Cruising the Danube with AmaWaterways

Stress-Free Travel
I think I may have discovered the secret to empty flights and avoiding crowds altogether: travel when no one else is traveling. For European river cruises, that seems to be the sweet spot between the busy summer months and right before the Christmas market craze kicks off.
We traveled during the first couple weeks of November—and it was magical. Our transatlantic flight was so empty that my mom and I each found entire rows to ourselves. We stretched out, laid down, and actually slept on a long-haul flight. Absolute luxury, and we didn’t pay a cent extra for it.

A Night in Munich
We arrived in Munich a day early and checked into a lovely little hotel near Old Town and the main train station (the Hauptbahnhof), which made everything super convenient. We stayed at the Eden Wolff Hotel, a charming 3-star option. The rooms were comfortable—on the smaller side, but perfect for a one-night stay. Breakfast was excellent, and the shared spaces in the hotel felt surprisingly upscale.
There are tons of other hotel options in this area too, from budget to high-end, so it’s a great place to base yourself no matter what you prefer.

Navigating Germany by Train
For anyone considering public transportation in Germany: do it. It’s clean, predictable, easy to navigate, and far cheaper than taking taxis or arranging private transfers.
From the airport, we hopped on the S-Bahn and rode straight to the Hauptbahnhof—about 45 minutes. Our hotel was right across the street, so we just wheeled our bags over and settled in.
The next morning, after a relaxed breakfast, we walked right back across the street to catch our train to Vilshofen, where we’d be meeting our ship. The whole process was smooth and stress-free.

One tip I highly recommend: make sure you have a phone plan with international data. I used mine constantly for navigation, Google searches, and general peace of mind. Totally worth it.