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!

Ooh I remember having a gorgeous pizza in Austria (somewhere inthe alps) twas lovely

I have come across German nudist bathers in teh Camargue. Hmm.

And my Austrian friend laughed and laughed at me and our English friend who would not go naked into the sauna.

Naked hiking in the new thing out there. Although I imagine boots are allowed.

i love germany. We went to Freiburg couple of Christmases ago, snow up in the mountains, beautiful christmas market, lovely vibe. Europa Park brilliant theme park for the children and not crowded. Love Germany. Dying to go back to Bavaria.

I really want to go to one of the Christmas markets. They look so beautiful.

I can't believe people generally just to to Austria for the ski-ing?

We go regularly - have friends there and it is a wonderful country. The people are generally friendly [of course you get miserable so-and-sos everywhere] the public transport is excellent and the food is superb.

I love Vienna [who couldn't?]and enjoy pottering around the Nachtmarkt. There are also organic farmer's markets every Friday as well.

There is, of course, also a wealth of historical and artistic interest and not just in Vienna and its environs. Hallstadt, Durnstein, Melk, Eisenstadt and all within a couple of hours drive of each-other. If you want to go further afield Hungary is only a few hours drive [or train journey] away and the Czech Republic whilst a bit farther, is also wonderful. You can even travel to Rome - regular train services!

Mittel-europa? Love it!

I spent 7 years, from age 12 - 19, living in Heidelberg and I still yearn to go back. I learned to ski in the black forest and went on learn to play tennis weeks down around Garmisch Partenkirshen (?sp) and the proximity to France was excellent. I had family living in Dusseldorf and Cologne until recently and they are great cities too. I Love germany and was just saying to OH yesterday that that is the one place i want to visit before I have my baby in October.

Right am convincing dp its October or Christmas, leaning towards Christmas as the kids would love it....

Just noticed the banner ad at the top I AM GOING!!!! And I love skiing too.

There´s also some great islands to the north of Germany such as Sylt. They´re probably a bit of a hassle to get to from the UK, but they´re absoutely stunning.

I'd go with Christmas too. They practically invented it. Well they are responsible for so many of our Christmas traditions. And the markets look so lovely.

We have just spent a week in Bavaria - which has been fantastic except for one thing - the weather. Is it always so cold and wet in June?
We were supposed to stay for a week in the Black Mountains, but at 11 degrees it's just too cold!

Apart from missing my thermals I've been pleasantly surprised by Germany and would like to come back.

I'd love to go on a camping holiday there, but Eurocamp or Keycamp don't do germany!

If anybody has gone on an enjoyable camping holiday in Germany which

1. is not far from an airport
2. has mobile homes
3. has English entertainment

please let me know!

why is germany not on streetview yet? i want to 'go'

There are many places not considered by the English as good holiday destinations. I'd quite like to go to Albania.

We went to Berlin for our honeymoon! Plenty of people thought that was odd, but I loved it. We went back last autumn, and this summer we're going to Vienna (not quite Germany, I know) for a change. I love the language and the food (and beer! None for me this time though as I'm pregnant ) and the culture. I'd like to go to Bavaria too.

Not sure I'd want it to be a popular holiday destination though. I don't want to be surrounded by other Brits when I go on holiday!

YANBU. I have family in Bavaria and I find it jaw droppingly beautiful. It makes me want to run round the hills singing songs from The Sound of Music

A bit confused by this comment:
"mind you, austria is no bag of laughs either much worse time atmos imho"

Huh?? I don't get it?

I like Germany but I really love Austria. I don't mind that it hasn't got a coast - it has enough lakes to make up for it. It's not just for skiing holidays - Austrian landscapes are the best I've ever seen and are just as good in summer for hiking etc. Vienna is also great for a city break. I live there and see many more American tourists than Brits. It's a shame that so many English have a prejudice against Germany and Austria that seems to stem from WWII but they are the ones who are missing out IMO.

If people want really hot weather and "beach holiday" they could go to Carinthia in the south of Austria.

I love Germany too! Had many great adventures there - Love the food, the people, the cities, the outdoors! It's fab

My DH is German so I have lived and holidayed in Germany (and while I prefer Australia) it is amazing.

I had a great beach holiday in Timmendorfer Strand which is on the Baltic Sea, so the very top. If it near Lubeck, and an easy drive to Hamburg, which is also nice.

My favourite place though is Munster! University town, heaps of history.

I don't feel trendy enough for Berlin , but I found Duesseldorf and Cologne were great - the locals very keen to practice their english.

Munich and Bavaria are very pretty with plenty to see and do - fantastic Deutsches Museum.

I travelled through Germany in 1998 when I was a vego and it was pretty hard to get a decent meal, but by the time I moved there in 2002, the vegetarian situation was much improved.

What I CANNOT BEAR is the smoking! Anywhere, anytime, etc etc. I sat down on a park bench one time to breastfeed and a man sat down next to me and lit up . Whereas over here it is very strongly regulated and not so popular anymore. I can go days without seeing someone smoking.

My OH proposed to me in Berlin.

We also went on a driving hol to Italy and drove through Germany. We went on a diversion to Dusseldorf for some "piggy roll".

I love Germany. Much to my Dad's horror (he is Swiss-French, possibly has something to do with it).

In fact, if we move back to the UK I think we will be visiting Germany more, especially now I know it is child-friendly).

If anyone loves Christmas markets I'd suggest coming to the Stuttgart area. There's the Esslingen medieval market and the Ludwigsburg baroque market. Both lovely - even my parents loved them and they rarely like anything that isn't British.

YANBU. I love Germany. Lived in Cologne for a year and would happily move back there again. Hmmm maybe I can squeeze in a trip to the Christmas markets over there this year!

Ronx
It is normally lovely in June in Germany. You were very unlucky that this year the summer does not seem to have started yet. I am in Geneva now (used to live in Germany) and it is brassic here too.

Best holiday destinations in Germany, imo are Rheinland - Düsseldorf, Cologne are fab cities - Frankenland (near Würzburg) for wine and Bavaria for castles and Munich. Hamburg is lovely too.

You are unlikely to find a campsite with English entertainment though.