The British Berliner
A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
Germany is open, where should you go on your holiday?
Germany is open!
In fact, most of Europe is open too.
Hurrah!
Last week, I advocated NOT going on a European-wide holiday.
Gasp!
Shock!
Horror!
But she’s a travel blogger.
How CAN she say that?
How dare she!
I dare to say this and I’ll continue to state quite clearly that the time for moving around willy-nilly is not now!
Now don’t get your knickers in a twist.
Can you go on a European holiday?
Sure!
Should you?
Nope!
By all means, take a breather and go SOMEWHERE!
But.
My advice four weeks ago is still valid.
For unnecessary tourist movement.
Do not travel.
And certainly, NOT outside your local region!
And here’s why:
I mean, what is going on?
If we can’t be trusted to abide by social distancing rules in our own countries, how on earth are we going to do it in a foreign country not our own!
Now before you send me all the hate, understand that nobody is expecting you to hide in your basement, live like a nun or never go out.
That’s not what I’m saying.
What I’m saying, is what I’ve been saying for weeks.
STAY LOCAL!
Where should you go in Germany?
Depending on where you live “local” could mean the regional county, state or city nearby, or have similar “health status” as your home country.
Here are some recommendations:
- For Berlin, click here!
2. For Brandenburg, click here!
3. For Hamburg, click here!
4. For Dresden, click here!
5. For Osnabrück, click here!
6. For Bremen, click here!
7. For Usedom, click here!
8. For the Baltic Sea, click here!
9. For the North Sea, click here!
What about Southern Germany?
Aha!
I haven’t been to the Southern parts of Germany in years, so I can’t give you any concrete details however, I have been to ALL of the places below and I highly recommend:
- Trier
- Heidelberg
- Nürnberg / Nuremberg
- Freiburg im Breisgau / Freiburg im Breisgau / Freiburg
- München / Munich
- Köln / Cologne
- Schwarzwald / the Black Forest
- the Mosel River / Moselle Region
- the Rhine river
- Bayern / Bavaria
Can I contact tourism boards for real-time information?
Sure you can!
For real-time information, please do your research via the following official federal state office or local tourism board:
- Berlin
- Potsdam
- Brandenburg
- Hamburg
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Sachsen / Saxony
- Dresden
- Leipzig
- Sachsen-Anhalt
- Niedersachsen / Lower Saxony
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Bayern / Bavaria
- Baden-Württemberg
- Nordrhein-Westfalen / North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rheinland-Pfalz / Rhineland-Palatinate
- Hessen
- Saarland
- Thüringen / Thuringia
- Hansestädte / the Hanseatic League – Hansa
- The Romantic Cities – Trier, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Idar-Oberstein, Neustadt / Weinstraße and Worms
- Discover Beethoven
- Historic Highlights of Germany
- Discover Germany From Home
- Die Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus / The German National Tourist Board
Anywhere else?
The other parts of Germany are lovely of course, but my husband – The Music Producer – doesn’t really like driving, and I don’t drive at all, so a maximum of 3 hours is more than enough, hence the idea of doing day-trips rather than going the whole hog!
And a day-trip is by no means guaranteed as due to the unknown numbers plus recent Covid-19 break-outs, many German destinations aren’t allowing daytrippers either!
In fact, some German states are insisting that you bring documentation proving that you have tested negative for COVID-19 in the last 48 hours before travel!
Sadly, if you live or have recently been to Gütersloh or Warendorf, nobody wants you visiting their town!
p.s If you’re booking hotels, houses and apartments, use this link to save 20% or more, between 5th January and 31st March 2021!
Booking.comAs much as I love train travel, I wouldn’t recommend using public transport at the moment and for goodness sake, try not to fly!
To be candid, the countries that we, as Germans and expat Brits, absolutely CANNOT travel to right now are the Balkan countries (minus Croatia), Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Moldova. And the rest of the entire world!
As far as the German Federal Office is concerned, the travel warning for the vast majority of the globe will continue until at least August 31st, although it might change and be lifted on a country-by-country basis.
Because as you might have already seen, NOT every country is allowing everyone in.
Some countries request that you self-isolate or entry is restricted or you might be asked to quarantine.
If you’re from the USA or a “third country” outside the EU, quite frankly, you’re buggered right now!
And besides, for most countries, and certainly in Germany, foreign travel isn’t recommended at all!
However if you insist, here’s a list of Europe’s country-by-country travel restrictions explained as well as the very reliable web platform created by the EU!
Obviously, no-one is going to tie you in ropes IF you do go abroad, but if anything goes wrong, you’re on your own!
The fact is that primarily tourists destinations are over-whelmed, and there’s a legitimate and very huge risk that if you DO travel far and wide, your destination might have a sudden increase in outbreak, your friends or family might get infected, you are forced into quarantine for a certain unforeseeable amount of time, and if you’re very unlucky, the borders might close.
Again!
If you’re tired of reading bad news or anything at all about covid19, check out my upbeat and funny posts here instead!
Is this the future?
The stark reality is, there is NO “business as usual.”
How can there be?
Until we get a vaccine, and perhaps, even beyond.
There’s only a “new normal.”
The simple fact is, the COVID-19 isn’t a conspiracy theory, it isn’t the end of time, and the stock market isn’t more important than people’s lives, but given the closeness, speed, reliance and ease in which we connect via global trade or travel, is a real legitimate worry.
Start thinking about a staycation as most regions around the world, are beginning to re-open.
In fact, this might be the time to jump in your car / on your bike, and explore where you live.
Yep!
It’s time to go local and explore!
But remember, no jumping on the nearest plane and causing havoc abroad!
Just ‘cos there’s a relaxation of lockdown doesn’t mean that Covid-19 has disappeared.
It hasn’t.
It’s still very much with us and likely to be around for quite some time!
So if you’re looking for a change of scenery, stay local!
Even better, stay home!
I mean, come on!
Is it just me?
See you next week!
Germany is open. Let’s go!
Stay on top of things by listening / reading the news, but don’t go mad. Watch or read once, then switch it off!
To be sure, life will NOT be what it was before and you can expect real change about the way we choose to live, and the political leaders you can trust.
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – May 2020
Speaking of trust. As far as travel blogs are concerned, you can trust ME!
I do NOT write about places that I haven’t personally been to.
I do NOT get paid to write on my blog.
All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!
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Once again if you can, please do stay at home, keep your distance from others, and flatten the curve!
Better to be safe than sorry.
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Germany is open, where should you go on your holiday?
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Don’t judge me!
GERMANY IS OPEN, WHERE SHOULD YOU GO ON YOUR HOLIDAY?
This article is not sponsored, and all thoughts and opinions, are my very own!
A huge thanks goes to all the many doctors, nurses, healthcare staff, keyworkers and volunteers world-wide, who have and are still, putting their lives on the line in order to help others.
Thank you.
July is going to be something most of us have never ever seen in our lifetime before.
See you soon!
Watch this space!
DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to World Nomads Travel Insurance & Booking.com.
In short, there are two affiliate link companies connected to this post!
Every time one of these services is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.
I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!
See you in Berlin.
If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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Buy Me A Cup of Tea!
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Buy Me A Cup of Tea!
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Donate so that I can continue to write hilarious stories and create amazing content! Thanks so much!
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