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Curious for culture?
Hungry for adventure?
Want to explore medieval castles, indulge in Black Forest cherry cake, yodel in the Alps, drink beer by the liter, sip wine in a gothic cellar, discover World War II sites, soar into Hitler's Eagle's Nest, relive "The Sound of Music," soak in curative baths founded by Romans, dine at Europe's oldest restaurant, enjoy a bike ride along the Danube River, visit King Ludwig's fairy-tale castle, whoosh down Austria's longest toboggan run, and relish a romantic stroll on cobbled lanes under a moonlit sky?
Using the do-it-yourself destination guides on this site, these are just a few of the opportunities you'll have on your next trip to Europe. You see, I am presently in the process of putting my entire Germany & Austria guidebook online for you, for free! I've written the destination guides in an easy-to-follow format listing the all-important insider info, pocket-friendly tips, time-saving advice, and suggested itineraries on popular travel destinations and themed tours. In most cases, you won't find anything comparable on the market to what I've meticulously compiled on this site; all to the benefit of you.
Five years as a tour guide for the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe (1998-2002), in addition to spending two months each year researching Germany & Austria (2003-present), has given me a unique perspective and education on this central European region, its colorful cultures and industrious yet bonhomie residents. Bottom line: My goal is your memorable, life-rewarding trip.
In 2011, Brett Harriman was invited by the President of the Oktoberfest to represent the United States during the opening weekend festivities, keg tapping and parades. Click the following video to see Brett interviewed on TV regarding this unique Oktoberfest experience (interview begins at :35, Nov. 9, 2011).
(Note:) In February 2012, Singapore Airlines contacted Brett Harriman to write a feature story on Vienna for their in-flight magazine (called SilverKris). Harriman was naturally delighted by the offer, wrote the story, and it was published April 1. If you find yourself on a Singapore Airlines flight anytime in April, grab the in-flight magazine and flip to pages 12 (Contributors) and 48 (Vienna article). If you’re not taking to the air with Singapore Airlines, no worries, you can read the Vienna article on the SilverKris website as well as the whole magazine in e-book form. See you in Vienna!
And the stories continue. In April, Qatar Airlines contacted Brett Harriman to write a feature story on Innsbruck for their in-flight magazine (called Oryx). It will be published in June and is estimated to be read by some 1 million travelers during the month. The article will be linked here after its publication.
(See Comments at the bottom of the page and feel free to add one of your own!)
Brett Harriman is seen here (Photoshoped) in Salzburg's Mirabell Gardens holding his most popular guidebook — Salzburg, Lake District & The Sound of Music— with the old-town fortress in the background. (See this guidebook on Amazon.com)
Navigate this site via the menu above or the links below.
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First up you can meet me by clicking on Meet.
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Hit the road with me on Tour in Munich to take in the best of the Oktoberfest, in Berchtesgaden to experience the intoxicating heights of Hitler's Eagle's Nest, or in Salzburg to visit the captivating sites that set the backdrop for arguably the most popular musical film of all time: " The Sound of Music."
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Click on Contact to get in touch.
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Visit the Harriman Travel Books Store to purchase a do-it-yourself destination guide.
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Before landing in Europe, get to know the Euro and thumb through my suggested packing list and traveler's tips.
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Watch my videos and virtually make new discoveries or join me on one of my pocket-friendly tours and experience world-famous sites and attractions in person.
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I wholly encourage you to read Lest We Forget, a powerful destination guide dedicated to the 24 American military cemeteries abroad and the war dead who rest within them. (Download this DIY destination guide FREE here.)
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Under the GERMANY tab you'll find the destination guides: do-it-yourself Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg (Hitler's Eagle's Nest); everything you need to know about this year's Oktoberfest; "Mad" King Ludwig's castles in Bavaria, including a rundown on neighboring Füssen, and do-it-yourself Frankfurt (important because your flight into Europe may land here), as well as do-it-yourself Dresden and medieval Rothenburg with many more destinations to come as summer warms up: such as do-it-yourself Munich, Romantic Road, Black Forest, Rhine River, Mosel River, Trier, Cologne, Berlin, Potsdam, etc. Thus I recommend you check back often, and comparison shop my wholesalers page to get the lowest prices on the Web for your travel products (airfare, railpass, rental car, accommodations).
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Under the AUSTRIA tab you'll find the destination guides: do-it-yourself Innsbruck, do-it-yourself Salzburg and do-it-yourself Sound of Music. Coming soon is do-it-yourself Vienna, with do-it-yourself Graz to follow. Thus I recommend you check back often, and comparison shop my wholesalers page to get the lowest prices on the Web for your travel products (airfare, railpass, rental car, accommodations).
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Browse Radio & Weather for current European temperatures and forecasts. As the link title suggests, also on this page you'll find a listing of radio stations broadcasting tuneful genres from alternative in Austria to love songs in Italy. Wherever you may be -- at home alone or with your partner, in the office or a hotel room -- sample the stations and pick your favorite to add a culturally unique background to your day or evening.
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Mission Statement proclaims my objectives to you.
NOTE: The Eagle's Nest perched high above Obersalzberg is scheduled this year to open Thursday May 17, 2012.
Also note, bus 838 from the Berchtesgaden train station to the "Dokumentation" stop at Obersalzberg has been rerouted till mid-July due to construction projects, thus the new drop-off point is the Hotel InterContinental, within a 15-minute trek of the Eagle's Nest bus departure area. This means the bus ride from Berchtesgaden to Obersalzberg is now some 25 minutes instead of the usual 10 (then add 10 minutes for the hike). Click here for the updated bus 838 schedule with departure times (in German), valid April 10 thru May 26. (When looking at the schedule, note that "Hbf" is short for Hauptbahnhof, meaning "main train station," and "Interconti" is the Hotel InterContinental.) If you're still unsure about any of this information, send me an email and I will explain. Lastly, I will post the revised summer schedule for bus 838 after its release in May.