1st ABD Trip: Germany July 2014

[Branchall Fam]

We just booked our first ABD vacation for this summer. So excited! It was so hard to choose just one as ALL the adventures look amazing. After reading so many wonderful posts, we decided on the Germany: Once Upon a Fairytale. It seems perfect for our 8 year old daughter who is very much in love with castles and fairy tales (fingers crossed there will be junior adventurers around her age). Any tips on pre-adventure prep?

Thanks so much,
Nicole

 

[sayhello]

Congrats on signing up for your first ABD! Just beware, they are highly addictive!!!!

We have several people on this board who have taken this trip, so I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions!

If you'd like, let me know who's in your party, and which date you're doing, and I'll add you to the Roll Call on the Meets thread for the Germany trip! You might be able to connect with another DISer doing the same trip! You'll also find lots of discussion of the trip there!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2933931

Sayhello

 

[SingingMom]

We just booked our first ABD vacation for this summer. So excited! It was so hard to choose just one as ALL the adventures look amazing. After reading so many wonderful posts, we decided on the Germany: Once Upon a Fairytale. It seems perfect for our 8 year old daughter who is very much in love with castles and fairy tales (fingers crossed there will be junior adventurers around her age). Any tips on pre-adventure prep? Thanks so much, Nicole

It is a wonderful trip and your 8 year old will enjoy it! Lots of fun activities, even if there aren't many children on the tour.
My piece of advice is have your daughter bring coloring book & crayons or a drawing pad for the long coach rides. Sometimes you will be "entertained" on the bus, but other times it is quiet time to look out the window or doze. As a joke, our 20 year old had a princess coloring book, and she & her seat mate had a silly time, coloring across Germany.

The first hotel & the last have lovely indoor pools, if you are looking for something to do. Not much free time in Munich, but a quick dip in Heidelberg was welcomed.

The middle two hotels do not have AC, but ABD supplies electric fans. I purchased a hand fan for some of our walking tours. It was unusually warm our week in July. Beautiful, but with lots of walking, I used my hand fan, a la Sissi. You will learn all about her on the trip! ;-)

We just returned from WDW and had dinner in Germany in EPCOT so we could reminisce about our beautiful trip!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[wiigirl]

You are going to have a wonderful time!

 

[tiggersam00]

DH and I are on the trip right after yours I cannot wait, it looks like a great trip

This is our first Germany trip as well (Well technically DH went to Munich for a few days when he was 17 with his BFF, but he spent all his time drinking beer, so I am not counting that ) We are doing 3 pre days in Iceland and staying in Munich for 2 extra days at the end bc it doesn't look like enough time in Munich on the ABD.

What are your plans? Are there anythings you "Must See"? Looking for any ideas

 

[k5jm]

It is an amazing trip. We had fantastic guides and the views and sights were amazing. Make sure you have comfortable shoes! Lots of walking and some hiking. Just an incredible adventure!

 

[Branchall Fam]

Thanks for the notes...we'll tailor our packing accordingly. Hoping for nice weather, I feel like we'll have earned it after this winter.

Everything will be a must see for us; I've only ever been as far east as Geneva so it'll all be new and exciting.

-DD

 

[rchrls]

Our family has just booked our first ABD trip to Germany (July 25th)! Our two daughters (6 & 10) as well as my mother-in-law and mom are joining us. We are all so excited! Does anyone happen to know if any of the hotels have self-laundry services? Trying to cut back on luggage!

 

[tiggersam00]

We are going on the 8/1 ABD to Germany and were wondering the same thing. We are doing 3 pre-days in Iceland as well so by Waldeck I am sure we will need to get some things washed. If there is no laundry service at the hotels, one thing I have done in the past is use Tide detergent sink packs to wash things on my own. I usually only have to wash things that get more wear (like jeans or sweatshirts and tank tops that go over or under everything). You fill the sink in your room and hand wash a few items at a time, it takes 10 minutes tops and I leave the clothes to dry in the bathroom while we are out for the day. I have heard a lot of the hotels we stay at have towel warming racks as well, which can speed drying if needed as well
Hopefully this was a little bit helpful

 

[sayhello]

Our family has just booked our first ABD trip to Germany (July 25th)! Our two daughters (6 & 10) as well as my mother-in-law and mom are joining us. We are all so excited! Does anyone happen to know if any of the hotels have self-laundry services? Trying to cut back on luggage!

Welcome to the ABD Forum, and congrats on booking your first ABD! You're in for a wonderful trip!!

I've added you to the Roll Call on our Germany Trip Meets thread. You're going to be on the same trip as Branchall Fam! If you get a chance, check out the Thread. You'll find a lot of great information and discussions there!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2933931

Sayhello

 

[k5jm]

Our family has just booked our first ABD trip to Germany (July 25th)! Our two daughters (6 & 10) as well as my mother-in-law and mom are joining us. We are all so excited! Does anyone happen to know if any of the hotels have self-laundry services? Trying to cut back on luggage!

We had the Hotel launder our clothes in Röthenberg. I do not believe any of the hotels had a self-service laundry. But really have little time to try and do that yourself.

 

[lovetotravel]

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[SingingMom]

How is the availability of wifi and hair dryers on this trip? Thanks!

I remember hair dryers in every hotel. Wifi was spotty, but available. However, You will be too busy to miss it! Lol. LOVED this trip!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[k5jm]

How is the availability of wifi and hair dryers on this trip? Thanks!

Wifi is a battle. You have to get vouchers at almost every hotel. We solved this by bringing a google Nexus 4 that was unlocked. I then purchased a Vodaphone 5GB data only SIM and used the phone as a Hotspot. Worked great in the hotels and on the Coach portions of our trip.

I believe DW brought her Universal Voltage hair dryer.. But I remember seeing them in all the hotels.

 

[lovetotravel]

Where do you buy the SIM card?

 

[MinnieGarden]

Wifi is a battle. You have to get vouchers at almost every hotel. We solved this by bringing a google Nexus 4 that was unlocked. I then purchased a Vodaphone 5GB data only SIM and used the phone as a Hotspot. Worked great in the hotels and on the Coach portions of our trip. I believe DW brought her Universal Voltage hair dryer.. But I remember seeing them in all the hotels.

Actually, I didn't bring my own hair dryer, but wished I had. There were hair dryers in all of the hotels, some were better than others, however if that's an important part of your routine I would recommend bringing your own or buying one there. I would also recommend bringing your own shampoo and conditioner for this particular adventure.

 

[k5jm]

Where do you buy the SIM card?

Near the Hotel in Heidelberg, the main shopping district, there is a Vodaphone store. The spoke very good English. There is also Detsche Telekom store as well. I have great success with with Vodephone.

 

[Branchall Fam]

Wifi is a battle. You have to get vouchers at almost every hotel. We solved this by bringing a google Nexus 4 that was unlocked. I then purchased a Vodaphone 5GB data only SIM and used the phone as a Hotspot. Worked great in the hotels and on the Coach portions of our trip.

This is useful information...thanks! I was hoping to just be able to buy a SIM.

--DD

 

[Woodview]

Hi All,

Just Remember a " Travel Adaptor " Plug for Recharging etc.

a 2 pin round required