Linda and John Clausen's Page

Hi Linda! Glad that you're part of the fun here at the Untours Cafe now.

Are you going to Germany next year or to another part of Europe?

If you have any questions about how the cafe works or if you run into any difficulties, let me or Marilee or Kim know so we can give you hand!

Hi Linda, thanks for the friend request. Untours do include ground transportation -- but the type depends on the specific Untour location. City programs usually offer metro / bus passes; the more rural areas are divided up between rental cars and rail passes. For example, in Germany, the Rhine Untour includes rail passes while the Bavarian Castle program includes a rental car.

Is Germany going to be your first Untour? If you are going the Rhine Untour, checkout our trip log.

The Rhine tour is really great. So easy to get around with the ships and trains almost at your doorstep. I fell in love with the charming villages. Happy to be your friend and the painting is charming!

Glad to be a friend. I think that you will find Idylling suits you. Just met some old friends who were on a bus tour. It is not for them, and I think you will enjoy independent travel with a backup.

Hi Linda,
I have done several Untours and have been extremelyy pleased with each one. The trips I've taken to Germany have been on my own. I spent a month in Germany in 2000 studying German at the Goethe Institute in Berlin. Then have spent two months each in the winter of 2004 and 2005 in Berlin. I rent my house and then rent an apt. there.
Untour does have apts. in Berlin and it was an add on to one of their German trips, but am not sure of the status of Berlin at the moment.

I have German friends who live in Iserlohn, near Dorthmud and Hagen so have visited there. From Berlin I've taken the train to Munich, Augsburg, Stuttgart and Dresden.
I would be glad to answer any questions if you are planning to visit one of those spots.

I stayed in Bacharach and absolutely fell in love with this town. I think St. Goar is the favorite but I was very happy here. The apt. I had is no longer available.

Hi Linda,
Have you decided on an Untour yet? As you can see by all of us happy Untour travelers, it's a great way to go. Once you go, you'll be hooked. I was afraid to travel in Europe at first but once we went with Untours and saw how easy it was, we just can't stop.

We went to Germany in 2006. Did the Bavarian Castle Untour. Absolutely fabulous!!!! Actually we went in late September during Oktoberfest. Read my blog about Oktoberfest. The Baron and his wife are soooo nice and such good hosts. Staying at the castle was like being in a fairy tale. Even walk over a moat to reach the castle gate. Check out my photos. We stayed in the Gabrielle apartment (highly recommend) which is right in the castle itself. If you want any more info about it, let me know.
Marlene

You will just love Castle Sommersdorf. It is like a fairy tale! The Baron who insists on being called Manfred, even though he is a Baron and a MD, and Lila are the nicest people. Manfred has a great but dry sense of humor. Moritz the dog is really friendly. Frau Schmidt is very sweet and makes the best apple strudel! The castle location is very convenient although there are so many roads to take in Germany that you can get lost so plan on it!! Luckily the Baron had one GPS which he lent to us. If you have a GPS, get a European chip and take it with you. It is a life saver.
Don't miss: Dinkelsbuhl; Rothenburg (stay for the Nightwatchman Tour it's worth it); Nurnberg; Schwabish Hall (covered bridges and very picturesque); Bamberg; nearby Wolframs-Escenbach (good half-timbered houses). Wurzburg is very worth the drive just to see the Residenz - a tour is a must! We did an overnight that included going to the top of the Zugspitz and then on to Fussen to tour Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwanstein.
Take the train if you are going to Munich.
Do be sure to stop at the grocery store in Burgoberbach. There is a bakery as you walk in. The lady is so nice. Ask her to put butter on your pretzel. We had it first from her. Yummmmmmm!
Be sure to eat at Gasthof Krone across from the church on Main Street of Burgoberbach. The people are friendly, locals hang out and play cards there. The food is good.
Down the road to Neuses is another nice gasthof. I believe it is called Landgasthof Braunes. It's the Baron's favorite. We ended up at their Oktoberfest on our last night. It was great!

If you are interested in buying a cuckoo clock while you are there, a trip to the Black Forest is a must. We decided to go to a town called Triberg. It has the largest waterfall in Germany there, and it has the House of a Thousand Cuckoo Clocks. Prices are good. They are beautiful. The people are very helpful and they ship them to USA for you. Also the best Black Forest Cake is made there. Must look up the name of the bakery for you if you go.
I am in the midst of preparing for our daughter's wedding right now but if you would like more info on the area, I will send more after Nov 4th!!!
Have fun planning. When are you going??

Hi Linda,

I see that you are doing the Rhine and Castle tours.My wife and I are also doing these and also have an added week in Austria and finish up with Oktoberfest. When is your trip? We are going in September 08. I spent 5 years in Germany in the 60's and have always wanted to return. I read in one of your posts that your husband was also in Germany in the 60's. I hope you have a great time and I hope you can share some of your insights when you return.
Bob & Diane