This post relates to a trip away to dance tango one weekend in Stuttgart.
Public transport
Before I had arrived a local friend had suggested I get a 3 day public transport ticket (18 Euros) at the airport information. The S-Bahn trains took me into the city.
The U-bahn (tram system) is below ground in some of the city centre and above ground in other parts.
I was told that as in Berlin the U-bahn works overnight at the weekend though since my hotel was near the dance venue I did not need it. Public transport was very easy to use. You stamp the three day ticket in the orange box on the platform, once before you travel. In the city centre there are public transport workers in high vis. vests who will help you find your connection. The main difference with the tube network in London was that at e.g. the Hauptbahnhof one platform serves several lines/destinations. Although I only used the public transport system for a short time and I did not use the buses as in Berlin I found it to be excellent - clean, fast, ubiquitous. Public transport with luggage was no problem since somehow 5 dance dresses, one spare day dress, 2 pairs of heels, 2 pairs of dance flats, and all the necessaries were fitted into a carry-on case without too much difficulty...
The U-bahn (tram system) is below ground in some of the city centre and above ground in other parts.
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| Photo: J.Streck, Stuttgart 2016 |
I was told that as in Berlin the U-bahn works overnight at the weekend though since my hotel was near the dance venue I did not need it. Public transport was very easy to use. You stamp the three day ticket in the orange box on the platform, once before you travel. In the city centre there are public transport workers in high vis. vests who will help you find your connection. The main difference with the tube network in London was that at e.g. the Hauptbahnhof one platform serves several lines/destinations. Although I only used the public transport system for a short time and I did not use the buses as in Berlin I found it to be excellent - clean, fast, ubiquitous. Public transport with luggage was no problem since somehow 5 dance dresses, one spare day dress, 2 pairs of heels, 2 pairs of dance flats, and all the necessaries were fitted into a carry-on case without too much difficulty...
Hotel Astoria am Urachplatz
My hotel had been recommended by a dancer and it is also mentioned among the accommodation by Tango Loft. It was on a quiet and leafy street a short walk uphill from the tram stop.
The hotel backs on to a supermarket car-park but I had a relatively quiet room to the side. Some of the fittings were a bit worn but generally the hotel was very presentable. I thought my room smelt a bit of something, maybe smoke, but all the rooms were non smoking and mine had a balcony. There was no kettle which surprised me but apparently this is not done in Germany. I felt lucky to (only just, and next day) get the hotel iron and ironing board. The staff I met were pleasant.
It was around 2130 before I made the short walk to Tango Loft. The roses and lilac were out. The evening air in the gardens I passed was heavy with scent.
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