Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [674]
Prices listed in this book do not take into account promotional discounts. City hotels geared to the suit brigade often try to lure leisure travellers with lower weekend rates. Also check hotel websites (listed throughout this book) for discount rates or packages.
Reservations
Many tourist office and hotel websites let you check for room availability and make advance reservations. Quite a few of those reviewed in this book can also be booked via Lonely Planet’s own website (see the boxed text, Click here). Other online booking services include www.venere.com and www.hotel.de. Last-minute bargains can often be found at www.hrs.de (in German). For independent hostels, try www.hostelworld.com, www.gomio.com and www.hostels.com.
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PRACTICALITIES
Electrical supply is 220V AC, 50 Hz.
Widely read daily newspapers include the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt and Der Tagesspiegel (all quite centrist), as well as the more conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Die Zeit is a high-brow weekly with in-depth reporting.
Der Spiegel and Focus magazines are popular German news weeklies, and The Economist, Time and Newsweek are sold in train stations and major news-stands.
Radio stations are regional with most featuring a mixed format of news, talk and music.
Germany uses the metric system (see conversion chart on inside front cover).
GSM 900/1800 is used for mobile (cell) phones.
For women’s clothing sizes, a German size 36 equals size 6 in the US and size 10 in the UK, then increases in increments of two, making size 38 a US 8 and UK 12.
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If you’re already in town, swing by the tourist office, where staff can assist you in finding last-minute lodging. After hours, vacancies may be posted in the window or in a display case.
When making a room reservation directly with a property, tell your host what time they can expect you and stick to your plan or ring again. Many well-meaning visitors have lost rooms by showing up late.
Camping
Camping grounds are generally well maintained but may get jammed in summer. The core season runs from May to September, although quite a few remain open year-round. Book early or show up before noon to snap up any spots that may have been vacated that morning. Having your own wheels is definitely an asset, as many sites are in remote locales that are not, or only poorly, served by public transport.
There are usually separate charges per person (between €3 and €6), tent (€2.50 to €8, depending on size) and car (€2 to €4) and additional fees for hot showers, resort tax, electricity and sewage disposal. A Camping Card International (Click here) may yield some savings.
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THE ‘CURSE’ OF THE KUR
Most German resort and spa towns charge their overnight guests a so-called Kurtaxe (resort tax). Fees range from €1 to €4 per person per night and are added to your hotel bill. The money subsidises visitor-oriented events and services, such as concerts, lectures and walking tours, and sometimes free public transportation.
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The ADAC Camping & Caravaning Führer, available in bookshops, is a comprehensive German-language guide. Other handy sources include www.eurocampings.de and www.alanrogers.com.
Camping on public land is not permitted. Pitching a tent on private property requires the consent of the landowner.
Farm Stays
A holiday on a working farm (Urlaub auf dem Bauernhof) is inexpensive and a great opportunity to get close to nature in relative comfort. This type of vacation is especially popular with families. Kids get to interact with their favourite barnyard animals and maybe help with everyday chores. Accommodation ranges from bare-bones rooms with shared facilities to fully-furnished holiday flats. Minimum stays are common. A variety of farm types are on offer, including organic, dairy and equestrian farms as well as wine estates. Places advertising Landurlaub (country holiday) no longer actively work their farms. The best establishments are quality controlled by the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG; German Agricultural