to be surprised that so few British people would consider Germany a good holiday destination?

[emkana]

We've just come back from Bavaria and it was amazing. Lakes, the Alps, beautiful houses, good food, lots of culture, historic sites...

I highly recommend it!

I think it's spelt Eifel, not Eiffel.

I love Germany, except when it's soooo cold!!!

I have been to the Black Forest many times and I really enjoyed it. The people were very nice. I particularly like Waldshut, especially because it's not touristy so it's l lovery and quiet.

I'm going in the middle of Augusts

We've been booked for a farm in the Eifel for nearly 2 years now, it was so booked up we couldn't get in last summer. I am more excited than the DC's I think !

Like Boffinmum, I have to confess to being half German and I'm so looking forward to taking my children to the Eifel as I spent a lot of time there as a child at my Uncle's house. There's been a massive fall out between my Mum and her sister which I've been caught up in and am gutted that I haven't seen my cousins for some years now (might need to start a thread on this)

Where we are staying is so cheap compared with the equivalent over here that it is almost ridiculous and includes free riding which 10 year old DD thinks is amazing.

Would love to go to Berlin and go back to Vienna. Most of my time has been spent around the Rhine Valley and Bonn, but I did do a couple of exchanges whilst at school to Wolfsburg and got to go cross country skiing in the Harz mountains whilst there. Have also been to Hamburg and Hannover.

ooohh I love Germany too - used to stay in Schleswig-Holstein (far north of Germany)when I was a child as my Gran came from there. Its absolutely stunning - beautiful freshwater lakes and really friendly people who hear you try and speak German and then answer you in English (not good when you trying to practice for your German GCSE).

Keep wanting to take DH over there but he likes France more [hmmm]

Germany has some absolutely stunning places to visit and Berlin is great if not abit too dirty and dog-poo infested, but I think there is a culture clash. we're brought up to wait in line, polite small talk, doesn't hurt to be friendly etc but Germans are pushy and impatient in shops or services. It sounds so unfriendly when you don't understand what they are saying and they seem to be telling you off when all you want to do is pay for the goods at the check out. It wouldn't be my idea of a relaxing holiday. Good cheap beer though, so I guess you could go and just spend the time so drunk that the grumpy service would seem funny.

NoMoreNagging, it is true about the impatience but you just have to ignore it. It has to be expected in a country where a queue is called a Schlange - i.e. a snake!!

It does sound lovely. You may have launched a new tourist destination for the Brits. Hmm. Do you want that?

It can rain quite a bit and I think most Brits would not like that.

I find them very efficient people, nothing is too much bother if you need help with anything (esp with an 18 month old in tow!). There was a situation though that freaked me out on the way back from Austria...on the train back there was a man who just stared at me for quite a few mins (was grabbing onto my handbag tighter and clutching onto buggy for dear life), felt safe next to DH but was not impressed by this stranger's behaviour. He got off at the next stop thankfully. It gives me the heebies just thinking about it now!! DH was saying that in Eastern European countries when a man likes a women he makes it known by a fixed stare, so that there's no way of you missing it!

it was very warm in our first week in Bavaria, but then in was the polar opposite on the second week, very cold. I don't mind the shift in temperature and will happily go on holiday to cold countries. I'm not sun mad so it doesn't affect me that much, and wouldn't see rain as a disappointment as there's plenty museums and indoor activities to do.

I would have liked to do the Dachau tour but would have been very inappropriate with a toddler in tow so will leave that for a few years til I can go without kids.

roisin, we stayed with friends, but another time we would probably choose a holiday appartment

I went to Dachau. It was a very harrowing, but interesting experience.

I am hearing Efficient and Great Public Transport loudly.

I think that's where the iamge problem stems from.

Okeh, I exaggerate. But there's no point pretending everyone who doesn't want to go to Germany only likes beach and burger holidays.

I've always really liked the places I've been but always been disappointed by the food, apart from a delicious meal in an Afghan restaurant.

Perhaps because I don't eat meat....?

Germany is not a very vegetarian friendly country, they love their meat.

The food is great if you love meat, but if you're a vegetarian then you have far fewer options, certainly in the smaller towns, though perhaps Berlin offers more options.

Other sides to Bavaria:

Fantastic Italian food and ice cream (lots of Italians there).

Naked sunbathing (optional of course) and enormous numbers of swimming opportunities (clothed and unclothed).

Love of young children and lots of facilities for them. Many larger hotels have free creche facilities and/or children's activities.

University-educated, English speaking babysitters readily available.

Lots of bars where it is also possible to take the kids in the evenings.

Fantastic beer.

I could go on ...

The only thing that I dislike about Bavaria is that it's rather conservative.

naked sunbathing not a good sellin gpoint

They don't have a Saw themed ride Pointy. Now there's an incentive for you.

Don't panic Pointy, it is in special areas, but more common and universal than here, so not like a cliched naturist film with ping pong bats strategically placed in front of willies and so on. No sagging bits at the brekkie table, in other words.

Saunas are naked btw, but oddly enough this is quite liberating because you realise everyone in there has some imperfection. Very reassuring.

Otherside, this is true about the food, but it is better if you go more upmarket as then there is a kind of lighter Italian/Alpine nouvelle cuisine that is very agreeable. Also the river and lake fish is really lovely as a rule.

I thought the food in Munich was gorgeous. I couldn't get enough of the potato salad. I love the spatzle. I don't know what they do to chicken there but it was the best I've ever tasted. And the cakes were incredible.

I particuarly loved the chocolate fruit that was sold at Oktoberfest. So many kinds. And the calamari that was sold in little baskets made from the same material as cones, so there was no waste.

Fab swimming lake here in Murnau - where BoffinMum learned to swim

The only thing against Germany is that the weather can often be oppressively hot and stormy in summer. May/June ideal time to go

Ooohhh I love Germany. Munich is GORGEOUS but felt very shabbily dressed. Bavarian is to die for. The Romatische Strasse is lovely. Have lived in Munster and have also visted Austria several times and Salzburg is lovely.

I'd love to go to Oktoberfest and apparently the Christmas Markets are supposed to be great.

Am now going to convince dp....we have the ideal guides, dp's side of the family are there.

Oh that lake in Murnau looks divine, I love moutnains and lakes.

Oh and I had the most gorgeous vegetable pizza from a little cafe in Munich. It looked as good as it tasted as everyone approached us to ask where we got it from.

Do go to Oktoberfest WITW. It's so much fun,even if you don't drink, and the city has a particuarly nice atmosphere during it.