I love traveling, but I discovered something recently when I decided to spend some time in Mexico, away from Germany – Germany is a piece of cake to visit. It is comfortable, it is clean, there are phone and Internet connections everywhere and the water won’t make you sick. I decided to compile a list of the top reasons to visit Germany as opposed to a tropical paradise.
While I have to say I love Mexico, I must say that Germany offers a lot of amenities that those of us that are a little spoiled can enjoy year-round.
1. Germany is clean.
Hotels, even inexpensive hotels and hostels are clean - the streets are clean and the restaurants are clean - Naturally, there are exceptions to the rule, but except on those nights or mornings after a festival, you are unlikely to find trash in the streets or find yourself walking on dirt roads as rickety vehicles drive by leaving you in a cloud of dust.
2. Germany has great plumbing.
Toilets wouldn't dare back up in Germany and while many hotels and individuals use water savers to conserve water, you will almost never run out of hot water while you are standing in the shower.
3. Germany has a great telecommunications network.
You never need to feel out of touch in Germany - the telecommunications network is great - the phone system works everywhere and there are Internet connections in even the smallest of hotels as well as phones in the rooms. Something I took for granted until a few months ago.
4. Germany has great dining.
You can find any type of restaurant and any type of food you like in Germany from small German restaurants and pizzerias to gourmet continental dining. You can eat great sausages and cheese and hundreds of varieties of breads and cakes. Germany is great for seasonal foods as well - asparagus in the spring, different type of mushrooms at different times of year, goose in winter, fresh herring in season, game meats, and pork done a million ways.
5. Germany has a great transportation system.
Whether you want to rent a car or take trains and public transportation, you can get wherever you want to go in Germany safely and comfortably. Face it, the Autobahn is one of the best highway systems in the world and I, personally, have never fallen into a pothole and had to be pulled out with a backhoe in Germany.
6. Germans speak relatively good English.
OK, not everyone speaks English but most people speak a little bit and are more than happy to help out if you have a question or speak less than perfect German. This is true almost anywhere in the world I have visited but the Germans particularly like to practice their English and are more than happy to prove to you that their English is better than your German.
7. Germany is very international.
From events like the World Cup to festivals like Oktoberfest, Germany hosts millions of foreign visitors a year so there is always something going on where you can meet people from all walks of life and from around the world.
8. Germany has a little bit of everyting to please just about anyone.
Great skiing, great cycling trails, the Alps, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Rhine, the Elbe, the Mosel. History buffs can enjoy all the historic sites, the castles, the UNESCO World Heritage sites and art lovers can enjoy the myriad art at Germany's more than 1,000 museums.
9. Germany has great beer and wine.
Everyone knows Germany is a beer drinkers paradise. It also produces some of the finest white wines in the world - whether you want to wander through the vineyards hang out in a beer garden, you will enjoy both the atmosphere and the quality.
10. Germany has great spas.
Germany has spas and health farms to fit every budget - from public spas that offer every possible service to the elite spas of Baden-Baden, you can pamper yourself whenever you like.
