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WGT 2008
May 9-12, 2008
 
 

WGT/Leipzig Lodging Info

Contents:

Introduction

Visitors to the Wave-Gotik Treffen generally choose either to camp in tents or stay at hotels or hostels. Most of the attendees from Germany, or other nearby countries, pack into giant fields around the AGRA, the fairgrounds area that is home to the main stage for performances and other Treffen events and markets. However, for guests traveling from afar, often the comfort and conveniences of a hotel make more sense. We'll try to help you find the option that works best for you.

Leipzig offers a range of hotels to Treffen guests. Ranging from luxury American and European chains, through local hotels and hostel/pension accommodations, the biggest considerations are usually budget and location.

There are other lodging options that aren't covered here. Have more questions? Looking for someone to share a room? Join the Americans In Leipzig group and ask your question there! In addition to the many of us that have been to Treffens in the past, there are also some Leipzig locals on the list that can help you out.

Whether or not you are sure that you'll be attending the Treffen, my key piece of advice is make a reservation. NOW. If you're not sure if it's the right price, the right location, or even if you will be able to go at all, you can cancel later. Most hotels allow you to cancel your reservation up to 24 hours in advance without any penalty! (Some booking sites or super-discount rates don't allow for cancelations without penalties, so make sure you know.) But when the rooms are gone, you might not be lucky enough to have another chance. Keep in mind that the WGT planners book up a large number of rooms for the bands - all of a sudden, you will find that many hotels are totally unavailable when the WGT sets aside their own rooms.

Besides the standard web travel sites that you can use to make reservations (hotels.com, Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc.), Leipzig's Tourist Service also offers hotel availability and rate searches and I find it to be quite helpful. Leipzig Tourist Service Accomodations

Camping

Do you think tenting might be an option that you’d be interested in? The campgrounds become a community all to themselves, and you are certain to meet many people and have some unforgettable experiences, but there are lots of considerations involved. See what a Treffen camping veteran has to say, and peek at Althea's Camping Info page for guidance.

Hotels

In past years, the hotels have been a central gathering point for friends and for after-hours parties, often including members of the bands that stay there. The central point for most Americans - and most bands - is the Renaissance Leipzig Hotel [website] (Renaissance is a Marriott-owned chain). Every night, until very late, the downstairs lounge was filled with Treffeners and bands. Like zombies, everyone that can bring themselves to rise again in the morning light heads downstairs to enjoy an enormous breakfast buffet - and you'll see the previous night's headlining band eating brötchen and coffee across the table from you. The Renaissance is located just outside the downtown city-ring to the east, and the walk to the Strassenbahn (streetcar) stop is about 5 minutes.

Additionally, the Marriott Leipzig Hotel [website] is used for many of the performing bands, and quite a few Treffen guests. The lounge area is not as well suited for late-night hangouts, but more geared to those picking up a late-morning breakfast. The Marriott is inside the city-ring, with all the downtown amenities right out the front door, and is a very short walk to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), through which all the Strassenbahn lines pass.

Another major hotel is the Leipzig Westin Hotel [website], which is located on the city-ring just adjacent to the Hauptbahnhof. Formerly the Hotel Intercontinental Leipzig, the hotel completed a major renovation in 2002. I know Treffeners have used the InterContinental as a base in the past, and several have stayed in the Westin since 2003. Westins are generally high-quality, full-service hotels.

Perhaps the most conveniently-located hotel has just undergone a major facelift. What was formerly the tourist-class Mercure Augustusplatz has been reborne as the top-notch Radisson SAS Leipzig [website], directly across from the Augustusplatz tram stop and within an easy stumble-home from the Moritzbastei. The hotel has been fully modernized and reviews have been very good.

Hostels

Hostels are a very common lodging option in Europe, particularly when budget is very important. The level of quality of hostels can very significantly, but there is one that every year gets very high ratings from Treffeners that use it. That is the Sleepy Lion [website], which compared favorably to American budget hotels, and might charge as little as 1/5 what the bigger hotels do. Even if it isn’t quite as happening a scene as the Renaissance, you can always hang out at the bigger hotels, and then stroll home later. There's no lack of things to do, even in the middle of the night! The Sleepy Lion is a very short walk outside the city ring to the northwest. They also offer inexpensive internet access (€2./hr in 2005).

The same team that operates the Sleepy Lion opened another hostel in 2002: the Central Globetrotter [website]. The location of this hostel might be a little more convenient for Treffeners; since it is adjacent to the Hauptbahnhof, a quick walk will get you to all the major streetcar lines. They also have the same inexpensive internet access (€2./hr in 2005) as the Sleepy Lion.

Private Accomodations

Another housing option that is more common in Germany than in the US is private accomodations. Sometimes the arrangement is a "room-to-let" in an occupied house, and other times it is more like a sublet, where the primary resident is offering his/her home while away. This accomodation option is very popular with European Treffeners that choose not to camp.

The WGT website has a specfic section of the WGT Forum that deals with lodging issues and private accomodations here.

User Reviews

These are comments submitted by members of the Americans In Leipzig yahoogroup. I have done very little editing, just letting people express their own impressions. For more info or clarifications, try posting to the group!

And if you have a hotel or hostel to review, see this page to submit!

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E-Mail: ian@americansinleipzig.com