Potential Trip to Germany

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sbiddle

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#1593882 17-Jul-2016 12:37

networkn:

sbiddle:

networkn:

Yeah to be fair, I am only considering flying with the "less budget" carriers. I am already DREADING the flight times. I'd feel MUCH happier on an A380 or 787, but not sure what the chances are.

@sbiddle what is your opinion of flying on the 777-200ER?

I'm assuming you mean on Air NZ?

BP is the same seats as the 77W, Economy seat is better than the 77W but still very crammed and PE is the Zodiac rather than the Spaceseat.

IFE on that and the 789 is far better than the 77W.

Sorry I don't really understand what you just wrote :)

I was talking in general, how is the flying experience in a 777-200LR, would it be better to fly another airline/route if it meant A380 or 787 instead?

I've never managed to fly on an A380 yet so can't offer any specific advice. In general pretty much everybody has followed the lead from Emirates and gone 10 abreast on the 777 now, and likewise pretty much all 787's are 9 abreast so both can be incredibly cosy. The A380 does offer more space.

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#1593890 17-Jul-2016 13:11

I flew to the UK a couple of years ago, second leg on an A380, first leg on a smaller plane, in economy. I didn't notice any difference between the planes. The thing that really helps is paying extra for seats with a little more legroom, and that people aren't constantly walking past.

networkn

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#1594755 18-Jul-2016 22:47

Well, it seems I am now very likely going which is AMAZING.

Now I need to decide for how long and where else I go. The conference is 3 days, maybe 4 depending if I take the optional vendor day. I am thinking of perhaps hanging around 1 more day in Berlin. I may start my trip in another location beforehand to acclimatise, but there are so many options.

I LOVE food, but wanted to save Paris for when my wife can go with me, I've been to Rome and Venice, and Milan last trip with Florence being 1 of 3 remaining places I am very keen to try one day. Switzerland, Amsterdam, Croatia, Spain are all places I have been recommended. I would have LOVED to go to Turkey,

but I am concerned with the unrest there, that even if I wasn't unsafe (which I am not sure about), if something happened, travel in and out, might be difficult or delayed, which would be a significant issue.

I have been given the OK for a max of 2 weeks away incl travel time.

any additional comments? I have been told the coastal part of Spain if you are a foodie, is pretty special.

k1wi

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#1594771 18-Jul-2016 23:21

I just got back last week from visiting good friends in Bavaria for about 10 days - just outside Munich with a side trip through Austria and the Alps to Italy. Fully recommend heading down there and to the Alps if you can - it's really beautiful countryside with amazing culture.

On a previous visit I came down from Sweden & Denmark and did Berlin/Dresden/Nuremberg & Prague before arriving at Munich. I realise it's probably the opposite direction to what you were thinking, but it was very fascinating to see the legacy of the East/West divide in Berlin and then follow it up in Prague. Being in my 30s I knew of the iron curtain and some of the history around it, but it wasn’t until I visited that just what it must have been like really sunk in.

Bavarians HATE what Oktoberfest has become - basically just Brits, Americans and Aussies getting pissed out of their brains. Outside of Oktoberfest, the beer gardens are probably better if you're with a group of friends, but even if you're a non-drinker they have a really nice atmosphere. I'm talking BYO meats, cheeses & pretzels, alcohol free beer, live band.

The other things are that if you're driving in Germany..: Be confident enough to drive with the speed of the traffic on the Autobahn. We were cruising in a van at 160km/h, but there are speed limits in places/when it's raining. Be super careful exiting back to local roads after travelling at such fast speeds. Everything feels super super slow, so there is a good chance you're still moving faster than you think.

Jedsdad

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#1594813 19-Jul-2016 07:08

In my view the best way to see a country when you have limited time is by taking a bus tour.

You dont have to worry where do I go next, how do I get there, where do I sleep, what do I see?

All that is arranged for you and there are numerous bus tours around.

The Tour Guides are most informative as well

I have done most of Europe by several bus tours over several years and also Egypt and Turkey (separate tours)

My favourite place in Germany was Rothenberg with its medieval architecture.

After the first time flying Cathay Pacific to Europe (they were very good) I started flying Emirates.

When the A380 started coming to NZ I went on that.

I found the legroom in Economy as well as the seat width was just that bit greater so you felt more comfortable flying long distances.

From Dubai it generally was a 777 and you did notice the seats were slightly narrower and not as much legroom.

Now of course Emirates have more A380's flying so you can get to many places in Europe on them.

The other thing is if you stick to the one airline and are in the rewards program (Skywards for Emirates) you can rack up the miles and get cheap or free upgrades.

I have flown Business Class with Emirates and that is certainly the way to travel, and they also have a bar area where you can lounge away the time if you want.

The seats in Business Class also have a massage option too, great for easing the joints when traveling long distances

JaseNZ

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#1594832 19-Jul-2016 08:12

For what its worth and this was a long time ago now (25 years) , I spent 6 months over in Germany for work and I just grabbed a 1st class euro train ticket. You could jump on any train anywhere at anytime and go wherever you wanted to. I spent a lot of time in Lübeck which was a fantastic place.

I found all the people there so friendly and there is a hell of a lot of history to see if you are interested in that sort of thing. That and a lot of beer was consumed :)

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

sbiddle

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#1594840 19-Jul-2016 08:36

What I love about Bavaria is the fact it's so diverse. It's beautiful down towards Lake Constance and driving around the Australian Alps, and there are plenty of small ski villages around the Innsbruck region that are very nice and worthy of an overnight stay.

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frankv

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#1594964 19-Jul-2016 12:09

Bear in mind the distances. You would spend an entire day going from Berlin to (say) Switzerland. 7 hours by train Berlin to Munich.

If it was me, I'd head for Poland and Czech Republic and Slovenia and Austria.

I would avoid bus tours. IMHO interacting with the locals is an important part of the experience, and the most interesting & memorable things about a trip are the unexpected. And bus tours are a very managed, predictable thing. Load a bunch of aged Kiwis, Ozzies, SthEffricans on a bus, repeat M times {repeat N times {drive to tourist spot, unload bus, reload bus}, drive to hotel, unload bus, sleep, reload bus}, thank them and invite them to come back soon.

frankv

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#1594966 19-Jul-2016 12:11

sbiddle:

It's beautiful down towards Lake Constance and driving around the Australian Alps.

Not a lot of Australian Alps in that area. Or in Australia.

lol

thecatsgoolies

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#1595005 19-Jul-2016 13:16

Firstly.

Lucky bastard!!

I used to live in Southern Germany and reckon it's worth a visit, bare in mind southern germany will be expensive this time of the year. I too am hopping over to Europe and was looking at Airbnb for accommidation and see the cheeky buggers are charging more for a single room in someones house ( cost less to pay for a good room in the Langham)

If you hire a car, I would suggest an hours drive out of the city, worth it in terms of cost. Also you will be privy to amazing sights. South of Munich, about an hour and half you have access to lake Konstanz or Bodensee, why not kill three countries in one day? Germany Switzerland and Austria \( I used to live here). It's breathtaking.

Look at options to keep your costs down. In Germany they have a lot of 'Pensionen" These are like bed and breakfast and not as expensive.

Bon Voyage

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#1595008 19-Jul-2016 13:21

If you have a look at Le Tour de France on Sky on Thursday morning (tomorrow is a rest day) in HD, it's in the Swiss Alps (not your actual Germany) but gives a great idea of how beautiful this part of the world is.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

sbiddle

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#1595037 19-Jul-2016 13:58

frankv:

sbiddle:

It's beautiful down towards Lake Constance and driving around the Australian Alps.

Not a lot of Australian Alps in that area. Or in Australia.

lol

Have you not seen the Australian Alps in Austria?

frankv

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#1595041 19-Jul-2016 14:06

thecatsgoolies:

kill three countries in one day?

Make it four... Lichtenstein, Germany Switzerland and Austria

networkn

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#1595904 20-Jul-2016 22:27

Hi,

Well, it's confirmed I am going! I can't tell you how excited I am. I am literally fizzing, which will surprise those of you who have actually met me :)

So, Berlin is definite, and it seems Spain/Portugal is also exceptionally likely. San Sebastian is very high on my list.

My travel agent was a little surprised I picked Lisbon over say Barcelona, or Valencia. Would any of you who have been to both be able to comment? I have heard the locals are a bit more friendly and it's a bit less touristy in Portugal, and it's an area VERY heavily focused on seafood which appeals. Barcelona is also coastal, so I assume it's going to be similar but perhaps on a less intimate scale?

The other thing was the travel videos centered around food, seem to show a fair amount of alcohol being poured with food, some of it seemed to pretty much occur the moment they opened the door at Tapa's places. I am a Tee Totaller. I am wary of offending anyone by refusing an offered alcoholic drink, I was wondering if anyone had any comments

to make on the potential cultural impact of not drinking alcohol etc? I was fine in Italy though I got a few funny looks.

networkn

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#1597298 23-Jul-2016 16:05

Good Grief! A mass shooting in Munich!

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