I am planning a few nights in Bavaria during late June. We plan on staying at a small hotel outside of Munich. I would like to mail a reservation letter requesting they hold a double room for me and my wife but unfortunately I do not speak or write German. Does anyone have a standard letter in German that I may fill in certain dates and room types for these reservations. Any help would be appreciated. <BR>

Kirby: My dodgy German got me by with few problems while living there in the mid-80's. This is due to english being used in just about every public and private school for some time now. <BR> <BR>I would write my letter in english and see what happens. I'll bet that your reservation will work out fine. I made reservations in english for all five of our hotels in May and it went without a hitch, even in little towns like Dinkelsbuhl. <BR> <BR>I just didn't trust my German enough to do it in their language. Don't forget, dates are written differently, such as 3/31/99 (March 31, 1999) would be 31.03.99. Be careful with that. <BR> <BR>Good luck! <BR>

Kirby, <BR> <BR>The following will get you a double room with bath or shower. I'd suggest you write in English, however, perhaps both languages. If you write solely in German, your reply will be in German and you'll have to chase down a translater to find out whether you've got a reservation or not. Nevertheless: <BR> <BR>Sehr geehrte Herren, <BR> <BR>Ich benotigen vom (day), (month), (year) bis zum (day), (month), (year) eins doppelzimmer mit Bad/Dusche fur zwei Erwachsene. Wir mochten nur Zimmer mit Frustuck. Bitte lassen Sie mich wissen, ob Sie etwas zu der gewunschten Zeit frei haben, in welcher Preislage, und ob Anzahlung notwendig ist. <BR> <BR>Ich danke Ihnen im Voraus. <BR> <BR>Mit freundlichen Grussen <BR> <BR>Kirby <BR> <BR>Dear Sirs, <BR> <BR>I wish to reserve as of (day), (month), year) until (day), (month), year one double room with bath (Bad)/shower/(Dusche) for two adults. We would like the room with breakfast only. Please let me know if you have a room available, in what price range and if a deposit is required. <BR> <BR>Thanking you in advance. <BR> <BR>Kirby <BR> <BR>When indicating dates, be sure to show day first, then month, then year, i.e. June 21, 1999 as 21/6/99. <BR>

I would write in English, because if the reply comes back in German, what do you do then? Scramble around to find someone who can read German? Many Germans know some English, so if the hotel staff cannot handle it, there is someone around who can. When I was in Germany, I found that many Germans wanted to try their English out on me. <BR>I had to listen to desciptions of "There gave many snow this winter on the mountains." and a few other less idiomatic concoctions. But also, many of them are quite fluent. Afterall, some of them start taking English at age 9 and pursue it through age 19, often with British or American instructors. The abitur degree from the gymnasium requires fluency in a foreign language, usually 2. And the German system does not mess around when it comes to teaching languages, and requiring that students learn something.

if you want a bed big enough for you and your wife to sleep together (rather than 2 singles), I suggest you ask for a Verheiratungszimmer (literally, marriage room). You can also use the website babelfish.com to translate. <BR> <BR>gute Reise! <BR>

I always fax or write my reservations in English and have never had a problem (even in small villages). The response is always in English. <BR>

Although it is not my ambition to rain on people's German parade, I do feel that I should point out a couple of key facts about the advice given above about letters and the use of the Babelfish translation device. I tried Babelfish and it gives wrong, and possibly even embarrasing, translations. I entered this sentence: I would like to reserve a room for 2 adults on the nights of June 24 and June 15, 1999. <BR>The response was: Ich moechte ein Raum fuer zwei Erwachsene auf den Naechte von June 24 und von Juni 15, 1999 aufheben. <BR>The e after u and o is the substitute for the two dots over the letter known as an umlaud. The correct German for the above is: Ich moechte ein Zimmer fuer zwei Erwachsene fur die Naechte vom 24. Juni und 25. Juni 1999 reservieren. The word aufheben means to raise up or lift, or in the context of a law, it means to rescind. And a German would ask for a Zimmer; not for a Raum. Raum means room to spread out in, not a room in a house. <BR> <BR>I also plugged in "I am hot." The response was: Ich bin heiss. Which has a hot to trot connotation that likely will provoke amused smiles. <BR> <BR>So my recommendation is to write in English rather than using Babelfish or what ever. You will not come across like you know what you are doing. Better correct simple English than mangled German that might contain misleading key words. You certainly don't want to raise up a room when the intent is to reserve a night's lodging. <BR> <BR>The letter suggested by Mr. Fowler has several minor errors in it, although the meaning is clear. Here is a corrected version that passes German grammatical muster: <BR>(The added e after vowels shows the presence of a German umlaut. Either include the e, or put two dots over the vowel.) <BR> <BR> Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, <BR> <BR> Ich benoetigen vom (day). (month). <BR> (year) bis zum (day). (month). <BR> (year) ein Doppelzimmer mit <BR> Bad/Dusche fur zwei Erwachsene. <BR> Wir moechten nur ein Zimmer mit <BR> Fruestueck. Bitte lassen Sie mich <BR> wissen, ob Sie etwas zu der <BR> gewuenschten Zeit frei haben, in <BR> welcher Preislage, und ob <BR> Anzahlung notwendig ist. <BR> <BR> <BR>The suggestion about using the word Verheiratungszimmer to ask for a large bed, suitable for two adults, probably is not a good idea. According to my German friend (born and raised there), the word is not recognized. If you want to write in German to ask for a two-person bed, use one of the three following terms: <BR>das Ehebett (marriage bed) <BR>das Doppelbett (two singles shoved together) <BR>das franzoesisches Bett (a French bed). <BR>Das Doppelbett should measure out to be 180 centimeters wide and 200 centimeters long. A somewhat smaller size is 140 x 200, which is a little narrow for two large adults. (About 54-55 inches.) <BR> <BR>Perhaps simple English is the best compromise. Happy sleeping.

I've been writing in my highly imperfect German (& asking them to write back in English if possible). In only a couple of cases have I received German replies; since I've been studying German in preparation for my trip these were not too bad to translate. In spite of my limited vocabulary, the recipients seemed to understand my request. Another idea is to state not only the dates you wish to stay but reiterate the number of nights to allay any confusion. For example, vom 24 Juni bis 27 Juni (3 Naechten). There can be misunderstandings on this here in the states too...

Pardon me for not expressing myself more clearly: my suggestion re: babelfish was in case Kirby received a reply back in German and lacked a human translator; it is better than nothing. But with all these experts I guess that will not be a concern. <BR> <BR>My mother is a native speaker and with the addition of my limited formal German education I managed to make myself understood across the country, and yes, Verheiratungszimmer was recognized. The great thing about the German language is that even if a word is not particularly familiar the individual parts which are strung together to form it likely make the word generally understandable. Ehebett specifies a particular bed, where Verheiratungszimmer specifies a room with such a bed. Ehebett is easier to spell, certainly. <BR>

I am quite content to let native speakers fight out the Verheiratungszimmer issue. But could it not as well mean a room in which a marriage ceremony was performed? <BR>I just struggle to get the right relative pronoun in a sentence. <BR>

I've written my letters in English and have gotten my replies vback in English also. English is now fairly universal and it is spoken in Germany.. Another option is to telephone UTEL, they are an American reservation co. with an 800#. Speak to them to see if the hotel you want is part of their system. If it is you can make the reservation with them at no charge and receive the confirmation from the hotel. I've uased them for several years and have had great success. Tell them the price range you are looking for, the area and even the hotel/ Good Luck

<BR>Dear Kirby, <BR> <BR>don't worry, just write your reservation request in english. Most hotels, no matter if big or small, will be able to respond you in your language, even if the answer might not be perfect . . . <BR> <BR>Have a nice journey! <BR> <BR>