The "Culinary Women's Saloon" being an insider tip, I went to an evening get-together without…read moreexpectations. I left the place with my life being enriched. The host, Jasmin, is a passionate writer and cook. At first she instructed us eight women on the evening's meal: we were to cook it ourselves! I knew a few of the women since I was invited to the evening by a close friend. But when you start to cook with a bunch of spunky women, it's as if we'd all known each other for ages! To keep a long story short: Jasmin's kitchen is a great place to get to know really cool new people and fantastic food - I went home with new recipes and new friendships - and I'll definitely join again!

The Munich YMCA was clean, basic, and centrally located. The rooms were spotless with fresh, crisp…read moresheets. The rooms had deep, round sinks with stoppers, a wide mirror, and plenty of counter space. There was no A/C, but the huge windows tilt and open wide with the proper position of the handle. The shared showers could have used a bit of sprucing up throughout the day because there are clumps of stringy hair clogging the drains, which meant dirty water pools around your feet. A cold breakfast is included with your stay. Items include breads, spreads, sliced deli meats, cereal, fruit, yogurt, and hot and cold beverages, including water. It's very formal with place settings and real dishes, glasses, and flatware. I didn't really like the neighborhood, but it was safe. The best part is it's only a 5-minute walk from Hauptbahnhof, the main train station. Other amenities included free coffee all day, a sitting area, bike storage, free maps, tour information, and you can store valuables at the reception.