Would it be odd to go on a family holiday to Germany? I have never been and I would like to go ...

[bibbitybobbityhat]

And I am aware it is a big country so recommendations for places to visit would be very welcome ...

Rothenburg beautiful and fun for kids, too
Sorry for poor spelling in previous post

this one shows it a bit better, or just google it!

It's so picturesque and traditional and lovely. We stayed right inside the walled in city, accommodation was so cheap and so was food. Lots of lovely tasty german sweets, chocolates and savoury treats to be found in little shops and restaurants, too. I'm vegetarian and had more than enough to eat.

thanks for answers on veg food & climate

We camped in the black forest not far from Freiburg.
Lovley climate
Clean and safe
Great public transport

Will edf go back with DCs

This is great. Thanks everyone. Am beginning to make my little plans now. Just need to run it past dh ...

We spent 8 very hapy years in Germany and spent most of our leave in Germany and Austria as well.

Loved the Isle of Rugen, beautiful beaches.
Harz mountains, gorgeous scenery.
Also did Regensburg (where jigsaws come from).
Also Munich and Lake constance as well.

We hope to go back to germany this year and are looking at Centre parcs in Bispringe Heide or Sudsee camping. This means we can take the children to Heide park, (fantastic theme park, Serengetti safari park, Ralph schumacher go karting, also do day trips to Hamburg, hannover and overnighter to Berlin.

They also have the most fantastic ice cream parlours there as well.

Book and enjoy it.

I went to Germany three times when I was at school. I bloody loved it, me. The countryside is lovely, the food is great, the architecture is stunning, the people are thoughtful, kind and funny (yes- all of them [hard stare]) and the boys shag like rattlesnakes are very enthusiastic about cultural exchange

I went to Germany twice as a child, both times at Christmas, and it was lovely! I don't really remember the places we visited, more the things we did (heathen child) but if you want to go - then go!

Fishie, last year we went to the Roche en Ardenne in Belgium on a Sun holiday. The area was beautiful, we visited the medievel castle which was interesting and took the kids to Parc Chlorophyll which was brill. You will have fab time

Vegetarianism no problem in Germany, all restaurants have at least one veggie option.

Germany is a lovely country, shame that it has such a bad rep as a holiday destination.

If you like wine then head for Franconia (near the city of Würzburg) for some of the best DRY DRY DRY wines. Frankenwein has a very good reputation. Wü is alovely little city, near to Nürnber and aforementioned Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Drive from there down the Romantische Strasse or down the Jagsttal (beautiful scenery, covered wooden bridges, castles) toward the scenic town of Schwäbisch Hall. Then on to Stuttgart or Munich.

The weather is generally good, can be very hot in July/August. Up to 30 or even higher.

Cologne is lovely too, visit Düsseldorf and down to the Eifel and Bad Münstereifel.

I could go on for hours.

hi bibbity, just seen your post on the other thread.

come to bavaria!

If your child likes Playmobil, there is the most FAB Playmobil fun park at Nurnberg. No scary rides, just lots of water to splash in (take swimming costumes), sandpits, giant playmobil, and masses of normal playmobil to play with.

Freshwater lakes are great to swim in, better than the sea, imo. There are loads of lakes further south towards the alps. Almost every town has an open air swimming pool in summer.

the far south east corner of germany is spectacular, brooding mountains and Königsee.

there are thousands of zoos, mines, food factories, schlosses etc that you can take tours of.

walking in the mountains is fantastic.

you could try somewhere around Rosenheim for all of the above.

From the UK, it would take 2 days to drive down here if you go in a leisurely fashion, or 1 day if you shared driving. (I do know an engineer who caught the ferry at about 3 am at Dover, and was at work at midday the same day in Munich, but he probably drives at an average of 200 km/hr.)

we had a lovely short break in the Heilbachsee Centerparc - we went in the winter and there was soooo much snow! The only time I've swum outside and had snow land on my arms. Cool!

Two world wars have got a lot to answer for: Germany is a beautiful and varied country. If you adore mountain scenery and walking, go! The Black Forest and all along the Alps are absolutely stunning. Accommodation is much cheaper than here. Obviously it helps to speak the language, but isn't that true everywhere?

You're lucky I'm not able to show you all my holiday photos! Tho I do like the way the brits don't really go to Germany - it's our secret! We had 3 weeks this summer with our two little girls, and all came back tanned and enthused.

Lots of the Therme (baths) also have heated outdoor swimming pools, where you can swim by moonlight/in the snow etc.

Yes as MmeLindt mentions the Romantische Strasse is just such a beautiful drive and lots of little towns to stop in and check out castles, lovely buildings... it's all so picturesque and gorgeous. We rented a car and just drove from Rothenburg ob der tauber through all these little towns then drove to the airport in frankfurt (cheap flight there ). We were not impressed with Frankfurt too much. Just like any other city, really... the little towns and villages are soooo adorable. As mentioned, the ice cream parlours are lovely, too! I would love to live in Germany someday.

We went here last Easter. It snowed and was very lovely.

I have also been up the Wank!

The cable car is called the Wankbahn, and the cafe at the top, wait for it....the Wankhaus!Oh how we laughed .

has anyone been to the sunpark at eifel? whats it like? it looks a bit like centre parcs? never been to germany, but the flights are so cheap and could combine the park (bribe children) with some siteseeing?????

We spent a week at Sudsee camp, which someone mentioned. It's bang in the middle between Hambug and Hannover. It was ace, the most chilled out hol I've ever had.

There are language issues, but dd had no probs, she still has a pen pal from there. Lots of Germans do speak at least a little english, so if you make a little effort you can meet halfway.

I loved the cakes, the singing round the campfire, the pretty towns, the stunning countryside...
We're going to Austria next summer, and I'm hoping to do a day trip to see Munich then too.

DreamingofSun
The Sunpark is part of the Centerparcs group, it is the Heilbachsee/Eifel one.

As far as I know, Centerparcs bought Sunparks a few years ago.

The Heilbachsee park is not quite as well done as the other Centerparcs, the swimming pool is a bit more basic, not so many huge slides etc. BUT it is great for wee ones, up to around 10yo really. The swimming pool was being renovated when we were there so it might be even nicer now.

You can fly to Köln/Bonn with EasyJet, it is only a couple of hours drive to Heilbachsee. It is quite remote, there is not much around but you can visit the Nurnburring and there are some pretty little towns in the Eifel. And Cologne or Bonn are worth a visit.

We went to Heilbachsee for a weekend and booked last minute (booked Thursday, went Friday) and only paid 50eu for the weekend, for a 6 berth bungalow.

thanks MMe and Chops. we were thinking of frankfurt airport? kids are 12-17 so might be a little young for them - though pool prob similar to campsites we visit in france

Wynken, personally I would find the lack of other English tourists a plus rather than a downside.

If you can go to a smaller airport than Frankfurt it is a nightmare (my third least favourite aiport in the world after Heathrow and CdG). Long queues, horrible to find your way round and generally overcrowded.

dreamingofsun - we drove. Took all day, with a stop for lunch and then for dinner.

Sudsee was full of teens, I think it would be great for that age range. They tended to hire bikes and hang out in gangs. I'm pretty sure they have teen clubs too. Plus there is the lake in the middle - great for swimming, inflatable boats, etc.

They do have a website here We booked through eurocamps which I think was cheaper.

As far as I can remember the pool is ok, has one big slide and a couple of waterfalls, outside pool. You can hire bikes or go out for hikes if you like that.

It is pretty much a standard pool, similar to what you would find in any campsite. Just not the huge selection of activities such as in the Centerparcs in Holland (treetop walk, diving etc)

Saying that, DC of that age might be interested in the Nürburgring - are they interested in cars? It is only 30 mins away and they have just opened a new museum there.

yes I would agree about trying to avoid Frankfurt airport

The wine is not all sweet, there are some very nice dryer ones, also amongst those that are very reasonably priced. I think the food is nice and restaurants are generally not extortionate but IMO fairly priced. I find the sea personally too cold for swimming in, so as a summer bathing holiday it would not appeal to me as a destination. You may be hardier.

yy, definitely go for small airport rather than Frankfurt.

EasyJet fly to Köln/Bonn, Hamburg and Berlin, I think

RyanAir fly to Frankfurt Hahn, (small regional airport about 30 mins from Frankfurt) and Niederrhein (about 40 mins north of Düsseldorf. And Berlin afaik.

This is all so incredibly helpful. Hoorah for Mumsnet! Very grateful to you all for taking the trouble.

Suppose you'll be miffed with me if I change my mind and opt for Croatia ?