An unexpected stay in Füssen

In Germany, we had advance reservations 4 nights ahead of us. This was not our usual tactic. But summer was coming, and so were the crowds. We thought it would be smart to book ahead. Having travelled for almost 3 months at this point, we were feeling like seasoned backpackers. We even mastered the fax machine to make reservations.

We were so proud of our organizational skills.

Except we forgot to plan our transportation.

Arriving in Füssen at the end of our Romantic Road bus trip, we discovered there was no train or bus available to Kempton where we had booked the youth hostel. We were stuck in Füssen. The cheapest hotel was $40 each for one night. An expensive misstep.

At least the big fluffy duvets were decadent.

This was no time to be sleeping beauty though. Bright and early the next morning, we climbed into the Bavarian hills to Neuschwanstein Castle. The mist clinging to the hills heightened the fairytale-ness of the castle. Neushwanstein is magical and you can see how it reportedly inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle.

While its eccentric King Ludwig II did not end up living in his creation for long, thankfully the castle is open for visitors to enjoy. We had our most expensive accommodation in nearby Füssen, but compared to the castle extravagance, it was quite reasonable.

Money well spent.

This is one entry from my 1992 European backpacking trip with my friend Sarah. If you want to start at the beginning, please check out The journey starts in Nice.