With Oktoberfest not starting until September and the delightful German Christmas markets merely a fond memory, what can you expect visiting Munich in spring? Like so many popular travel spots, spring means warming temperatures and blooming flowers. And in Munich, it means a return to the outdoors as Biergarten culture resumes and a plethora of festivals begin. Spring brings a special excitement to Munich.
Traveling is stressful enough as it is, so I wanted to share some of my favorite Philadelphia tips and recommendations as a born and bred local. The City of Brotherly Love richly rewards visitors. There are countless museums, restaurants, and shops. The sports fans are diehard, to put it lightly. Renaissance man Benjamin Franklin, artist Mary Cassatt, and actor Kevin Bacon all have walked the streets and called the city home at one time or another. There’s history no matter what period of the past interests you. Get to know Philly with these local favorites.
I wish someone had told me these things before traveling to Germany for the first time. My husband (who was then my fiance) and I went armed only with our high school German knowledge, an envelope full of Euros and a positive attitude. But our good attitude only went so far as we spent two weeks in Berlin. It was rough. Since then, we’ve been back to Munich almost a half dozen times and we’ve become a bit of a well-oiled machine. Here are my best tips for things to know before traveling to Germany for the first time. Even repeat visitors might find something of interest.
Thanks to the Mobile Passport app I was asleep in the final hours of my flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Newark, New Jersey. While my fellow passengers were filling out customs forms, I wasn’t thinking about paperwork. I had seen the app advertised online before leaving home and had convinced my husband that we should give it a try. The app promises a quick trip through U.S. Customs and Border Protection on arrival back in the good ol’ USA from abroad. It seemed too good to be true, I thought. But it was worth a try. What did I have to lose? The Mobile Passport app didn’t disappoint.
Smartphones have made so many aspects of travel easier. In our pockets we hold a device with maps, transportation schedules, a way to call a taxi, order food, book a hotel room, pay for things — the list is seemingly endless. But as we depend more on our smartphones, we depend on having access to the internet. That could mean researching and buying a SIM card, a personal wifi device, or you could simply use Google’s wireless service: Project Fi.
I’ve been a Project Fi subscriber for several years and taken my Fi phone with me. While you can always seem to find free wifi when out and about at restaurants and hotels, I’ve depended solely on Project Fi on the rest of my adventures in Germany and Austria.
It seems like every third commercial on television is for a hotel price comparison website. There’s a lot of competition! And it’s understandable. Travel seems to be more popular than ever but it can be stressful. When you’re planning a trip, the last thing you want to deal with is comparing hotel prices. If you’re flying to your destination, it can be difficult enough trying to coordinate the ticket price you want with the dates you have available. And then you still have to book a hotel. But things are getting a little easier. With the help of DirectHotels.com you can book a hotel and support local businesses by booking directly.
Germany is known for its engineering but most of us can’t realistically gift our friends and family a German made automobile. But if you’re searching for a gift for a special and discerning lover of Germany, then I’ve got just the gift guide for you! I’ve gathered together twelve German gift ideas from food to clothing to entertainment. All of these ideas are personal picks that I can vouch for. Regardless of whether your German-loving friend or family member has been to Germany or not, they will feel like they have been with any of these great gifts.
Whether you’re traveling to Bavaria for Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein or to take a day trip to charming villages or refresh with an alpine getaway, get ready to give your wallet some serious attention. While Bavaria is the second wealthiest of the German federal states, there are things you can do to save yourself a little cash while traveling. From taking advantage of technology to money saving passes, I’m sharing my favorite tips for traveling a little smarter. Consider it a little extra money for a Biergarten visit! Here are my simple tricks to save money traveling in Bavaria.
History buffs won’t want to miss Philadelphia because, as you might have heard, the city played a rather key role in the founding of the country. In the city’s Old City neighborhood you can see important sites of historic Philadelphia, like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Constitution Hall. It’s a traveler’s delight because many of the most important and interesting historic attractions are free and allow you up-close access. You can easily get it all in within a single day. So strap on your walking shoes and let’s get going. Here’s my guide to a day in Philadelphia for history buffs!
Whether you’re looking for historic towns, mountain adventures, or castles, the best day trips from Munich are only a short car or train ride away. The city seems to have it all. Great food, it is surrounded by beautiful nature, there are more castles than you can shake a stick at, and Munich’s people are so friendly. And for visitors, another thing that’s so appealing about Munich is its location. It’s a wonderful location to serve as your home base if you want to explore Bavaria, Austria, and the surrounding area. With great transportation connections and lots of interesting sites within an hour to three hours by train, it’s a no brainer. Here are my picks of the best day trips from Munich!
It doesn’t matter if you prefer modern art, impressionism, or street art, there’s a lot on offer in Philadelphia for art lovers. Philadelphia has been the home and inspiration for countless artists such as Thomas Eakins, Alexander Calder (both Milne and Stirling), and Robert Crumb. The galleries and collections in the city are also incredibly impressive. This is both in terms of quantity and quality. If you only have a single day to see and experience the city and you love art, here is my art lovers travel guide to Philadelphia.
With the summer vacation season fast approaching, you might have a trip planned for Germany (Munich, anyone?), Austria, Switzerland or parts of Italy. And if you don’t speak any German, you might want to learn some of the language. At least have a few German travel phrases on stand-by. In my experience, locals always appreciate you trying to speak to them in their mother tongue. And believe me — I’ve said all the wrong things at all the wrong times.
But practice makes perfect! Sure, you might not use the exactly correct term or your pronunciation might not be perfect but just making an attempt goes a really long way. Trust me!
Here are a few German travel phrases and words that you’ll want to memorize before your next trip to Germany or Austria.