moatenote

Two of us are planning two weeks in Germany sometime next June (2005)--dates to be determined. I'm concerned about the weather there--we'll be in the Rhine, Garmisch area, Salzburg, Munich. Most of the places we're considering staying do not have air conditioning. Should I search harder for places that have it? Looking at weather.com, the high temperatures right now are varying widely! Any suggestions from experienced travelers?

RufusTFirefly

You really won't know until you are actually there. When we went to Germany in June 2002, we packed for normal temps--upper 60s and low 70s during the daytime. We checked the weather on the internet, and the predicted temps were right in that range.

So the second day we were in Germany, temps hit the low 80s. By the fourth day, temps were in the low 90s. On our tenth or eleventh day it hit 100. We stayed up late a lot drinking cold white wine. During the daylight hours, Radlers helped a lot. We also did some quick shopping for shorts, short-sleeve shirts, and sandals. Fortunately our rental car had A/C.

annesherrod

RufusTfirefly = the same thing happened to me the same summer. luckily most of the Hotels had AC. Some of the evenings were cool, but my kids spent a lot of time at the beach at the Bodensee (Meersburg).

Prepare for both extreme in tempatures.

Betsy

Several years ago we were in a snow storm in the Black Forest in June, so you may not need that AC after all!

Riffic

Rufus is correct,

Weather in Germany varies greatly from year-to-year, especially in Bavaria where the Alps play a big role in the weather pattern changes.

In Bavaria, if I had to generalize, I would say that June has cool to cold nights (can be in the 40's, such as like last week), with the chance for hot weather in the day--average in the low 70's F. Expect rain moreso in the beginning of the month.

July is often rainier than anyone wants. Check out an annual precipitation report, and you'll see what I mean.

August and September are my favorites--the weather beer gardens are made for.

Of course, last year was just sweltering heat, so don't expect one year to be like any other ;-)

Jack31

I'm living in Germany right now. Last week the temperatures were in the 40's and 50's. This week the temperatures are in the upper 80's. You generally do not need air conditioning in Germany unless a rare heatwave hits.(Like last summer).

TopMan

Sorry, but I disagree with Jack about the "need" for air conditioning. It can be in the 70's and 80's in Bavaria and because of the HUMIDITY of which there is PLENTY you will appreciate air conditioning.
I'm not saying you should change your hotel plans..that is entirely up to you and you may end up being completely comfortable..but air conditioning is very helpful and welcome in sticky climates and Germany certainly qualifies in the Summer.
Personally I'd never rent a hotel room that wasn't heated in the Winter and adequately cooled in the Summer...just my opinion, of course.
Enjoy your trip.

Riffic

that's the first time I ever heard someone characterize Bavaria as having PLENTY of humidity. I actually think humidity is lower than the average spot. Just visiting Boston two weeks ago, I couldn't believe the humidity difference on the jet-way, just after stepping off the plane.

While I certainly miss my good 'ole USA A/C, I can certainly bear it here.

just1dayoutoflife

moatenote....most travel books that you can pick up at your local book stores, especially the eyewitness guides, only list hotels that have airconditioning: and if they don't have it, they will asterisk it or mark it out somehow. If you wanted to find hotels that did have a/c, that would be a good bet. Also, you can always fax hotels and ask them, if they dont specify. We are staying at the Hotel Olympic in Munich in a few weeks and Im pretty sure they have airconditioning.(A little south of mid-Munich, though).

mikemo

I have travelled/lived in Germany and Alsace, France infrequently in my 60 years.
The hot Munchen weather was in 1992 - they thought it hot in the dry upper '80's - NOT, as I live in DFW, and thought it very comfortable.
On the other hand, September '02 was

mikemo

a mac is in my future.
Nearly froze in Sept 'O2 - lots of snow in the Bavarian Alps, Munchen had snow and freeze @ O'Fest - 1st since '39.