Travel Tips

I'm from Calcutta in eastern India. Calcuttans -- and, for that matter, all Indians -- must take care while walking down the streets of Germany. Long yellow lines on footpaths and streets mark the bike paths, a concept non-existent in India! Now, if you happen to straddle that sacrosanct path and cause an incident (like a bicycle bumping into you), it's your fault and not the cyclist's. While going for your pre-breakfast or after-dinner walk, keep your Indian third eye open for the yellow lines. -- Prof. Dr. Jyotirmoy Banerjee, India

I visited the cafe in the Rilke Haus on a school trip to Bremen with my boss and a colleague. We took a beautiful walk out of Fischerhude along a country lane for 10 minutes before arriving at this beautiful house with its cozy cafe. It's surrounded by a beautifully kept garden and creek running past the rear. The coffee and cake are great too. -- Michael Atkinson, Australia

Munich is one of our favorite cities. It is clean, seems safe and there is not a lot of graffiti, as in some European cities. We also like the great German beer and beautiful traditional clothes worn in Bavaria. -- Brigitte Huff, US

I am from the Midwest in the US and travel to Germany at least once a year. Fortunately, many of the trips require me to go to Heidelberg. I really enjoy the city and use it as a center to travel to other parts of Germany. The trip up the Neckar Valley is beautiful and relaxing. Try it. -- Don Cochran, US

I am planning my fifth visit to Germany in May, to the Moselle region and then the Bavarian Forest. Last year I went to Lübeck, and the Harz region. My beloved grandmother was German, and I was made to feel so welcome and "at home" while in Germany. I love the food, the wine, the beer, the little towns where I always stay in bed and breakfast houses, and I especially love all the people I've met who made my visits so memorable. I do try to speak the language, and even though I'm not very good at it, I know my efforts are appreciated. I can't wait to get back there! -- Karen

I vacationed in Germany last August for a week after being gone for 16 years. I was in the Army stationed in Wertheim and Bamberg back in the late 1980s. It was the best two and a half years of my life. There are so many great places to go that it would take nearly all summer to see them. Heidelberg, Cologne and Stuttgart are just a few of the truly great cities in Germany. I took two years of German in high school so my German is pretty good but even for those who do not speak the language the people there are very polite and helpful. I am trying to make it back there this fall for Oktoberfest in Munich. -- Todd Knott, US