Fodor's upCLOSE Germany: The Guide that Gets You to the Heart and Soul of Germany [Paperback]

Fodor's (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 1999 | Series: Fodor's Upclose Germany

Fodor's upCLOSE are designed for travelers who want to travel well and spend less.  With candid reviews and a fresh outlook, Fodor's upCLOSE point the way to authentic experiences that will take travelers away from the crowds and close to the culture -- without having to spend a fortune.


See all the sights worth seeing, from Berlin to the Black Forest
Medieval castles, Baroque palaces, Gothic cathedrals
Amazing nooks and neighborhoods in every city
Art, art, art: Museums, galleries, churches, outdoor sculpture
The Romantic Road, the Rhine, the Baltic Coast
Find the special small hotels and the coziest B&Bs
Where to stay that's charming (and doesn't cost an arm and a leg)
City-center digs that give maximum bang for the buck
Hilltop hideaways, hip hostels
Friendly inns in the country, farms where you can sleep in the hayloft
Where to pitch your tent
Eat & drink with the locals, catch the coolest nightlife
Biergärten and Brauhäuser markets, Imbifs stands, picnicking
Where to eat eel soup, Sauerbraten, Black Forest cake
Artsy cafés, trendy bars, late-night clubs
Jazz festivals, classical music events, wine fêtes, and more
Practical info, great maps
Airfare deals and how to get around
Tips on traveling smart and losing the crowds
Clear, easy-to-read maps

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Fodor's upCLOSE are designed for travelers who want to travel well and spend less.  With candid reviews and a fresh outlook, Fodor's upCLOSE point the way to authentic experiences that will take travelers away from the crowds and close to the culture -- without having to spend a fortune.


See all the sights worth seeing, from Berlin to the Black Forest
Medieval castles, Baroque palaces, Gothic cathedrals
Amazing nooks and neighborhoods in every city
Art, art, art: Museums, galleries, churches, outdoor sculpture
The Romantic Road, the Rhine, the Baltic Coast
Find the special small hotels and the coziest B&Bs
Where to stay that's charming (and doesn't cost an arm and a leg)
City-center digs that give maximum bang for the buck
Hilltop hideaways, hip hostels
Friendly inns in the country, farms where you can sleep in the hayloft
Where to pitch your tent
Eat & drink with the locals, catch the coolest nightlife
Biergärten and Brauhäuser markets, Imbifs stands, picnicking
Where to eat eel soup, Sauerbraten, Black Forest cake
Artsy cafés, trendy bars, late-night clubs
Jazz festivals, classical music events, wine fêtes, and more
Practical info, great maps
Airfare deals and how to get around
Tips on traveling smart and losing the crowds
Clear, easy-to-read maps

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Traveling upCLOSE

Grab a beer and find a shady spot in a Biergarten. Commune with Nature on the trails of the Harz mountains. Treat your ears to a Bach festival. Stay in a hay loft and wake up to a generous farmer's breakfast. Bike past half-timbered houses in the Tauber valley. Probe the underbelly of German art in Berlin's Scheunenviertel. Watch the sun set slowly from a windswept Baltic beach. Peruse Goethe's correspondence. Go castle-hopping on the Rhein. Dip into the Bodensee on a sunny afternoon. In other words, if you want to experience the heart and soul of Germany, whatever you do, don't spend too much money.

The deep and rich experience of Germany that every true traveler yearns for is one of the things in life that money can't buy. In fact, if you have money, try not to use it. Traveling lavishly is the surest way to turn yourself into a sideline traveler. Restaurants with white-glove service are great -- sometimes -- but they're usually not the best place to find the perfect Sauerbraten mit Knödel (marinated roast beef with dumplings). Doormen at plush hotels have their place, but not when your look-alike room could be anywhere from Dover to Detroit. Better to stay in a more intimate place that truly gives you the atmosphere you traveled so far to experience. Don't just stand and watch -- jump into the spirit of what's around you.

If you want to see Germany up close and savor the essence of the country and its people, this book is for you. We'll show you the local culture, the offbeat sights, the bars and cafés where tourists rarely tread, and the B&Bs and other hostelries where you'll meet fellow travelers -- places where the locals would send their friends. And because you'll probably want to see the famous places if you haven't already been there, we give you tips on losing the crowds, plus the quirky and obscure facts you want as well as the basics everyone needs.

Our Gang

Who are we? We're artists and poets, slackers and straight arrows, and travel writers and journalists, who in our less hedonistic moments report on local news and spin out an occasional opinion piece. What we share is a certain footloose spirit and a passion for Germany, which we celebrate in this guidebook. Shamelessly, we've revealed all of our favorite places and our deepest, darkest travel secrets, all so that you can learn from our past mistakes and experience the best part of the 16 Länder (states) to the fullest. If you can't take your best friend on the road or if your best friend is hopeless with directions, stick with us.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Fodor's (November 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679004424
• ISBN-13: 978-0679004424
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,250,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Complete & Concise, but..., July 15, 2000

By 

Christina Patterson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fodor's upCLOSE Germany: The Guide that Gets You to the Heart and Soul of Germany (Paperback)

This book is a good companion to bring with you or to study prior to your trip to Germany. It covers all of Germany's regions with detailed descriptions of many of the sights. However, note that this book is written with youthful travelers in mind (i.e. students)with lots of references to clubs, inexpensive lodging and outdoor activities. I was disappointed to see NO PICTURES WHATSOEVER! Also, there is not a lot mentioned that would be of use to families with small children. Overall I would give the book 4 stars for it's up-to-date information, but only 3 for design and appeal to 30-somethings with kids.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A dissapointing travel guide and review, September 12, 2000

By 

Robert Case (Highland Beach, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fodor's upCLOSE Germany: The Guide that Gets You to the Heart and Soul of Germany (Paperback)

This book is primarily written for those who wish to travel "on the cheap".In most of the cities we visited (Frankfurt,Munich, Berlin)only inexpensive hotels,hostels,and pensions were listed. Restaurants described were mostly based on price,and not suitable for one who enjoys fine dining where the natives dine, and at reasonable prices.The book,being a paperback,is also very bulky,and is not practical to "carry it on your trip".

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine guide book and great for first time traveler, April 24, 2001

By 

yudi astono (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fodor's upCLOSE Germany: The Guide that Gets You to the Heart and Soul of Germany (Paperback)

I had a great time in Germany that I owed a big time from all the folks at Fodor's. It is really an up close of Germany even though the maps are dissapointing. They could be more detailed. This has been the weak point of all Fodor's series. Seasoned travelers better off look else where, you guys obviously do not need the section on how to pack, where to keep your passports and looking composed and presentable at the custom gate to expedite process.