How much does it cost to travel to Germany?

■Now that Germany has "opened up", can anyone travel to Germany openly?

Theoretically yes. The German Tourist Board says it welcomes all "genuine tourists".

■Can I go on a self-guided tour in Germany?

This time the two governments signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Chinese Citizens Organizing Group Travel to Germany", which did not involve any personal travel to Germany for private purposes. Therefore, as long as you can provide information that satisfies the German embassy visa officer, it is possible to obtain a visa to Germany. But it’s not an “ADS” visa.

■I heard that people traveling in a group to Germany are given an "ADS" visa. What does that mean?

It is a special visa that is different from the Schengen visa that travels to all EU countries. To put it bluntly, the three letters "ADS" will be printed on your visa to Germany. With it, you can only travel in When wandering around Germany, you cannot go to other Schengen countries, otherwise you will be responsible for the consequences.

■Give me a reason to go to Germany?

Do you need a reason to travel? If anything, this is the only old Western developed country with a pure European style among the more than 20 countries that all Chinese tourist groups can visit.

■What preparations should be made before going to Germany?

Money, passport, visa. The visa procedure is very simple. Chinese citizens only need to provide a valid personal passport, photo, and visa application form to sign up for a trip to Germany at a travel agency.

If you understand these general preparations, then it is recommended that you do some "homework". First, you must know the details such as time difference, communication, electricity, currency, weather, etc. You can ask the travel agency;

In addition, it is best to know a little bit about the history and culture of Europe and Germany, especially the towns and attractions you will pass through on your itinerary. For example, the Roman era, Goethe, and finance related to Frankfurt; the beer culture and yuppie culture related to Munich; and the history of World War II related to Berlin

You can check these online, or you might as well call Germany directly The Beijing Office of the Tourism Bureau (65900926) knows that they have a very beautiful and detailed brochure for you.

■How much money should I bring for traveling to Germany?

The more the merrier (just kidding). It is best to apply for an international VISA card, which is safe and convenient. If you travel with a group, your money may be mainly used for shopping. You can buy all European things in Germany. The most expensive thing here is manpower. If you like famous brands, you can bring more money. I heard that buying famous brands there may be half the price. The souvenirs are all exquisite, but it is recommended that you prepare money to buy something practical (car? Just check it out). Also, it is recommended that you have time. Sit down boldly at a street bar and get a glass of freshly squeezed juice (which is very cheap in Germany). It will never be more expensive than in Sanlitun.

■Is it expensive to stay in a hotel when traveling in Germany?

Germany’s hotels are not as clear as we use stars here, and there is no unified standard. Many are privately run residences of various grades. If you see a hotel that is old and dilapidated, but very expensive, there must be a reason for it. Maybe it is an old castle, maybe it is the former residence of a celebrity, maybe its owner has A new, standardized hotel might be quite cheap. There are more family-style hotels, youth hostels, RV accommodations, etc. prepared for self-guided travelers. They are thoughtful, clean, and very cheap.

■Is it convenient to fly from Beijing to Germany?

Convenient and even more convenient. Now Air China has one flight a day, Lufthansa has one flight a day, and Eastern has two flights a week. After "opening", there will definitely be more flights. It takes 10 hours direct from Beijing to Frankfurt.

■Is there anything else you should pay attention to?

Be honest at the airport, because the airport customs in European and American countries are very sensitive and check very strictly (if there are customs staff endlessly looking through your passport, don’t rush , this applies to everyone), you may see customs security guards armed with live ammunition.

In addition, people there are very quiet, especially in hotels. Let’s control the volume when we visit, otherwise the Germans, who are famous for their seriousness, may complain against you.