Travel Tips

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I definitely think that Germany is under-rated as a travel destination. Germany has so much to offer yet people seem to be unaware of it. Many people that I have talked to have only seen Frankfurt and think that all of Germany looks like Frankfurt. People don't seem to know that Germany has romantic cities, palaces, castles, and river valleys and that it is a very diverse country. I was talking to someone who was surprised that Germany is one of the countries that the Alps run through! What I find frustrating is that German tourism information seems to focus more on Frankfurt's skyscrapers than on cities like Heidelberg, Rothenburg, or the Rhine and Moselle Valleys. People from places like Vancouver, New York, and Hong Kong go to Europe to see old romantic cities, medieval festivals, and experience the culture. We do not travel to see skyscrapers in Frankfurt. After all, we get enough of them at home. -- Yasser Al-Saadi, Canada

I agree with Ben Donald that Germany is an overlooked destination. For clear historical reasons, people in my part of Europe (Britain and Europe) have blocked out Germany as a place to go to for anything other than business. Germany is simply "hidden" by its past. What a shame that is! I have visited four times in the past two years and was very taken with the country. I wasn't surprised or changed in my opinions as I did not have any strong preconceptions. It's just that I had not realized that the country can be so interesting and in many areas very beautiful. I reckon that many Germans are pleased if a visitor can speak any German at all and they do not hold out for perfection. This is because Germany, while visited, is not a country that gets any kind of positive objective appreciation from people in English speaking countries. There is not the same reaction to visiting Germany as you would get if you visit France, Italy or Spain. Ben Donald is right: It is a new frontier. -- Patrick Hurley, Ireland

I plan to return to Germany for the third time for vacation. Germany is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited, from the Alps to the Baltic. The German people are some of the most friendly, funny and intelligent people I have ever met and are eager to continue a conversation, especially since I am from Texas. I am looking forward to my vacation in October to the Rhine and the Black Forest. -- Mark Burrows, US

On our first trip to Europe in 1984, we fell in love with Germany. The scenery is spectacular, the people helpful and everything "works." And, the autobahns are fantastic. Our early trips were spent visiting the traditional tourist destinations but in 1997 and 2000 we found the hidden gems of Germany such as Sababurg Castle. Our children are now totally fluent in German and we will be returning to the fabulous country in 2008 for more exploring. -- Greg Wulff, Australia

I've traveled to Germany on holiday twice now and think it's a great travel destination. Germany needs to market itself much more than it does. From the wine festivals in the Rhine River Valley to a hike in the Black Forest near the small town of Staufen, the scenery is awesome. Baden-Baden has quaint shops where you can stroll along the streets and Munich is one of my new favorite cities in the world. Adding the medieval charm of Rothenburg, you have so many opportunities to attract tourists to your country. And I haven't even been to Berlin yet! -- Kris, US