A holiday in Germany is everything, but not boring. Many tourists are still regularly drawn abroad, but there is also a lot to discover on their own doorstep! It doesn’t even have to be a land trip. A very special highlight is to experience Germany from the sea! A contemplative break on the water helps to forget the stress of everyday life and simply arrive in the here and now. But where in Germany is such an adventure possible?

The Mecklenburg Lake District – predestined for a holiday on the water

The Mecklenburg Lake District offers fans of water holidays everything their hearts desire. Simply rent a sailboat on the Müritz and discover Germany in a whole new way. The Müritz is located between Berlin and Rostock and is one of the most important parts of the Lake District. In total, the surface has a size of 117 m², enough space for sailing and an extensive boat tour. Natural backdrops make the trip a very special spectacle.

During the summer time, the weather conditions are optimal, the wind forces are ideal for sailing. From the Müritz it is possible to travel the entire lake district. More than 1000 lakes join together here, connected by various waterways.

Beautiful Brandenburg – not only worth seeing for water tourists

With around 3000 lakes, Brandenburg also offers a paradise for sailors. If you’ve always wanted to take a different look at the state, you should definitely rent a sailboat in Brandenburg and get to know the world in a different way. Whether it’s a quiet and relaxing trip on the water or a sporty trip, the Brandenburg Water World offers the right experience for every type of sailor.

Numerous lakes and rivers are connected here, making the sailing experience an adventure. The natural landscapes invite you to moor and walk, the small harbours to go ashore. The Havel lakes in Brandenburg are also known outside the region for their diversity and variety. If you like it sporty, you will find the opportunity for a fast-paced tour on Lake Plau.

Shore excursions enrich a holiday on the water

Whether Brandenburg or the Müritz, the most beautiful sailing regions in Germany also have a lot to offer outside the water. Brandenburg, for example, offers fascinating cultural opportunities when going ashore. Tourists can sail across the water along the untouched nature and prepare their way to the mainland at the numerous anchor points. Now there are impressive castles, enchanting castles and ruins and lots of hospitality to experience.

In the evening, it is a good idea to visit one of the lovely restaurants near the shore. Here, mainly freshly caught fish is offered, but international cuisines also await the guests. Brandenburg and the Müritz are the two most important sailing areas in all of Germany. They are characterized above all by their diversity. Those who are already experienced sailors will get their money’s worth here as well as a layman. Boats can not only be rented with a license, those who do not have a driving license use a skipper! This guides the boat safely along the planned routes and makes the dream holiday a highlight.

Fulfilling their big dream, treading new paths freely and independently and exploring the world: Who hasn’t felt this longing at some point? The motorhome makes it possible. With the itinerary and the targeted destinations, you can also bake “small rolls” first. Regardless of the kilometres driven and the duration, however, there are a few things to consider when planning a trip with a motorhome.

What do I have to consider when buying a motorhome?

It goes without saying that the vehicle should be roadworthy. When planning to buy a motorhome, the question arises as to whether it should be a new vehicle with individual equipment or whether a used motorhome is sufficient. Here, year-old cars or offers with a short-term registration are alternatives worth considering. Rent can be the cheaper option in individual cases. What is particularly popular with younger people is self-conversion, usually on the basis of a van. When making your decision, you should carefully weigh up the pros and cons and also keep an eye on your own wallet. After all, these can be considerable sums that you have to raise before you start.

The acquisition costs can reach dizzying heights in the upper segment: In the luxury class, you can currently get the Volkner Mobil Performance S for a rough estimate of 2.4 million dollars with appropriate special equipment. The 18-ton truck with built-in center garage offers space for a sports car. The roadster is ready for getting bread rolls or an excursion with small luggage. Of course, the flagship has extremely luxurious equipment. In this league, it goes without saying that the rolling 12-metre comfort apartment with 460 hp is equipped with every conceivable bells and whistles.

Outside the Oberliga, new motorhomes are available from about 30,000 €. These are usually basic versions that can be equipped according to needs, taste and budget. The additional costs for expansion or more powerful motorization can be considerable. At autoscout24 there is an overview of the current range of new and used motorhomes. With almost 6000 entries and many filter functions, you can select individually here. Vehicles under €20,000 usually have over 20 years and often over 200,000 kilometres under their belts. Susceptibility to repair included.

Rent a motorhome – The clever alternative

When renting a motorhome, you shouldn’t have to worry about repairs. The motorhome rental company has a transparent offer, the offers of the ADAC motorhome rental company and the Dutch provider Goboony. In the compact area, Vany Class camper vans such as VW California, Mercedes Benz Marco Polo or HymerCar Sydney are offered for €616 for 6 nights. With 2-4 beds, this is a manageable price. The compact class has driving characteristics similar to those of a passenger car and therefore does not place any special demands on the driver or driving licence class. In the premium segment of the “mobile premier class”, prices are €120 per week higher if the vehicles are suitable for winter use. 1339 € for 6 nights are due in the Premium glamour class. In addition to liability insurance, it is advisable to take out fully comprehensive and partial comprehensive insurance. Deductible insurance significantly reduces the deductible in the event of a claim.

Once the questions of the vehicle and the driving licence have been clarified and the travel route has been roughly determined, it is best to check in advance whether your identity card or passport is sufficiently valid. What are the entry requirements in the destination countries? Are visas required? Do you need an International Driver’s Permit? The Federal Foreign Office advises copying all personal documents and keeping them separately from the originals.

Depending on the destination country, it is not only advisable to have different currencies with you. Credit card acceptance may vary from country to country. That’s why you should bet on different cards. You should also be prepared in the event that you lose your means of payment. In this case, you should have the contact details of people with you who can arrange for an instant transfer. German embassies or consulates are suitable contacts whose addresses should be ready, as well as the emergency numbers of the credit institutions to block cards.

In order to be on the safe side in the event of illness, international health insurance offers good protection, especially for trips to non-European countries. It should be noted that there are special conditions for increased contributions for the USA . If repatriation to the home country is not included, a separate repatriation insurance should be taken out. The ADAC also recommends travel cancellation insurance.

Under https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-und-sicherheitshinweise , the Foreign Ministry offers up-to-date information on the travel destinations: from Egypt to Cyprus. You will find short and compact information on the current situation in the country, entry and customs, nature and climate, general travel information and information on health and legal peculiarities. Here you will also find information on the vaccination regulations.

The authority urgently advises foreign travelers and persons with permanent residence abroad to register with the crisis preparedness list . The crisis preparedness list ELEFAND (Electronic Registration of Germans Abroad) helps in the event of a crisis or disaster and offers support from the missions abroad.

When everything is checked and in dry cloths, you can think about packing. The climatic conditions prevailing on the trip will determine the selection of clothing. The onion skin principle has proven its worth: several items of clothing are worn on top of each other. What should not be missing on any trip are the individually required medication in sufficient quantities and medicine for emergency care.

Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you here. When prophylaxis of exposure to avoid malaria or dengue, please think of insect repellent. Take a mosquito net and long, preferably light-colored clothing. Liquid disinfectants, a sufficient supply of water and water filters are part of the basic equipment of modern nomads. Have a good trip!

Most people book their trips on the Internet these days. Going to the travel agency is too arduous, especially if you live in the countryside. And often the online offers are also much cheaper. Payment is usually made by credit card, PayPal or instant bank transfer. But that’s exactly what is a problem for some. According to estimates, between 500,000 and one million people in Germany do not have a current account. And older people in particular often still lack trust in digital payment methods. They don’t want to give their account details or credit card number on a website. There is an alternative for them: With the Paysafecard, it is possible to pay for online travel bookings in cash. Here’s how it works.

What is a Paysafecard?

The Paysafecard is a kind of virtual prepaid card. In many supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations there are top-up codes for it to buy. This makes it possible to pay in cash or by Girocard. The payment data is not stored. The most well-known use is probably that you can deposit in the casino with Paysafecard . Especially casual players who only want to deposit smaller amounts like to use it. But many online shops also accept the Paysafecard. However, Paysafecard is mostly used for smaller amounts. Online travel agencies such as Expedia or Booking.com therefore do not accept this payment method. It is also usually not possible to pay with the Paysafecard at airlines and hotel chains. So if you absolutely want to pay for a trip in cash, you have to use a trick.

Book directly at TripGift

The first way to pay for a trip via Paysafecard is the TripGift platform. There it is possible to buy gift vouchers for travel. Of course, you can give them as a gift, but you can just as easily use them yourself. The site’s vouchers are valid for many airlines (e.g. Lufthansa, Air France and Turkish Airlines), hotel chains (e.g. Hilton, Mercure, Ibis), car rental companies (e.g. Sixt, Enterprise, Hertz) and various travel providers. The trip itself must then be booked directly with these companies. Currently, TripGift is the only travel platform that accepts payments via Paysafecard. The service is available in Germany as well as in most other EU countries. This method is a bit cumbersome, especially when it comes to a longer trip. However, for those who do not have their own bank account, they are a good alternative.

Top up your prepaid credit card with Paysafecard

The second way to pay for a trip by Paysafecard is the prepaid credit card from Paysafecard. It can also be topped up at the supermarket checkout . However, unlike the normal Paysafecard, it is accepted wherever Mastercard can be used. If you only ever top it up with the necessary credit, you don’t have to worry about a third party misusing the card data. The prepaid credit card makes it possible to pay in cash practically anywhere on the Internet – even on most booking platforms. However, there are also some disadvantages. On the one hand, there is an annual fee of 9.90 €. There is also a 4% fee when topping up the card. This is particularly important for larger amounts.

Paying for travel bookings with Paysafecard – Does it make sense?

For most people, it doesn’t make sense to pay for their trips with Paysafecard. This is because the procedure is cumbersome and sometimes expensive. However, for all those who want to pay in cash for important reasons, it is a valuable way to book air travel and hotel accommodation via the Internet.