Bear World Travel: gay bears cruise, gay travel for the gay bear community

Germany will welcome you with open arms as the munichbears celebrate BearLife Weekend, coinciding with the first weekend of Oktoberfest. You’ll have a VIP pass to all the special events, reserved seating at the Oktoberfest opening ceremonies, a special welcome dinner, and new friends to share the sights and culture of Germany in a way that rarely happens with an ordinary tourist. Oom-pah bands will keep your toes tapping and you may even find yourself singing along. So join us – for beer, bratwurst and bears!

On your arrival in Munich, you'll have an easy transfer from the airport, settling into your hotel in the heart of the action near Munich's town center. Not far from a center that includes a gay restaurant and the best sauna in Europe (we know -- we've visited most of them!), your hotel is a comfortable home away from home. All rooms are equipped with shower/WC, telephone, satellite TV, minibar, air-conditioning, safe and high-speed internet connection. We chose it for its perfect location: easy walking distance to the Oktoberfest site and the old-town city center. Subway stations are nearby as well.

Munich's town center is pedestrian-friendly. You'll be within walking distance or a short tram ride from all the great sights and plenty of gay bars and restaurants. The city is clean, safe and extremely green, a delight to explore by bicycle. Boasting many parks, Munich is most proud of the largest in Europe, its English Garden. Nudity is acceptable in Munich in nudist areas designated as FKK ("Freiekörperkultur": literally, free body culture) along the Isar River and on the nudist meadow in the English Garden.

Munich has charm, culture, history world-class architecture and an outstanding mass transit system. It has bike paths everywhere, excellent restaurants for every imaginable cuisine, and of course, the oh-so-lovely beergardens and world-class beer. For "Cheers", say Prost! When ordering another beer, just say, "noch eins bitte!"

Your OktoBEARfest vacation includes:
A smart, well-traveled Journey Out guide dedicated to making the art, history and culture of Germany come alive for you ● A family atmosphere with a group of fewer than 15 gay men – less than half the size of most tours ● 4 nights' lodging right in the middle of the action, within easy walking distance of the Oktoberfest grounds, gay bars and restaurants and Munich's old town center ● Welcome dinner in a traditional Bavarian beer hall ● Orientation to Oktoberfest ● Munich gay guide ● Great viewing spots for the parades ● Roommate matching service ● OktoBEARfest Gold Package Plus with ID and welcome kit ● Special admission to munichbears events ● Pre-Oktoberfest get-acquainted party ● Dance party with the bears ● Special reserved seating in the gay tent at Oktoberfest ● munichbears T-shirt ● Itinerary is subject to change.

Itinerary

Day 0	Wednesday	Depart USA — Remember, due to the time difference, you'll arrive in Europe the day after you leave the U.S.

1	Thursday	The fun begins . . .
	Morning	After your arrival at the Munich airport and transport to the city, you'll settle into your hotel.
	Afternoon	Free time.
	Evening	Tonight we'll meet at the hotel for a welcome get-together just for our group. Then we will head out for a pre-Oktoberfest party with the munichbears. You'll receive your welcome package, passes for bear events throughout the weekend, a city map listing gay establishments and your munichbears T-shirt. Then we will visit the historic banquet hall of Hofbräuhaus for dinner, Bavarian dance & folklore, which features the Hofbräuhaus Festival Orchestra with alpenhorns, yodelers, glockenspiel (carillon) players, “Schuhplattler” dancers (“shoe-tapping”), and “ Goaßlschnalzern” (“snapping whip performers”).
2	Friday
	Afternoon	Your afternoon is free (or you may join the munichbears for a special visit to the nearby sauna, and / or a guided walking tour of "Gay Munich").
	Evening	Dinner on your own, followed by a dance party & show by the munichbears. This is the weekend's big kick-off for the bears.

3	Saturday
	Morning	Enjoy the kick-off of Oktoberfest as the ‘Wies’n’ publicans set off on their colorfully-decorated floats pulled by horses and make their way along Schwanthaler Strasse towards the Theresienwiese park. You also have the choice of joining the munichbears for a special brunch.
	Afternoon	This afternoon we go on a toy shopping spree hosted by the munichbears. Later, a beer bust at one of the local taverns, with beer and soft drinks on us.
	Evening	Free time. Or feel free to join the munichbears for more snacks and beer at another local tavern.

4	Sunday
	Morning	Starting at 10:00 am, groups in traditional garb from all over Europe march to the Theresienwiese. You'll have a special reserved place at the festivities. This is the famous gay Oktoberfest celebration, and you're in the middle of the fun. Your first liter of beer and half a chicken are on us!
	Afternoon and Evening	Free time. Enjoy Oktoberfest. It's truly a carnival, with rides, sharpshooting, cotton candy, spookhouses and roller coasters. Or spend your time in the beer tents singing along with your new German friends. Country roads . . .

5	Monday	This morning we say our final goodbyes and head for home* *Auf Wiedersehen!*

* Want to stay longer and enjoy all Munich and Bavaria have to offer? Imagine. Neuschwanstein, the Residenz, Dachau, Nymphenburg, a bicycle tour of the town with a stop at Germany's second-largest beer garden, more time at the festival grounds, more time for shopping and socializing with your new friends.
Ask about adding extra days to your trip.