Family Travel Tips Germany
Is a family holiday on the cards? Germany is an easily accessible, family-friendly destination with entertainment for all ages. Numerous low cost airlines offer direct links between the United Kingdom and the European mainland country’s airports such as Frankfurt-Hahn, Dusseldorf-Weeze, and larger city airports. It needn’t be a pricey holiday!
Accommodation
If you’re hoping to save money and don’t mind very basic accommodation, hotel chains such as Formule 1 offer very reasonably priced family rooms with bunk beds and communal bathroom facilities. Alternatively, you might be able to snap up an affordable self-catering deal if travelling at low season. Holiday lets are quite common in tourist areas such as the Rhine wine region and Black Forest.
Keen on meeting some German locals? Consider arranging a place to stay through Airbnb, an exciting internet-based project that sees people opening up their homes to foreign visitors for short stays in return for a small fee.
If money’s no object, both Germany’s cities and rural areas boast posh hotels and luxurious guest houses to choose from. For inspiration, think Villa Kennedy in Frankfurt and Schlosshotel Im Grunewald in Berlin.
Sights and Attractions
It’s impossible for any family member to get bored in as big and diverse a destination as Germany. From world class museums for history buffs to theme parks for thrill seekers, no one risks being left dissatisfied with the holiday.
Many families choose to visit Heide Park near Hamburg. It’s one of the country’s largest theme parks with rides including a freefall tower, and various seriously scary rollercoasters.
Outdoor-loving families should visit Bavaria and its Alps. Here, you don’t have to splurge on entrance fees to museums and theme parks as everywhere is an attraction in itself. Hiking is the best way to discover the area so cram your backpacks full of snacks and set off for a day in the wilderness. If you’re kids are begging for more entertainment, visit one of the Kinderlands in Oberstdorf or the Ammergau Alps where they can pet farm animals, go on some rides, and even try their hand at canoeing.
Berlin and its history are fascinating and so worth exploring. For a bizarre adventure with a bit of an edge, visit the abandoned Spreepark fun park that features eery old rides overrun with flora. Guided tours are held over weekends. You could also be checking out MountMitte, an urban adventure park where families can go wild, climbing up all sorts of contraptions and even sliding in and out of old cars suspended in the air. Full safety gear and harnesses are provided.
General Tips
To set your mind at ease, book your accommodation, rental car, and any planned activities in advance. A cheap calls to Germany service may come in handy to sort out all the details quickly and effectively.
Airports served by low cost airlines, such as the above-mentioned Frankfurt-Hahn, do have a tendency to be located outwith city boundaries. Make sure you’re aware of this when you book your flights, and ensure you can get to your chosen accommodation easily and on time.
In Germany, autobahns (expressways) have no speed limits for regular passenger vehicles travelling without an additional load, unless signs indicate otherwise. An advisory speed limit is in place, however, and is 130km/h.
Will your family be ready for a natural disaster
Disasters can strike at anytime anywhere, will you and your family be ready? You should be aware of the risks in your area. Ask yourself do I live in a flood zone area, is my area known for hurricanes, earthquakes, hail storms, Tsunamis, wildfires, volcanoes, and tornadoes. If so you should plan according to the risk in your area.
Plan in advance where to meet if your family members are separated, like kids being in school, parents at work etc. Also have a certain person in which everyone will call to let them know where they are.
Prepare in advance an emergency supply kit. Figure out how much food and water your family will need for about 4 days. Today there is a variety of food storage containers that you can buy to use in your emergency kit. You can choose from freeze-dried fruits like strawberries, blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, cheese, meats for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some of the freeze-dried meals are fettuccine alfredo with or without chicken, beef stroganoff, beef stew, lasagna with meat sauce, chicken teriyaki with rice. Than there are dehydrated eggs, butter, tomatoes powder, low-fat granola. After you have everything you need put all your supplies into a large container with handles so that it will be easier to carry, but don’t make it to heavy.
A food storage container can also be used for your flashlight, batteries, radio, first-aid kit, matches, lighters, blankets, extra clothes, shoes, towels, paper plates, paper towels, wipes, plastic spoons, forks, knifes, tooth brush and paste, toilet paper and extra money. Also make copies of your insurance policies, mortgage papers, car information, family pictures, photo albums anything important to you and than burn them on a CD and place it into your container, or just keep the paper copies and put them into the container. Keep an up to date utility bill in the container to show proof that you were living there at the time of the diaster. Put your containers in a place that you can get to quickly.
If you live in a hurricane area the season runs between June and November in the United States. Most hurricanes are usually slow travelers so this will give you time to decide if you are going to stay or leave. If you are going to leave put your containers in the car early so that you will not leave anything. Leave early so that you will not get caught up in the traffic.
Tornado season is usually between April and July but sometimes it may come earlier. Those who have basements, or storm shelters should go there when they hear the sirens. Another safe place will be a room with no windows. If you live in a trailer home you should find other shelter and prepare to take your emergency kit with you.
Will your family be ready for the next natural disaster in your area? They can be if you have an emergency plan, and an emergency kit.
High Energy Biscuits is the beast food for emergencies.
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