Thanks to those who helped me plan our trip. I thought I'd post a few things that might help:
1. Yes, you do need to call your bank and get a PIN assigned to your credit cards! We missed this in the run up and when we called a few days before leaving, the bank said my card doesn't have a PIN so I thought it'd be OK. As RS says, you need to tell them you're going to Europe and have it assigned. Allow a couple weeks to get this done. My credit card wouldn't work in some places without it. My debit card was fine.
2. Buy your train tix inside the station from the people at the info center, they'll help you find the cheapest and best option for you! We saved over $100 on 2 train trips for 2 people taking the train that left after 9am. The time we bought at the machine, we overpayed by $20, only because, as RS says, there are just too many options unless you know the system really well.
3. Mailing packages back. Mixed report. We bought most of our gifts at the Annelise Friese store in Rothenburg od T (A RS recommended place). They were lovely and they shipped a box which we got about 2 weeks later ($40 or so for 10-15 lbs). They can only ship what you buy there, for customs reasons. We shipped ourselves a 2nd box from the Deutsche Post/ DHL in Rothenburg ($35 for 10 lbs). It's stuck in Hamburg since 12.20.19 "awaiting transport" to the US and trying to track that packageor get any customer service has been absolutely miserable. If you're going to buy something big, allot at least $100 for shipping.
BTW- go to Rothenburg, it's just lovely!!
4. Munich airport- sad to say the German efficiency I remember from 20 years ago... not so much. We stayed at the airport Hilton the night before our 7:30am flight and thank God or I think we'd have missed our flight. Only 1 security line open, etc. Just the usual kind of hassles in flying, + 20%. Oddly, the terminal has a full grocery store w/ take out counter so if you stay at the Hilton and don't want to pay their prices for meals you can get good food.
5. We were shocked how cheap groceries were, about 1/3 to 1/2 of what we pay here in Colorado.
Hope folks have a great time, I'm jealous and ready to go back.
-K
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
I, thanks for your tips. Regarding train travel and discounts, I would add that the Deutsche Bundesbahn website has an English page which explains all the discounts available and allows booking ahead of time. I’m one of those obsessive planners who buys tickets in advance rather than waiting til I get to the train station to do so.
Posted by
San Franciso Bay Area, USA
1029 posts
Thanks for all the tips. Looking at Christmas market trips for next year and I will keep this post handy.
Sandy
Posted by
OP
USA
9 posts
Patricia is quite correct- I'm just one of those analog souls in a digital world. ;-) There was a quirk with the ticket machines that said you had to use the post 9am tickets the following day, but we went into the office and they said it was fine to use them same day. They also helped with the whole ticket validation conundrum, as RS says they can fine you if you haven't validated, but some tickets don't fit in the machine and some are validated by your signature.
Sandy and others: Lots of folks have posted about how busy the big markets are on weekend nights, but I didn't fully appreciate that until we were there. Tollwood, in Munich, was so packed my husband and I couldn't stay together- even with our arms linked. One of those mysteries of Europe- everyone is smoking and you're packed like sardines but nobody burns you.
I would: 1. Make sure you are there on a weekday to do actual shopping and 2- spend a night in Rothenburg odT or somewhere smaller to enjoy those markets. We went to these markets:
Munich- Tollwood, Residenz, Medieval, Sendlinger Tor, the main one in Marienplatz and the one at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden. The last is the only one of our trip I can't recommend. It was supposed to be more for locals but was more expensive and they were ripping off any non German speaker for the deposits on the beer mugs and gluhwine glasses. Happened to us and several other Americans. It's 3 Euros, but still.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen- lovely- nice town too and the gateway to the Zugspitze
Rothenburg od T- divine, as I remember it from 20 years ago
Nuremberg- There are really 3, but all contiguous- the main one (gingerbread overload!) and a local makers mart plus a sister cities section. The poor folks from Atlanta were flogging Coke, Twinkies (!?!) and Route 66 memorabilia and not getting any love.
I loved all the markets except Chinese Tower. I think you can't go wrong with a mix or larger and smaller towns.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9223 posts
"they were ripping off any non German speaker for the deposits on the beer mugs and gluhwine glasses. Happened to us and several other Americans. It's 3 Euros, but still."
This is a normal thing at almost every Christmas market or festival, and not a rip-off to non-German speakers. They charge a deposit, often giving you a chip so that you bring your mug or glass back to the correct stand. They actually want you to take that mug home so they can get rid of them and get new ones next year. Trade the sticky mug in for a clean one if you want to keep it. Bring your mug and your chip back and get your deposit back. How is that a rip-off?
Posted by
OP
USA
9 posts
I can see where I was unclear. We kept several gluhwine mugs and forfeitted the deposit, so I'm familiar with the normal custom. At all the other markets we attended, they give you 1 token no matter how much the deposit. At this one, there was 1 token per Euro, which we didn't know. So the guy gave us only 1 token, and when we turned in the mug, got only 1 Euro back, not the 3 we had paid. We then observed for a bit and saw the guy give Germans 3 tokens, and Germans getting back 3 Euros when returning the mug and giving 3 tokens. The guy at the return booth even pantomimed to us that we needed 3 tokens. Tried to address it, but don't speak enough German. Overheard 4 other Americans who all had the same experience.