Germany dress atire

[ronaldnelson]

can anyone tell me if on the Germany trip if we have to take dress/casual clothes for any of the dinners. would jeans and shorts be ok for the whole trip?

thanks Ron

 

[distravel]

Some people got dressed up for the farewell dinner which has an Oktoberfest vibe otherwise very casual. We went to Germany two years ago.

 

[ronaldnelson]

thank you distravel, we leave in a month. we are spending 10 days before going from Berlin to Heidelberg then meeting up with ABD to head down to Munich.
the hotels, did they have washers and dryers you could use?

 

[Firsttimer15]

As I am from Germany I might be able to help.
Clothes, yes you can wear Jeans in restaurants but it depends where you dine. A fine dining place with a Michelin star or more upscale. I personally would choose something else. For normal place it appropriate and Fine. A Lot of times it is quite cold here so I don't wear shorts often but I would not wear them in a restaurant for dinner. On the go at lunch I'd say it is ok.
Germans don't wear the t-shirt, shorts, sneaker combination like Americans do but its totally fine for tourists. No one needs to buy new clothes for trips. I wear my German clothes to the US As well and of course people notice.
You don't need to tip the waiters 18 to 20% over here no one does.
Washers and driers I have personally not seen in hotels but almost all have dry cleaning.
Germans tend to wear clothes more than just one day for Environmental reasons. Of course only when still clean and not smelly and not the underwear. I would try to find out in advance if you know what you will take along and when you will need to wash and contact that specific hotel.

 

[Woodview]

For U.S.A. persons Please read the above sentence Re. Tipping

I have said it again & again it is not done. . yes it will be appreciated if given But not expected .

 

[paddles]

In Heidelberg, there is a nice Laundromat right next door to the hotel, so we did some laundry there before the tour started.

 

[SingingMom]

We like to dress for dinner - summer dress for me & DD, khakis and polo or button down shirt for DH. DD21 wore a dirndl for the farewell dinner. However, You can get away with shorts & jeans, especially during the day.

Please note no jeans were allowed at breakfast at the Kempinski Hotel in Munich. Gentlemen had to wear khakis/pants, to enter the dining room.

 

[carpenta]

Having done this trip last year I agree most venues are relaxed atmospheres. Jeans and chinos are great and maybe shorts for the bike ride and a bathing suit for the pool and lake swim. Our daughter purchased a local Bavarian dress for the last night of the trip as others had in our group. In all our trips to Europe we have never once had any waiter or waitress either return our "tip" nor be insulted for leaving one.

 

[richflour]

Tipping is already included in the meal price , They are paid much more in Germany than in the U.S. .(servers)
Singing mom hit the nail on the head as far as what to wear .
Germany is my favorite abd so far!

 

[ronaldnelson]

In Heidelberg, there is a nice Laundromat right next door to the hotel, so we did some laundry there before the tour started.

oh that is good to hear, thank you

 

[ronaldnelson]

As I am from Germany I might be able to help.
Clothes, yes you can wear Jeans in restaurants but it depends where you dine. A fine dining place with a Michelin star or more upscale. I personally would choose something else. For normal place it appropriate and Fine. A Lot of times it is quite cold here so I don't wear shorts often but I would not wear them in a restaurant for dinner. On the go at lunch I'd say it is ok.
Germans don't wear the t-shirt, shorts, sneaker combination like Americans do but its totally fine for tourists. No one needs to buy new clothes for trips. I wear my German clothes to the US As well and of course people notice.
You don't need to tip the waiters 18 to 20% over here no one does.
Washers and driers I have personally not seen in hotels but almost all have dry cleaning.
Germans tend to wear clothes more than just one day for Environmental reasons. Of course only when still clean and not smelly and not the underwear. I would try to find out in advance if you know what you will take along and when you will need to wash and contact that specific hotel.

that is great advice, thank you so much. we have seen that during the day it can get 25-30 degrees but cools off at night so we thought we would bring a little of everything to be on the safe side, we are so looking forward to the trip. thank you again

 

[ronaldnelson]

We like to dress for dinner - summer dress for me & DD, khakis and polo or button down shirt for DH. DD21 wore a dirndl for the farewell dinner. However, You can get away with shorts & jeans, especially during the day.

Please note no jeans were allowed at breakfast at the Kempinski Hotel in Munich. Gentlemen had to wear khakis/pants, to enter the dining room.

that is good to know, thank you so much

 

[ronaldnelson]

Tipping is already included in the meal price , They are paid much more in Germany than in the U.S. .(servers)
Singing mom hit the nail on the head as far as what to wear .
Germany is my favorite abd so far!

that is good to hear, we were going to go to Africa but cancelled and decided to go to Germany as the kids thought it would be neat to stay in a castle. so looking forward to the architecture

 

[carpenta]

I think that Germany is one of the better trips that cater to the youth. The kids really love staying in the castle, the night watchman walk as well as the dress-up in the lords and ladies outfits. In the castle the kids seemed to enjoy the tour of the jail area which still survives complete with authentic torture machines. For architecture the towns are remarkable and kept as if in a time machine. In Munich we were met by Michael, a local guide' that was absolutely wonderful with the kids and was like the Pied Piper the way the kids followed him.

 

[SingingMom]

I think that Germany is one of the better trips that cater to the youth. The kids really love staying in the castle, the night watchman walk as well as the dress-up in the lords and ladies outfits. In the castle the kids seemed to enjoy the tour of the jail area which still survives complete with authentic torture machines. For architecture the towns are remarkable and kept as if in a time machine. In Munich we were met by Michael, a local guide' that was absolutely wonderful with the kids and was like the Pied Piper the way the kids followed him.

Ahhhh, Michael! <3. Everyone should be lucky enough to tour with him! Lol. We will never forget him jumping in the lake at Neushweinschtein!!! I will forever think of him when I see the "white & blue" of Bavaria!!

 

[carpenta]

Yes in our group the kids jumped in with him, some in their street clothes. He led them out to the center of the lake and proclaimed "You are all now in Austria". He was a Tasmanian Devil full of energy and a wealth of information. He even had the kids carry the Bavarian flag up towards the castle and "go fishing for tourists". That entailed running up behind the unsuspecting tourists and whisk the flag (being held on both sides outstretched flat) up over the heads of the tourists and continued running up the ramp towards the castle. On our exit from the castle he had all the kids scream at the top of their lungs in the long cavernous basement hallway which echoed throughout the castle. He was quite entertaining to say the least. I hope Ronaldnelson's group gets to experience the "Michael Experience".

 

[ronaldnelson]

if we see Michael, i will tell him you all say HELLO

 

[carpenta]

If you see him ( I hope you do) you will not forget him.

 

[ronaldnelson]

We received our box today, 3 weeks to go, can't wait