I went to Pamps with PP back in 2000 and had an absolute blast. I was travelling solo and met a load new friends which really kicked off the start of my working holiday in London.
Accommodation was in tents (which I knew), but the campsite was located close to the Beach and the local shops were only a couple of minutes walk.
Pamps is definitely an event every traveller should experience...
For what it cost (Return bus trip to Spain, Accomm, transport to Pamps, food AND to have an instant group of friends etc) I think it was great value.
Ashley our tour guide was awesome. The bus on the way over was way too crampt (you need a new bus company!) and the stops could do with a bit more planning but otherwise the whole event was good. The campsite was exactly what you expect on a budget holiday although the food was pretty poor overall it is sufficient for an early morning bite to stave off the hunger pains before having something more substantial. Unfortunately the person in charge of managing the customers breakfast experience could do with a lesson in customer service and perhaps some education that sunglasses are not required in the rain at 8am! The trip to Dacau is a must and anyone who misses out Andechs Monastry is missing out on the best beer and food in Germany! The bus trip back was brilliant as the bus was emptier and people had space to move above and stretch rather than being 100% full.
The tour was brilliant despite the niggles above and I would definately reccomend it to others and do it again myself. I will be using PP travel for future trips. Thanks PP!
If you enjoy a beer or two (or many) and love a good laugh, then I would recommend heading to Oktoberfest with PPT. The tour was well organised and all the staff were friendly. The camp site even had a hot water!
My one point about Oktoberfest to remember is to get in early, as the tables fill fast each day.
Prost!
We spent 3 nights camping with PP travel at oktoberfest, in the middle weekend. They provided a fantastic introduction to the beerfest, explained the ins and outs of everything and made it so easy to get to and from the festival. The camping option was pretty fun but bring lots of warm clothes, a really good sleeping bag and a thermal mat to sleep on as it gets really cold at nights! Also be prepared to stand in line for at least half an hour to get a shower before breakfast. The breakfasts were pretty basic but hit the spot - a warm breaky was definately appreciated! The guides were really fun to hang out with. The festival was amazing, make sure you get there early to get yourself a tablet and get the most out of your days there - you wont be sorry for draging yourself out of bed early!
Fast facts on Munich (Munchen):
* 3rd largest german city
* Population = 1.3 million approx
* Located on River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps
* Old city motto "Die weltstadt mit Herz" (the global city with a heart)
* Munchen (german name for munich) stems from an old german word predating the word monche, meanining monk. Hence the monk on the munic coat of arms
* Population is said to double every 30 years in Munich
* Foundation date was 1158
* Summer Olympics held in Munich in 1972 (israeli athletes were assasinated by Palestinian terrorists
Englischer Garter (a park in munich) is one of the worlds largest urban public parks, spanding 3.7kms
* munich was ranked 8th top quality city to live in and 39th most expensive in the world (most expensive in germany however)
* 2006 World cup final held at Allianz Arena
World War 1
- outbreak of world war 1 (1914)
- Allies block germany, leading to food & fuel shortages
- 3 bombs hit munich during french raids in 1916
- From 1919 onwards, Munich became the stage for Nazi & Adolf Hilter powers
1923 - Hilter & supporters stage beer hall Putsch where they attempt to overthrow Weimar republic and sieze power. Hilter fails and is arrested...temporary power lost too nazi's
- Nazis regain power in 1933, building dachau (first concentration camp to be built by Hilter) 16km north west of city centre
World War 2
- munich was heavily damaged by allied bombings. Munich was hit 71 times by air raids over a period of 6 years
Architecture
- centre of city is Marienplatz, large open sqaure named after Mariensaule, a Marian column it its centre
- Peterskirche, oldest church in the city centre. 1st built during Romanesque period, it was the focus of early monastic settlement in munich before the city's official foundation in 1158
- Residenz palace complex - on edge of munichs old town: one of europe's most significant museums of interior design
Oktoberfest (d'wiesn)
- 1st held 12/10/1810 (my birthday!) in honour of prince Ludwig's and princess Therese Von Sachsen-Hildburghausen's wedding. Traditionally the festival was closed with a horse race
- Festival finishes 1st sunday in October
Food Specialities
- Weibwurste (white sausages): traditionally eaten before 12pm, served with sweet mustard and freshly baked pretzels (yum!)
- Schweinshaxn (pork knuckle)
Beer Gardens (Prost - cheers!!!)
- There are 20 in Munich, largest one is Hirschgartin
- 6 million visit oktoberfest each year
- Festival is held near the area Theresienwiese
My Time in Munich - PP Travel 5 day coach (in my case plane)/camping tour
21/9/2007
bus journey with PP travel 20 hours....i chose to fly.
22/9/2007
Arrive into munich at 11am, catch the S Bahn to a place called Karlsplatz then catch the U5 to Theresinweise. Once i got out of the station, i walked straight into the festival! awesome!!! The mayor had just hit the 1st keg to open the ceremony and fireworks were going off, truly magical.
Oktoberfest can only be described as disneyland with a heap of beerhalls around the place. The place hosts the most drunken party in the world, so much fun.
Food stalls, people selling souveniours and music everywhere!...
We ended up at Lowenbrau both nights of the festival, my view was that it was the best beer hall.
On the sunday PP took us to dachau (first concentration camp built by hilter) and then to a monastry that brews its own beer.
The concentration camp was a really chilling experience, one i wont forget. Basically the nazi's held people here as prisoners. none were executed but instead perished at their own demise and misfortune (disease, lack of food etc)
The monastry was a little more "oktoberfestishhh" with cold beer and the best pork knuckles being served.
PP provide morning breakfast on all mornings at camp sit.
We left the oktoberfest ground at 6.30pm last night, arrived in london around 10am.
Nothing beats Oktoberfest, Munich is the most amazing place on earth and the locals embrace it 110%. An experience i will never forget.
PROST!!!! (cheers in german)
Well had a really great time, once again pptravel know what they are doing!! Remember to have lots of change on you for when you get back to the camping ground at night time to buy a beer from the vending machine!!! girls get up really early so you don't have to queae for a shower! and if you go in the middle weekend the saturday is very very busy so don't expect to get into a tent unless you get there really early, oh and they don't like britts, so if your a kiwi or aussie make sure the bouncers know this!! and of course you have to be sitting at a table to get beer, so if you ain't find some nice people who can order it for you, this is done all the time so don't be affraid to ask. its a great weekend and lots of children around aswell, but about 9pm things go down hill a little as everyone starts to come out of the beer tents before the 10.30 closing. and be warned there are lots of drunk people!! hehe...... oh and ps you will be covered in beer so don't wear you fave white singlet!! and it can get hot in the beer tents, so if its a little cold when you go, wear layers and make sure you have a bag so you can keep it together, because by 10 you won't know where half you stuff is other wise!
I went on the PP tour to san fermin festival in pamplona for 6 days and it was one of the greatest parties one will ever experience in a life time!
The bus drive there (22 hours) is something which drains you a little but its a great way to meet people and we had heaps of fun on the way up.
The opening ceremony in the square was magical, with thousands packed in, throwing sangria and champagne. the festival begins with a rocket launch of fireworks when the major of the city comes out from a balcony at 12pm.
Trip costs around £239, that's for accommodation at a camp site which is about 45 mins away from pamplona (camp estella), breakfast which includes cereal, boiled eggs etc. and a day trip to san sebastian.
Our tour group consisted of a fairly young crowd. highly recommend PP as a tour group.
Pamplona Running of the bulls I wasn't sure when I first booked this trip but once I was there it was fantastic. The first day was the San Fermin Festival where at Midday the town square bells ring and then the fun begins flour, eggs, sangria and champagne are thrown at everyone until you are completely covered!! Then the next day the bull run starts the streets are packed with crazy men/boys who are taking the challenge of the bull run. 5 gun shots are sounded and then the bulls are let loose from the town square to the arena.
