Frankfurt trip

[Javan Rhino]

Now that AG's passport has finally arrived, I'm hoping to get plans into action to visit Frankfurt [plus others] a.s.a.p. but as we've never been abroad on our own before, never mind the area, I was wondering if anybody could give any advice about any aspect. It was originally just Frankfurt as a weekend break, but it's evolved to include a couple of others. Itinerary I've thought is as follows:

Day One: Fly from Manchester or Liverpool to Frankfurt Airport to arrive between 8am and 9am [or as early as I can], spend the day at Frankfurt Zoo and then when the zoo closes take a train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg, where we can check into the Ibis hotel [I believe next door to the station?].

Day Two: Go around Zoo Heidelberg and stay in the area for the day/night.

Day Three: Take a train to Stuttgart Zoo and go around here. Then after closing return to Heidelberg.

Day Four: Get early train back to Frankfurt and visit the Palmengarten, before getting an evening flight back to Manchester/Liverpool.

The biggest wants to see include [but are not limited to] [sorry I've picked a few]

Frankfurt:
Addra gazelle
Aye aye
Lammergier
Brazilian porcupine
Elegant crested tinamou
Klipspringer
Feathertail glider
Freshwater crocodile
Goodfellow's tree kangaroo
Hellbender
Leaf-tailed gecko
North Island kiwi
Round-eared elephant shrew
Short-beaked echidna
South Central black rhinoceros
Southern springhare
Tammar wallaby

Heidelberg
Ring-tailed mongoose
Grey langur
Indian mongoose
Jungle cat
Malayan binturong
Orange-rumped agouti
SE Asian golden cat
Syrian brown bear
Tataupa tinamou
White-tailed mongoose

Stuttgart
African egg-eating snake
Alpine ibex
American beaver
Asp
Black-necked grebe
Blue-naped mousebird
Brown-hooded kingfisher
Capercaille
Chinese giant salamander
Desmarest's hutia
Greater slow loris
Large flying fox
North Island kaka
Persian leopard
Northern gannet
Plains viscacha
Rocky mountain goat

Another thing that would be handy for me to know is do Frankfurt have anywhere where luggage can be left?

Any help with anything is hugely appreciated, nervous as it's all so new to me

 

[epickoala123]

American beaver

firstly, great trip hope it all goes to plan.

also, for seeing the beavers, You will probably have to go to the sleeping area. So don't be to down-hearted if you don't see the beavers in their outside exhibit.

As for the Frankfurt airport bags, I'll try to remember what I did when I went to germany with the family.

epickoala123

 

[Jakub]

@Javan rhino:
I am sorry to inform you, but according to German forum, Kiwis are only kept behind the scenes and it will be very dificult to spot White-tailed mongoose in Heidelberg, currently there is only one remaining elderly animal, kept together with Langurs and during the day almost invisible for public.

 

[Javan Rhino]

@Javan rhino:
I am sorry to inform you, but according to German forum, Kiwis are only kept behind the scenes and it will be very dificult to spot White-tailed mongoose in Heidelberg, currently there is only one remaining elderly animal, kept together with Langurs and during the day almost invisible for public.

I had heard the white-tailed mongoose was difficult/near-impossible to spot, of course I'm prepared for the odd no show so good to know what not to build my hopes up with

I was unaware the kiwi were off-show though, that has come as quite a disappointment but these things happen

 

[Chlidonias]

if you have time to fit it in, I really recommend the Senckenburg Museum in Frankfurt. Fantastic natural history museum!

With regards to leaving luggage somewhere, generally speaking most hotels have luggage storage facilities (especially if you are returning to that hotel to stay).

 

[zooman]

Another thing that would be handy for me to know is do Frankfurt have anywhere where luggage can be left?

Any help with anything is hugely appreciated, nervous as it's all so new to me [/QUOTE]

Re luggage
There will be lockers at Frankfurt main train station, at least 24 hours maybe longer. Hotels are also definitely an option, however how much luggage will you have?

Surely a small day pack will hold all u need and wear comfortable shoes. Trust me the lighter in luggage u travel the more fun you will have, including taking your bag onto the plane as carry on, waiting for luggage to come out can be tedious.

Tavel safe

 

[Toddy]

I had heard the white-tailed mongoose was difficult/near-impossible to spot, of course I'm prepared for the odd no show so good to know what not to build my hopes up with

Don't get completely disgouraged. When I visited Heidelberg in June 2011 I saw the mongoose twice; early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Be there around those times and you might get lucky

However, I missed the kaka in Stuttgart on the same trip which still annoys me

 

[Chlidonias]

However, I missed the kaka in Stuttgart on the same trip which still annoys me

kaka tend not to be very active in aviaries (they often just sit up the back somewhere or in a shelter, so are easy birds to miss). I guess the Stuttgart one must be fairly old now as well.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Just an update:

Flights booked now and hotel reservation sorted. We're in Frankfurt between 18/04/2013 and 21/04/2013.

We have taken Heidelberg off the trip [I wanted to do it, but it's our first time away to a foreign country on our own and didn't want to overcomplicate it, plus it made the whole trip somewhat rushed.

If all flights go to plan we will arrive in Frankfurt early on the 18th, and will spend the day settling in and taking in the city [and possibly Palmengarten, if it's not too far]. We're staying in Hotel am Zoo.


19th will be a day around Frankfurt Zoo. 20th will potentially be Stuttgart and 21st will be a last go around Frankfurt Zoo if we've missed anything, or if not could just be a casual chill day before our evening flight.

Really nervous, but really looking forward to it!

 

[Tim May]

Hope you have great time; Frankfurt and Stuttgart are two of my favourite German zoos and I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.

If you do have some spare time; it’s only a short train ride from Frankfurt to Mainz where the Naturhistorische Museum has a stuffed Javan rhinoceros as well as the famous quagga group.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Hope you have great time; Frankfurt and Stuttgart are two of my favourite German zoos and I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.

If you do have some spare time; it’s only a short train ride from Frankfurt to Mainz where the Naturhistorische Museum has a stuffed Javan rhinoceros as well as the famous quagga group.

Thanks for the tip, I will make a mental note. I doubt we'll end up there this time simply due to wanting to make it as simple as possible, but we may squeeze it in if we feel confident enough

 

[Pertinax]

If all flights go to plan we will arrive in Frankfurt early on the 18th, and will spend the day settling in and taking in the city [and possibly Palmengarten, if it's not too far]. We're staying in Hotel am Zoo.


19th will be a day around Frankfurt Zoo. 20th will potentially be Stuttgart and 21st will be a last go around Frankfurt Zoo if we've missed anything, or if not could just be a casual chill day before our evening flight.

Really nervous, but really looking forward to it!

Javan Rhino. This takes me back rather, as apart from one brief visit to the Paris Zoos, Frankfurt was the first European Zoo I ever visited, though I went by train and then did a whole lot of other Zoos on the same trip also. I remember I travelled light but the keepers let me leave my stuff in some storage lockers in the old Ape House all day while I went around the rest of the Zoo.

I think you are probably wise to omit Heidleburg for such a short trip- too much time spent travelling can feel its being wasted when you could be looking at animals instead. Stuttgart is probably enough to do as an 'extra' given your time period.

One tip-despite wanting to familiarise yourself with the surroundings, you may find it hard to spend your first day doing things other than visiting the Zoo. I remember on that first trip, arriving at Frankfurt at night, kipping a few hours in the bahnhof (railwaystation) and then straight on to the ZOO!

 

[Maguari]

Have to say I'd be straight in the zoo on day one as well!

 

[Pygathrix]

Have to say I'd be straight in the zoo on day one as well!

Oh definitely!
The weather might turn bad, the zoo might close unexpectedly, or you might die. And you know you enjoy other sight-seeing better when you have the zoo already done.

Fastest time from arriving in a country to entering zoo: 25 minutes from Rotterdam ferry to the zoo!

 

[Pertinax]

Fastest time from arriving in a country to entering zoo: 25 minutes from Rotterdam ferry to the zoo!

That is traditionally one of the easiest I think...

I have done Melbourne straight from the International Airport (flight from NZ, not UK!) but it may have taken a bit longer than 25 mins I think.

This could be worth a thread in its own right.

 

[Dicerorhinus]

Good heavens you're being overly cautious aren't you? Frankfurt is in Germany not Somalia! My little sister flew out to Columbia in February and will be spending six months traveling South America on her own, just like thousands of other 18-19 year old gap year students who travel to remote corners of the world and come home fine.
Can I ask why you're going to Frankfurt instead of Berlin/Liepzig? Particularly now Frankfurt are without Shoebill and Picathartes. Well it's a great opportunity to put your German GCSE to use! I hope you have a pleasant trip and with any luck it will give you the confidence to travel more often.

 

[Jurek7]

Hi Javan Rhino,

I guess you already found the website www.bahn.de which allows you to plan not just trains, but underground, tram and bus connections.

I am not sure how intensive is your traveling style, but I would also think of some additional attraction just in case. Frankfurt is not exactly overflowing with tourist sights. The zoo there is small with shrinking collection (you are 30 years too late - it is no longer treasure of zoological rarities from Grzimek times ). So you may be off faster than you thought, or slightly disappointed.

In any case visit Senkenberg museum, also not a huge one, for the hairy dinosaur Psittacosaurus, Messel fossils and also some extinct birds.

There are heaps of luggage lockers on the Frankfurt train station, where you will arrive from the airport.

Had you visited Berlin and Leipzig, you would surely have not enough time!

 

[lintworm]

Frankfurt Zoo might not have as much rarities as they had, but I visited there february 2012 and was still amazed.

It's one of the better city zoos and the Grzimek house still has the largest night house of Europe and one of the finest small mammal collections you will find in Europe.

When you go by train, with a group, then it is good to consider the "schoenes Wochenende ticket", for 40 euro you can travel a day with up to 5 persons. So no other tickets needed, but you can only take RB and RE trains, so no Intercitys/ICE...