Should four antisocial bastards go to Oktoberfest?
I’m not really sure where Girlfriend is getting the idea that you have to bring a tent to Oktoberfest. Yes, they’re called Beertents (Bierzelte) but they have about as much in common with camping tents as the Hearst Castle has with my apartment – technically, they belong to the same category, but they’re huuuuuge. Go have fun at Oktoberfest, check out Munich if Oktoberfest is not your speed. I can definitely recommend Mike’s Bike Tours – they’re a blast.
I went to Oktoberfest with a group of fairly antisocial yet beer-loving bastards, and we had a really fun time. I’m not going to say it’s the best of the city, but from my limited travel experiences, I’d say it’s something you shouldn’t miss. Not having a spot in a tent is not a deal breaker- I get the impression it’s a pretty common thing to just sort of cram in with the rabble. It is definitely crowded in the tents. There will be seats, but, depending on what time you are there, you will probably not be able to find a seat without climbing over people, or convincing others to scoot. We did not have a spot reserved anywhere, and I did not find this to be negative. One of you may have to be assertive to find seats. There will be so much singing and noise that you won’t be able to really have any conversation with random strangers other than exchanging facial expressions of “isn’t this fun” or “sorry I bumped you”, or yelling “three giant pretzels, as large as my head, please”. Regardin
I liked the non-Oktoberfest day I spent in Munich, but get the Rick Steves book on Germany and you’ll probably find a better way to spend the time in a city you were already planning on visiting. Compare: My brother had to go to the Hofbräuhaus in Munich on our trip two years ago. I voted for something more local, but the trip was mostly for him so we went. Sweaty, touristy, crowded, loud (duh), hard to find a seat and the service sucked. Good place if you want to find non-Germans, though. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Always nice to hear a familiar language taking the same trip now and again. Contrast: He picks me up at the airport in Frankfurt and we hop on a train and head right to Nurnberg (if you think I’m going all that way and not standing where H*tler stood in The Triumph of the Will you’re a loon.) We head out into the night for dinner with one of Rick’s trusty maps in our hand and end up as one of the few customers on the outdoor patio of the
You could do some sight seeing in the am and head for the Oktoberfest early afternoon, walk round, look in some of the beer halls and if you decide that you don’t want to stop and spend the rest of the day looking at some more sights…despite what the girl in your group says there is a lot to do and see in Munich – I grew up there! As you are going to go on a weekday you’ll find it less busy – you’re going to find somewhere to sit in one of the beer halls and people will strike up a conversation with you as they will be merry….if none of you fancy an evironment with large crowds and a lot of alcohol I suggest you go during the day and leave before late evening…
frat-party atmospheres The (German) girls I know who’ve been to Oktoberfest tell me it’s absolutely like this… tons of drunk, rude people with a lot of guys getting pretty grope-y as the night wears on. But if you can stop by in the first few hours of any given day, it might be much nicer and hey, you can still say you went to Oktoberfest.
