Travel | 01.06.2007
Travel Guide: Gadgets and Communication
These days, travelling abroad doesn't mean you can't stay connected with home or the office. Whether you're in Germany on business or pleasure, here are some tips for everything in your suitcase with a plug.
Electrical appliances in Europe run on 220 to 240 volts. Plugging your US hair-dryer into a German outlet could result in a fire, or at least some smoke. It is best to buy an electrical adaptor before you come to Germany, as they made be hard to find once you are here.
Germany sockets take round-pronged plugs. For most gadgets, you'll need both a voltage converter and a plug adaptor.
Rechargeable electronics like laptop computers, cameras and iPods usually function at multiple voltage levels. For these, you'll probably only need a plug adaptor.
Internet
Wi-Fi Internet access is not yet very common in Germany. However, it is usually available in most airports, hotels and some cafes in larger cities.
Mobile Phones
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Text messaging is a very popular means of communication
If you have a tri-band or quad-band mobile phone, it will function in Europe. If your phone has not been locked by a particular carrier, it is possible to purchase a pre-paid SIM card to use in Germany at local rates. These are available in any mobile phone shop.
With a German SIM card, steep roaming charges apply as soon as you cross the border into another European country.
Telephone Calls
When calling Germany from abroad, use the country code +49 and drop the first 0 in the telephone number. When calling abroad from inside Germany, dial 00 and then the country code.
For long-distance calls, keep in mind that Germany is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) -- that is, one hour ahead of London, six hours ahead of New York and eight hours behind Sydney.
Telephone numbers and prefixes within Germany vary in length and can range from four to eight or more digits. Calling a mobile phone is generally significantly more expensive that calling a landline.
Public pay phones are not common, but they are usually available in larger cities. They may be operated either with coins or a calling card. Calling cards can be purchased at post offices, banks, kiosks and tourist offices.
When making a phone call, it is polite to give your name. Also, Germans generally answer the phone by saying their last name.
It's not polite to call a private home after 10 p.m., unless you've made arrangement with the person you're calling. When calling a business office, don't expect to reach anyone after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday or after 4 p.m. (sometimes earlier) on Fridays. Government offices often have more irregular hours.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: In many places in Germany, the mail is delivered by bicycle
Post Office
Post offices in Germany, operated by Deutsche Post, are generally opened Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays until 12 p.m.
Public mail boxes throughout the city can be identified by their yellow color. Pickup times are listed on the box.
It costs 55 euro cents (74 US cents) to mail a standard letter weighing up to 20 grams within Germany and 0.70 for other European countries. A standard overseas letter costs 1.70 euros. Postcards cost 45 cents within Germany and one euro abroad.
German postal codes (Postleitzahlen) are five-digit numbers. Take a look at the Deutsche Post's Web site to search for postal codes within Germany, or for other information on sending and receiving mail.
