"No turn is a wrong turn"
You’ve made up your mind you’re going to Europe?
And Germany is your first destination? Congratulations! We think you’ve made an excellent choice.
Your mental attitude is the key to your fun and excitement. Smile. Laugh. And the fun filled adventures will roll
your way. There is no right way or wrong way to travel and see Europe… as long as it’s YOUR way!!
With that in mind, let’s have some fun “meandering” through Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
I assume you’ve made your basic list of where YOU want to go and what YOU want to do. Whether by tour group, independent
travel by rail or rented auto, the excitement you’re about to have will bring you back many times over for the
rest of your life.
My wife Suzie and I like to rent a car and drive the back roads, so that’s the transportation mode we’ll be discussing.
One thing you’ll notice in my writings and posts is that I very seldom name a zimmer or eating establishment, nor
do I usually give prices. First, I don’t keep those notes since we seldom take the same route or stay at the same
place. Second, it’s my intent to encourage all readers to strike out on their own, discover their own zimmers and
bierstubbes / wienstubbes and other favorite places along the back roads. Besides, some of the eating establishments
I might list would be small grocery stores, bread shops or other food stores - we enjoy picnicking a lot.
Before you leave home, run down to AAA and get an IDP (International Drivers Permit). The $18 (including pictures)
can save you many headaches if problems occur in foreign lands, and you’ll have a memento for years to come (my
first one shows me with more hair, darker in color!) Your IDP is good for a year, and you can tell AAA the effective
“start date” which I set for the day we leave for Germany. While you’re there, pick up a Rick Steves book on Germany,
Switzerland and Austria, discounted $4 off retail (I told you we’re watching our budget!). Also spend $1 and pick
up a AAA map of the same area (It’s a terrible map for driving, but you’ll see later why you want it).
Also, go to Border Books or other major book store, and pick up a good map(s). We like those by Hallwag, Michelin,
or Ravenstein (a spiral book of Deutschland + Europa maps). The numbers you see on the map (i.e. 1:400,000) equate
to 1cm equals 400,000 km etc. The smaller the big number, the more detailed roadways etc the map has, and the better
the map will be for back roads traveling.
Now, let’s start off with a couple of attitudinal changes:
Let’s make our trips budget conscious, but realistic (keeps us closer to the average local and a helluva lot more fun.) Given the overall picture and cost of the trip, we’re not going to quibble over a few bucks for some important items, now are we?
English may be spoken by some but it’s NOT the primary language where you'll be going, so take a language conversion dictionary or phrase book. Hey, it’s part of the excitement!
Don’t plan your trip so “tight” that your so busy thinking of and rushing to the next destination you fail to see the important place in front of your eyes you listed as “Important - DO NOT Miss!”
Expect the unexpected - CHILL OUT when you come upon a small herd of cows being driven to a new pasture. Take pictures. Listen to the cow bells. This difference is what you came to see!
If you drive the back roads like we do, expect to average 60…km per hour (that’s 36 miles per hour). This is not the U.S. and little bergs pop up ever 1 or 2 km or so. They’re all fun, cute, and unique in their own way. Each has something special if you’ll only glance away from the road.
Always keep a short diary of your trip. Each person should do this.
Not finally, but to end the list for now, plan every 4th day as a “chill out day”…. I could expound on the importance of this for pages, but just do it. You will NOT be bored, but you’ll discover the importance as you travel, never to leave home without your “chill out day” again.
As you start your planning, open up the
AAA map of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In my opinion, the AAA map is good for one purpose only… it’s small
and will show you easily “where Munich (Munchen) is in relation to Frankfurt, etc.” Mental picturing only…don’t
try to drive with it or you’ll get lost! Now pull out your “real maps” listed above and start your planning. One
good site for a list of distances between points is Mapquest - http://www.mapquest.com.
We’ll get to driving tips in a future commentary. It’s easy, but there are certain differences you MUST know.
Excited yet? Go to http://www.ricksteves.com/ (not now - Later!) and find some wonderful tips on how to pack and
a multitude of other great tips. Don’t forget to check out the Ben's Bauernhof links and Rick Steves links to other
sites. Some of these links are to web-cams which have active cameras of the various sites. Remember the time difference…
you can’t see much when it’s dark in Germany! And if it looks like it’s snowing, you can even go to a weather site
for updated weather and conditions before you travel. http://www.weather.com/
Just remember you may need to spell the location name in Deutsch, not English.
What’s the money conversion rate? http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic
will give you money conversions for all the accepted currencies throughout the world. Write down a “cheat sheet”
of the various monies you’ll be encountering and take it with you. Starting in 2002, much of Europe will be on
the Euro, but for a while it’ll still be wise to take the original money exchange rate list with you.
Q & A (Better known in computer jargon as FAQ’S)
What is a zimmer or pension?
A zimmer - or zimmer frei - is like a B&B (Bed and Breakfast) and a pension is usually the same with a few
rooms, much like very small private hotel? A zimmer can vary from just a room in a private home with bath down
the hall to a small multi-room establishment, usually with a restaurant or pub on the ground level with rooms to
let above. Almost all these establishments include a continental breakfast in the price. Some Bavarian breakfasts
we’ve had were very extravagant! Our experiences have ALL have proven to be interesting, fun, reasonable, and picturesque!
How do you judge a suitable one to stay for the night?
Two ways... if it looks interesting from the outside we inquire within. It is common place in Europe to SEE the
room first without committing...and NOT committing or refusing if you don't like it! Perfectly acceptable! Also
I think you'll find 99.99% of the rooms are extremely clean and nice - AND 2nd...the price. There are those who
try to gouge, especially a few of the Rick Steves referrals...so we figure approximately U.S $35 to $50 per nite
for two including breakfast!!! , - DO YOUR MONEY CONVERSIONS FXConverter - OANDA's 164 Currency Converter BEFORE
YOU COMMIT - with most averaging closer to U.S. $35 per nite for great zimmers! We also will not make reservations,
and do not want to stay in really expensive places, but we want a clean place.
Do you go in and look around, or judge from the outside?
Can't judge a book by it's cover- good or bad. If it looks interesting or if it's late and it's the only one you
see, check it out before you commit.
Do you use guide books for reference?
We usually trust our instincts and "go for it" wherever we are...always prepared to sleep in the car
as a last resort, but never had to do so to date! (Knock knock on wood).
We are finding that the car will cost about $400/week. Does this
sound comparable?
Depends on what kind of car and the country of rental and return. We reserved one for late May - June ‘01, thru
AutoEurope. Compact car for about $226 for 8 days. What about insurance? We use CDW coverage on our platinum VISA
-no charge - call your own credit card company and get written info on coverage. Most such coverage is good up
to 30 days out of USA.
Do you ever have to use the trains? Or has the car been sufficient?
We love trains. But, except in larger cities, we find the car will do much more. Trains are fun when you can work
them in, i.e. Munich - Venice - Munich day trip or overnight trip, etc.
How should we pack?
We are trying to follow ETBD recommendations and packing very light. We can only bring two carry-ons, check nothing
since we fly standby. Packing light is a GREAT idea. We almost always fly standby - and limit ourselves to one
carry-on each. Never a problem! Puts fun and excitement back into traveling. Old undies are wear and throw away
in Europe leaving room to bring back goodies.
Have you ever bought stuff and mailed it home? Is this a problem?
Yes, we buy and ship home. We suggest you ALWAYS PUT IT ON CREDIT CARD in the event it does not find it's way to
your home. Be prepared for $35 shipping via AIR, and double check your receipt. Also be prepared to wait 6 weeks,
not the 3 weeks they promise. We have had NO problems with getting what we bought, in good condition...5 years
straight.
Where is your favorite part of Germany?
I like best Pstuyvsant’s answer to that question. “Wherever I am at the time as long as it’s
in Germany!” P.S. See Larry’s Links on BensBauernhof
Well, that’s about it for now.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful trip, wherever you travel!
