Where's nice in Germany?

[sparkybabe]

Have been to Germany several times. I would like to take my 2 dses (13 and 15) over in the easter hols, as they are both doing german at school.

Been to Berlin, Cologne, Nuremberg, Detmold, Trier ... where can we go that is nice, easy to get to from Gatwick, preferably with something for teenage boys to do? (not nightclubs!)

For anyone interested to travel to Germany with children and would like to know, when the school holidays are, so bookings could be adjusted, here is a link:

www.schulferien.org/Schulferien_nach_Jahren/2013/schulferien_2013.html

Thankyou for that worldcitizen, last year we were in Germany at the end of the summer holidays and the kids were quite taken with the Schultute (I don't know if I spelt it right) on sale everywhere. We don't have anything like that here.

Yes, the Schultüte and the Schulranzen for primary school, would that be a satchel? still very much a tradition followed religiously.

As you can see, we don't have national schoolholidays at the same time period for all pupils. It's always different every year, it sort of rotates, so not all in Germany have these holidays at the same time.

A funny link my English German-speaking friends like to send me.
It's called do:
Do you speak English?

That's a great Youtube Worldcitizen - I love Simon Pegg,very funny!

It's interesting that not all schoolkids have holidays at the same time - what happens if you have 2 or more in different years or at different schools? Do they overlap enough to be able to spend time together as a family in the hols?

It's funny, isn't it .

Different counties (Bundesländer) have their holidays at different times. So, one would look up Hamburg, or Berlin, or Bayern etc.
Also, some have more bankholidays (Feiertage) as they are Catholic, or mainly catholic, regions, so we up here in the North which is over 90% Protestant (Evangelisch-Lutherisch) have less etc.

This system is age-old and won't change. The idea behind that, is purely economical. They simply do not want all the people with school-aged children having their holidays at the same time, it would cause too much traffic jams, too crowded places, also possibly issues with vacancies during certain high seasons etc.

The real issue, and you are touching on it here, is, that we do not have same school schedules. Especially differences between primary and secondary schools, and each school and each year have their own sort of, how to explain it, very individual time schedule.

Hamburg is one, I a not sure about any other, maybe possibly also Berlin, Bundesland, which have ensured primary school schedule Mon-Fri 8am to 1pm including lunch, and after that the parents can decide for the child to go to after-school care either at the school, if offered OR to a childcare place, mostly around the corner or very close.

Essentially, one becomes a parent, that means you become an organisation genius .

I wonder if that would work here? Do you get really expensive times of the year for Holidays? Our holiday companies seem to know before we (the parents) do when the schools will be off for Easter, say, or for halfterms. Then the prices go up. Admittedly it's not just this country, but in most places popular for holidays abroad too.

If we all had different holiday weeks i suppose the holiday companies would just put prices up to cover all eventualities....

Oh yes, they do that too. Hotels, plane fares, even petrol!!!! Unfortunately, yes.

So, say i would like to fly out from Hamburg airport, then the first weekend of the school holidays would be very expensive, but the week prior to that would be much cheaper, and so on. So, possibly flying out via Berlin, should they have their holidays at a different time, that would be less than 1 1/2 hours by train could make a difference.

Even better, if children are not in school yet, then to still know about these school holiday time schedules would be helpful as in trying to book holidays around it.
So most families dread the years when their children are in school, because it truly makes a financial difference, unfortunately.

When we travel to the UK, I always tried to make sure we don't spend time in England or Wales in July/August and in Scotland not June/July, as everything is really pricey and most places to stay were booked and not available anymore etc.
So, maybe knowing about these schedules the other way round could be helpful.

Can I just put in another vote for Bodensee/Lake Constance? I lived here for a few months many years ago, so obviously I am biased, but I am currently back here - staying in Lindau - for a few days with DS (13) and DD (9) and they both love it here. DD says she wants to come back for two weeks next time, instead of a few days as a stop-off on a trip round Europe.

Lots of cultural stuff around to do, very cycle-friendly, also boat trips and swimming in the lake, day trips to Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein etc, and if we were here for longer there are also some fun-looking theme parks to go to. It feels like you are somewhere on the Mediterranean here, but with the Alps close by, and lots of lovely German beer, cakes and pretzels.

Boffin - just seen that - so funny. Love Bill Bailey too!

Exexpat - It sounds lovely, never been to that area but sounds like somewhere to think about! Maybe after i've done Hamburg next easter, we might think about it for Summer? WHere is the nearest airport?

Exepat-I would second your recommendation. I spent a year down there, right after I finished school for a Volunteer Year, and it was lovely,
especially the closeness to the countries you've mentioned already and their great summers and equally great (real) winters.
And yes, their regional food specialities and their wine (which they are known for) are so tasty.
I reckon your children's age and their perception of it there could be quite helpful as parameter?!

Sparkybabe have you ever taken advantage of some type of Euro train ticket, something where one would buy the ticket to a certain price and beforehand one could chose a 7-15-or 30-day option. And then any train to anywhere in Germany could be boarded. But you can buy that ticket only in the UK.

Re trains - we have an interrail ticket which lets us travel on any ten days in a 22-day period, which we have been using for a trip round Germany, Czech republic, Austria, Germany again, Switzerland then France. You can also get 5-days-in-10 tickets,and single-country tickets - all pretty good value if you want to move around a bit.

Nearest major airports to Lake Constance would be Stuttgart, Munich or Zurich, I would guess, but there may be budget airlines going to some smaller regional airports.

I think what we'll do is Hamburg for a few days at Easter, then maybe train to Bremen, for a few more days, then back to Hamburg for flight home. I love travelling about, train would be fab.

Alas I think Lake Constance will have to wait until either next summer or until i can get a long weekend without the dc. It sounds lovely. We also want to look more at Spain (ultimate goal is to live there) so finding the time and money to get to these wonderful places is the prob! (tho easyjet go to Zurich and munich...)

This thread has encouraged me to go to Germany, so we're going to go to Hamburg in September. We will also visit our friends in Kassel.

I'm really looking forward to it!

Where would people recommend to visit in Hamburg with a 9 year old and a 12 year old?

Koenigswinter on the Rhein is lovely too, and you can drive there in a day from London.

I've looked at train times and prices and doesn't look easy to get the family to Hamburg by train - but flights are pretty cheap and dd will still be under 2 and not need her own seat. So will be strongly considering somewhere round there for next summer.

Any recommended hotels for bed+breakfast, or self-catering companies? Boys will be 4 and 5, dd 15 months. Ds's idea of food is bread, potato, sausage and icecream and cake, plus some juice, so Germany ought to suit him!

Hello all, what can I say, I feel very happy about so much interest in Hamburg and the Northern part of Germany.

I would be very happy, if I can be of any help abut suggestions or to look things up, as I am here anyway and because I have always had the greatest time when I visited the UK, I would like to do something in return.

So, I get here that the general interest would be info for family accommodation, mostly self-serving or bed and breakfast.

And as close to all the spots, and public transport etc as possible.

I'll look into it, I am in the midst of moving house this week, and even though it's really just from one flat to another and even in the same neighbourhood, it is somewhat annoying and time-consuming, so I might not be on here as often.

Anyone would like to pm, please feel free and very welcome to do so

Worldcitizen, we would like to be able to get the Harwich to Hamburg ferry and build a holiday around that, with a family hotel, swimming, and maybe even some sort of children's activity programme as well.

How your move goes well!

Hope

Another here who loves visiting Germany.
I've never been to the north though and hope to visit the Baltic coast.

The best thing about it when travelling with a teenager is that just about every small town has a swimming pool or swimming hole of some sort.

We always stop off at Rudesheim on the way home - swim at the pool, cycle along the Rhine, go to the winefest........

Ha ha, it's so true about the swimming pools. We have tons of public areas, swimming pools, playgrounds, and parks here.

I think Germany is very beautiful and has so much to offer, but as I am German myself (With Mediterranean parents) I have no clue how it is perceived by others.

I do know, that we have tons of UK citizens living here for ages, and they do find that for them here up North is the closest to home for them.

I do love various parts of Germany, been around a lot here, however I am sad that certain regions, such as Bavaria for example, quite often are seen as THE quintessence of Germany.
It is really just one part, just one region. In comparison it would be almost, as if Scotland (and I love it up there), but as if Scotland would be constantly in the limelight and everyone would think THAT is so typical of the UK.

The traditions, and food specialities, and mannerisms, and accents, are so different all over Germany, and I would be more than happy to be a spokesperson (tongue in cheek) for the North ha ha.

Yesterday, I walked into the Touristinfo office here at the Central Station.
Arrrgghhh, I walked out of there and thought this must be the most s... service I have ever received as a "tourist".
Seriously, it was bad .
Every time, I am in the UK I have received fantastic service, advice and lots of trip suggestions.

So, yesterday I felt we are not in that league at all .

Yep, I think self-catering and buying food from bakeries and Imbiss and all the other little food joints is truly great.

notcitrus you've mentioned the little ones before and I believe you said, that the adults do speak German, right?!

It's really nice for under-5's here.

Anyone mentioned staying for a week. In that case, the equivalent to a London Oyster card for one week, might be a good option.

Called Wochenkarte. Just need a photo.

Hi Worldcitizen - looks like you got the hang of the smileys!!

What you said about swimming holes - when we stayed in Cologne last time we were outside the city (still on the trainline) but the suburb we stayed in had the most beautiful lake, with almost a beach around it. Lovely clear, cool water, absolutely deserted (in May). We are going to Cologne next weekend, but i bet i couldn't find it again....hopefully there will be similar in the 'burb we are staying in - Troisdorf.(strange name, mix of French and German)

sparkybabe ha ha I do, I love those smileys, especially this one and this one

No, really the service was good, anywhere. Don't know about their German skills hahaha

Seriously, still can't get over that. So, I enquired about this Russian submarine, from WWII, and the possibility to get a tour in English and they seriously say I have to find out myself, heh??? what is a tourist info for???

Asked about football stadium tours, answer is, yes they do that, but you have to call them and ask about specifics, heh???

Asked, what do you recommend for British families? Eh, I'll spare you the answer, it was not a satisfactory one. Seriously, I know loads of other (German) people who would be just perfect for those positions...

Well and in the UK they actually had an answer to everything I asked.