Accommodation

Holidays by Destination Europe Germany Bavaria Accommodation 

Hotels

A wide range of options but many will provide an extra bed or cot, often without charging extra. In holiday areas many hotels have extra children's corners - ie play area with games, toys and even some children's furniture. There might sometimes be babysitting facilities.

Kinderland Hotels

Many of these have quite outstanding facilities for families. An example is Neubichler Alm which has its own stable for riding lessons, extensive and extremely well stocked indoor play areas, an indoor sports centre with climbing wall, squash and badminton, outdoor tennis courts, swimming pool, pets, activities ranging from magic and swimming courses to handicrafts, fairytale hours, bike hire, tennis lessons, archery, Nordic walking, plus sauna, steam bath, solarium and beauty centre. A family room half board in school holidays would be around €80 per person per day.

Familotel

Lists family hotels, children's hotels and baby hotels with places offering family rooms, family apartments, 24-hour laundry service or washing machines, changing tables or changing mat, baby bath and nappy bucket, potties, bottle warmer or microwave, buggy, pram or baby carrier, and facilities for warming baby food. Currently the majority in Germany appear to be in Bavaria.

Bed and Breakfast

There are a number of b&b options, usually advertised on the spot by a sign saying ‘Zimmer Frei'. Prices quoted include tax, and service charges.

Farm Holidays

Increasingly popular, especially for families with young children who enjoy seeing the animals and eating fresh local food.

Self-catering

The vast majority of German self-catering is in apartments, either in flats in a large family house, or in holiday parks where there are extensive central facilities. These are the slightly more expensive options and some even including full board catering. Chains like Interhome (see Self-catering multi-destination) offer a good range or see the specialist operators.

Camping

There are around 400 camp sites, some with a choice of tents or caravans provided. More than a third are by a lake or river. For details contact the tourist office.

Youth Hostels

There are around 600 of these in the country affiliated to the International Youth Hostel Federation. However, on the whole becaus tending to the noisy at night, they are less suited to families.