Content

Tips for Business Travellers


Conditions of entry
Compulsory vaccinations: none
Recommended vaccinations: tetanus, diphtheria
Currency: no restrictions upon entry or exit
Nationals of other EU member states: no visa
Nationals of non-EU member states: visa required in principle
Compulsory currency exchange: none

While traveling it is always advisable to have a copy of your passport separate from the original. This makes replacement much easier, should it be necessary. In addition to copies of the passport, take a couple of photos with you. Sometimes getting the picture taken off-hours is more difficult than getting the authorities to issue a new document.


Language

Most Germans, especially in the big cities and in the travel industry speak English. It is always good to have someone on the hotel staff, DMC team or even within your own company who can help out in case you do encounter a situation where knowing German would be a help, but for most situations English will be fine.


Weather 

Germany has a so-called temperate climate. Temperatures vary considerable from region to region. While the south is considered very mild, the climate in the central highlands or in the Alps is often quite harsh.
Here are the average temperatures for Frankfurt:
While temperatures can rise above 30° C in the summer months, average daytime temperatures between May and September are usually somewhere between 15° and 25° C and hence very pleasant. In winter, it can be extremely cold with temperatures as low as -10° C or less. As a rule, however, daytime temperatures are around freezing point during the winter months.

You can find up-to-date information on the weather in Germany at
http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/infocenter/info_center.htm 


Currency

Euro (€)
The euro is legal tender for all transactions since 2002 in the following European countries:

Belgium
Germany
Greece
Spain
France
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Austria
Portugal
Finland
Slovenia
Andorra
Malta
Monaco
Montenegro
San Marino
Cyprus

Find current exchange rates here...


Changing money: A commission of 3% is usually charged 


Emergency services   
 
112 Fire and rescue services
110 Police

If you need paramedics, call the police or fire and rescue services! 
 
Time    
 
Winter time: Central European Time
Summer time: Central European Time +1
 



Local Transportation

You can get almost anywhere with Germany's excellent public transportation system. Keep in mind that you often have to buy your ticket at the station ahead of time (not from the driver). Often times the ticketing machines only take coins, so try to hang on to your German change to make your life easier.
When you purchase your ticket for a single trip check that it is stamped with the date and time. If it isn't stamped, you should stamp it with machines on the platforms or just inside the doors of the trains. 


Eating out

Germany has a wide range of restaurants of all nationalities and in all price categories. Business travelers intending to eat out with several people are advised to reserve a table. Guests are shown to a table only in the more exclusive establishments. Everywhere else, they can choose a table themselves.
 
Tips

Although all prices include service officially, tipping is recommended - as long as you are satisfied

Taxi:
10%
Restaurant: 10-15%
Porter (hotel): 2 - 3 € depending on the quality of the hotel
Chambermaid: 2 - 3 € depending on the quality of the hotel
Hairdresser: 10%


Business hours  

Most German cities have an easily accessible city center with a wide range of stores. The main shopping streets are often closed to traffic to make shopping and window shopping a much pleasanter experience.
 
Store opening hours differ in each Bundesland. In general you can expect the following hours:

Groceries: Mondays to Saturday 8 am to 8 pm

Department stores in major cities open mainly from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm (or even 9/10pm).

Banks: Mondays to Fridays 8. 30am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 to 4 pm (later on Thursdays)

With some exceptions (airports, railway stations, souvenir shop, bakeries and special openings), all shops are closed on Sunday. Certain types of food can nevertheless be purchased at filling stations and kiosks.

Bakeries open early in the morning (~ 6 am) and often also on Sundays.


Postage    
   
Post offices are open from 8 to 12 and 2 to 6 Monday to Friday and 8 to 12 on Saturday. Post offices in train stations and airports may be open longer on weekdays. Mail boxes are bright yellow.

VAT    
 
Value added Tax is 19% in Germany. Travellers who live outside the European Union can obtain a refund on value added tax for goods bought in Germany. How?
Save your receipts from your purchases. Get to the airport ahead of time when you are leaving. Before you check in your luggage, you can go to the tax free shopping reclaim office and get your receipts stamped and obtain a cash refund.

http://www.globalrefund.com/

Time

Germany is on Central European Time (CET) and is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Summer Time is in force from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. 


Telephones

Germany's public telephones are painted pink and gray and marked with a large T. As there are only a few coin boxes left, it is a good idea to have a phone card, which can be purchased almost anywhere.

Telephoning from the hotel can be very expensive, so better use a public phone or to go to the post office.

All national and most international calls can be dialled directly, both from private and public telephones. 


Arts and culture/leisure 

There is a vast range of arts and culture on offer in Germany. You can enjoy a trip to the theatre or opera, attend a concert or visit one of the country's numerous museums.

Most museums are open from Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm Closed on Mondays. 


Hotels and guest houses 

Germany has a range of conference hotels in all styles, sizes, areas and price categories. There are the traditional old-world style properties and ultra modern properties - often times the two will be very creatively mixed.

All modern technology is available, with faxes and computer connections in many hotel rooms. The meeting rooms and convention centers, of course have state-of-the-art equipment, either built in or easily accessible.

If you have attendees who need wheelchair accessibility, ask the property how they can be accommodated.

 

Weights and measures 

Germany uses the metric system:

1 kg = 1000 g
1 km = 1000 m
1 m = 100 cm
1 cm = 10 mm
1 meter (m) = 3.2808 feet = 39.33701 inches
1 kilometer (km) = 3281 feet = 0.6214 mile
1 square meter (qm) = 1550 square inches = 10.76 square feet
1 kilogram (kg)

= 35.274 ounces = 2.205 pounds


Conversion Table

Power supply  

230 V (remember to bring the right adapter and to use only appliances fitted with universal voltage.) Items such as hair dryers and irons can be borrowed from the hotel. This makes for less luggage too.  


Public holidays and school vacations 

Everything shuts down in Germany on public holidays. Shops are closed and public transport runs a restricted service only.

It is therefore important to take account of these days when you are planning your conference. Some public holidays apply only to certain states, while others are observed nationwide. 


Official Holidays
2009

Th. 

01. January

New Year's Day

Tu.

06. January

Epiphany

Fr.

10. April

Good Friday

Mo.

13. April

Easter Monday

Fr.

01. May

Labor Day

Th.

21. May

Ascension Day

Su./Mo.

31. May+01. June

Pentecost

Th.

11. June

Corpus Christi

Sa.

15. August

Assumption Day

Sa.

03. October

German Unification Day

Sa.

31. October

Reformation Day

Su.

01. November

All Saints' Day

We.

18. November

Day of repentance

Th.

24. December

Christmas Eve*

Fr.

25. December

Christmas Day

Sa.

26. December

Boxing Day

Th.

31. January

New Year's Eve*

2010

Fr.

01. January

New Year's Day

We.

06. January

Epiphany

Fr.

02. April

Good Friday

Mo.

05. April

Easter Monday

Sa.

01. May

Labor Day

Th.

13. May

Ascension Day

Su/Mo.

23.+24. May        

Pentecost

Th.

3. June

Corpus Christi

Fr.

15. August

Assumption Day

Su.

03. October

German Unification Day

Su.

31. October

Reformation Day

Mo.

01. November

All Saints' Day

We.

17. November

Day of repentance

Fr.

24. December

Christmas Eve*

Sa.

25. December

Christmas Day

Su..

26. December

Boxing Day

Fr.

31. January

New Year's Eve*

Legend:


Official holiday in all of Germany
Official holiday only in parts of Germany
* not an official holiday but limited opening and service hours


School vacations:
The school vacations also vary from state to state. The summer vacation is always 6 weeks long and usually falls between mid-June and early September.

Customs
Business practices in Germany are much the same as in Europe and North America. For information on the cultural differences, we recommend any of the following books:




Note page Notebook Recommend

Page infos


GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.