Basic Information
Money
Germany is part of the European Union, and they have adopted the euro as their currency. You will need to convert your money into euros either at home or in Germany. You will get the best rates by using your ATM card. However, please read my entry Captured in Munich; you will want to make sure you have more than one option with you for acquiring cash. It has been our experience that traveler’s checks are not universally accepted, even if they are in the euro currency. If you need to cash them at a bank, you will be charged a surcharge to do so. American Express Offices will cash your American Express cheques if you are a cardholder for fre,e but that requires that you locate the local office. We usually bring about 200 euros of cash that we get from our local bank. You will need to have cash when you arrive to take transportation from the airport. Credit cards are universally accepted in Germany, but not everywhere and not for everything. There are still restaurants and small stores that don’t accept credit cards, as we found out. Nymphenberg Palace
didn’t accept credit cards for entrance fees. You will also need change for parking.
Driving
Driving in Germany is enjoyable. The roads are in excellent condition, and the signs are easy to understand. Most signs use the international pictures, so even if you don’t understand any German, you will be able to decipher them. On the Autobahn, only get into the left lane to pass; etiquette requires that you not linger in the passing lane. Watch out for posted speed limits. There are sections of the Autobahn without limits, but not all are without limits. When it comes time to park, always look for a machine selling "park and display" tickets. Just because you don’t see parking meters, don’t assume that parking is free - it probably isn’t. Check the cars around you and see if they are displaying a ticket on their dashboard. A very expensive parking ticket is a sure way to spoil your day, and as we found out on the last trip, the ticket needed to be paid at a bank.
Speaking
I would advise that you get a small book of German phrases and at least familiarize yourself with the obvious words. In spite of prevalent rumors, not everyone in Germany speaks English. There were several occasions when we need to use our very rudimentary German. I carry Just Enough German by Passport Books, and it has just about every occasion covered.
Eating
German food, overall, is a rather heavy affair. Knodels are very heavy dumplings that taste like a soggy baseball as far as I am concerned, and they are served universally. I learned very quickly to say, "Kein knodel. Kartoffeln, bitte." (No dumplings. Potatoes, please.) Salad
can mean anything from just lettuce to a plethora of vegetables, and we have never been offered a choice of dressing; you will get what the house serves. When it comes to ordering German beer, you are in for a treat. I personally am a big pilsner lover, and this is very much the lager we are used to in the United States. You will usually pay considerably less for a large pilsner than you will for bottled water in a restaurant. Tipping in German is usually included in the bill; look for the word bedienung. If service is good, we always leave at least 10%, which, from what we observed, is generous.