Page 546 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

544  SUR VIV AL GUIDE PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  545

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with a variety of hotels, clubs Hostels and hotels are hotels. In Bavaria, environ-
and bars. Gay pride is celebrated Germany uses Central European becoming increasingly aware mentally friendly hotels are
nationwide with Christopher Time (GMT plus one hour). Clocks of environmental issues and awarded the Umweltsiegel
Street Day parades and festivals move forward one hour on the encourage the responsible use (eco-label).
throughout June and July. The last Sunday in March and back of resources. German eco-tour Organic and locally grown
National Tourist Office offers on the last Sunday in October. operator Viabono offers a produce is clearly labelled and
detailed information on LGBT search engine for eco-hotels widely available at most shops
cultural events nationwide. and lodges across Germany. and supermarkets. Many towns
Electricity The Blaue Schwalbe (“Blue hold regular markets selling
UK 220V appliances can be Swallow”) is an eco-award given organic and traditional produce,
Budget Travel used with an adaptor; US to hotels meeting certain allowing visitors to give back to
You can save on airfares by 110V appliances will also need sustainability standards and the local community.
travelling to Germany off- a transformer. offering organic local food. The Information on local green
season and flying with a low- Verträglich Reisen website tourism activities and initiatives
cost carrier (see p552). Cheap provides a full list of accredited can be found in tourist offices.
hostels can be found in most Responsible Tourism
Kids’ Kingdom at the Deutsches Museum in Munich (see pp232–3) German cities, providing an Germany is one of the most
option that is increasingly environmentally aware
Disabled Travellers museums. In many German popular with families (see p490). countries in Europe, with 36 per
Germany is relatively well cities it is possible to purchase For eating out, try one of the cent of the energy used coming
prepared to receive disabled family tickets that provide many cheap eateries (Imbiss), for from renewable sources.
travellers. Large museums and substantial discounts on fares German Wurst or ethnic food. Agro tourism is gaining popularity
important historic monuments and admission fees. Some of the larger German as a cost effective holiday
have ramps or lifts for Restaurants can usually cities sell city cards that double option (see p490), and bicycle
wheelchair access and public provide a high chair for toddlers as public transport passes and tours and walking holidays
toilet facilities are designed to and offer a special Kindermenu discount cards at museums and are increasingly common
accomodate disabled travellers. (children’s menu) with smaller events. City cards can be (see p559). An eco-friendly
The majority of hotels are well portions. Public purchased at alternative to staying in a hotel
equipped for disabled travellers toilets in railway tourist offices, is camping; there are over
(see p491). A large proportion stations, airports many hotels, and 2,000 camping sites throughout
of public transport vehicles and motorway public transport Germany (see p491). Stall at Oktomarkt, an organic market in Kollwitzplatz, Berlin
have been adapted for service stations, ticket counters.
wheelchair users. Public as well as in many For several cities, DIRECTORY
transport companies are also museums and the cards can
making efforts to accommodate stores, usually An ISIC card (international also be bought Embassies United Kingdom UK Foreign and Holiday Care
visually impaired people. offer a separate student identity card) online before Embassy: Wilhelmstr. 70, Commonwealth Tel 0845 124 9971.
A disabled person may, facility for mothers travel. Australia 10117 Berlin. Tel (030) 20 Office ∑ tourismforall.org.uk
however, still have problems in and babies. For students, an International Wallstr. 76–79, 10179 45 70. ∑ britische ∑ gov.uk/foreign-
gaining access to some places, Student Identity Card (ISIC) Berlin. Tel (030) 880 08 80. botschaft.de travel-advice NatKo e.V. (Nationale
such as the smaller museums, LGBT Travellers entitles the holder to a 50 ∑ germany.embassy. Consulate: Möhlstr. 5, 81675 US Department of Koordinationsstelle
certain historic monuments, per cent discount to many gov.au Munich. Tel (089) 21 10 90. State Tourismus für Alle)
and toilets in restaurants, which Germans have a very relaxed museums and reductions on United States ∑ travel.state.gov Düsseldorf. Tel (0211) 336
are often located in the cellar. and welcoming attitude toward some theatre and cinema Canada of America 80 01. ∑ natko.de
Contact NatKo for detailed LGBT travellers, especially in tickets. It also allows students Leipziger Pl. 17, 10117 Embassy: Pariser Pl. 2, Tourist Offices
information on travelling with Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, to get discounts on hostel Berlin. Tel (030) 20 31 20. 10117 Berlin. LGBT Travellers
special needs in Germany. Munich, and Frankfurt, where prices, air tickets, rental cars ∑ kanada-info.de Tel (030) 8 30 50. National Tourist ∑ gay-web.de
Companies such as Directions there is a lively LGBT scene and bicycles. ∑ usembassy.de Office ∑ gay.de
Unlimited (in the US) and Republic of Ireland Consulates: PO Box 2695, London,
Holiday Care (in the UK) also Jägerstr. 51, 10117 Clayallee 170, 40191 W1A 3TN, UK. Budget Travel
offer useful information and Berlin. Berlin. Tel (030) 8 30 50. Tel (020) 7317 0908.
advice for disabled travellers. Tel (030) 22 07 20. Königinstr. 5, 80539 ∑ germany-tourism.de ISIC Card
∑ embassyofireland.de Munich. Berlin Tourist ∑ isic.org
Tel (089) 288 80.
Travelling with Children New Zealand Giessener Str. 30, 60435 Information Responsible
Tel (030) 25 00 23 33.
Families travelling in Germany Friedrichstr. 60, Frankfurt am Main. ∑ visitberlin.de/en Tourism
Tel (069) 7535-0.
benefit from a range of cost- 10117 Berlin. Blaue Schwalbe/
cutting discounts. The majority Tel (030) 20 62 10. Travel Safety Disabled Verträglich Reisen
of hotels and guesthouses ∑ nzembassy.com Travellers ∑ vertraeglich-
offer discounts for children Australia Department
(see p491). Discounts or even South Africa of Foreign Affairs and Directions Unlimited reisen.de
free travel for the youngest Tiergartenstr. 18, 10785 Trade 123 Green Lane, Bedford Viabono
children are available on various Berlin.Tel (030) 22 07 30. ∑ dfat.gov.au Hills, NY 10507, USA. Tel (02205) 919 83 50.
forms of transport and there are ∑ suedafrika.org ∑ smartraveller.gov.au Tel (800) 533 53 43. ∑ viabono.de
similar concessions in most Christopher Street Day celebrations, Berlin

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm