Germany has some of the finest medical care available in the world. Did you know?

While traveling may be full of little stresses, like worrying what would happen to you if you got sick, this is not something to fear in this country. Here, you don’t have to worry about being trapped in some sub-standard hospital. You are going to get high-quality care from well-trained professionals.

If you live in Germany, you are part of the Statutory Health Insurance, German: gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, which is part of the Social Security a.k.a. Sozialversicherung. You can learn more about it on the Healthcare in Germany page.

Yet if you are a traveler, you are not part of the system. This concerns some, but don’t fret. Even as a guest you can still access excellent treatment during your stay, with a minimum of fuss.

The key is that you will need to pay out of pocket for the care. You can then be reimbursed by your home healthcare provider system. This is a general rule, so you may want to investigate with your health care provider to be sure of the details.

This cash-for-care system means that for a sudden case of the flu, small cuts, chipped teeth and so on you can simply go to the appropriate doctor or hospital and get care. Germany has more practicing specialists per thousand people than any other country in the world, so lines are short. You will not need to wait for weeks to see a doctor — same day or next day will be available.

If you are staying at a hotel they can help you get an appointment. They may also link you with the Ärztlicher Hausbesuchsdienst, or Physician’s House Call Service, which is run in many communities as a regular service. In this case, you will receive a personal visit at your hotel from the doctor.

Alternatively, it may be called Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst. In most cases, however, you would simply ask for the Notarzt, the emergency doctor.

Many pharmacies will also give you recommendations for physicians. In fact, pharmacies can be an excellent first stop as most have very knowledgeable staff. As the over-the-counter cures vary country to country, you may find they have a good treatment for your sickness on hand.

In all German cities — down to the small villages — will you find a Apotheke that is available for you 24/7. Although the lights may be off, if the Apotheke is one with Bereitschaftsdienst you can ring the boss out of bed if need be. Else, look at the plate outside to see which nearby pharmacy does have this 24/7 service that night.

For more severe illness, keep in mind that Germany is a world leading in medical innovation. Heart treatments, brain and nerve surgeries and even cancer treatments attract millions of medical tourists each year. Again, specialists are available quickly to treat even very complex ailments.

Emergency care is also very good and amazingly fast. Emergency Medical Services are a mandated task for municipal governments and strictly regulated for quality and efficiency. Nationwide, the network is strong enough that you can have a staffed medical helicopter at the accident scene within 15 minutes no matter where you are in Germany.

Thus, even as a tourist or visitor to Germany you can have all the benefits of the advanced German medical science. With services like the Ärztlicher Hausbesuchsdienst, you may even receive more personalized care than you would at home!

—Marcus

Deep in the South of Germany, at the end of the Romantic Road, you will find the 8th Wonder of the World. It’s an unofficial designation based on the runner-up status achieved in the 2007 competition for the New Wonders of the World. Yet seeing it up close is certainly worth the journey!

This wonder is Neuschwanstein Castle. Also called the Swan Stone Castle or simply Neuschwanstein, it was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria between 1868 and 1886. Known as the “Mad King,” he certainly wasn’t crazy when he commissioned this gem.

Done in the Romantic Medieval style, Neuschwanstein sits on a hill above Füssen. Often swathed in clouds, it evokes awe and a sense that you’ve stepped into a fairytale dream. Its design was inspired in part by Richard Wagner’s musical work with German legends, and Walt Disney used it as the model for Cinderella’s castle at the theme parks.

Yet King Ludwig wasn’t operating in a dream world. Instead, he incorporated his passion for modern technologies into the castle. Did you know he was the one who introduced electricity to Bavaria? His own palace was an example to others.

Each floor is wired for electricity, plumbed for running water on all floors and includes flush toilets and central heat. The medieval charm of the place was enhanced with a sturdy hot water system and private drinking water supply. Though the Neuschwanstein castle may look like a fancy toy, it was designed to be lived in comfortably!

To get the best photographs of the Swan Castle, you will want to budget enough time for a hike over to the nearby Mariensbrücke. This bridge crosses a gorge facing the castle and gives a superior vista to the diligent. You can also paraglide over the castle from the mountains around it, which gives an amazing view of the building and grounds if you are brave! ;-)

Do note as well that Neuschwanstein is open year round. While it is excellent to visit in the summer as the hiking is more comfortable, the castle in the winter is also beautiful. Christmas decorations and holiday events can be quite touching and post-card perfect.

White Christmas, anyone?

—Marcus

It took a bit of time to get it working properly and smoothly and to be “ready for future developments,” but now it starts to roll… The hotel search on MyGermanCity.com is going to be implemented throughout the site within the next weeks and months.

The first thing you will notice are the “Hotels” links on the respective city or town pages (currently under the “Top Areas Of Interest” header). Clicking on such a link will forward you to a page that lists the hotels available in that particular German city. And on that page you can refine your search to receive more appropriate results.

Right now, this “Hotels” link appears only on a fraction of the city pages. Soon, though, it’ll be available on all city pages.

The second thing you’ll capture are the special prices. ;-)

And the next step on the list is to…

No, let me announce it when it’s done. ;-)

—Marcus

P.S. Special thanks to Robert who deliberately and meticulously made this work and this so remarkably well!

All over the world, the economy is big news. It’s no different in Germany… or is it?

Get a group of people sitting together in a beer garden discussing the state of the world and the economy is going to be a front and center topic. So what do you need to know? How should you react?

First, the need-to-know items. Some of them you have seen in the news, usually as a screaming headline. These include such fun statistics as:

• “World Tourist Organization says European Tourism down 8%”
• “German GDP Shrinks 3.8% in Q1 2009”
• “German Exports Plunge More Than 9% Since 2008”

All of these items look bad on TV and allow the talking heads to look gravely concerned and talk in somber tones before switching over to sports and weather. But what is the true situation on the ground?

The reality is that for most people life is proceeding as normal. There is an added air of caution with major expenditures, but that is not so unusual. Germany has been through a number of ups and downs economically over the years and so caution is a natural part of the pattern.

Additionally, while things are slowing globally, the German economy is on an upswing overall. Yes, this quarter or even this year may not deliver outstanding growth of the kind the stockbrokers want. But, compared to past years things are still following a general uptrend.

For example, if you look back to the time when the Wall came down, unemployment rates were around 15%, especially in the North East of the country. Now, the national rates are 9.6%. This is an remarkable improvement, although American and British analysts react to the number with shock because they come from a different perspective. ;-)

Further, 72% of the German working age population works. By way of comparison, in the US, only 66% of the working age population works, even though they have a lower official unemployment rate.

So you see, numbers are still relative.

Thus, moving around and doing business in Germany you will still find a strong economy and bustling trade. You shouldn’t feel as though there is a major economic crisis about to end the world at any time. Instead, enjoy Germany’s fine infrastructure, well-ordered business life and beautiful scenery! :-)

—Marcus

Sometimes the most interesting things to see aren’t the officially licensed attractions. This is quite true in Berlin, which has been home to a vibrant art community for many years. The street art is there is really remarkable but not usually mentioned in any official guides.

The street art works appear in parks, on the sides of buildings and near train stations. Many are full-color masterpieces. Some are even done by legends with museum exhibits. But you’ve always had to be a local to know how to find them.

Now there is a new iPhone application designed to take you straight to the best street art and graffiti in Berlin. It’s completely free thanks to a sponsorship from Adidas. You simply download it onto your iPhone and put on a pair of comfortable walking shoes.

The link for the site to get the application is http://www.urbanartguide.de/. Click on the “English” link in the top right corner if reading German is not your cup of tea.

The download bar is obvious, but there is also a lot of other good content to be found. For example, the artist profiles are also worth reading. Click around there and learn about the personalities behind the paintings.

On the ground, you’ll find that the application is completely interactive. You can rate the art and upload new images if you discover them. You can also browse the Gallery to see a museum of your favorites.

Other useful features are the “Tour Guides,” which are pre-planned tours, and “Find artworks nearby” which gives you the closest sights. For every image on your iPhone, you can click to get background and reference data.

It’s quite a fun tool to play with in the hotel, on the ground, or back home with your friends. :-)

—Marcus

A global surge in Barbie-related products is underway, with Mattel opening a 35,000 square foot flagship store in Shanghai in March of 2009. Yet in 2007, Germany actually pioneered its own Barbie-themed getaway on the Baltic Sea in the Schleswig-Holstein region. It was part of a joint venture between Mattel and the Maritim Hotel chain.

Maritim operates 37 hotels in Germany, but one of its showpiece sites is located in Timmendorfer Strand. The Maritim Clubhotel is a resort location, sitting right on the main beach. Newly constructed, it has space, class and a host of amenities.

Including the Barbie room.

Yes, it’s an entire room that’s shockingly pink from top to bottom. Launched in September of 2007, all the furniture is Barbie-themed and custom created exclusively for Maritim. The closet is full-size with a doll-size portion. All the linens, draperies and carpets are branded. Barbie magazines, theme items and movies are available on site to play with as well.

The room is pitched as a children’s getaway zone, and has an adjoining parents’ room that can also be booked as a package. At 27 square meters, the room is a bit like a suite. A typical overnight package includes meals although half-board is available, too.

For peak season, expect to have to book in 1- 2 months in advance, especially for weekends with the room. It’s become massively popular for birthday party getaways and girls slumber parties. However, the experience is still reasonably priced, and discounted rates can be had if you book it with the parents’ room package.

In addition to the only known Barbie suite worldwide, Timmendorfer Strand also offers 6km of beach and a sea spa. It’s been a locals destination for many years, with few expat visitors. This makes it a good place to go to experience not only real Germany as the Germans do it, but also a good place to experience the world-wide Barbie resurgence firsthand. ;-)

—Marcus

The time has come to start the MyGermanCity.com blog, or as I call it, The Germany Blog. Its purpose?

The Germany Blog will provide you with a lot more insights and Secret Tips, big and small, that just don’t fit on or to the regular content pages available at MyGermanCity.com (yet). Here, I will dig much deeper, share more insider tips, reveal more unknown spots… in short, The Germany Blog is going to have more personality — more Marcus. :-)

That said, feel free to…

• Subscribe to the blog’s RSS Feed in order to receive notifications whenever a new post was published by clicking on the Subscribe link below.
• Share individual posts with your friends and family using the Email Friend and Share Page links below.
• Save individual posts in your browser’s Favorites by clicking on the Bookmark link below.
• Find a post so valuable that you’d like to print it out and keep it with you while you travel to Germany? That’s why I provide you with the Print Page link below. :-)

Try the above out; it works wonderfully!

See? I did think of your individual needs and wishes. If you still miss something, do drop me a line using the Contact Form!

Now that we’ve covered the exciting points, let’s cover some politics…

As eBay, I, too, believe in the good in humans and, generally, see positive intentions behind human behavior. Plus, I do more than appreciate comments and feedback. However, comments from unknown visitors will be held in moderation and approved individually and manually. This is to keep this a very friendly and supportive place.

This means, if your comment has not been approved and thus does not appear on The Germany Blog, this can have various reasons. Do not feel discouraged, though. Instead, re-submit an improved version of what you wanted to say.

Here are a couple points to lead you to the right direction and/or get your neurons rolling… :-)

• Use your real name.
• Use your e-mail address.
• Say more than a mere “Hi” or “That’s great”. Think of what helps the community, what can you contribute so everyone benefits from it? Generally, it shall be worth more than just a couple words.
• Did, what you were about to say, actually serve you more than others? Well, say something that aids others more than yourself. Try it; it works. ;-)

Bottom line? Keep it real. Be real.

Remember why we’re all around here?

We all love Germany; we all love to travel; and we all love to have a good fabulous, cool, extraordinary, terrific, unforgettable time. So let’s be kind and appreciative and respectful to each other.

See ya! :-)

—Marcus