Tripadvisor's Ultimate Guide to Oktoberfest

From Last Minute Hotel Rooms to Dress Codes and Mastering the Lingo

LONDON, September 9, 2010 - This month sees the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, the world's largest
beer festival, and over six million visitors are expected to descend on the
German city of Munich.

Here, TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, runs through
everything you need to know about the festival. From a breakdown of the last
available hotel rooms to guidance on navigating around the festival's
marquees - you'll soon be an Oktoberfest expert.

Last Minute Hotel Availability

Many of Munich's popular guesthouses and hotels - particularly in the
lower price bracket - are already booked, but there are still some rooms
available. This list shows some of the hotels still with availability for the
festival**. Price is based on the average cost per night for a double room,
and ranked according to the TripAdvisor Popularity Index:

    1. Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich (GBP226) - bit.ly/b20Cij
    2. Hotel Kriemhild (GBP173) bit.ly/biytDy
    3. Exquisit Hotel (GBP243) bit.ly/cH2Sbb
    4. Hotel Torbrau GBP200) bit.ly/bkxGTn
    5. Fleming's Hotel Munich City (GBP277) bit.ly/aCkUwE
    6. King's Hotel First Class (GBP196) bit.ly/aYjnwb
    7. Prinzregent An Der Messe Hotel (GBP229) bit.ly/dbHLJK
    8. Hotel Louis (GBP226) bit.ly/ckkIAM
    9. Hotel Jedermann (GBP197) bit.ly/dfFTEF
    10. Vi Vadi Hotel (GBP148) bit.ly/dwLJqt

Please note that the Munich Tourist Office also distributes a list of
hotel vacancies on a daily basis throughout the Oktoberfest period.

The Real Oktoberfest Outfit

As this year marks the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest lots of
festival-goers will be dressed in traditional Bavarian costume. If you'd like
to embrace this local tradition then choosing the right outfit is crucial.
There are numerous second-hand shops Munich's city centre selling full
Bavarian outfits for bargain prices.

Men traditionally wear leather 'lederhosen' trousers with a special
jacket. Ladies traditionally wear a 'dirndl' - a pinafore style dress with a
white blouse. But ladies beware - if the Dirndl is tied to the right it means
the wearer is married, if it is tied to the left is indicates the wearer is
still available!

Finding The Right Beer Tent

The wide choice of Oktoberfest marquees means there is something for
everyone and exploring them all is part of the fun. If you are looking for a
relaxed atmosphere, especially in the morning, head for the Hofbräuhaus tent
with its cool, international vibe. The Augustinian tent is a little quieter
and truly 'münchenerisch'. For those looking for more buzz and the
possibility of spotting Munich celebrities the Beetle tent is a good option.
Many of the smaller tents, such as Schichtl, offer a lot of charm and are
more family-friendly.

Mastering The Lingo

Finally, here's a few important words to help you get by during the
festival:

    - Servus - Bavarian greeting to welcome and farewell
    - Dirndl - traditional costume dress for the lady
    - Lederhosn - traditional Bavarian trousers for men
    - Gaudi - fun, frolic
    - Prost - Bavarian toast

**Prices and availability correct as of 8th September 2010

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide, June 2010

For further information please contact: Emma O'Boyle, TripAdvisor, +44(0)20-3320-3210, +44(0)777-926-2423, eoboyle at tripadvisor.com