Transportation between the airport and the hotels (Good advice from Peter)

I recommend to use the S-Train as much as possible. Especially if you go to Vector. We have the S- (Weilimdorf, operated by S-Train Line 6 and 60) in a walking distance (5 min.) to the office. If your Hotel is not close to a S-Train station you may consider a Taxi. If you are not familiar with the German/European driving rules I would not recommend a rental car. From S-Train station Weilimdorf to downtown you will need approx. 20 minutes, which is hard to beat by a Car/Taxi. A single ride (one zone) is about 2.50 EUR. You may buy a ticket valid for four rides at 9.50 EUR. At your Hotel you may ask for a 3 day ticket for 14.00 EUR with unlimited rides. Most likely you can buy the tickets at the train station and pay with Credit Cards. However, a general rule in is to have some cash with you. Not all restaurants/taxis/ticket dispenser etc. will accept Credit Cards.

App: You may check the web-site http://en.vvs.de/vvs-app for additional information. I use the App by myself and it works great. However, you need to be online at the time you check the schedule or buy a ticket. If you buy a ticket through the App the ticket is a little bit cheaper and you don’t need cash! There exists other apps, too, which do the same but I don’t have practical experience.

Just in case you are not so familiar with public transport in Stuttgart. A S-Train line operates from one endpoint to another endpoint. Each S-Train line has a unique color. Usually they don’t go in circles. Therefore, you will find on a train station the S-Train line two times, heading towards two different endpoints. It is important that you know the name of the endpoint in the direction of your travel and the station you need to leave.

So, if you fly to Stuttgart and heading for Vector you have to switch the S-Train lines at Hauptbahnhof (Main station). You may take S2 (red) in the direction of Schorndorf or S3 (orange) in the direction of Backnang. Nevertheless, you have to leave the train at Hauptbahnhof (Main station). There you can take the S6 (brown) in the direction of (Weil der Stadt) or S60 in the direction of Böblingen. You have to leave the train at the station Weilimdorf. You will find a map with all lines and stations here http://www.vvs.de/download/Verbund_Schienennetz.pdf

If you come to Stuttgart by Train (e.g. fly to and take the train to Stuttgart) you will arrive at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (Main station). See description above. Please be aware that the platform for the commuter trains and long distance trains are separated. You need to follow the green “S”-Train signs. The commuter trains at Hauptbahnhof operate from platforms two levels below the ground level.

Typically during the rush hour the S-Trains runs 4 times an hour. So you don’t really need to worry if you miss one. For dinner I recommend to go to Stuttgart downtown. There you will find a variety of restaurants and other activities. For sure if you have a restaurant, located close to your Hotel you may check this out, too.