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Explained: The Lufthansa Express Bus to Munich Airport

by Flight relatedGeneralKnow Before You Go

What is the Lufthansa Express Bus?

Lufthansa Express Bus is a bus shuttle service that connects Munich International Airport – Franz Josef Strauss with the city of Munich (Main Station).
This bus is one of four ways to get from the airport to the city. In this article I would like to show you how to use the Lufthansa Express Bus, how much it costs and if it is a good alternative to the other services.

1. Is the bus for Lufthansa customers only?

Although it may seem so, the bus is available to all travelers, no matter whether they arrived at Munich Airport on a Lufthansa or Star Alliance flight. It is run just by Lufthansa in cooperation with a local bus operator.

The bus is a convenient way to get from the airport to the city

2. How much does the bus cost?

The prices are quite fair and you can purchase a “return ticket”, so you can not only go to Munich but also get back to the airport. The return ticket is “open”, which means you can use the shuttle bus back to the airport when you want, while return tickets of the public transport always have a time limit (e.g. 3 or 4 days).

Here are the prices (including all taxes and fees) as of Jan. 2021:

These are the prices for an online purchase through the official Lufthansa Express Bus website. Of course you can buy tickets from the driver, but the tickets will cost additional 0.50 € (one-way) or 1.00 € (return). So the online purchase is not significantly cheaper than buying your ticket from the driver.

3. Where does the bus stop?

The bus has six stops in total. Two of them are located in the city of Munich. The other four are the different stops at the airport terminals.

3. How long does the bus take to Munich Main Station?

The bus uses the same route as the cars, so you’ll reach Munich downtown in about 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

5. Additional Information

You can find more Information about the Lufthansa Express Bus and purchase tickets online on the official website: https://www.airportbus-muenchen.de/en

Stay healthy: Ticks in Munich and Bavaria

by GeneralKnow Before You Go

Ticks in Bavaria

When you travel abroad, you’ll often have questions concerning security. Questions like “Are there no go areas?” or “Can I drink water from tap?”. Unfortunately these kind of questions are often not mentioned in guide books and you have to search for information. I love to tell you about the city and the culture, but I will also answer these questions, every tourist has. This time, I want to tell you about a little annoying insect.

Every spring, when the snow and ice melts and temperatures rise, the Bavarian nature awakes. Green leaves grow, and all animals come out again. Unfortunately also those little annoying insects, which are in search of blood. Now you’ll surely think about mosquitos. But this time I want to tell you about ticks in Bavaria

Ticks kan hide in underwood and grass

Where do you find ticks?

Ticks exist everywhere in the world. In Bavaria and southern Germany, you’ll find most often “Ixodes ricinus” the so called “castor bean tick” (German: “Gemeiner Holzbock“ or more common „Zecke“). While other ticks are specialized on dogs, hedgehogs or mice, the castor bean tick also likes humans.

  • Below 1.000 metres (ca. 3.300 ft.) above sea level
  • In meadows, especially with tall grass
  • City parks and gardens
  • Hiking trails
  • in the underwood
  • at forest edges with bushes and undergrowth

When are ticks active?

Ticks are less active when it is cold or frosty. However, as soon as the temperature rises above 0° C (32° F) in Bavaria, they become active and begin their search for a blood meal.

In particularly mild winters, they may therefore remain permanently active. Severe cold in winter kills a considerable number of ticks, but this means that a higher number of ticks often survive after mild winters, which increases the risk of tick bites in Bavaria.

Ticks also like it humid, so that their activity increases considerably, for example after a summer rain.

Why ticks can be dangerous for humans in Bavaria and southern Germany

Ticks can transmit bacteria and viruses, especially the “Lyme-borreliosis” (German: Borreliose) and the “tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)” (German: Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis – FSME).

While the Lyme-borreliosis (bacteria) can be cured with antibiotics (when there is an early reaction), the TBE (virus) can’t. But you can have a vaccination against TBE.

 

Unfortunately, Bavaria is a so called “high risk area” where ticks can transfer TBE and Lyme-borreliosis. But “high risk area” doesn’t mean that you’ll find ticks in every bush and on every leaf. “High Risk Area” is defined since 2007 as a region that has a significant higher number of illness cases than predicted. Usually the predicted rate of TBE-cases is 1,3:100.000.

Especially in woods and meadows you can find ticks. If you’re not vaccinated and you want to have a picnic on a meadow in a rural Bavarian area, maybe you should rethink your plans. Even the risk in “high risk area” is quite low, you always should be aware of the possible threat

What you shuld do as a traveler coming to Munich and Bavaria

Let me get this straight: The risk of being bitten by a tick is manageable, although almost all of Bavaria is a high-risk area. So the thought of a tick bite should not make you cancel your trip to Munich, Bavaria or Southern Germany.
Especially if you only plan a city tour the risk is quite low.
But if you plan to explore the woods around Munich, lie in one of the many city parks or at a lake in the meadow and sunbathe, or go for a hike in the Alps, your risk will obviously increase.

The Bavarian and German health authorities recommend tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination for all persons in high-risk-areas, regardless of age.

As a traveller, you should therefore think about what you are going to do during your trip to Bavaria and its neighbouring states.


If you are planning a very nature-loving trip where you will be out in nature, you should talk to your doctor about a vaccination against TBE, even if ticks or TBE are not present in your home country.
Usually a TBE vaccination is given in three steps to ensure complete protection. You will need to take this into consideration when planning your trip.

Regardless of being vaccinated or not, you should take the following precautions when you are out in the nature. When you’re hiking, camping or doing sports in woods and meadows or doing other activities, where you often have body-contact to your surrounding nature, at least try to do the following:

  • In woods/forests: Better use regular paths/dirtroads; don’t bushwhack through the forest (which is usually also forbidden).
  • Wear (bright coloured) clothes. On dark colours you’ll have problems to see ticks
  • „Close“ your clothes (for example tuck the pant legs into your socks)
  • Use repellents (not really effective, but better than using nothing)
  • Inspect your body regularly (while doing your activities) and at home. Especially areas where ticks can hide from the body movement (behind ears, armpits, hairline, hair, private parts, back of the knee, bellybutton, folds in the belly, etc.)
Consider a vaccination

Further information for travellers

Now you know the main facts about ticks in Bavaria and Southern Germany.

You can get more and detailed information about ticks, the transmitted diseases and vaccination on the website www.zecken.de. The website is also available in English, Russian, Turkish and Polish

Covid19-Crisis: German borders to be opened on june 15th.

by General

The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham)

[osmapper id="966"]

Adress: Landsberger Str. 270, 80687 Munich, Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 558 983 70

Nearby Airports:

  • Munich International (MUC) – 40 km / 25 mi (ca. 30-45 min by car, 45-55 min by public transport)
  • Memmingen Airport (FMM) (aka Munich West) – 108 km / 67 mi (ca. 1 hour by car, 2 hrs. by public transport)

The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham) is one of two Super 8 hotels in Munich. The hotel is not located in the inner city, but has  a very good connection to the city centre as well as to Munich International airport, as the urban rail station is around the corner. The hotel has double rooms, a rather small lounge with a coffeshop and a quite huge breakfast room. The Super 8 is located in Munich’s west, a mostly residential district. It’s clear this hotel is made for business travellers and travellers on a budget.

There are only double rooms available, which can be also used for single occupancy. The hotel is mid sized compared to the number of rooms. All rooms feature en suite baths with a shower, a hairdryer, and bath amenities (bulk).

The Super 8 Munich West Hotel doesn’t feature a full restaurant, but there is a small coffeeshop in the lobby, where you can order a beverage and a snack. Ideal for business travellers to meet after a day full of work and have a drink before going to bed.

 

The Super 8 Munich West is a well rated business/mid-range hotel. It gets good ratings in the different portals:

  • Trivago: 8.3 out of 10.0 (Very Good)
  • Tripadvisor: 4.0 out of 5.0 (Very Good)
  • Hotelscombined: 7.8 out of 10.0 (Good)

What people like:

  • The close proximity to the urban rail station Laim (good connections to the city centre and Munich International Airport)
  • The breakfast
  • The cleanliness of the rooms and the good work of the housekeeping staff

What people dislike:

  • the loud and sometimes crowded breakfast room
  • visitors sometimes indicate that the reception staff is not always 100% polite and courteous
  • The lack of parking possibilities (on-street metered parking; too few parking spots available)

What to know:

  • The Super 8 Munich West doesn’t have a full restaurant. But you can order drinks and snacks at the lobby coffeeshop/bar.
  • The district around the hotel is a residential district so there are not as many possibilities to go out dining around the hotel as you would get at a more centrally located hotel.
  • Bar/coffeeshop
  • Restaurant
  • 24/7 reception
  • Free WiFi in rooms and lobby
  • Breakfast available (ca. 9 EUR / 10 USD per person and day)
  • Bath amenities
  • Iron/Board
  • In-room safe
  • Free coffee/tea
  • Air conditioning & heating
  • Cable/Satellite TV

Laim district:

Laim is located in the western part of the city and mainly a residential district. Additionally there are some industrial/commercial areas (mainly car garages, car dealers) along Landsberger Street. This street (also named Bundesstraße 2 – Federal Road No. 2) is a major road for commuters. So expect lot’s of rush hour traffic during weekdays.

Dining out:

restaurants and bars are available but limited. Most of the restaurants and bars can be found in Fürstenrieder Street.

The best options for dining out in walking distance to the Super 8 Munich West are a steakhouse (Asado), an Italian restaurant (Il Cortile), a Greek restaurant (Tou Bakali), and a Chinese restaurant (Hakeyo House).
Fast food options are also avilable. Within walking distance you will find Mc Donalds, Döner Kebab (Beste Döner) and a bit further a Subway.
Coffeshops: There is a coffeeshop (San Francisco Coffee Company – SFCC) ca. 350 metres / 380 yards from the hotel.

Supermarkets:

There are supermarkets within walking distance. You will find a REWE (normal supermarket) and an ALDI (discount supermarket) ca. 700 metres / 770 yards from the hotel near the commuter station.

Is the area safe?

Yes, the area and quarter around the Super 8 Munich West is generally a safe area. Yet its is not a prosperous quarter with wealthy inhabitants. Further uptown Landsberger Street (approx. 700 metres / 770 yards) there is a brothel and a nightclub/table dance club. This area might not be suitable for children and families during the nighttime.

The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham) is a good business/mid-range hotel. As it is located in Munich’s Laim district you can expect lower prices than for hotels in the inner city of Munich. Prices per double room start at ca. 55 USD per night in the low season and can reach approx. 150 USD in the high season. Of course there are some dates thoughout the year where Munich hotels are nearly fully booked (e.g. trade fairs). Prices can then rise to ca. 220 USD per room and night for the Super 8, too.

You can book directly via the official website:

Getting to the Super 8 Munich West is really easy. You can get there

  • By public transport
    The urban rail (S-Bahn) station „Laim“ is literally just around the corner. From there you have direct connections to the Main Station and City Centre (Lines S1, S2, S4, S6, S7 and S8) and Munich International Airport (Lines S1 and S8)
  • By taxi/limousine service
    Choose your favourite transport service and the driver will bring you to the hotel.
  • By (rental) car
    The hotel is quite easy to reach. Be aware that the parking situation is quite bad. Only on-street-parking (metered), but often you won’t find any free space.

I had the opportunity to fully test a standard double room with breakfast. To see if I would recommend this hotel read my full review about the Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham).

COVID-19: Germany, Bavaria, Munich shutdown beginning March 17th 2020

by with No Comment DealsGeneralGetting AroundKnow Before You Go

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The public life in Munich and Germany in general is shutting down from March 17th 2020 due tom COVID-19

public life as we know it as travellers will change drastically from today, March 17th 2020.
Germany, and with it Munich, will severely restrict public life due to the growing spread of COVID-19. What this means for citizens but also for travellers, I have summarised for you in the following article.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_single_image image=“1466″ img_size=“500×500″ alignment=“center“ style=“vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space height=“50″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

What does a shutdown in Germany and Munich mean?

On Sunday evening, March 15, 2020, the Bavarian Minister President announced that Bavaria, and thus also Munich, is declaring a state of emergency (in German: Katastrophenfall, literally „catastrophe case“ K-case).
The Federal Government followed this decision and decided to implement a complete shutdown for all of Germany.

If a disaster is declared, the government is authorized to restrict public life. In the present case, this has an impact on schools, restaurants, museums, leisure activities, but also on public transport and cross-border traffic.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_single_image image=“656″ img_size=“500×500″ alignment=“center“ style=“vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_column_text]

What will change in Munich?

Below you can see the effects in Munich and Bavaria that the shutdown will have:

Educational institutions:

  • Schools and daycare centers are closed. Emergency care is guaranteed.
  • Universities and libraries are closed

Stores and Shops:

  • All shops are closed. Exceptions are: grocery stores, drugstores and supermarkets, beverage shops, banks, post offices, pharmacies and medical supply stores, opticians, pet shops, DIY- and hardware stores, gas stations, dry cleaners and of course online shops. Shopping malls are allowed to open shops mentioned above.

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In order to ensure the supply, the shop opening hours were adjusted and extended. The shop opening hours in Bavaria and Munich are as follows with immediate effect up to and including March 30th 2020:

weekdays: 6.00 AM to 10.00 PM
Sundays and public holidays: 12.00 AM to 6.00 PM

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_column_text]Restaurants, bars and similar establishments:

May open, but only between 6 AM and 3 PM and only if it is ensured that a maximum of 30 people are in a room and that they are at least 1.5 metres (60 in.) apart.

Delivery services, takeaways and drive-in counters may remain open after 3 pm.

Hotel restaurants may continue to open, but only for the exclusive purpose of serving their own guests.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Leisure facilities:

All leisure facilities in Bavaria are closed until April 19. These are swimming pools, saunas, thermal baths, cinemas, conference and event rooms, clubs, bars and discotheques, gaming and gambling halls, theatres, museums, libraries, club rooms, brothels, sports halls, fitness studios, zoos, music and adult education centres and youth centres, sports- and playgrounds.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Restaurants, bars and similar establishments:

May open, but only between 6 AM and 3 PM and only if it is ensured that a maximum of 30 people are in a room and that they are at least 1.5 metres (60 in.) apart.

Delivery services, takeaways and drive-in counters may remain open after 3 pm.

Hotel restaurants may continue to open, but only for the exclusive purpose of serving their own guests.

Service companies and handicraft enterprises:
Can continue working as usual. This applies to craftsmen such as plumbers, and car repair shops, but also hairdressers/barber shops. Nevertheless, these businesses can open at their own discretion. Many of these businesses will not open to protect their own employees.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_single_image image=“1469″ img_size=“500×500″ alignment=“center“ style=“vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_column_text]

Changes at national borders

The borders to the following countries are basically closed:

  • Denmark
  • France
  • Luxembourg
  • Switzerland
  • Austria

Still allowed to cross the border are vehicles/persons transporting goods, especially food, commuters and Germans returning home from abroad.

All other travellers, regardless of their nationality, who have no valid reason to enter Germany will be turned away at the border.

What are „valid reasons“?
Valid reasons include for example medical treatment, funeral of a family member, a required professional activity in Germany (e.g. commuters, seasonal workers, diplomats, etc.) or the delivery of goods.
The valid reason must be proven to the border officials by carrying suitable documents (employment contract, employer’s certificate, order documents, cross-border commuter card or similar).

Is transit through Germany permitted?
Persons who live in a third-party country and only travel through Germany for transit purposes (e.g. from Italy to the Netherlands) are generally allowed to pass through.

Each individual border official is responsible for deciding on entry. He or she decides at his or her dutiful discretion.

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Changes in flight and ship traffic

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community created a specific website for all such travel related questions. Information in English can be found under the following link:

https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/EN/topics/civil-protection/coronavirus/travel-restrictions-border-control/travel-restrictions-boarder-control-list.html[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Tested: The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham)

by General

Tested: The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham)

Is the Super 8 Munich-West (by Wyndham) a good choice? Find it out here in my hotel review.

I had the opportunity to test a standard room (double) for one night, including breakfast. Read on the following hotel review to see what I experienced in the Super 8 Munich-West.

Location

The Hotel is located in Munich’s Laim district, about five kilometres (ca. three miles) from the city centre (Marienplatz). The Super 8 Munich West is situated about 200 metres (ca. 220 yards) from Laim urban rail station where nearly all Munich S-Bahn lines stop.

On the picture above, the hotel is a few steps to the right. Above the tunnel in the centre of the picture, the S-Bahn (urban rail) station „Laim“ is located. Right next to the station, you can find a steak-restaurant, a starbucks-style coffeeshop and two supermarkets (ALDI, REWE) reachable through the tunnel. From Laim station it’s just one stop to „Pasing“ by urban rail. There, many regional and also national trains stop, so it is ideal to make a daytrip for example to Augsburg. Laim station is also great if you need a good connection to Munich International Airport (Franz Josef Strauß Airport), as it is operated by the urban rail S1 and S8 line. Especially S1 line gives you a direct connection without changing lines between the hotel and the airport.

The hotel is quite new and it’s location is great, especially for travellers coming to Munich for business, people trying to get a good middle class hotel for a rather low rate and budget travellers.

The entrance can’t be missed and is easy to find in Landsberger Street in Munich’s Laim district. Of course I have to mention Laim district isn’t a district known for its nightlife or specific quarter-culture. Laim was a worker’s district and is primarily used as residential area. You’ll hardly find fancy coffeeshops or hip bars in the quarter around the hotel. Also the Landsberger Street is one of Munich’s main arterial roads leading to the city centre, which is great for people coming with their own car or rental for a stopover or using the hotel as a basecamp for daytrips.

Lobby & Lounge

When you enter the Super 8 Munich-West you will find a small but very nice designed lobby or lounge, the reception and a small snack shop/café where you can have a bite and a hot or cold beverage. I liked the design and how they managed to produced a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Right next to the reception there is the breakfast room and the elevator. This hotel has 6 floors where the rooms are located.

The floors can be accessed with your room-keycard. Just scan your keycard inside the elevator and press your floor number. I realized it is only possible to choose the floor where your room is located (or the lobby). So if you’re a group and you have different rooms on different floors, you have to walk the stairs to see your fellow travellers, as the elevator won’t allow you to go to a different floor.

Rooms

The room I got was quite nice. It had twin beds (pushed together, so it was actually a king-size-bed), a really nice photo wall showing Munich’s Siegestor (Victory Gate) in Schwabing district. Right next to the bed in front of the window stood a table with chair and a bench for luggage.

I had a street-view room on the first floor, which I do not recommend for those in need of an open window during the night. As said, Landsberger Street is a major arterial road to the city center with lot’s of traffic. When the window is closed, it’s very quiet. The architects did a good job to to put in anti-noise windows. Fortunately it was a calm sunday, so there was much lesser traffic than during the week.

The Bathroom was very good. It had everything I needed. A nice, quite big shower, towels, shampoo/shower gel and hand soap (dispensers). It is also big enough to fit two people, at least when one of them is taking a shower.

All was very clean. The cleaning staff did a very professional job. Only downside is the toilet, as there is no extra door inside of the bathroom to have some privacy. Also the bathroom has a huge frosted glass wall in the shower which is nice to have daylight also in the bathroom, but reduces the privacy again (maybe inconvenient for colleagues sharing a room).

Room Equipment

The room was also equipped with a telephone, a hair dryer, a safe, a wardrobe, air condition and a flat smart-TV. I also liked the hall with the wardrobe, as there were collapsible shelfes right next to the long mirror. Unfortunately a closet is missing. Therefore a longer stay could get a bit annoying living out of your luggage.

WiFi is free of charge in the entire hotel. The flat-TV was the hotspot, meaning every room has it’s own WiFi hotspot and therefore a very good connection. A very smart idea in my opinion. Unluckily the safe is quite tiny. It is not possible to lock a laptop or a tablet, but it will work really fine for wallets, passports, jewellery, smartphones etc..

An iron was missing as well as a kettle or other tea/coffee making facilities. When I read through the information of the hotel, I saw it is possible to borrow an iron or a kettle from the reception for a deposit of 20 EUR (ca. 23 USD, 17 GBP). That’s nice they offer this.

I also liked the smart-TV. Through the TV you can access all hotel based information but also watch TV (also some English programmes, mainly news channels like BBC or CNN) or even surf the internet. The Welcome-screen also has a „Discover Munich“ site, but unfortunately there was no content on this site when I was there. I hope they added content by now.

I slept very well in the bed and had a nice warm shower before heading down to the breakfast room. When you check in and opt for breakfast (9 EUR/person; ca. 10 USD, 8 GBP) you will be given credit-card sized vouchers. These you have to hand over to the breakfast staff. This system was quite new for me, but everything worked out as described.

Breakfast

The breakfast room was quite huge. I didn’t expect such a big buffet-style breakfast in a budget-hotel. There were lots of things to choose from and start your day either with a continental breakfast or an English/American breakfast. Breakfast is available between 6:30 am and 10 am (11 am on weekends).

Ham, sausages, eggs, baked beans, toast, frankfurters, Bavarian white sausages, cold cuts and different types of cheese were on the savoury side while on the sweet side you could choose from different jams, nutella, honey, fruit salad, yoghurts, chocolate croissants, warm belgian waffles and more. But my favourite was the fact you could mix your own yoghurt. You could take plain yoghurt and add different cereals as well as jam or three types of fresh fruit puree (white peach, mango and strawberry). This is something I never saw in a budget or business hotel. Thumbs up!

All in all the breakfast flashed me a bit. It’s very seldom to see such a huge variety of different breakfast items. Also the staff on duty was extremely friendly and helpful and did a very good job. Only one minor thing is to improve. There are just two coffee machines. So during the breakfast rush hour between 7 am and 9 am, you will sometimes have to wait in qeue with 5 people in front of you waiting for the machine to produce coffee, cappucino or other coffee varieties.

Conclusion

The stay at Super 8 Munich-West was really nice. Especially the breakfast was outstanding. I would recommend this hotel to business travellers, travellers looking for a fair price and those who do not necessarily need to stay in the city centre.

As the urban rail station Laim is just around the corner, it is very convenient to take the S-Bahn to the city center (ca. 10 minute ride with the S-Bahn). Also Laim station is very convenient for travellers heading from or to Munich International airport.

Very convenient is also the fact you have to check out by noon, which is quite late compared to other hotels where check out is at 11 am or even 10:30 am.

Do you have any thoughts you want to share? Contact me (see footer).

Ratings

TheSuper 8 Munich-West has very good ratings throughout the Internet:

Google: 4.1 (of 5)
Booking: 8.3 (of 10) „very good“
tripadvisor: 4.0 (of 5) „very good“
Holidaycheck: 4,4 (of 6)
Expedia: 4.1 (of 5) „very good“
trivago: 8.2 (of 10) „very good“
Agoda: 8.3 (of 10) „Fantastic“

Wheretostayinmunich.com Rating

Public transport connection?

4.5/5

Hotel facilities:

3/5

Staff (friendly? helpful?)

4.5/5

Cleanliness:

5/5

Airport-connection (Munich Intl. Airport):

4/5

Room size:

3/5

Breakfast:

4.5/5

Value for money:

4/5

Overall rating:

4/5