The word Oktoberfest was originally applied to a party in Munich, Germany that has been know to go on for weeks. This festival originated in 1810 and has been held annually except during times of war and widespread illness. You can make the most our of your Oktoberfest vacation with preparation.
Make hotel reservations well in advance. The Oktoberfest celebration actually starts in September, and the exact dates change every year. Places outside of the city are less expensive and more readily available. Munich also has two campgrounds for outdoorsy types, but these also fill up quickly.
Think about transportation. Renting a car might seem like the reasonable thing to do; but during Oktoberfest, Munich's traffic is congested and parking is hard to come by. Use the MVV, Munich's subway system. It runs late into the night during Oktoberfest. If you stay out of town, there's a train called S-Bahn that makes plenty of runs into the city.
Get to the festival grounds early for good seating. There are lots of beer tents, but they fill up quickly. Reservations are only available at the tents. Get to the Schottenhamel tent on the first day to experience the opening ceremony with the official tapping of the first beer keg.
Check out the food stands and try some delicious German fare, like bratwursts, pomme frites, also known as french fries, and roasted chicken.
