by Rob Dacosta

Created on: February 12, 2007   Last Updated: April 22, 2007

The following is a list of ten travel insights gained within the past four years of living and traveling within Germany:

1) ADAC is the equivalent of auto club. They have every conceivable map and brochure you could think of. Every city above 50,000 people will have an office. An Internet search with the use of those four letters is a great jumping off point!

2) Every German has five years of English language instruction in school and most are willing to help. As in most countries though it helps to have a small introduction in the native language and that simple, polite sentence is: "Sprechen Sie Englisch"?

3) Intercity train travel (IC) covers the entire country and is cheaper on the weekends. High speed train travel (ICE) always carries a premium. For those interested in searching routes and prices on the Internet type in 'DB or Deutsche Bahn' and click on the English translation page.

4) The Autobahn (freeway/highway) is not speed regulated - for the most part. If you plan to travel on these 'super-highways' stay in the right side lanes unless you have a rocket ship as most Germans are structured in their lane use and are quite intolerant of slower cars in the left lanes. Where highway speeds are regulated they are generally set at 120 kph (75 mph) and the rule lanes protocol still applies.

5) Public transit covers the entire country. The cost is comparable with any other country and the normal rules of transfers apply. Only within the larger cities and on longer regional trips will you pay a zone tariff.

6) Air travel is cheap. Every airport has a last minute office, or ticket counter where a customer can 'walk up' and sort through heavily discounted flights. Typing 'discount airline tickets - Germany' in any search engine will produce an impressive listing of agents, most of whom will have their pages translated into English.

7) Germany has the most extensive and easily the best informed travel agency industry that I know of. The beauty here is that as a group Germans are a well traveled and very knowledgeable people. Service is generally good to excellent.

8) While the country has 16 states it can be simplified from a visitors point of view as follows: Bavarian south has mountains, forests, castles. Coastal north has a multitude of charming sea-side communities all of which are packed during warm weather. The Rhein is the place to go for the greatest concentration of castles and fortresses. East Germany - for the most part - is much as it was in pre-war years. Every large city is worth recommending on its own. (Overall though the country is a living museum and a traveler would have a hard time making a mistake no matter where they would go.)

9) Germany is a very structured society. While the people are usually friendly and excessively polite they are fixed inside of an order and give up easily on loud, rude, or excessive behavior. "Bitte, haben Sie etwas Geduld" is German for "Please, have a little patience". Ignore this at your own discomfort!

10) Pension/half-pension is the name given to accommodation. It refers to rooms with meals and service and though it may seem expensive at first glance there are millions to choose from and the price will drop with research. Travel agencies can offer useful information and practical knowledge.

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