1

Only groups need to reserve their seats in one of tents. Weekend are generally the busiest, if you go midweek and possible also in the early afternoon, you'll find a seat easily. If the weather is nice, sitting outside is also possible and that's actually what I prefer.

2

When you go, do you usually go during the week or weekend? Will you get kicked out of the area outside the tents if it gets busy? We just want to make sure we can still get food and beer :)

3

It is an expensive tourist trap. Go to any other beer festival in Germany and you will have more fun and spend much less money! In any case visit Munich and the surrounding area outside the dates of the Oktoberfest

4

You can only reserve as a group, which means 8 people as far as I know. And each of these 8 people has to buy 2 Mass of beer and half a chicken. So we're speaking of almost EUR 40 per person, even if you were traveling in a group of 8, which you aren't.

Better see this website here: http://www.muenchen.de/veranstaltungen/oktoberfest/besucher-service/wiesnbarometer.html

It tells you when to expect the tents to be less crowded. A third of the seats are not reserved and are given on a first come first served basis, it says on the website.

So if you really want to go there, go early in the afternoon during the week and hope for the best. Although I agree: It has become an expensive tourist trap.

Edited by: Petra_44

5

I can see the tourist trap of it, but personally enjoy what we call beerfest here in Canada. I know the trap and I think we may just do the during the week in the afternoon, realistically we won't be able to down 3 liters of beer. But it will be fun to walk around. Most of our festivals you have to pay to get in and drink as well... it will be fun just to be there.

Thank you for all your help, further suggestions are welcomed as well!

EC.

6

Does anyone have suggestions on which houses to visit? We are a pretty laid back easy going couple that like to chat up people when we have a few drinks :)

7

Houses? Do you mean tents? They're from the various breweries, so if you have a favourite beer, try this tent first. There is a VIP tent. I haven't been there, so this is hear-say only: I heard you have to be rich or famous or both to be admitted there.

You'll be chatting with others in no time, either inside the tents or sitting outside in a beergarden. I prefer outside, where I can watch the fair and the people, have a beer and still have some space to move and some fresh air to breathe.

8

Hotels--they are not as expensive for Octoberfest as for a book fair, but high they are during Octoberfest. (I stayed in an small business hotel near the main Munich train station for 60 Euros several years ago. The next year I wanted to stop in Munich but it was during the book fair. The price was 400 Euros.) A hotel out of town and a daily commute into is a good idea. We, meaning my German wife and I, when we are in the country try one of the Ibis hotels in Augsburg. When I have traveled to Germany during the Fest and arriving on the S-Bahn from the airport have seen most of the non workers traveling in their Bavarian costumes.

Do your homework. And have fun.

9

Think about going to WASEN instead of WIESN, the second largest beer festival in the world in Stuttgart, the other big german city in the south - roughly same time - hardly any stupid leatherhosen... http://www.wasen.de/ ... the beer is better there... though still pretty expensice - about 8,20 Euro for one Maß (1 liter)

Don't miss one of the winefestivals in any small town in germany - through all summer and fall in any winegrowing area in germany - many along rhinevally and siderivers.

10

If it's just the two of you there's no need to try and make a reservation or join a tour - just go to the tents and you will likely find a seat. If you go during the week it is relatively easy to find seats; if you go on the weekends make sure you get there early or you might not find a seat. Every tent is required to keep a section of seats 'open' and these are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis and once they are occupied you can stay there as long as you want (people often stay the entire day), as the days progress into the evenings it is generally more and more difficult to find a seat. Once the tents reach capacity security will stop allowing people in and you will have to wait for someone to leave. If you are not already aware you must be seated at a table to order a beer while in a tent... they will not take your order if you are standing.

Beers will probably be just under 10 euros for 1 litre and although I don't recall exactly what food costs i think it is around 15 euros for a meal in a tent. It is essentially the biggest fair you will ever go to and in addition to the beer tents it has carnival rides, games and less expensive food outside of the beer tents.

Hope you have fun - prosit!

11

Hi ;)

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