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-   -   Summertime temperatures in Germany (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/summertime-temperatures-in-germany-833924/)

awayfromitall Apr 2nd, 2010 01:15 PM

Summertime temperatures in Germany
 
So, I'm looking at hotels and searching for ones with air conditioning....due to having traveled in Italy during a heat wave 2 summers ago.

Anyway, I looked at weather.com for some of the southern cities and I see average highs in the 60s and 70s. Is this correct? Meaning one can easily live without air conditioning?

logos999 Apr 2nd, 2010 01:23 PM

I'm living for decades without AC at work and at home and I have a good life. :D. AC = Waste of money and energy. Only Americans "need" AC. Those highs are correct and it gets cold at night very soon.
Now this is time for the usual debate about those warmer two weeks every year where American tourists visit and find it unbareable to survive without conditioned air. :D. Decadent but likable folks. The discussion comes early this year, the snow has just melted... I'd just put them in the fridge for the night.

logos999 Apr 2nd, 2010 01:24 PM

The don't sell ice in the stores in Germany, shocking but true! :-)

quokka Apr 2nd, 2010 02:52 PM

German style air condition is named "open windows". No one has real air condition in private homes and few hotels have it. Those few really warm summer nights when air condition might be helpful for better sleep sum up to one or max. two weeks per year - no need to waste energy and costs for such a short period.

Summer temperatures can be, to name the extremest extremes, between +12°C and +38°C. (Sorry, I don't speak Fahrenheit.) A lot depends where in Germany you are, the climate between, say, the Upper Rhine Valley and the North Sea coast differs widely.

bettyk Apr 2nd, 2010 03:30 PM

Oh yes, us decadent Americans! Try living in 95 degrees F (sorry, I don't speak Celsius) with 100% humidity! Much of the US swelters in the summer months.

I was in Vienna in May a few years ago during a hot spell. Unfortunately, our room faced an inner courtyard where there was NO air moving at all. It was very uncomfortable. But, 2 days later it was cold and rainy.

So, the chances that you will have really hot weather in the southern part of Germany for extended periods is unlikely.

Be sure to take earplugs cause the noise level can be high if you are on a busy street or pedestrian area and have the windows open.

scatcat Apr 2nd, 2010 03:44 PM

Yes Betty, we Texans know the value of air conditioning. I would never recommend visiting Texas in the summer. And that usually goes for late spring and early fall-HOT

nytraveler Apr 2nd, 2010 04:34 PM

Italy is south of the Alps and very hot in summer (except the lake region), Germany is north of the Alps and temps tend to be much cooler. You can get the rare hot spell - but in Germany in the summer I wold expect highs in the 70s (or perhaps lower in the mountains).

If you're traveling midsummer and can't cope with heat at all (I can;t) then you need to pick one of the upscale places that does have AC - but you will definitely pay for it. (We usually go in May and June and have never needed AC in Germany.)

Connie Apr 2nd, 2010 06:02 PM

Gee, his attitude about Americans makes me want to change my mind about going to Germany!

I too live with 100 degree days with super high humidity. I don't think it's decadent to have a standard of living that allows us to not be miserable for several months of the year.

BTW, many Americans in the northern areas of the U.S. don't have A/C either--even in homes that are very large and expensive.

logos999 Apr 3rd, 2010 01:05 AM

How did Westerwelle put it: "Those are the signs of late roman decadence" That is so true. If you want to change your mind just go ahead connie. :D

altamiro Apr 3rd, 2010 04:50 AM

Logos, stop gloating. We have at least a decent climate where we don't really need AC, but those from a large part of USA live in climate which for me quite closely resemble hell, they need AC to keep some sanity.
Reminds me of the little fact that up to early 20th century, European diplomats posted to Washington DC received additional compensation for "unfriendly weather conditions".

logos999 Apr 3rd, 2010 05:03 AM

Nice ;-) altamiro. One wouldn't want them to go completely insane, right. So cooling them down is essential, got your point.


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