FAQs

Time of booking – booking request form – how to insert date of holiday – availibility – arrival and departure – “combine a city” – extra nights – flights – accommodation – hotel names – star-rating of hotels – meals – luggage transport – where to leave the car – travel documents – when to get travel documents – travel insurance – solo traveller – physical performance – equipment – dogs – discounts for groups – child reduction – organisation by Wikinger Individuell – cancellation – means of payment – final payment – telephone service

How long IN ADVANCE should I BOOK?
General rule: the sooner the better! Please take into consideration that for all tours at least seven different hotels/pensions need to be contacted for your booking. We try our best to be as fast as possible but from the time we receive a booking to the moment of reconfirming it usually takes us at least 1 week.

What happens if I fail to fill in the booking request form?
If you do not get along with our booking request form please send us an informal email out of the chapter “Contact”. We will get back to you shortly. A general explanation of how to fill in our booking request form you can find in the chapter “Services” under “Booking Procedure”.

How do I need to insert the date of holiday?
The preferred date of your walking holiday does include the actual duration of our basic package plus any extra nights en route if desired. This you will be asked for in step 2 of our booking request form. For the dates of pre and post nights before and after the actual walking holiday you will be asked separately in step 3 of our booking request form. If you do not get along with our booking form please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an email.

Can I check availability for a certain tour?
No, you cannot. Telling us your preferred date of holiday we then check for you if your travel date can be confirmed. If it is possible we reconfirm to you by email attaching a confirmation which is an invoice at the same time. If it is not possible we come back to with alternative dates. Due to this procedure it may last approximately 5 working days until we get back to you.

How does the arrival and departure work?
Our services include the actual land programme but not your inward and outward journey. Feel free to choose yourself about how to get to Germany. As public transport in Germany is quite well organised you will find your way to the starting point of the tour easily. Please find detailed information on each tour when clicking on the button “details” where we describe how to get to the first place and how to get back from the last one.

What is meant by “combine a city”?
“Combine a city” is a break in one of the larger German cities which are situated en route between airport and starting point of the tour. In case you arrive late in the evening by plane we offer you to book one night in a “combine a city” hotel and continue your journey the next day. Of course, you can book more than only one night and spend some time to discover cities like Berlin, Cologne or Munich. Hotels in such cities are usually easy to reach by public transport.

Can I book extra nights and prolongation of my holiday?
Yes, you can but please make sure that you inform us about your demands at the time of booking. If you do not inform us about extra nights which you plan en route at time of booking it would cause a total alteration of booking and this can raise extra costs. Extra nights at the last place of the tour can still be booked later although we recommend to let us know as early as possible.

Can I book my flight with German Trails?
Yes, you can. We will book LUFTHANSA and BRITISH AIRWAYS flights for you providing you with an electronic ticket. Payments can be done by any credit card. There will apply a service fee of EUR 35.00 per person when booking a flight with us. Please note that we do not book any flights with low-cost carriers for you. They easily can be booked online by yourself.

What kind of accommodation can I expect?
Usually, you can expect to stay in rambler-friendly good middle-class hotels. Depending on the local choice of accommodation it sometimes also can be a pension or inn or even a superior hotel. You always can expect a clean room with shower and WC. The hotels we have chosen for our tours often provide a very good local cuisine.

When do I get to know hotel names?
The name of the first hotel you will get to know when we reconfirm your booking by email. All other hotel names will be stated in the welcome package which is handed over to you at the first hotel.

What does the star-rating for the hotels mean?
All over Germany you can find hotels to fit your needs according to German hotel classification standards. Hotels are classified based on a uniform criteria and are categorised by a certain number of stars (i.e. ** = standard, *** = comfort). Not all the hotels we use are officially star-rated which does not mean that they are of less quality. If you want to know more information about the German hotel classification please click on http://www.hotelsterne.de/englisch/index-englisch.html.

Which type of meals is included?
As a general standard we include breakfast in all our packages which is usually being served as a buffet. Dinner can be booked on the spot because most of the hotels possess a restaurant. If they do not you will find a restaurant in walking distance of the hotel. Often you also can book a lunch package for your next day at the hotel.

How does the luggage transport service work?
It is fairly easy for you as you only need to leave your luggage at reception in the morning and will find it waiting for you in the evening at the next hotel. Please make sure that your luggage is labelled with your name and address. You will find an address label in your welcome package which is handed over to you at the first hotel.

Where can I leave my car while I am walking and how do I get back to it?
In case you arrive by your own car you can usually leave it at the first hotel – often for free, sometimes with costs. As all our tours are trails which ends at another place than they start you need to get back to the starting point which we suggest to do by train. You will find some information already on the web page when you click on the button “details” for each of the tours. More detailed explanations will be sent to you by email after having booked with us.

How do the travel documents look like?
Our frequently updated travel documents include some general information, a road book and maps. They will be handed over to you in your starting hotel of the tour you have chosen. Each of them includes a contact in case you need help during the tour, a checklist for your equipment, information about arrival and departure, general and practical information about Germany and the region you are walking. The actual route description is the main part of the our travel documents and tells you how to get from the hotel you start in the morning up to your next hotel. In cursive letters you find further information which are interesting but not necessary to find your way. Our documents (route descriptions and coloured maps) are in A4 format and put into a resealable plastic bag to protect against water.

When and where do I receive my travel documents?
The detailed travel documents will be handed over to you on arrival at the reception of the first hotel. You only need to show your voucher which is being sent to you before by email.

Does the price include any travel insurance?
No, it does not but you can book a travel insurance package with us. We offer you an advantageous insurance package of the “Europäische Reiseversicherung AG” which includes travel health insurance, emergency assistance and travel cancellation costs insurance. If you do not want to book this we strongly recommend to protect yourself with a suitable holiday insurance policy.

Can I book a tour as a solo traveller?
Yes, all our tours can be booked for solo travellers, as well. Often, there will be an extra supplement for solo travellers because of the luggage and other transfer. For Germany can be regarded as a safe country where you hardly can get lost we can recommend to travel alone as well as together with friends or family.

What kind of physical performance do I need?
Walking in Germany does not mean to meet the extremes in altitudes nor to walk endlessly for miles and miles. All our tours lead through a landscape of low mountain ranges which do include some differences in altitudes but also are manageable for leisure walkers. As a guideline we have graded our walks from level 1 (easy) to 3 (demanding).

What kind of equipment do I have to take with me on my daily hiking trip?
There is not much to carry by yourself as your main luggage always will be transported for you. You only need a daypack for your personal belongings, photo equipment and picnic lunch. After having booked with us you will receive a checklist concerning all your equipment. It will be attached to our confirmation email.

Is it permitted to bring over dogs?
Depending on the entry requirements it may be allowed to bring your dog with you to Germany. Please check with the German Embassy in your country of origin or ask your veterinary. Most of our tours can be booked with a dog (not possible on Rothaarsteig Trail and Altmuhltal Panoramic Trail). Usually, there will apply a small extra charge for your “best friend”. Please inform us by the time of your booking if you want to walk with your dog. Please note that a confirmation depends on the size of your dog and if other dogs are already booked in the hotel for the same time.

Do you give discounts for groups?
Yes, we do. For groups of more than 5 persons we give you a discount of 5% on the basic package – provided that it is a joint booking and a joint account. Extra night or extra services like flight booking will not be considered by that.

Do you give any child reduction?
There is no general rule concerning child reduction because each hotel has got another policy. Depending on children’s age and on the allocation of rooms we let you know on request.

Are all German Trails programmes organised by Wikinger Individuell?
Yes, “Wikinger Individuell” is the responsible tour operator for all German Trails packages. Although we cooperate with local and regional tourist organisations we take responsibility for all services included and are your main contact. If you cannot be helped on the spot please do not hesitate to contact us immediately.

Can I amend or cancel an existing booking?
Yes, you can but please take note of our terms and conditions which you find in the chapter “Services”, paragraph 6. Depending on the time of amendment or cancellation different cancellation fees do apply.

What means of payment are accepted?
Preferred method of payment is by credit card (Master or VISA) however you also can pay by bank transfer using the IBAN code stated on your confirmation/invoice. Please consider that international bank transfers usually take a couple of days up to one week.

When does the final payment has to be realised?
The final payment which is the total tour price minus the deposit must be paid 6 weeks (42 days) prior to arrival without further reminder.

If there are any questions or problems, can I use an telephone service?
Yes, you can. Our German Trails phone number is +49-2331-904805. If you are calling from the Netherlands please dial our freephone number 0800-0260 200.