Germany 2

<BODY BGCOLOR="#F6e6da" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#C0C0C0">   <body bgcolor="#F6e6da" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#C0C0C0"> <table width="100%" align=right> <tr> <td width="15%"></td> <th width="85%"><h3>General Information about Germany</h3></th></tr> <tr> <td widht="15%" bgcolor="#000000" link color="#f6e6da" font size="-2" face="times new roman" valign=top> <a href="germany2.html">General Info</a><P> <a href="germany/addresses.html">Addresses</a><p> <a href="frankfurt.html">Frankfurt</a><br> <font size="-4"> <a href="frankfurt/frahis.html">History</a><br> <a href="frankfurt/frakul.html">Places</a><br> <a href="frankfurt/frahot.html">Hotels</a><p></font> <a href="offenbach.html">Offenbach/Main</a><br> <font size="-4"> <a href="offenbach/ofhis.html">History</a><br> <a href="offenbach/ofkul.html">Places</a><br> <a href="offenbach/ofhot.html">Hotels</a><p></font> <a href="isenburg.html">Neu-Isenburg</a><br> <font size="-4"> <a href="isenburg/nihis.html">History</a><br> <a href="isenburg/nikul.html">Places</a><br> <a href="isenburg/nihot.html">Hotels</a><p></font> </td> <td width="85%" font face="times new roman"> <center> This page is meant to give you a few general information about Germany.<br> You will find help and directions here about some of the customs here, how to get around and a few do's and dont's.<br> Keep in mind, it is a different country than maybe your own, and even though german culture can be found almost all over the globe it can be quite different from what you might be used to.<p></center> <spacer height=20> <dl><b><u>Public Transportation</u></b> <dd>Germany has a very broad and rather organized public transportation system. You can get from A to B by means of train and busses without major hassle, prices are reasonable but differ from area to area. If you decide to stay in one city and then roam around on a day to day basis, I would strongly recommend the use of the PTS. Most cities in Germany even offer tourist-tickets, which allow you to use buses and local trains for a very cheap rate plus often give you free or reduced entry to museums and other places of public interest. Those tourist-tickets are usually available for singles and/or groups. A more detailed list can be obtained at the local tourist offices of each city.</dl> <dl><b><u>Shopping</b></u> <dd>Especially visitors from the U.S. will see a major difference here. Malls are not very common - at least not the way americans might be used to. In the bigger cities you find instead a varity of stores and shops located in a certain area, mainly the city-center. Shop hours vary quite a bit: Whereas the major department stores and grocery-chains offer hours from 8:30am to 8pm Monday thru Friday and until at least 1pm on Saturdays, some of the smaller towns and stores close their doors around 6pm. Shops generally stay closed on Sundays. Yet,some retailers open shop one a month or every other month on sundays for interested customers. No sales are being made, though - just to look around. Doctor's offices and Pharmacies usually are closed on Wednesday afternoon. The same goes for Banks and other financial institutions. Exceptions can be found, again, in bigger cities. Another difference, as opposed to the States, is that you won't find a lot of pharmaceutical item in department stores. Those can be purchased at Drugstores and Pharmacies (you can purchase prescription drugs <u>only</u> at the later). One tip about purchases: If you are a resident of a non-EC country and are returning home, you can receive your Value Added Tax (VAT)back at the airport. In order to do so, you have to have the receipts of the goods with the VAT listed separately <u>and</u> the items you have purchased with you. Present those to the customs officers at the local airport or (like at Frankfurt Airport) the employees of the VAT-Refund Boothes located in Terminal B and Terminal 2 there. </dl> <dl><b><u>Currency Exchange</u></b> <dd>Money can be exchanged at all banks and at most post offices. You can also find money exchange offices at all airports and major trainstations. They usually all display a list with the daily exchange rates. If you would like to pay with Traveller's Cheques ask at the individual stores, if they will take them (since the currency is almost always US Dollars, not every store will take them - and they are not required to)Euro-Cheques up to 400 Deutsche Mark can be used just about everywhere, as long as they are written out over the exact amount. Major Credit-Cards are also accepted nearly everywhere. Usually the store will show acceptance of the individual cards by placing a sticker near the entrance doors.</dl> </font> </td></tr></table> <p> <p>  <p>© 1998 <A HREF=mailto:murmelmaus@gmx.net><I>murmelmaus@gmx.net</I></A><br> <p> <P> <HR> <P> <CENTER><B> This page hosted by <A HREF="/"><IMG SRC="/pictures/gc_icon.gif" ALIGN=MIDDLE ALT="GeoCities" BORDER=0></A> Get your own <A HREF="/">Free Home Page</A></B></CENTER> <BR><BR> </BODY>