GERMANY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 564

A Hostel Across the River
The homey $ Gästehaus am Graben hostel has 4-6 beds per room and includes breakfast
and sheets. It's lovingly run by the Reyman family—Frau Reyman, Rudi, and Gabi keep the
50-bed place traditional, clean, and friendly. This is a super value less than two miles from
Reutte, andthecastle viewsarefantastic. Ifyou'veneverhosteled andarecurious(andhave
acarordon'tmindabusride),tryit.Iftravelingwithkids,thisisagreatchoice.Thedouble
rooms are hotel-grade, and they accept nonmembers of any age (dorm bed-€26, hotel-style
Db-€70, cash only, non-smoking, expensive Internet access and Wi-Fi, laundry service-€9,
no curfew, closed April and Nov-mid-Dec; from downtown Reutte, cross bridge and follow
main road left along river, or take the bus—hourly until 19:30, ask for Graben stop; Graben
1, tel. [phone], fax [phone], www.hoefen.at , [e-mail] ) .
In Pinswang
The village of Pinswang is closer to Füssen (and Ludwig's castles), but still in Austria.
$$GutshofzumSchluxen getsthe“RemoteOldHotelinanIdyllicSetting”award.This
family-friendlyfarmoffersrusticelegancedrapedingoosedownandpastels.Itspicturesque
meadow setting will turn you into a dandelion-picker, and its proximity to Neuschwanstein
will turn you into a hiker—the castle is just an hour's walk away (Sb-€52, Db-€90-98, extra
person-€29, ask for Rick Steves rate, about 5-10 percent cheaper Nov-March, 5 percent dis-
count for stays of three or more nights, free Wi-Fi in common areas, laundry-€9, mountain-
bike rental-€10/day or €5/half-day, restaurant, fun bar, between Reutte and Füssen in village
ofPinswang, tel. [phone],fax[phone], www.schluxen.com , [e-mail] ) .
While this hotel works best for drivers, it is reachable by bus from the Füssen train station
(every2hours,14minutes,getoffatPinswangGemeindeamtstop,verifydetailswithhotel).
To reach Neuschwanstein from this hotel by foot or bike, follow the dirt road up the
hill behind the hotel. When the road forks at the top of the hill, go right (downhill), cross
the Austria-Germany border (marked by a sign and deserted hut), and follow the narrow
paved road to the castles. It's a 1- to 1.5-hour hike or a great circular bike trip (allow 30
minutes; cyclists can return to Schluxen from the castles on a different 30-minute bike route
via Füssen).
Eating in Reutte
The hotels here take great pride in serving local cuisine at reasonable prices to their guests
and the public. Rather than go to a cheap restaurant, eat at one of the Reutte hotels re-
commended earlier ( Alpenhotel Ernberg, Moserhof Hotel, Hotel Maximilian, and Hotel