Happy new year to everyone !!
Does anyone have any recommendations about these three German cities? like places to stay? or eat? we particularly like "local's" places and guesthouses.
This won't be cheap but one of my favorite restaurants in the world is the Schiffergesellchaft in Luebeck. I ate there in 1972 and I went back in 2002 (didn't eat) and it looked the same. You'll be going to some of my favorite cities. My son spent a semester in Flensburg, and I spent a semester in Hamburg; they're both wonderful places. Just walk around the harbor areas; there will be interesting places to eat. On your budget nights eat at a Turkish restaurant in Hamburg Altona. Don't miss eating at a Nordsee, the classiest fast food place anywhere. Happy travels.
Be sure and get the Lonely Planet guidebook to Germany. Unfortunately, Rick Steves does not cover northern Germany, but the Lonely Planet book does it well. Also, the Lonely Planet guidebook on Denmark has some valuable information if you make it that far north.