GERMANY & ENGLAND
Planning your trip to Dresden and Coventry
THE BEST WAY
From LAX to London, Air New Zealand, American, British, United and Virgin Atlantic offer nonstop service, and Northwest and US Airways offer connecting service (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares start at $471. From LAX to Dresden, Germany, Lufthansa offers connecting service. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $481.
WHERE TO STAY
Dresden Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais, 3 Taschenberg, Dresden; 011-49-351-49-12-0, www.kempinski-dresden.de. A sublime restored palace with high ceilings, sumptuous furnishings, an ideal central location and a vast gourmet breakfast buffet. Doubles begin in the off-season as low as $280.
Four Points by Sheraton Königshof, 2 Kreischaer Strasse, Dresden; 011-49-351-873, www.starwoodhotels.com, is in the district of Strehlen, about eight miles from the airport. Doubles from $86.
Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe, 9 Neumarkt, Dresden; 011-49-351-438-60, www.steigenberger.com. Right in the historic city center. Doubles begin at $126.
Coventry Coombe Abbey, Brinklow Road, Binley; 011-44-2476-450-450, www.coombeabbey.com. A historic property in the countryside about 15 minutes from central Coventry. It has rambling rooms, seemingly endless passageways, magnificent gardens and novelties such as bathrooms accessed by stairs offset from the bedroom. Doubles begin at $190, including breakfast.
The Abigail, 39 St. Patrick's Road (off Friars Road); 011-44-24-7622-1378,
www.abigailuk.com. A guesthouse in the heart of Coventry. Includes breakfast. Doubles from about $91.
Menzies Leofric Coventry, Broadgate; 011-24-7622-1371, www.menzies-hotels.co.uk. Five minutes from St. Michael's. Doubles begin at $126.
WHERE TO EAT
In Dresden, more than a dozen restaurants in and near the city center specialize in Saxon cuisine, which is a bit spicier than classic German cooking; the quintessential dish is sauerbraten made with a dark, aromatic raisin sauce.
Coselpalais Grand Café & Restaurant, 12 An der Frauenkirche; 011-49-351-496-2444, www.restaurant-dresden.de. One of the spiffiest Saxon purveyors. It's in a glistening yellow reconstruction of a 1760 palace. Specialties include Saxon sour beef, pheasant breast with bacon, and venison goulash. Dinner for two runs about $100.
Radeberger Spezialausschank, 1 Terrassenufer; 011-49-351-484-8660. Housed in a tiny, atmospheric building perched along the Elbe River at the foot of the city walls. Specialties include Saxon potato soup, knuckle of pork and sauerbraten. Dinner for two is about $50, depending on your consumption of the tavern's namesake Radeberger beer.
In Coventry, as in much of the Midlands, it is much easier to find Asian and Indian cuisine than traditional British fare.
Turmeric Gold, 166 Spon St.; 011-44-24-7622-6603, www.turmericgold.co.uk. At the edge of the medieval city center. This award-winning Indian restaurant spans the breadth of subcontinent cooking. Especially interesting are the Balti-style curries, a Midlands specialty in which each curry dish is prepared to order in its own wok. Dinner for two about $30 to $60.
TO LEARN MORE
German National Tourist Office, (800) 651-7010, www.visits-to-germany.com. Also see Dresden Tourist Information, www.dresden-tourist.de.
Visit Britain, (800) 462-2748, www.visitbritain.org. Also see www.visitcoventry.co.uk.
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