RAF Partners Posted To Germany...Any Info Please??

Princess_G

Hey everyone.
Partner is in the RAF and found out Tuesday that he’s off to Germany in May.
Very unexpected posting but it should mean a good promotion. The posting is for 2 years. He’s not long come back from Iraq either. It’s not an option to go with him at the moment and we’ve no kids.

We’re going to travel to see each other etc and I don’t really know where to start! I’ve looked on various websites for cheap flights but Germany wasn’t a place I really wanted to visit – not top of list! Neither or us have been there before and would like to know if anyone has any tips on anything! Its northern Germany he’s going to.

I don’t know the first thing about travelling in Europe as I’ve always gone to other side of the pond. He see’s it as a great opportunity to travel to places in Europe together, I’m starting to come round but still pretty shocked.

I think what's bothering me is getting there and travelling from the airport alone!
Hanover is 50miles away, Paderborn is 36miles from the station and I guess the easy option is railway - don't know the first thing about it and I did french at school not german lol :rolleyes:
:A

Lady_E

Just read your message , for flights try Air Berlin or Germanwings . Have you voiced your concerns to OH , as it might be there is a facility within the Forces that gives all the relevant info with possible discounts? hth x

hammy_the_hammer

i think you might find places in holland like maastricht ( sp ) easier to get to the bases from ....this though was 20 years ago . just possibly look at the distances over the border etc

Princess_G

Thanks for your message.
We've both been pretty surprised at it all and he's not even managed to speak to his new boss yet.
Thanks for the links, haven't heard of germanwings! having a look now.
xx

Bokken_2

Princess_G wrote:

Thanks for your message.
We've both been pretty surprised at it all and he's not even managed to speak to his new boss yet.
Thanks for the links, haven't heard of germanwings! having a look now.
xx

Yeah nothing changes welcome to the forces!
I had a 48hrs notice to move to the Falklands and a 24hrs notice to move to Canada botrh for six months the OH was not chuffed.
I loved Germany, Berlin is amazing ,Hanover is pretty cool as well.Holland is better very nice.
When we were out there the internet didn't exsist so try and use that to keep together and gradually go that bit further.
All Germans can speak English except the elderly it just depends do they want to.We ditched the car in Berlin and used public transport everywhere we both picked up the language within a few months and my OH still talks about visiting Germany she came around as she was very frightened about leaving the UK.
Good luck
Germany isn't a third world country you can still by everything you want there or in the NAAFI on the bases.

Princess_G

Bokken wrote:

Yeah nothing changes welcome to the forces!
I had a 48hrs notice to move to the Falklands and a 24hrs notice to move to Canada botrh for six months the OH was not cuffed.
I loved Germany, Berlin is amazing ,Hanover is pretty cool as well.Holland is better very nice.
When we were out there the internet didn't exsist so try and use that to keep together and gradually go that bit further.
All Germans can speak English except the elderly it just depends do they want to.We ditched the car in Berlin and used public transport everywhere we both picked up the language within a few months and my OH still talks about visiting Germany she came around as she was very frightened about leaving the UK.
Good luck
Germany isn't a third world country you can still by everything you want there or in the NAAFI on the bases.

Thanks, We were lucky with the Iraq posting as he knew ages in advance and that was only 4 months, we get two months this time. I'm looking through mags and sites and it does look pretty, certainly get a few stamps in passport!. Quite gutted in a way as on monday I sent off for clubcard vouchers for hotel stay and we found out tuesday afternoon when they'd been sent! could have got a hell of alot of airmiles!! :rolleyes:
we will be using msn rather alot and he's thinking of getting a camper van so we can do a bit of touring.
xx

Bokken_2

Princess_G wrote:

we will be using msn rather alot and he's thinking of getting a camper van so we can do a bit of touring.
xx

Sounds great,Germany is a huge place and driving is okay in a fast car at 100mph but in a camper van for 48hrs at 55mph to Bavaria is no joke.
Also you be aware the world cup is coming up,this will hamper ticket price for flights /trains etc also the football fans are hiring all the van at the moment to beat the B&B prices.
Germany has cheap flights just like here in the UK it is also a lot quicker to get to your destination also when you get there you feel less tired.
The train system is also excellent so perhaps use that for your sightseeing.
It won't take you long to fall in love with the blackforest gateaux.
One last thing while you have the chance to save money do it and use the help here on the site try and get yourselves set up for life otside the RAF well before your going to leave.
Good luck and have a great time.
Berlin is the best

MCMC_2

Apart from Germanwings and Air Berlin, HLX (https://www.hlx.co.uk) has a huge presence especially in Hanover, and Easyjet has a base in Dortmund (not far from Paderborn).
British Airways, BMI and Lufthansa offer very cheap return tickets to Germany as well.
For cheap hotel rooms, check HRS (https://www.hrs.de)

Unfortunately, you won't get any passport stamps when travelling to EU countries...

Princess_G

MCMC wrote:

Apart from Germanwings and Air Berlin, HLX (https://www.hlx.co.uk) has a huge presence especially in Hanover, and Easyjet has a base in Dortmund (not far from Paderborn).
British Airways, BMI and Lufthansa offer very cheap return tickets to Germany as well.
For cheap hotel rooms, check HRS (https://www.hrs.de)

Unfortunately, you won't get any passport stamps when travelling to EU countries...

lol regarding stamps......................see thats how little I know!
Thanks for the links and info.

Princess_G

Bokken wrote:

Sounds great,Germany is a huge place and driving is okay in a fast car at 100mph but in a camper van for 48hrs at 55mph to Bavaria is no joke.
Also you be aware the world cup is coming up,this will hamper ticket price for flights /trains etc also the football fans are hiring all the van at the moment to beat the B&B prices.
Germany has cheap flights just like here in the UK it is also a lot quicker to get to your destination also when you get there you feel less tired.
The train system is also excellent so perhaps use that for your sightseeing.
It won't take you long to fall in love with the blackforest gateaux.
One last thing while you have the chance to save money do it and use the help here on the site try and get yourselves set up for life otside the RAF well before your going to leave.
Good luck and have a great time.
Berlin is the best

I would like to see Berlin! and def try blackforest gateaux! yummmm it will give us both a chance to save dosh. We only noticed the other night about the world cup - OH hates it, only Rugby allowed! so I have noticed the prices are a little different between those times. I guess just try to avoid.
x

Bokken_2

Princess_G wrote:

I would like to see Berlin! and def try blackforest gateaux! yummmm it will give us both a chance to save dosh. We only noticed the other night about the world cup - OH hates it, only Rugby allowed! so I have noticed the prices are a little different between those times. I guess just try to avoid.
x

Yeah just think a little further ahead if planning to book any tickets etc pretty similar to the UK train/travel problems at peaktimes best buy tickets the week before to avoid standing in queues and missing your flight/train etc.
Have a look at Eurostar as well they regularly have discounts.