> where can we put our bags? we want to go around Trier and it would really be such a hassle to bring our bags arounds. do the train stations have this kind of service? how much would it cost? We will probably just be in Trier for 8-10 hours.

Any bigger rail station has automated lockers. The cost will be, depending on the locker size, something between 1 and 4 Euro per 24 h.

>i was able to book HLX site for cologne-berlin for 72 euro which i think was such a good buy.

If it was with taxes than I think you have made a bargain (although you will probably have far more hassle on the plane than using the direct train - on th other side it is one of the relations where flying makes sense timewise. On many inner-German flights, it doesn't). If taxes are not added yet you would be better off by train.

Don't forget that budget airlines such as HLX can impose quite narrow luggage weight restrictions (though probably not so bad as Ryanair)

>i have no idea on what to do on the extra 2 days we have in berlin

Berlin has a huge lot to offer, you won't be bored. But if you want to see more you can go to Dresden for the remaining 2 days, it is 2.5 h by train.

Berlin is an interesting city and does require at least 4 days - good choice.

Cologne is much smaller and not nearly as interesting, IMO. I think you could spend 1.5 days there and see plenty. I'd suggest cutting your time in Cologne and spending any extra time you find in the wine towns between Trier and Cologne in the Mosel/Rhine river valleys. This is a very scenic region that you shouldn't pass up. Cochem, Traben-Trarbach, Boppard, St. Goar, and Linz are all interesting river towns that are easy to reach by train and worth visiting. You could tour a medieval castle too. Burg Eltz near Cochem is best, but Reichsburg, right in Cochem, is interesting too and has a good falconry show. Marksburg in Braubach (Rhine) is also very good.

Have a good trip.

I would also recommend to spent one or two days somwhere at the Moselle or Rhine.

bernkastel.de/e/…index.htm

http://www.burg-eltz.de/

http://www.talderloreley.de/index.en.php

Cologne

www.koeln.nicecity.de/english/index.htm

koeln.de/tourismus/…uk_00.html

Berlin 3 days suggestion:

e.g.

"through the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden) we can see the Alte Museum (Old Museum) – one of the five buildings that make up the Museumsinsel (Museum Island). Art lovers should definitely not fail to visit the Old Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) and the Pergamon Museum."

You have to read this carefully: you can *see* the Altes Museum - the building. The visit of any of these museums is not part of the day 1 tour suggestions. And the Pergamon Museum is certainly a *must*.

And day 2 - this one first not translated sentence: "You cannot cover this route on foot. You need to use for parts buses or the S-Bahn."

And day 3 "Since it would be impossible to cover the entire programme in a single day, it is better to decide what you want to see and then plan the day accordingly"

My recommendation:

Start with a guided walking tour. This will be more effective than to do it by yourself. E.g.

http://www.brewersberlintours.com/

http://www.newberlintours.com/ (free)

Than plan on one day a day trip to Potsdam.

http://www.potsdam-tourism.com/

To spent the other days in Berlin should be no problem. Just see what suits your interests most. E.g. a computer nerd might want to see Z1, the first computer, in the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin

http://www.dtmb.de/index_en.html

thanks abalada!

thanks for those berlin tips. i will keep that in mind. potsdam is really near and worth seeing. 4 days in berlin and a day trip to potsdam would be very good too. so now my 5 days is filled up.

V

altamiro, thanks for the trier baggage answer.

yes, the 72 euros was inclusive with taxes. the train was more expensive and train the travelling time was much longer. per person has 20kl baggage allowance. i think weight is ok.

V

hi russ and abalada,

i tried looking for the DB website (German Rail) on Rhine and Moselle but I get too many answers. i don't know what to choose. please help.

we will be staying at my cousin's house in cologne. so what we can do is go to Rhine/Moselle early morning and go back to Cologne late night.

i think i want to make a one day trip on any of the places you mentioned. can you give me your FIRST HIGHEST recommendation of the place to visit? and the second too. this would be much easier for me to decide.

when i looked at the websites, i became more confused because all of them were very beautiful. we will be going there on march.

Thanks.

V

I think your best bet for a daytrip is Cochem. Take the train there, see the town, tour Reichsburg Castle and see the falconry show there too, take a chairlift ride to the Pinnerkreuz (nearby peak with great view), take a short river cruise up to Beilstein if you have time (1 hour each way), have a good meal, and you'll have a very full day. To me though, it actually makes more sense to do this ON THE WAY to Cologne than as a daytrip.