Germany

[chaplin1409]

Hi, we are looking at a holiday abroad next year and the kids are really fancying Germany (1 is doing GCSE German.) We have never been abroad on holiday before so it is all new to me. So I'm looking for some help and advice. I'm looking at May half term and we dont mind driving. The kids will be 13 and 15. We are quite active but also dont mind chilling as well. I'm not fussed on expensive accommodation as would like to keep costs down. Any help would be great thank you.

I sent a fellow mnetter to a place near Nuremberg where we had previously been and she messaged the other day to say how much they loved it - shall I PM you the details?
It’s rural though ( but in a decent sized village with easy access to other places). The owner is fab and they speak fluent English

That would be great thank you

Done

What do you like? Mountains, flat only, lakes, sea side, sight seeing, hiking, cycling.

You have the north sea and baltic sea in the north. The north sea is very different from the English sea side, very flat, dunes, on the mainland quite boring but has lovely islands if you like watersport. Weather is similar to England so in May you won't be able to go into the sea though.

Baltic sea is calmer, more towns to visit. No surfing as it has less waves. Hamburg is near.

You have lots of mid-range mountain ranges, Rhön and Harz are good areas to go to if you like hiking but don't want Alps. Similar is the Frankonia Switzerland, more hilly, absolute lovely and north of Nuremberg. Public transport is spotty though, you need a car. We hiked this year several times, there are things like Go Ape, climbing, canoeing (River Pegnitz) water parks.

We found the Black Forest fairly boring this year.

The Bavarian Alps or the lakes like Starnberg is supposedly good, I haven't been there apart from the odd day so can't comment but I hear it from people on mn all the time.

How about Berlin? Age wise they would find lots of interesting museums.

We driver from SE London/Kent Border and stay overnight most times. Nuremberg would be a full day only driving. More accessible would be the border region to France (Palatine), Belgium/Luxembourg or Netherlands. If you just go for one week I would look into flying and then hire a car.

I've been to Goslar in the Harz mountains and it's an absolutely beautiful little town. The Harz aren't exactly alpine, more gentle and wooded, but have a network of steam railways, one of which climbs a mountain. It's lovely, and the walking is pretty gentle.

Mittenwald in Bavaria is another pretty village/town, much more alpine. There's some gentle walking here too, but also a dramatic cable car ride and spectacular scenery.

Definitely look at the Landal Greenparks villages www.landal.com/countries/germany

@Hoppinggreen - Yes it was me who had just been there last month! OP, happy for you to DM me if you want more information about what we got up to.

You may also want to consider a city break - Hamburg is beautiful at that time of year, it's a very green city with lakes/parks and lots to do. Minatur Wunderland is an amazing place to visit!
www.miniatur-wunderland.com

Flights are often cheap from the UK as the flight is short.

I can recommend the Rhine and Mosel. I also love Berlin, but it is expensive and best done without a car.

If you are interested in industrial history, I would look at the Ruhrgebiet and follow the Route Industriekultur - loads of interesting museums. Places like Dortmund alao have mediaeval remains as well. South of there, you're into lakes and mountains like the Sorpesee.

But I like going round old mills and mines and factories, which I realise isn't to everyone's tastes.

Hi ritz

How about the German Center Parcs. Should be much cheaper than UK as other nationalities are not off that week.

Center Parcs

I would think at a center parc you may be too isolated to practice speaking German. Also, you don’t really see the country.

Would second Mittenwald / Bavarian Alps. Could be combined with a city break in Munich or Salzburg or you could go across to Innsbruck area or staying in Germany, Berchtesgaden National Park. Like another poster I was also disappointed in the Black Forest and found it bit dull.

Flights to Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck or Memmingen all options, depending where you are flying from.

Depends what you like of course, I like big and medium sized cities and big mountains/ mountain scenery, hence the suggestions above...your interests may be different...

Germany has lots of pleasant small towns to potter around in too, if that's more your thing, Moselle valley is pleasant, Cochem, Moselkern (Eltz castle), Bullay, Trabern-Trarbach, Bernkastel-Kues etc.. Castles, riverboat trips, cycling, walking, vineyards...lots of tourists but plenty of Germans too for language practice. "Frankfurt" Hahn airport for budget flights is nearest one I think.

Cologne (airport) is not too far from the Mosel and Rhine regions either ...

We found the Rhine very touristy (but lovely) and the Mosel far less touristy and equally as lovely.

I got the train from Cologne to Luxembourg, which goes along the Mosel. Cologne has some interesting museums, and the cathedral, though if I was really keen on museums, I'd probably start with Berlin rather than Cologne.

We travelled by train, stopped in Berlin, Nuremberg and Hamburg and had a good time. My DC’s were particularly keen on the amazing variety of delicious sausage based meals.