Reader Travel Tips

My husband Horst and I visited Bavaria this year with a band from Texas. We felt welcome and enjoyed every minute of our tour, which took us to all those famous, beautiful places. The German people were courteous and most of them spoke English, so nobody felt stranded. Since we came from Texas, we felt very comfy in Bavaria. - Horst and Rita Klauser

My friend and I have made numerous trips and love it. We were in Leipzig and were going to Munich. We jumped on the train, fell asleep and awoke to the conductor. He asked where we were going and then waved his fingers and said, "No, no, you're going to Hamburg!" We all got a good laugh, as we were already in Berlin. The whole train car caught the joke and came to our assistance, offering suggestions of things to see and to do while there. We had a blast. We travel light, with few definite plans and always end up in many fantastic places and meet tons of friendly people. - Brian Parks

Oberau by Berchtesgaden is a choice spot for any vacation. - Phil Raasch

I read the article regarding the politeness of Berliners (22.06.2006) and can share my mixed experiences. I was a tourist in Berlin in 2005 and, overall, I think Berliners are generally polite. However, somewhat surprisingly, an assistant at a transport information desk was rude and dismissive towards me. I assume it was because my German language skills are weak. Also, the receptionist at our hotel was impatient with us when we questioned him about our assigned room. That said, I found all shopkeepers and food vendors polite, and all the locals we encountered were very friendly. The bad experiences have not put me off, and I look forward to returning to the wonderful city of Berlin in the future. - Lauren, Australia

My favorite hotel in Germany? This would be the Wald Hotel Manngold in Bergisch Gladbach outside of Cologne. It is a small, third generation family-run hotel with tasteful, comfortable rooms and wonderful service. If the restaurant doesn't have five stars, then it's under-rated! It has a beautiful view of the castle at night and sits on the edge of a expansive woods covered with hiking trails. It has excellent connections to Cologne via light rail and bus, so no car is needed. The Bensberg pedestrian zone, an easy walk away, has bakeries and a wide variety of restaurants and shops. We found this place by accident seven years ago and have returned every year at the end of our vacation to relax for a few days before we return home to California. We have never been disappointed. - Dr. John J. Wicks

Marzipan, goulash soup, beer and the bratwurst on the market square bring back fond memories of many visits to Germany. - Ben, Dallas, Texas