Germany Blog

Stories, tips, and reflections about life, travel, and culture in Germany.

  • Medical And Health Care For Tourists In Germany

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    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

  • Have You Seen The Castle That’s The Eighth Wonder Of The World?

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    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

  • Search For Hotels In Germany Is Active!

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    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!

  • What’s Going On With The German Economy?

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    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

  • Find Berlin’s Unofficial Gems On Your iPhone

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    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