re: Oktoberfest Trip-any additional cities to see?

Most of the tents either do all day or half day table reservations. The locals reserve a table for usually a half day and go for lunch or dinner plus however many hours. All day would be hardcore.

What I recommend is going to do something first thing in the morning in the city, then going around 11 for lunch. Have 2 liters or so and lunch for a couple of hours. Then go do something else touristy around the city, take a nap, etc. Then head back and have dinner or go back for a liter or 2 after dinner. That way you never get overly hammered and ruin your next day by oversleeping or being hungover.

Food at the fest is very good. I highly recommend getting the Ox knuckle and rotisserie duck, rotisserie chicken is fantastic too. Most tents have a specialty food, you can't get all the food everywhere.

People are standing on tables, challenging each other to pound a liter, etc. all day long even on Mondays. So don't worry about going too early. The nice thing about going early is is not overly crowded and you can get a great seat. You have to have a seat to get a beer.

The biggest thing is don't be shy about finding a seat. If its a non reserved table with a chair or 2 open just sit down. People are usually nice but don't worry. There's plenty from all over the world and not everyone is German or speaks English. Also, ask the waitresses if they have any seats. Especially the waitresses up in the balconies because they are all non reserved.

The easiest way to find the non reserved tables is the dumbass foreigners in their tourist hats and shirts. The locals all wear their bavarian outfit. So if someone has on a tourist type of shirt or hat the table is likely open seating.