Comments on: Ask the Expat: practical Oktoberfest advice for first-time visitors

By: steve

steve — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:43:50 +0000

I’ve been 7 times to the oktoberfest and have never had a reservation but we always manage to get a table. as the post says, get there for 8am on the opneing day and you should be ok. if we cant find a table for ourselves, we will ask if we can sit at one of the tables reserved for the evening session. Its not ideal because you do get moved off but its infinitely better than being outside looking in !

By: Jul

Jul — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:57:34 +0000

@Kimberly – I’d suggest going early (noon or so) on a weekday and poking your heads into several tents to see which one tempts you to sit down and order a beer. My parents visited last year and they had fun in pretty much any and every tent. The Hofbräu and Löwenbräu tents are known for catering to younger, rowdier crowds, so maybe don’t make those your first choices. I like the Weinzelt for its slightly more sophisticated vibe (and benches with backs), but they don’t serve big beers so don’t make it your only stop. You want the whole experience, of course, big steins of beer and all. Hope you have a great time!

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:32:40 +0000

Thanks for the great tips! I am definitely dirndl-ing it, thanks to your advice, for our first trip! We are taking my parents to Oktoberfest. Any advice for which tent caters best to 40 somethings with 60 somethings in tow?
Kimberly recently posted..August thrift shop finds!

By: Jul

Jul — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:13:21 +0000

Dave – catch you next time, then.

Deborah – it scares me, too! Yet somehow I manage to have fun. Must be the beer.

By: Deborah Pipes

Deborah Pipes — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:39:37 +0000

ah - am handing the link to the oktoberfest posts to my hair dresser who will be heading to germany for the first time right smack dab in the middle of it all.

hope it scares him....

sure scares me....

i'll just have you drink my share and take photos to post.

By: Dave Hampton

Dave Hampton — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:31:07 +0000

Hi, Jul: thanks for the invite, I'll do it the next time through. This is going to be a one-day blitz, scouting the venue for future. I hope to spend more time in the city shortly and will get in touch. Many thanks, keep writing, Dave

By: Jul

Jul — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:36:04 +0000

Dave – don't worry about it. During the weekdays you'll be able to find a spot, and even on the weekends it's not impossible.

We'll be kind of busy with visitors during most of the fest, but if you want to try to meet up send me an email.

By: Dave Hampton

Dave Hampton — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:41:37 +0000

Jul, I was traveling in August and returned to find you had answered my question: thank you so much for the information!

I'm working on putting the trip together: 'got the hotel reservation and am scoping out the venue at the Oktoberfest web site. The hotel concierge was not helpful about reservations: "10 people and a year in advance!", he laughed.

So, I'll be hoofing around the grounds: he suggested that there are usually spots open in the big tents mid-day when people would rather be outside drinking beer?

Anyway, 'looking forward to it; thanks for all the guidance! -- Dave

By: Jul

Jul — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:28:14 +0000

Troy – we experienced that, too – on opening day even. The all-day drinkers have to start heading home sooner or later…

By: Troy

Troy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:14:59 +0000

One thing that seems to have worked in the past if you don't have reservations…
Most tents actually open their doors at 10 pm, as the all-day drinkers seem to disappear. So you can get drinks at an outdoor patio, and then at 10 pm go directly through the doors to the band. It's only an hour, but a great hour at that.