Oktoberfest 2010

The worlds largest beer-fest is just one month away, and I'm GOING TO MUNICH BABY.

Planning for Oktoberfest is not something you do on a whim at the last minute, it can take up to a year of planning in advance to get good deals and secure the best prices.

This year Oktoberfest runs from 18th September 2010, where the first keg will be tapped by the mayor of Munich until the the 3rd October 2010.

As most of us do not have indefinite leave from work, and endless budgets, or livers, most folk go for either the first or last week.

Here are some of the things I did to secure my place in the worlds largest beer-fest Oktoberfest!

The first thing you need to to is to organize a place to stay, regardless of your budget, it is safe to say that things fill up quickly. About six million people move into Munich to help them celebrate Oktoberfest (as if the Germans need any help!) so it gets crowded. You should secure a booking at least six to eight months before you plan to go. Munich has an accommodation to suit all budgets from backpackers to the Hilton, so jet Googling and secure a spot early.

I have {sayed at the camping site|camped} in Thalkirchen and can recommend it, if camp sites and communal showers or your thing. The vibe here is fantastic as many tour groups use it as their Munich base, so the party rocks on well into the morning.

This year I am trying a central Munich hotel, so will see how that pans out. Any hotel within walking distance of a Beer Hall is OK in my books.
All the action happens on the Theresienwiese, thirty or so semi-permanent structures are erected for the festival.

When I first read about the beer tents, my frame of reference was that of a large marquee, but I was blown away when I found out that the tens are of two types, large tents which seat around 10 000 people and small tents which seat anything from 1000 - 4000 people.

The tents are all themed differently and have long histories stretching back hundreds of years. Many are still run by descendants of the original proprietors.

The best place I found to get details on the tents was at the Oktoberfest site.

Reserving seats in tents beforehand seems to be surrounded by mystery, the breweries who own the tents, sell places a few months beforehand to corporates and tour operators.

Locals get next pick as they can buy direct, leaving what's left for the rest of the world. You can only reserve places if you are a group of eight to ten people and you must pay upfront for two beers and a meal.

So if you are not traveling with a football team you are pretty much left with one option, book a tour or package with a tour operator. I managed to wrangle a deal for reservations in one big tent and one small tent, so I will drinking at Shottenhamel, the most important tent, as everything starts here and at Ammer's, famous for their roast chicken.

Find out more on the Oktoberfest, accomodation and getting there at the link below

Oktoberfest 2010