Baden-Baden. The fun thing is that what should be a relaxing experience is done with typical German precision. "You will spend 7 minutes in Steamroom 1, followed by 3 minutes in Steamroom 2... Mach schnell!!!"
But it's worth it... It's sooooooooo worth it...
The town was built as a playground for the rich and famous throughout the centuries. I mean, the Romans were here to bathe, so we're talking very old school. Still, as much as it tries to cater to Europe's upper crust, there's still a place for the downmarket backpacker in Baden-Baden. You might not be able to stay in town, but the train is convenient to Karlsruhe, and the bath experience is just too incredible to pass up.
Special thanks need to go out to my friendly crew of traveling companions/models: Marguerite, Brigitta, and Gabriella. Guys, I wish I could tell you the secret to traveling through Europe with three beautiful women -- just skills, I suppose. *grin*
Baden Baden
by eesee
"Baden Baden"
This is a very pretty German town on the outskirts of the Black Forest.
It seems to be frequented by mainly older people, so I would treat this destination as a 'chill out' town.
It is a great place to spend a couple of days simply relaxing in the spas and walking around the local area.
Baden-Baden
by Bregman
The Oosbach river crosses the town. It flows alongside Lichtentaler Alee, the city's main street. This is where you will find some of the city's famous attractions like the Casino and Drinking Hall.
"Spas"
One of the many spas Baden-Baden is famous for.
Baden-Baden
by shanthosharaja
"Baden-Baden"
One of Beautiful cities in Germany.
"Burg Hohenzollern"
Nice Castle situated 50 kms from Stuttgart. With strong legs you can try climbing the hill.
http://www.burg-hohenzollern.info/
"Palais-Thermal (Bad Wildbad)"
One of the must visit Sauna and Thermal bath place. Situated in a very beautiful city in Black forest. 40 kms from Baden-Baden. Best timing evening 6.00 to 9.30 (closing time).
http://www.palais-thermal.de/
Baden-Baden
by tini58de
"Great place to gamble...."
Baden-Baden is situated only a few miles away from Karlsruhe and you can even reach it from Karlsruhe by tram!
There is a fantastic casino in Baden-Baden and the International Horse Races make this nice city a great place to gamble!
But there is even more:
Thermal baths, culture and a beautiful landscape - guests as well as residents can enjoy the international feeling and fun of living.
Forum Posts
Baden-Baden connections with France
by Lamialex
Hello,
I live in London and I need to be in Gerardmer in France at the end of january. The cheapest solution for me is to travel to Baden-Baden airport with Ryanair.
I saw on internet that Strasbourg was 70km away from Baden-Baden. Is there a bus or a train that connects Baden-Baden and Strasbourg? Or even better Baden-Baden to Epinal in the Vosges? What's the url for coach transport in Germany?
I also saw there was a train Banden-Baden to Paris, where can I get its trajectory? So that I can see in which towns this train stops.
Thanks in advance.
regards
Alexandra
Re: Baden-Baden connections with France
by fabrice
you have a direct train baden-baden/strasbourg.
then a train strasbourg/saint-dié
then saint-dié/gérardmer
RE: RE: Baden-Baden connections with France
by babbi_it
I don't understand well this timetable. Is there only one bus a day to/from Strasbourg??
RE: RE: Baden-Baden connections with France
by fabrice
there are several trains daily strasbourg-baden baden ; but most of the time you need to change in appenweier;
there is also a bus, but it is a line from freiburg/breisgau , via strasbourg and kehl , and it goes to baden-baden/karlsruhe/airport
Paris to Baden Baden
by Azinblack
I will be in Paris early November and need to return to Baden Baden by 9am on a Tuesday morning.
Is there a direct train from Paris to Baden Baden in the morning or overnight or must I travel via Strasbourg?
Is there an overnight train from Paris to Strasbourg on a weekday?
Re: Paris to Baden Baden
by mariev
You can do it with or without overnight
Check http://www.sncf.fr/ (here is an english and a german version, clic on the english or german flag)
For instance i tried for tomorrow et got the following answer :
journeys available for tuesday sept. 12
1. Durée : 5h29
PARIS EST (75) 08h02
STRASBOURG GARE (67) 12h40
+
STRASBOURG GARE (67) 12h54
BADEN BADEN (DE) 13h31
2) Durée : 4h48
PARIS EST (75) 10h43
BADEN BADEN (DE) 15h31
3. Durée : 5h06
PARIS EST (75) 15h44
STRASBOURG GARE (67) 19h46
+
STRASBOURG GARE (67) 20h15
BADEN BADEN (DE) 20h50
4. Durée : 5h21
PARIS EST (75) 17h17
BADEN BADEN (DE) 22h38
The second one seams to match your need
Re: Re: Paris to Baden Baden
by Azinblack
Thanks I will check that out
Re: Re: Paris to Baden Baden
by abalada
The most direct route is always via Strasbourg.
DB timetable
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/english.html
Connections with night trains:
Paris Est dep 22:56 Karlsruhe arr 04:56 dep 05:01 Baden-Baden arr 05:18
Paris Est dep 23:14 Strasbourg arr 05:35 dep 06:53 Baden-Baden arr 07:31
Romantic locats in Baden-Baden?
by RuttFamily98
Hi Everyone,
I will be celebrating my 10 year anniversary in Baden-Baden, unfortunately I only have one night and want to make the most of it. We will be arriving in the early morning to partake of the Friedrichsbad spa before checking into our hotel. Problem is I haven't booked a hotel yet or made dinner reservations. I really want this to be romantic, any suggestions?
Thanks!!
Re: Romantic locats in Baden-Baden?
by Kathrin_E
How much are you willing to pay? Baden-Baden isn't cheap.
Re: Romantic locats in Baden-Baden?
by RuttFamily98
I would like to keep it under $800 for lodging, meals,and the spa. Does that seem reasonable?
Re: Romantic locats in Baden-Baden?
by Kathrin_E
Hotels in Baden-Baden: http://www.baden-baden.de/en/tourism/c/content=/content/00823/indexen.html&nav=743
Brenner's Parkhotel is 'the' #1 address in town - probably a bit too much for your budget. Bühlerhöhe is far out of town in the mountains. But the following entries in the list will be of interest to you.
Zum Hirsch is in the old town, pedestrian zone (see my travelogue page on romantic spots in the old town, the first photo with the arch shows a part of that hotel).
Badischer Hof is close to pedestrian zone and old town, too.
Europäischer Hof is next to the Kurpark, visible on my Intro photo. Also close to the old town.
Disclaimer: I have never stayed in any of these as a) I live within day trip distance and b) they're far above my budget and c) so far no one has felt the need to go on a romantic trip to Baden-Baden with me *sniff*...
But I guess you cannot go wrong with either of these. Hopefully others will have first-hand experience.
I wish you a great anniversary!
Re: Romantic locats in Baden-Baden?
by huwe
I have a thing for the Parkhotel Atlantic, it is conveniently situated and not to pricy. Make sure to get a room facing "Alleeseite", a little surcharge will apply , but it is worth it.
http://www.atlantic-parkhotel.de/en/index.php
As for the dinner, i prefer "Le jardin de France" is simply great:
http://www.lejardindefrance.de/index.php
Round the corner:
http://www.stahlbad.com/
Another great restaurant is a little destance outside in Neuweier, one of Baden-Baden's wine villages:
http://armin-roettele.de/schloss_neuweier/index.php?p=passione