Koblenz is the rail hub for the area but if you don't stay near the rail station, you lose that advantage - it's almost just as easy to stay in Boppard, just to the south, and take a 15-min train ride to Koblenz if headed for Cologne (and somewhat more atmospheric in Boppard.) Koblenz is nice enough, it's just that it's fairly large and you lose the small-town ambience that characterizes most of the Rhine villages.

Figure 5.5-6 hours for Munich-Koblenz.

Thanks, Russ. We're now looking at Boppard. It looks absolutely beautiful! I'm having a little trouble finding a hotel that has availabilities, so I'm wondering if there's a festival that weekend (May 23-27) or if Boppard is just a real attraction to travelers.

Not sure why you're having trouble. Boppard is a good town for festivals, but nothing major in town that I can see for those dates. The 18th is "Happy Mosel" - over 150,000 participants are anticipated for a day of car-free biking and rollerblading along the Mosel River west of Koblenz.. On the 25th, it's "Saar-Pedal" - a similar event just south of Boppard that shuts down the road along the Saar river west of Bingen. Maybe there's some spill-over into Boppard from that.

You might also look into Braubach, north and across the river. Braubach is a bit smaller but quite attractive and the home of Marksburg Castle (good tour - www.marksburg.de .) For daytrips, trains run along that side of the river into Koblenz (also just 15 minutes) and south to St. Goarshausen, where you can ferry across to St. Goar.

For picturesque villages, I'd also recommend seeing Linz, north of Koblenz on the Rhine (a short train ride.)

I don't know if you're familiar with Bavaria Ben's write-ups for simple, authentic accommodations throughout Germany... they're excellent sources of info, really, and he has this one for Braubach:

bensbauernhof.com/pensionfelsenkellerbraubac…

Mountaineers,

It might be just a little too early to make a reservation for May. I notice last year, when we traveled in June that several listings became available sometime after the first of the year. I think that hotels had not made listings available until they posted their room rates for the coming year.

Regards, Gary

Thanks to you both. I did notice that one of the Boppard hotels wouldn't take reservations more than 20 days in advance. I'll check out the other towns you mention, Russ, and look at the website for Ben, as well.