Travel Information Gay Games VIII Cologne Gemany

8/9/2019 Travel Information Gay Games VIII Cologne Gemany

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General Travel FAQs

What paperwork do I need to enter Germany?

(Does my Drivers License work at the border?)

If you are arriving from one of the EU countries you only need your identification card forGermany. To enter Germany or any other country from any non-European Union country(including the United States, Canada and Australia), you will need a valid passport. Citizens ofthe US, Canada and Australia do not need a Visa or other permit if you are staying for 3 monthsor less. Non-citizens and those from countries other than those listed above should consult thewebsite: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/WillkommeninD/EinreiseUndAufenthalt/StaatenlisteVisumpflicht.html.

What kind of weather can I expect in Cologne in the summer?

[Will the weather be as unbearably hot as the Chicago and Sydney Gay Games?]

Cologne and all of Germany has a moderate climate. Summers are not usually hot, with theaverage temperature ranging from a high of 72° F/22° C during the day to 55° F/15° C at night.Cologne has had record heat that is much warmer but such heat is extremely rare. Manybuildings in Germany are not air-conditioned, although most modern hotels have air conditioning.Cologne and much of Europe does have wet and cool days during the summer, so please beprepared for warmer days, cooler nights and the possibility of rain.

What is the currency in Germany?

[What, other countries don’t use the US dollar? But it is so pretty.]

Germany and most other EU countries use the Euro. The exchange rate between the Euro andother currencies varies. At the moment the exchange rate is about 1.4 Euros for 1 US Dollar. [TheEuro bills are much prettier than the dollar anyway.]

One thing to watch, instead of a $1 bill or bank note the Euro has a 1-Euro coin, as well as a 2-Euro coin. So you may end up with coins in your pocket that total more than $10. The coins arereally useful and often you do not have to use bills for smaller purchases.

Will my credit card and bank card work in Cologne?

[How do I pay for my drinks?]

Many shops, stores and many restaurants accept most major credit cards, including VISA,Mastercard, American Express, and EC-Cards. Stores and restaurants may have a minimumcharge before accepting a credit card, so it is always best to check first if you think the total willbe less than 30 Euros. However, many smaller stores, restaurants and clubs do not take credit

cards, so always check before you order if you don’t have any cash.

The easiest way to obtain cash is by using a bank debit or ATM card that uses Cirrus or otherinternational systems, at an automatic teller machine, called in German the “Geldautomat.” Thereare Geldautomats located throughout Cologne and most cities and towns in Germany and aroundEurope. These bank transactions offer smaller fees and better exchange rates than banks givefor exchange of travelers’ checks or cash.

However, you should contact the bank and credit card company before you leave and report thatyou will be using your credit card in Cologne and anywhere else in Europe that you plan to travel.



Both banks and credit card companies have security measures that target unusual spending oruse in unusual locations. Your bank card or credit card may be frozen if the bank or credit cardcompany finds a large charge from a location that is not part of your normal spending habits.

What are the smoking laws in Germany?

[How do I feed my addiction?]

Smoking is more widespread in Germany and much of Europe than it is in North America.Smoking is prohibited in all public transportation and government buildings. Longer distancetrains do have smoking cars. The smoking laws in bars and restaurants are a bit morecomplicated. Small bars and clubs permit smoking, with larger bars and clubs often offering non-smoking areas. Restaurants that have two or more rooms offer smoking and non-smoking areas.

The gay bars and gay clubs will permit smoking either in some rooms or throughout the bar. Sofor you non-smokers, prepare to do a LOT of laundry.

Will my electronics work in Germany?

[How do I get my hair dryer/computer/power tools/vibrator to work?]

Germany uses the European electricity system, based on direct current, with 230 volts. The plugsconsist of two round pins. The 110-220 alternating current American system, with rectangularpins and possibly a grounding pin, will not work without a converter.

Converters are easy to obtain in Europe, or at specialty shops in countries using alternatingcurrent. Gay Games VIII will sell small converters at Accreditation for a small cost.

How can I use the Internet?

[How can I check my email and cruise Manhunt/Gay Romeo (the “Gay.com” of Germany)?]

Most hotels offer computers with Internet connection in their business centers or lobbies for asmall cost. Many offer wireless for those who bring their laptops. Internet cafes are also locatedthroughout the city where one can use the Internet for a fee.

Can I drink the water?

[If I drink tap water will I be in the bathroom all day and miss my event?]

Germans, and Europeans in general, have a tradition of drinking bottled water. At a restaurant donot expect a glass of water with your meal unless you order it, and if you do you will get and haveto pay for bottled water. However, you can also drink the water from the tap. You will not find awater fountain anywhere, but you can fill up your water bottle with tap water. The water fromfaucets is very safe to drink, and recommended for those who do not want to keep buying bottlesof water.



Also note that the plastic water bottles that you buy at a grocery store or convenience store havea deposit “pfand” built into the price. You can take your empty bottle back to the store, put it inthese fun machines that eat the plastic and then give you store credit for the amount of thedeposit.

Do I have to learn German to get around in Cologne?

[What, they speak other languages in Europe?]

Most people in Germany speak English to some degree. Germans have to learn English inschool, and it is not an elective. They take several years of English and begin studying thelanguage in grade school. So just about everyone in Cologne will be able to speak some English.

However, it is more polite, friendlier and much more fun to learn a few words of German beforeyou come. “Danke schön” is not just a song sung badly by Wayne Newton in “Ferris Bueller’s DayOff”, it means “Thank you” in German. Many people in Cologne say “Hallo”, but everyone willunderstand “Guten Morgen” every morning, and most people say it to just about everyone in theroom. There are about a hundred ways to say “goodbye”, the most common is “Tschuss” or “AufWiedersehen”. If you want to be hip you say “Ciao” and if you want to be like a “real” Kölner yousay “tschu”.

What is the food like in Cologne?

[Do I have to eat sausages and sauerkraut the whole time in Germany?]

The food in Cologne, and in all of Germany, is of high quality. You will rarely get a bad meal. Mostrestaurants have a good selection of different types of food, including several salads and otheroptions. German food has many meat options, including pork, beef and veal, but chicken andturkey are becoming more popular, and vegetarians will find options on almost every menu.Summer in Germany means lots of fresh vegetables will be offered.

Options for eating, other than restaurants (which can get expensive), include the local “fast food”,which includes the excellent Currywurst, a large wurst on a fresh roll with spicy curry ketchup,

and the “Döner Shop”, a Middle Eastern fast food option that is usually inexpensive, tasty and notterribly bad for you (unless you get the really delicious “pommes frites”, French fries.) Anotheroption is to go to an open-air market. The food will be fresh, healthy and delicious. There alsoseems to be a bakery located on every block, and every bakery has sandwich optionsprominently displayed, with fresh bread. Order your sandwich “zu Mitnehmen” (to go.)

And if you long for the fast food of home, Cologne has lots of McDonalds, Burger Kings andSubways, as well as a few Starbucks.

What is the rule of thumb for tipping in Germany?

[What should I tip the waiter who has ignored me for an hour?]

The normal tipping rule in Germany is to tip 10 percent, and to “round up” the bill to the nearestEuro. Other service persons, such as Taxis, should get a similar amount. Sometimes the tip isincluded, but the bill will show that the tip is “Inclusiv.”

On the “waiter” issue, please don’t expect the wait staff in a Cafe to introduce him/herself with “Himy name is Bubbly and I will be your server today <giggle>". Waiters are not perky and do notinterrupt your deep conversation to ask you 15 times whether you need anything. Instead theywear black, are intimidatingly beautiful, and will ignore you unless you ask. Getting their attention



becomes a real art of eye contact, and hand signals. To request a bill you should ask for “DieRechnung” (the bill) or say “Zahlen, bitte” (I would like to pay, please).

What about the beer?

[Ok, all of the above is fine, but let’s get to the most important question: What about the beer?]

If you come to Cologne and don’t have a beer you really will not experience the real Cologne.And the beer here not just any beer. Cologne is famous for the locally brewed beer, “Kölsch”, awonderfully fresh beer that is best when served “vom Fass” (from the tap) in a small, .2 liter glasscalled a “Stange”. Yes, beer in small glasses make lots of trips for the waiter, but he/she will bevery attentive and bring you another as you finish your first (or second, or fifth), often withouteven being asked. Now that is a good waiter. He/she will keep your tab on your beer coaster,making one mark per beer.

Beer in pubs, restaurants and bars can be almost as inexpensive as a cola or mineral water. Sowhy not have a beer? Mixed drinks are another matter, however. Liquor is expensive and a mixeddrink can be double the price of a beer.

What about the wine?

[Is all the German wine as sweet as the Liebfraumilch I drank in college (ok high school)?]

Wine is an important drink in Germany. The Rhine and Mosel regions of Germany are just southof Cologne, and those regions are world-famous for Riesling wines. These wines are notnecessarily sweet, if you want a dry wine order a “Trocken” Riesling. Of course some of the bestsweeter wines in the world are the Riesling Spätlese, Auslese and ice wines. The Mosel and“Rheingau” wine regions are an hour south of Cologne by car or train and are great areas to tourand taste (with a designated driver if going by car; DWI laws in Germany are very strict, havelower blood alcohol standards, and may land you in jail).

Wines from other regions in Germany also offer good quality and price, such as the red and whitepinot wines of the Baden region and the dry silvaner wines of the Franken region. Wine from any

other EU country does not have import tax that is imposed in the US, Canada and Australia, andyes wine lovers, that includes French, Italian and Spanish wines.

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Travel Information Gay Games VIII Cologne Gemany