Ludus Tours for Oktoberfest

Germany’s Oktoberfest is one of the biggest parties in the world. Each year more than six million visitors arrive in Munich for the 3-week festival celebrating beer, schnitzel and song. With so many people descending at the same time, it’s important to work with a tour company with experience, which is just what I got with Ludus Tours (Ludus Group, P.O. Box 50251, Austin, TX 78763; 866/343-6133, www.ludustours.com, www.oktoberfesttours.com and www.trackandfieldtours.com).

I spent a week with Ludus in October ’07. The package included five nights in a very comfortable 3-star hotel, transfers, dinners, a guided bike tour of Munich, a guided tour of the impressive castle Neuschwanstein and, of course, entrance to beer tents (including the first two beers). The cost for that package was $900.

Everything was first rate. The hotel (Hotel Uhland) was centrally located, within walking distance of the festival grounds, and offered an excellent breakfast buffet. Transfers were always on time, and the Ludus guides and staff were professional and friendly and knew Munich quite well.

Ludus also sponsors trips to all Olympic events (they are already set up in Beijing for the Games this summer, and I will be using them again), the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and many other sporting events and festivals.

JIM SAJO

Polcenigo, Italy