WarmSpicyHug

Going to Southern Germany in early March. We heard it's pretty cold and wet at that time. Will it be ok?

My dad is starting to go downhill in health and this is his last hurrah. We would postpone but don't want to wait too long...

We are Southern Californians but not afraid of a little case of the shivers.

I throw myself on your expertise and mercy.

Budman

Stay in Southern California and import German beer.

padams421

It'll be damp and chilly but you will have many warm memories from the trip. There won't be a lot of other tourists so it will be easy to sightsee. Go and have a great time.

Russ

The climate charts show March and April to be the driest months of the year in Frankfurt. But you can expect it to be chilly. Generally, the Rhineland and the area around Freiburg tend to be warmer than elsewhere in Germany.

WarmSpicyHug

Thank you all so much for your kind and funny responses. Wunderbar!

LTR

Have you considered staying in a vacation home rather than a hotel?

We stayed in several in Germany last year and for us, it was great. My husband and mom are not in the best of health, but we also had our college age kids with us. We were able to fix light meals and had a nice place to all hang out together after touring all day. Well, the old people stayed in....the kids had to perform quality taste tests of the local German beers.

It rained some part of every day we were there and while it didn't stop us from doing the tourist thing, it was nice having the space to relax without being cooped up in a small hotel room each night. Oh, the washer and dryer came in handy too.

WarmSpicyHug

Thanks, LTR, that's good advice, especially cause Mom's a diabetic and fixing her own food some of the time might be really handy.

However, we'll be moving around a bit (every few days or so), is there generally a minimum number of nights?

LTR

I think they wanted 2 or 3 day minimums. One asked for a $30 cleaning fee, but the others did not. They were so affordable that you could pay for an extra night and still be ahead of the cost of a hotel. I don't think we paid over $100 euros per night for any place, and we were staying in 2 or 3 bedroom apartments.

Of course, we did not stay in any large cities. We also live in Southern Calif, so we already knew what big cities are like.

StCirq

It will be fine. And thank your lucky stars that your dad knows he wants to do this and can handle it. Do whatever it takes to make this a memorable trip for him.

I lost my dad last June and though I regret the trips we might well have taken I still cherish every trip to Europe I took with him, and they number in the dozens. Make the most of it!

WarmSpicyHug

Wow, thanks for the very kind replies. I feel great about choosing March now, and also that I have the chance to do this.

It's gonna be Dad, Mom, and three siblings, all grown ups and all control freaks. You make me feel like it will be worth it.

LoveItaly

Hello WarmSpicyHug, I would be so thrilled if my father was still here with me and I could go to Europe with him.

I would suggest packing some silk underwear, especially for your father, but also for all of you. It takes up so little room in the luggage and can make quite a difference in feeling warm in cold weather.

Your Dad's last hurrah! Go! Enjoy this very special time with your father. I guarantee you that you will never be sorry. Enjoy every precious moment. Best wishes to all of you.

kswl

Absolutely, enjoy your trip with your Dad, WSH. My mom and dad took what turned out to be their last European trip in 1990, to see the Passion Play in Oberamergau, Germany. My dad had a massive stroke in Heidelberg a few days before the play, and did not ever recover enough to walk or talk. He was in a German hospital for several weeks, then transferred to the Army hospital in Heidelberg and flown home on a military hospital plane even though he was a civilian American.

You're smart not to postpone the trip. Who cares if it's cold or wet---you'll have a wonderful time together. Cherish every second of it. My best to both of you--

LoveItaly

Hello WarmSpicyHug, KSWL post made me think of something. Have you purchased your airline tickets yet? If not, or if you just did I would, if I were you, purchase travel insurance just in case your dear father did have a health problem. You only have a few days as I understand it to purchase insurance after reserving the trip to avoid having an preexsisting conditions not covered. MedJet is suppose to be really good but everyone suggests that you go to the website www.insuremytrip.com to check out the various policies and the level of coverage. Something you might think about doing right away. Again, best wishes to you and your family.

mikemo

From what I have been reading recently in der Spiegel, die Welt, et.al., maybe Germany's last hurrah as well.
Seriously, have a great trip.
M

blondlady

Ditto to all above except the stay at home and have a beer. My husband and I have been in Germany and Italy when it was pouring rain and still had a marvelous time. You can buy cheap rain covers if it gets wet. We have had wonderful luck with the Pensiones, I always like to stay with people that have a dog. We use the "book" for places to stay as well as just picking out places along the way that had a sign out. We always reserve ahead of time our first one or two nights stay, then play by ear the rest of the journey so we are flexible. It has always worked out, but watch your dates for holidays in Europe. Enjoy your trip. Sincerely, Another Californian

Bird

I would recommend splurging for first class seats on the flight over. I went to Europe with my ailing father a few years back and the flight over was the most difficult part of the journey.

Bob1

Go for it! I wish I had my dad and mom around to do the same thing.

My wife and I fell in love with Germany and Bavaria while stationed there in the Army in 1970. We get back frequently, but it has now been a few years. Got to get back again soon.

Good recommendation on the long underwear. We do that when we go in the winter for the Christmas markets. You can take normal slacks and the long johns do the rest of the work.

Don't worry about the rain. You may luck out, you may not. You never know for sure in Germany.

Toast a beer for me!

CaliNurse

WarmSpicyHug, I'm reading a wonderful novel about a little boy's peceptions of the world, called "Things As They Are" by Paul Horgan. One of the chapters is about a situation similar to yours: the little boy's grandfather returns to Germany, the land of his birth, for a last hurrah. It's heartwarming and touching.
You'll have an unforgettable trip with great memories for all of you.