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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Bavaria, Germany!  Bavaria is an amazing region, with the capital city of Munich and some of the best castles in Germany. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Bavaria, Germany.

Hate #1: Beer Gardens of Bavaria

No, you won’t hate the beer gardens, but you might hate trying to find a seat at the beer gardens when the weather is nice. Bavarians love their beer gardens and at the first peak of sunshine, the beer gardens fill up, so it can be hard to find a spot. Even on a sunny winter afternoon, you’ll see Bavarians enjoying the beer gardens. Tourists also love the beer gardens, so if you want to make sure you are able to get a seat, you either need to go early or make a reservation.

Hate #2: Heavy Food and Drink

Bavarians are big fans of pork dishes and beer. Hamhocks, pork knuckle and sausages are all heavily featured in Bavarian food, as are dumplings. The beer in Bavaria is delicious, too. I love food, so why is this on the hate list? Well, it can be hard to eat healthy in Bavaria, and you might even gain a few pounds. It’s not a bad idea to have some Tums, Pepto-Bismol or Gas-X packed in your traveling kit, especially if you are not used to so much rich food.

Hate #3: Bavaria Budget

This is probably the place in Germany where you’ll probably spend the most money. It’s not the most expensive place in Germany, but there are so many things to do in Bavaria that you will inevitably spend a lot of money while you’re here. Eating out a lot gets expensive as well; pay attention to what the locals do. You’ll often see them picnicing in a park and enjoying the weather while saving money from eating out. The Bayern-Ticket is another great way to save money while you travel in Bavaria. It’s a group ticket that can save you a lot of money on the regional trains.

Hate #4: Tourists in Bavaria

Yes, Oktoberfest is a huge draw, but even at other times of the year, tourists flock to Bavaria. It’s the quintessential German experience, with mountain villages, castles and half-timbered houses, so this is the part of Germany that everyone wants to see. Even Germans from other parts of the country come here on vacation, so Bavaria can get really crowded with tourists. Make sure you reserve your hotels far in advance. The same goes for Oktoberfest hotels and beer garden reservations.

Hate #5: Not Experiencing All of Bavaria

It seems that most travelers only find out that there’s so much more to Bavaria than Munich on their last day in town. So many people come to Munich and explore all the great things to do, and they forget to get to the other cool towns of Bavaria, like Regensburg or Nuremburg. There are so many neat areas to explore in Bavaria, so even though you can easily fill up a week in Munich, try to plan some time in other parts of Bavaria while you’re here.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Munich

Love #1: Bavarian Villages

To keep with the theme of Hate #5, if you get out to see some other parts of Bavaria, you are going to love it! Each Bavarian village has a unique history and interesting stories to learn. Bamberg has one of the prettiest town halls in Europe, and Bavaria is home to some of the best castles in Germany. Of course, there’s Neuschwanstein, but there are tons of other castles in Bavaria. As you travel around Bavaria, you can learn about crazy King Ludwig and how he drowned in just three inches of water….or did he?

Love #2: Quintessential Germany

When you pictured Germany in your head before arriving, you were picturing Bavaria. When you think of beer halls and giant pork knuckles and lederhosen and giant mugs of beer, that’s Bavaria! Why is this the part of Germany that comes to mind for Americans? Well, the US controlled this area of Germany after WWII, so most of our soldiers were in Bavaria, and brought those images and memories back home with them. They have mastered the art of beer here, including my favorite beer in the world, Bamberg’s Rauchbier.

Love #3: Bavarian Cuisine

Well, I tried to list this one as a hate, but there’s nothing to hate about Bavarian cuisine, other than my inability to resist it! This is the epicenter of hearty, German cuisine, with the pork knuckles, the sausages, dumplings, streudel. I could go on and on about Bavarian food because I love it so much. Make sure you try the sweet mustard, too. And don’t forget the beer!

Love #4: Natural Beauty of Bavaria

The towns of Bavaria are great, but so is the nature of Bavaria. There is skiing, hiking and so many great cycling paths throughout Bavaria. The entire southern border of Bavaria, which is adjacent to Austria, is part of the Alps, so you have beautiful snow-capped peaks of the Bavarian Alps, hidden lakes and hot springs (baden) resorts throughout Bavaria. If you love being outdoors, then you are going to love Bavaria.

Love #5: Christmas Markets

Bavaria has some of the best Christmas markets in Germany. Bavaria is a very Catholic area of Germany, so they are not only very religious about Christmas, but they also love to celebrate this time of year. Each small town has their own Christmas market, and you can easily travel around to explore them all.

The Best Christmas Market Foods to Try

Bonus Love: Bavarian People

I can’t forget to mention Bavarian people as something you are going to love about Bavaria. They are some of the nices Germans you will meet. I’ve brought students here, and traveled here on my own or with my family, and they are always so helpful. If you get the chance to meet some locals in Bavaria, it’s completely worthwhile.

Bavaria is an amazing region of Germany, and one of my favorite places to visit. If you can’t tell, the “hates” aren’t really “hates” at all,  just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit Bavaria. Want more travel tips for Germany? Check out these other blog posts:

• Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Germany
• What to Know Before Your First Trip to Germany
• Ten Don’ts of Visiting Germany

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Frankfurt, Germany! There are lots of fun things to do in Frankfurt and we love coming here as a family. It’s an interesting mix of modern and historic Germany. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Frankfurt.

Hate #1: Hotels in Frankfurt Germany

It is expensive to stay in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is a financial center, so hotels in Frankfurt Germany are not cheap. Between business travelers and government travelers, Frankfurt hotels are able to get away with charging more. The best thing you can do is to reserve your Frankfurt hotel far in advance and continue to look for deals in the months leading up to your trip or look for an apartment rental rather than a hotel.

How to Cut Costs While You Travel

Hate #2: Frankfurt’s Size

Frankfurt is an international financial hub, so it’s often lumped in with other major international cities, like London, Paris or Tokyo. So you may be expecting this huge metropolis, but Frankfurt isn’t actually that big. The city itself only has less than a million people. This is only a “hate” if you are expecting a major cosmopolitan city, but it makes Frankfurt quite manageable for getting around.

Hate #3: No Fairytale German Town

What most people picture when they think of Germany – half-timbered houses, lederhosen, and giant beers – is actually Bavarian Germany. Frankfurt is nothing like that. Nearly all of Frankfurt was destroyed in the war, so it’s all been rebuilt in relatively recent history. While there are some historic buildings in Frankfurt, the city is mostly modern skyscrapers. This can be a let-down if you are expecting the Bavarian ambiance.

Hate #4: Train Station Neighborhood

Chances are, you will arrive in Frankfurt to the Hauptbahnhof and once you exit the station, you are in the shadiest neighborhood in Frankfurt. From porn shops to beggars and street scammers, your first impression of Frankfurt will not be great. All of Frankfurt isn’t like this, but the area around the train station is not someplace you want to hang around. Keep this in mind when browsing hotels in Frankfurt Germany as well.

Hate #5: Jet Lag & Frankfurt Airports

If you fly into Frankfurt from overseas, you’re going to have jet lag. Frankfurt is a major airline hub, so people are arriving from every continent and nearly everyone will have jet lag upon arrival. It’s a shame because recovering from jet lag can really cut into the time you have to enjoy Frankfurt. Also, note which airport you are flying into; commuter flights come into Frankfurt Hahn, which is very far outside of the city. So you might save money on a cheap flight to Frankfurt only to spend more money just getting from the airport to Frankfurt.

Love #1: Modern City

While it’s not quaint Bavarian architecture, Frankfurt has really great modern architecture and lots of skyscrapers. Some of these skyscrapers have observation decks where you can get really great views of Frankfurt. Skyscrapers in Europe are kind of an anomaly when you’ve been traveling through some of the older cities, so modern Frankfurt is a nice change of pace in the middle of Germany.

Love #2: Frankfurt Transportation Connections

You can get almost anywhere from Frankfurt. Frankfurt is a major hub for the United States military, and there are flights to just about anywhere in the world from Frankfurt. You can also get around Europe easily by train or bus, and there are budget flights all over Europe. So, it can be easy to find a good deal on a flight to Frankfurt and then take advantage of connections to get to other destinations. Or, you can use Frankfurt as a hub and take many fun day trips around the region.

Love #3: Frankfurt Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen Frankfurt is a hip neighborhood on the other side of the river and it’s one of the historic areas of Frankfurt. Narrow, cobblestone streets are lined with apple-wine pubs,  nightclubs, and German restaurants. One of my favorite things to do in Frankfurt is to visit the Sachsenhausen for apple wine and sausages. Apple wine is a regional specialty of Frankfurt and sausage is a very German food that you should try at least once when you visit.

Five Things You Have to Eat in Germany

Love #4: Frankfurt Museums

Although Frankfurt is a relatively small city, there are a surprising number of world-class museums in Frankfurt. Along the river, they have the “Museum Embankment” where you’ll find all kinds of great museums. There’s a great film museum, Germany’s largest natural history museum and many more. You can easily spend a couple of days exploring the amazing museums in Frankfurt.

Love #5: Frankfurt’s Romerberg Area

While I do love the modern aspect of Frankfurt’s skyscrapers, I do love to visit the Romerberg area, which is the rebuilt section of Frankfurt’s Old Town. It’s like a little German village set amidst a very modern city. The main square is surrounded by sidewalk cafes and shops, with the requisite cathedral tower looming over the square.

Frankfurt is a really nice place and I’ve enjoyed visiting Frankfurt several times over the years. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit Frankfurt. Want more travel tips for Germany? Check out these other blog posts:

• Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Germany
• What to Know Before Your First Trip to Germany
• Ten Don’ts of Visiting Germany

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Berlin, Germany! I went to school here and lived in Berlin for 2 ½ years; I love this city. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you are visiting Berlin on vacation.

Hate #1: Size of Berlin

Berlin is actually a huge city. Because it was divided by the wall for many years, there are multiple city centers. In the east, you have Alexanderplatz and in the west, you have a center on the Ku’damm. And then you have the new center, Potsdamer Platz. Berlin is very spread out, so you can expect to spend a lot of time traveling from one place to the other in Berlin. To get from one side of town to the other, it can take 45 minutes or an hour. The size and diversity is also a benefit to Berlin but just plan your days accordingly to account for travel time between areas of Berlin.

12 Don’ts of Berlin: Things You Shouldn’t Do in Berlin

Hate #2: It’s Not the Germany You Imagine (which is good)

Berlin is a very international, cosmopolitan city and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, it doesn’t feel like a traditional German city. You’re just as likely to hear English, Spanish or Italian in Berlin as you are to hear German. Don’t expect to see the quaint half-timbered houses in Berlin that you see in other parts of Germany. What you will find, though, are great international cuisines, like Turkish and Greek restaurants.

Hate #3: Capitalism in Berlin

You may not notice this if you haven’t been to Berlin before, but since I lived here in the 1990s, Berlin really seems to have sold out to capitalism. When I walk around Berlin, I see a Starbucks, KFC or Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Berlin used to be this alternative capital, but it seems to have sold its soul a bit in favor of capitalism. A lot of the unique shops are gone in favor of international chains.

Hate #4: Beggars & Street Scams

Berlin is the capital city of Germany, so it’s not immune to the beggars and travel scams you see elsewhere in Europe. Some of the beggars can look a bit scary and intimidate the tourists into giving them money. They won’t hurt you and are not aggressive, so you can just ignore them. The police do a good job of patrolling the tourist areas.

Hate #5: Berlin Attitude

This is something other Germans will talk about. The Berliner Schnauze, or the Berlin attitude. Berliners are said to have their nose up in the air because they are the capital city. Not so different from the reputation New Yorkers have in the States. If you’re looking for a friendly German village, Berlin is not it. It’s a big cosmopolitan city and the residents are urban dwellers, so just know that going in and it’s not a problem.

Love #1: Germany History in Berlin

One of the coolest things about Berlin is that it’s like a living history museum. The most recent history of Germany is right here for you to see and experience. You can see the recent past and how it’s being redeveloped at Potsdamer Platz, as well as how the two cities are still coming together since the wall came down. On a Berlin tour, you can still get a sense of East Germany vs West Germany by traveling to different parts of the city. You can visit the Brandenburg Gate and see where the wall was. Just outside of the city is Sachsenhausen, a concentration camp that is now a Holocaust Memorial.

Love #2: Berlin Museums

There are 100’s of museums in Berlin. It’s an amazing cultural destination. Museum Island alone has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There’s the Pergamon Museum with the Ishtar Gates, the Bode-Museum, the Neues Museum which has the bust of Nefertiti. There’s a Checkpoint Charlie Museum, where you can learn how people tried to escape or travel from East to West Berlin.

Love #3: Intersection of Three Germany’s

Berlin is where the past and the present of Germany collide. You really have three worlds coming together. There’s the East and the West and then there’s the new Germany in the middle. You can see it in the architecture, with old Communist buildings against more modern buildings. There are ruins of ancient churches destroyed in the war and all of this combined makes you feel like you’re getting three cities for the price of one.

Ten Things That Will Shock You in Germany

Love #4: Berlin Outdoors

There are tons of outdoor things to do in Berlin, with so much green space. Whether you’re going to Grunewald, the large urban forest, or Tiergarten, the huge city park with the Berlin Zoo and nude sunbathing on the shores of the Spree River. Even though it’s often a cold climate, Berlin residents love to be outdoors. You’ll even find them surfing on the river right in town! There are so many parks in Berlin, and people love to get outside and enjoy them.

Love #5: International City Vibe

The vibe of Berlin can’t be beaten. Being such an international city gives Berlin magnetic energy, with fantastic nightclubs, plus live music, pubs, and restaurants. Berlin nightlife isn’t just about the discos and nightclubs, there are just a lot of great things to do at night, even if you’re visiting Berlin with kids. There’s always something going on in Berlin and that’s why Berlin is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Berlin is one of the coolest cities in the world,  and I love visiting over and over again. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a Berlin vacation. Want more information on travel in Germany? Check out these other blog posts:

• Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Germany
• What to Know Before Your First Trip to Germany
• Ten Don’ts of Visiting Germany

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Munich, Germany! I lived in Germany for several years, and I rank Munich in the top 10 European cities to visit. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate on your Munich vacation.

Hate #1: Munich is Expensive

Munich is not a good budget destination. The accommodation, food, and shopping are all fairly expensive, especially when you compare it to other central European cities. Even the hostels are expensive, so if you are backpacking through Europe with a friend, it can be cheaper to double up on a cheap hotel than to pay for two at a hostel.

Hate #2: Munich Beer Halls

A lot of travelers think Munich is all about beer and feel they have to go to the beer halls in Munich. So, the more touristy beer halls can get a little tacky and boisterous with travelers getting drunk on German beer. If you aren’t a big fan of drinking beer, it’s ok to skip the beer halls. There are plenty of other things to do in Munich. I’ve also heard traveler complaints when a lot of biking or walking tours end up at a beer garden and it you’re not a drinker, that can be frustrating.

Hate #3: Language Barriers

Bavarians are some of the nicest people in Germany, but the older folks especially don’t speak a lot of English. If you don’t know German, it can prevent you from getting to know them very well. Younger people and people in the service industry will speak English, so you can get by, but you may not meet as many locals as you’d like.

Hate #4: Tourist Crowds

Munich tourism is very popular, so you can often run into huge crowds of tourists and tour groups. You can nearly get trampled by the big groups, especially at the big attractions like Dachau or the Residenz. Munich is great in the off-season, or just plan to get up early and beeat the crowds if you are visiting Munich in the summer.

Hate #5: Cheesy Souvenirs

Ok, I love Munich, so it’s a stretch for me to find five things to “hate.” But you’ll notice a lot of cheesy souvenirs around Munich. From Oktoberfest hats, cuckoo clocks, lederhosen, and beer steins, the stuff you see for sale is either too expensive or cheap and cheesy.

What Not to Buy When Traveling

Love #1: Bavarians

If you read our more general post on things you’ll love and hate about Germany, I mention that German people are cold and too serious. That’s not the case with Bavarians. They are some of the nicest people you will meet while traveling.

Love #2: Munich Museums

Munich has amazing museums. The Bavarian kings ruled from here for 500 years. The Residenz, where they ruled from, has amazing artwork and furnishings. There are three art museums: the Old, New and Modern Art Museums. I think the Deutsches Museum is the best science museum in Europe.

Love #3: Munich Public Transportation

It’s so easy to travel around Munich. There are four main modes of transportation in Munich: the U-Bahn (subway) the S-Bahn (suburban trains) and the tram, and buses. There is nowhere you can’t go on public transportation in Munich. Even Dachau is on the S-Bahn. It’s also a major European hub, so you can get great connections to other cities, like Prague and Vienna.

Love #4: Munich Sightseeing

Munich is a beautiful city, with so much history and interesting architecture. The old town hall and the churches with the towering spires, plus all of the castles and palaces scattered around town. You will be constantly be craning your neck as you walk around Munich.

Love #5: The Beer Halls

If you don’t like beer, it’s a “hate,” but if you like beer, then Munich is the place for you! With the Oompa bands and the giant beer steins, the beer halls are a blast! Even Hofbrauhaus, though touristy, is super fun. For a more low-key, less touristy experience, go to the Augustiner brewhouse.

Five Things You Should Eat in Germany

Munich is a great city and I love visiting anytime we are in central Europe. I really had to stretch to find anything negative to say about a Munich vacation because there’s so much to love about Munich. Want more information on travel in Germany? Check out these other blog posts:

• What to Know Before Your First Trip to Germany
• Ten Don’ts of Visiting Germany
• Five Things You Have to Eat in Germany

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Germany! I lived in Germany for several years,  and I have returned many times with my wife and kids. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Germany.

Hate #1: German People

German people come across as cold and serious, and they are also cheap when it comes to spending money.  If you like to joke around with new people, Germany is not the place to do it. At least not with people you are meeting for the first time. This can definitely make it feel like Germany is an unfriendly place, but it’s not necessarily. They do warm up, eventually. But on your first trip to Germany, it takes some getting used to.

Hate #2: Pay Toilets

If you want to use a public toilet in Germany, it will cost you. Sometimes it’s a machine, in which case you need to have some coins on you. Other times, there is a bathroom attendant that you pay upon entering. On the bright side, public toilets in Germany are usually kept very clean.

Ten Things That Will Shock You on Your First Trip to Germany

Hate #3: Prices in Germany

Germany is expensive, especially when compared to countries like Italy, Spain or Portugal. Going out to eat, train passes and hotel rates are higher than other European countries.

Hate #4: Service in Germany

Service in Germany is not very friendly. They’re very formal and stilted in Germany, very straightforward. If you ask if they have an English menu, you will be told yes or no, but they won’t bring you one unless you specifically ask for the menu.

Hate #5: Sundays in Germany

Everything in Germany closes on Sundays. So if you want to do some shopping for souvenirs or even groceries, you’ll find a lot of places are not open. If you really need something, the shops in the train station, or gas stations, usually stay open through the weekend.

Love #1: Germany is Clean and Organized

You will be amazed at how clean Germany is. Sitting in a major square, and there is no dog poop, no trash blowing around. Germans like things to be in order and clean, so that’s one thing that makes travel in Germany easier. When you visit Germany attractions, you’ll find the lines orderly and the ticket process very organized.

Love #2: German People

I know this was listed as a “hate” also, but once you get to know Germans and start to make friends, they are great. Germans are friends for life. It’s just the cold outer shell that you have to get past in order to make friends.

Love #3: Public Transportation in Germany

You can get anywhere in Germany using public transportation. No matter how small the town, there is a bus or a train that will go there. Using public transportation in Germany is a great way to see the country and explore different regions and towns.

Six Rules for European Train Travel

Love #4: Things to Do in Germany

There is so much history in Germany and you can see that in the number of palaces and castles scattered throughout the country. They have amazing museums in Berlin, Munich, and Cologne. Germany has amazing outdoor scenery as well, from the Alps and the lakes, there are tons of outdoor things to do in Germany, too.

Love #5: Beer & Festivals

Of course, Oktoberfest is world-famous, but Germany has beer festivals all the time in tons of locations throughout the country. There are also wine festivals, chocolate festivals, Christmas markets, carnivals.

Germany is a great country and we love visiting over and over again. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit Germany. Want more information on travel in Germany? Check out these other blog posts:

• What to Know Before Your First Trip to Germany
• Ten Don’ts of Visiting Germany
• Five Things You Have to Eat in Germany