Single with two people?

A "Single" means just that...one person occupying the room, regardless of bed size. Since there are two in your party, it's understood in Germany that you get two EZ (singles) or a DZ (double) when you check in at the Pension or hotel.

EXTREMELY SHADY. And you probably could not get away with it if you tried. Hotels are small, and it would be obvious. And in some countries your passport needs to be recorded. This is where the ugly American stereotype gets started. Don't try to game the system.

Aside from the ethical problem, it's going to be hard to do if you're talking about small hotels or B&Bs – the owners are right there. Doubles aren't that much more than singles anyway – approx.. €10 -€15 more per night. Why not just do the right thing? BTW, you really can't throw as many as you like in a room in the U.S. – most hotels do have maximums for the room rented, but I understand what you're saying about the differences here and there.

Alright. That clears that up.

Another thought is that if you're looking to save money, consider hostels. Many have private double rooms. There are also many lodgings where you can rent a room in a private home...Lee or someone else who is very familiar with these in Germany can probably provide recommendations for your itinerary. These are normally very inexpensive and a lot more interesting.

ooo. Would posting my itinerary on the board help? I've got most of it planned out. Chris

Ethics and shady-ness aside, I travel overseas solo a lot, so I've seen the inside of many single rooms. I can tell you that most of the time, a single (especially in a smaller hotel or B&B) means 1 twin bed. I'm not a huge fan of twin beds since I toss and turn a lot and I like to spread out and read or work on the computer while laying on the bed, so I'm always psyched when I get a single that actually has a full size (or "double") mattress - but they are few and far between. So unless you and the lady-friend are ready to sleep on top of each other in a twin bed, spend the extra 10-20 Euro/night and get a room for 2. I don't recommend hostels for 2 travelling together as long as you are willing to share a bed. You'll often spend just as much, or more, for 2 beds in a hostel dorm room or a private room with a full size mattress in a hostel. If you do some research ahead of time you can often find better rates at a budget hotel or B&B on a room for 2. If you are willing to share a hall bathroom in a small hotel or B&B, you may save some money to bring down the cost of a double room. And if you really want to be super cheap, there is always the option to sign up as a member on Couchsurfing.org and score a free stay with a local.

I thought about couch Surfing. Does anyone have any experiences with that? It seems a bit scary to me. I was considering trying it while I'm solo in London or Paris (I'll be solo for part of the trip).