As to the shopping...When we first came to Germany, we came during Easter week and were shocked to see so many shops and restaurants closed. We were finally 'helped' by a helpful native as to what was going on, and they were fascinated that retail/restauranteurs in the US didn't have the entire Easter week off of work! The double bed didn't freak us out, it was the two folded duvets--we thought--are they sleeping bags? Obviously, once we got into bed we realized what was going on and were fine, but it was funny (I'm sure the jet lag didn't help). *I have to say though, the German people were SO helpful and courteous to my very disabled father! He suffered a stroke during our stay--they arranged a doctor who came to our hotel room, got us to the hospital and was there when Dad was released. The hotel organized a wheelchair, helped us locate medical supplies we needed (told me the German words--I speak some German, but I didn't know specialist medical vocabulary). When we took the train to Frankfurt (about a week later), while people do rush to get in, EVERYONE yielded for us--their courtesy and compassion was unbelievable! They helped my mom with tours, it was AMAZING, and my dad had the best time ever. He even said, he hadn't felt that comfortable in public for YEARS (people are very inconvenienced by the disabled here, so he always felt bad for holding people up here in the US)! YAY Germany!!
@@Oystermato I don't know what circumstance has you, 'Genuinely worried', so I can't comment on that, but during our trips to Germany, (we've been 4 times) I've never witnessed racial or religious bias or bigotry. I have two Japanese friends who went to a conference in Stuttgart and had a lovely time. For what its worth, I DO think they'd be just as courteous if we weren't white.
@@Oystermato Germans do not have racial prejudices. Aaround 1946 about 20,000 half-Black babies were born to German women. Most of them were born to Black US soldiers - some married, some not.
@@helgafellay4352 Of course some Germans have prejudices or are plain racist - but you will find that in any country. The vast majority of Germans, though, are very open, friendly and welcoming. Also notice that Germany is one of the most diverse countries in the world these days. In most parts of Germany you won't even stick out that much by your looks.
Yes, I have people like that just here at the Oktoberfest. In the subway they talk on the phone so loudly that all passengers in the carriage can hear them (even though nobody is interested in their conversation). Probably, these people don't understand German, so they think the Germans don't understand them either. (But I guess almost 90% do.)
When you pay a deposit for mulled wine cups at the Christmas market, you either return the cup and get the deposit back, or you keep the cup as a souvenir and have only paid the deposit. Some people collect these mulled wine cups because they have a different design in different years even at the same stand. This way, the empty cups don't stand around and the stall operators don't suffer any financial losses. It's a fair deal I think.
I usually come to Germany for a large summer music festival. At least one cup always comes home with me. Cheap souvenir and good times with those cups.
@garrett7101 I mean, since I guess you aren't planing to order two thirds of the menu at once it shouldn't be that hard to know exactly what you want to order after reading and closing the menu.
@@garrett7101 If you would like to point to the dish, you can close the card but leave a finger between the pages. And yes, of course I am German, so I say what I think and don't sugarcoat everything ;)
Warteschlangenvordrängler? Hallo? (Those waiting-line-cutters frustrate me as a German, too. But as a German I don't have a problem to educate them 😅).
The separate mattress thing sounds amazing. Especially if it means separate sheets. The wife can have her mattress, sheets, and blankets how she wants, and I can have the sheets how I want.
So let me get this straight, Americans get annoyed at having to pay the Pfand when they've only taken what they thought was the right amount to pay with?? OK, let's talk about US sales tax, shall we?! 🤔
Exactly, what a stupid complaint. They should keep a stack of crappy paper cups and just dump the beverage in that when my fellow Americans complain. Me? I gladly pay a $5 deposit for the frosted glass mug.
@andybaker2456 I don't think it is a complaint as much as he is stating. As a Texan, in the 1970s ,we paid a glass deposit on bottles. They have gotten away from that in most states,so most aren't aware. I don't know that anyone is upset. Just surprised and maybe annoyed at themselves that they stood in line and now have to do it all again. Once you know, you know and go on. Americans are pretty adaptable and go on with their vacation!😊
Paying for toilets is a problem? You should remind the Americans that being forced to pay 15-20% tips because an establishment won’t pay its waiters enough, is a much bigger problem!
Entirely two different subjects. Paying to use a toilet. As base as it gets and you charge for it?! Tipping is part of pay for the enjoyment of the interaction with someone serving you. It is often a pleasure to tip a waiter that has elevated his service to a craft. Unlike a god damn toilet! Oh what fun to pay for Mr. Toilet!
@@TomWatson-vu6fj Yes, but in Germany the tipping is an extra "pocket money" for the waiter, not his regular wage. Maybe waiters in the US "make" more money, but they have to kiss the customers' a**es, which I find very unnerving.
@@CharlesKim-ee8ie It is not as different as it seems. In Germany you don't pay for using the toilet either. You pay for the people who clean these toilets for you, so you can feel comfortable, have a pleasant smell in the loo etc. And of course not all public toilets have this service. Those which do not have it, are for free. And to be honest, when I am eating out, I don't want to have much interaction with the waiter. I want to order my meal and drinks, be treated friendly and professionally but left alone then, instead of being annoyed with silly questions and unnerving over the top "friendliness".
The Sunday off is so amazing and great! I mean, I am used to it from my childhood on, first in Poland, then in Germany, but really, I would not live in a country where you have no general closing rules on Sundays. It is such a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, you can walk the streets without having to witness "business". That's the thing. It completely changes the general atmosphere, you just relax. In addition, I think it is a sign of respect towards the people who work in supermarkets and grocery shops, so they can enjoy their day off as well. Nobody NEEDS shopping on Sundays. As long as there are closed Sundays, I know that there's still hope for humanity 😅 It's far more than simply a day off. For me it is a symbol of freedom.
I'm Polish and 100% agree, so it's nice to have convenience, but I don't think it's worth the cost for society, culture, faith/respect and families, it's quiet and helps families have family time :) I agree with the need for workers to have time off too ^_^ I think things were better in Europe when that was everywhere, it's very much "profit only" "money corporations only" "convenience" mindset from America, and it's not healthy.
@@Mike1614YT I never experienced this when in the USA as I was always made welcome but nobody spoke French, or German, or Norwegian, the three languages I am using daily at home in Switzerland.
@@Mike1614YT most Americans only speak English so that can't be true , the ting about making visitors feel welcome is difficult as there are visitors from all over the world who see things differently , the truth is no country change their culture for tourists not the USA, Germany or others , and why travel if one don't to experience the real culture , maybe Walter is just sensitive
I really don't care what annoys Americans in Germany. When I visit an other country I educate myself in advance, don't expect everything to be the same way as at home and adapt!!! YOU are the visitor, you will have to roll with whatever you encounter!
@@greeksoul No one forces anyone to visit Germany. If you or anyone else has so little respect for the country and its people maybe they should look for a country they have respect for.
@@greeksoul are you serious? how entitled can someone be to go visit some other country, and then expect native people to adapt to you rather than adapting to them. when you visit friends in their home, do you also feel entitled to make demands on how things are done in THEIR home? and then you have the audacity to call people rude for not liking to be treated like this? since when does being rude mean not putting up with your entitlement? If come to my place, you do things my way, or you dont come. you dont come to my place and then expect me to do things your way, like are you actually insane?
😎🫵🏼🇺🇲💘🇩🇪 I'll always feel at home in Germany I worked for SMA in Kassel for many years helping that company turn things around I was always polite, smiled, and enjoyed getting the "inside scoop" from my coworkers. Germans are way more civil than most Americans there is a more laid back pace there. Enjoy yourself in Germany it AIN'T hard to do if you can't have a good time in Germany it is a YOU problem not THEM! Best wishes from Buckeye Arizona USA 🌵🐎🇺🇸
@@reindeer7752 Only Americans who hate the working class tip less than 20%. If you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to eat out. Stay at home if you aren't going to compensate your server properly. I hate the tipping system and think it should be done away with, but it is the system we have and we must abide by it. And yes you must tip, just because it is "optional" does not mean it is actually optional. That is someone's life. If you are too cheap or too poor to tip, then stay home
@alastairhewitt380 - Can't you read the plus sign in the original comment and my reply? That means over 20%. Many waiters/waitresses make more than people on salary with a higher education or skills. They also can cheat on their taxes. I'm not going to tip someone for not doing their job.
50 years visiting Germany. I still enjoy the cultural differences. It’s changed a bit over the years, with globalization through the internet, but Germany holds on to those long- ingrained traditions and that’s what I love about my G-Grandparents homeland.
I‘ve visited Germany as a solo traveler a couple of times recently, and people were almost always friendly and helpful, and also very tolerant of my attempts to speak the language. I think switching to English mostly happens when one’s attempts at German might be holding up other people. I can’t wait to visit again - I love Germany!
Yes you are right, I also switch to English if other customers are waiting to be served and I have the impression that it will be quicker and I will be better understood in English. It doesn´t mean that I do not appreciate your effort to speak our complicated language :-)
@@briantravelman Certainly a lot do, but I think it‘s only respectful to make an effort when visiting a foreign country. I suspect that the good experiences I‘ve had in Germany are partly due to my showing a willingness to use their language.
... always just ask be polite "do you speak English please?" Almost all Germans know English some are very conscious they have accents or not the "perfect" words if you smile and are polite I only failed once to get English spoken 😎
Let me be very German here: I don’t care at all. You are in a foreign country and things are done differently. The same I would say to Germans complaining that America does things differently. Just try to learn and adapt.
The whole premise of this is just bizarre. “Americans don’t like stuff/behaviour in a Germany because it’s German and not like America”? Eh? What? If you don’t like foreign things, don’t travel abroad. If you do travel abroad, don’t expect other countries to be like yours - part of the point, some would say MOST of the point, of visiting other countries is to experience other cultures and their way of doing things that is different from yours. I’m British, I go to France most years because it’s France - it’s different from the U.K. - they do French stuff in French ways that aren’t like the way we do them, and I like it. If I didn’t want that, I’d stay at home.
Well, it´s a learning curve, isn´t it? Your argument means, that you have to be open minded before you even start travelling, but on the other hand, how people can get more open to other behaivors, if they never travel? Seems you are the narrow minded in this.
Yet you Brits don’t know how to act when you head to the Netherlands 😂. Was stationed in Germany and Italy. Bottom line upfront (BLUF), either you adapt or just stay dormant.
Tried to pay for a public toilet upon entering it at train station in Mainz. It wouldn't accept my Euro so I shrugged and went inside, thinking I was mistaken about having to pay for public toilets in Germany. Found out you pay if you want to LEAVE the toilet when you are done. A local saw me trying to leave the locked gate and came over and explained you pay when you LEAVE. It was kind of comical, feeling like I was locked in the bathroom. This was in 2007.
I was getting bamboozled by the whole toilet payment thing in Munich station, not having a coin, trying to work out credit cards, being a gormless tourist, when an elderly gent reached over and gave me two one euro coins--one for me and one for my son. I have been in love with all of Bavaria ever since!
Also shoving you out the way while you're waiting to get on the train. And the door crowding. I've noticed door crowding is particularly common amongst older Germans. 9 minutes away from the train stop, everyone starts crowding the door. As if it's only going to be open for three seconds and they'll miss their chance to get off.
No, the "erst aussteigen lassen" works pretty well in Germany. And sure, you gotta be ready to leave the train when you need to. But that should be doable. It's better for the whole process ("That's so Germany!". "If you say so, Idk, I've seen it in other EU countries as welL").
Incorrect. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the european parliament and of the council | (m)‘processing’ means any action that substantially alters the initial product, including heating, smoking, curing, maturing, drying, marinating, extraction, extrusion or a combination of those processes; Dried spices or mushrooms not allowed? Smoked salmon not allowed? Ground meet not allowed? Of course they are. Beyond that, plenty of restaurants in Europe use prepared foodstuffs - sometimes with very poor results. Just one example: there is some premade paella brand that bars all over Spain heat up and sell because it's easy (but crappy). They all use the exact promotional banner. I avoid those places like the plague.
Recently spent a month in Italy and Romania. Regrettably, lots of toxic, processed food now there in restaurants and grocery stores. Sad. Fortunately, there are still more clean food options there than here in the U. S.
@@ursulasmith6402 You should go to Metro one day. That‘s where restaurants buy processed and pre-prepared food in bulk. For example, I have rarely eaten potato dumplings at a German restaurant that didn’t taste like Pfanni dumplings out of a packet. Only high end restaurants make their food from first principles.
@@Sabena-pl3cw The sad thing is: when normal restaurants try and make everything themselves with no processed ingredients, most people won't go there because it will be a little more expensive. A restaurant near my hometown did this and most locals never went there. They only survived with food-conscious customers who would drive an hour or more just to eat there. And the restaurant wasn't crazy expensive because they didn't want to be an exclusive haute cuisine place. They just wanted to make really good but regular food. In addition to that, the owner and chef told me that he works many more hours per day than all the other restaurants that use processed ingredients - and in his case he didn't even earn more in the end. He just did it out of conviction for good food.
The trouble is that the glass can also be used as a weapon. I was in a club years ago and some dude threw a shot glass across the place and almost killed a woman. The bouncers had fun with him while waiting for police to arrive. That was the beginning of the end for glass in clubs in the US. This was early 90s.
Think of the families. It's good for a family if the stores are closed on Sundays. Think of the employees. In the past, most stores were closed at 2 p.m. on Saturday. I think generally 6 or 7 p.m. was considered the end of store shopping hours. Also, people don't have more money to spend, they spread it out more days.
Funny you point out the surprise when the total for Glühwein is higher than anticipated due to the deposit. I think Germans have the same experience in the US where menu prices often don’t include tax.
With the one important difference that you don't get your tax back! You get your deposit back. It ensures that glasses are brought back and don't end up on the sidewalk or in the river. Or you can just take the glass mug home if you like - in that case you bought it.
3:50 this "ready to leave the train" thing shows, that US Americans don't know how to use public transport. The people that use public transport want to drive fast to their destination, so there's no time for "after the train stops I walk to the doors".
At the moment I am in the US and one thing that annoys me as a German tourist is how the Americans drive. But why am I complaining? In 1997 I made my Florida Drivers License. It was a walk in the park compared to the tests I had to pass in Germany. Americans don’t know how to drive. I feel saver driving 200 kilometers per hour in Germany than driving 65 Mph in the USA.
I have to add a reply. I've always appreciated good German vehicles and how they are engineered. I translated that to the way Germans drive. The problem? This was based on reading and talking to people who visited Germany as I have never been. I finally received confirmation when my son who lived in Germany a number of years told me, "Dad, you would love Germany, they drive just like you."
@Jlk6532 I can't speak for anyone but myself. I have had five BMW's in twenty years. Bought every one used. My observation is, 1) buy used, but be particular about the vehicle you are buying (most BMW's have a traceable history on their service, if serviced at a certified BMW dealership). 2) buy a BMW that has the inline six where the vehicle has been made and assembled in Munich. Germans, person-for-person are much more exacting in their personal work quality than Americans. The 3.0 liter is one of the best engines BMW has ever designed. 3) have access to a BMW dealership that has those same exacting standards and are honest. I have had the same customer service representative AND the same mechanic for the past fifteen of those twenty years. I was able to pick my mechanic. He is the only mechanic that works on my BMW. 4) lastly, if one can't afford a quality German car and service it on a consistent basis, then one shouldn't buy a high end German car. Dollar-for-dollar one pays for, for what one gets.
@@danasmith3288 When I was young I enjoyed renting US Cars, whenever I visited the USA. Meanwhile I am glad that I was able to rent a BMW. I am a Sales Manager and during the past 25 years I drove VW, Volvo, Mercedes and BMW, as company cars. Expect the Volvo I was always satisfied. BTW one X3 was manufactured in the USA and one was made in South Africa. My current Series 5 is made in Germany. To me it made no difference. How ever the best car is useless when the driver doesn’t know how to operate it in a proper way😃
In German supermarkets, when a cashier opens, instead of the people at the front of another cashier line going first, the Germans all rush to get in front of each at the newly opened cashier.
Its funny how in the UK, at most supermarkets it is done like that so first people will be asked to move. But at aldi and lidl, the just announce on teh tannoy a new lane is opening and people from usualy all the way at the back just rush in
@connortopping6943 Not in my experience! If a new checkout opens, all bets are off, it literally becomes a case of "first come, first served". I've never seen anyone at the front of a neighbouring queue being asked to join a newly opened checkout first, regardless of the supermarket.
It is slightly weird that Americans are vastly more religious than Germans but shops are closed on Sundays in Germany (and many other countries) but not in the States.
Shops used to all close on Sundays in America. What happened was large shopping malls and shopping centers were built outside of cities that required shops to be closed on Sundays, but not outside the cities. The shop keepers in the cities complained that customers were going shopping outside the cities on Sundays and the cities later changed to allow them to open on Sundays. I have been to religious places in Germany and met religious Germans. I used to work on ships from America to Bremerhaven.
There is just no benefit to opening them on sundays, people have plenty of time to go shopping on the other days. For the same reason plenty of shops are closed at noon because why open for the couple of people that are not working and didnt come in the morning.
Hopefully the Germans really don't give a Scheiße what American tourists of this ilk think. Is there another video, "Why American Tourists ANNOY Germans so much" - that would be FAR more entertaining. As a Brit visiting Germany, I loved it. I embraced what I found. It's not my country, I don't have a stake in this game - I just went with the flow.
I lived in Bamberg for 5 yrs in the 80s...loved it. The no shoppingbon Sunday was something new. But I do recall something about businesses closing down I think at 2pm for "naptime" during the week....had to get used to that, plus the no noise after 10pm. I truly enjoyed living in Germany. It felt like home to me and I hope to get to go back one day soon. Thank you for sharing❤
As a German I'd like to throw in my two cents on the service topic. There is good and bad service in Germany too. It's never so over the top as it is in the USA since the waitpersons don't depend so much on tips. But there is friendly and helpful service and not so friendly and not so helpful service. It's part of the quality of a restaurant and if the service is really bad I won't come again. And as has been mentioned before ordering your drinks first buys you time to select your food. If you still feel rushed by the waitperson it's not a place you should return to.
@@aperturix in my years traveling to Germany and it’s been many. Oktoberfest and to watch Bundesliga games, etc. Never have I ever encountered “friendly” service in Germany. I’m already used to it so it’s fine but rarely do they even smile 😂
@@MatrixDeception722 I just returned from Germany 🇩🇪 and that was the first thing I noticed how inexpressive and unfriendly people are, even though I tend to be that way myself it still shocked me, I also can see the other side as far as them being paid better than the USA and therefore not needing to act extra friendly to get better tips. It’s different culture than USA that’s for sure but well worth visiting and what a beautiful country.
@@MatrixDeception722 So if you go to Oktoberfest what do you expect? That's a cattle drive and I would never ever go there. Believe me you can get friendly service but the waitperson will never bother to boost your ego just to make you tip generously. On the other hand rude service is unacceptable and I wouldn't return to a place where I wasn't treated decently.
@@djobidjoba6143 As a German I would say I've rarely encountered rude or unfriendly service here. I think the difference is that the effort required in order to be perceived as friendly and polite is a lot lower than e.g. in the US. You do not need to be all cheery and smily and pretend that waiting on people is your kink. To Germans, if you are professional and say your pleases and thank yous, you're good. The bar is lower and by and large we don't jump higher than we have to.
@@aperturix At Oktoberfest I expect....nothing different than any other large gathering/party/event...happy people who have smiles on their faces. Large events in the US are common and people working don't walk around with frowns on their faces. Why would that ever be desirable?
I think we can agree that tourists, no matter from where they are, are the worst people. I always try and avoid German tourists when I'm abroad. I have a friend from the Netherlandw and she says it's the same for her: whenever she hears Dutch when she is on vacation, she quickly turns around and tries to avoid her fellow countrymen. I also know a lot of Americans via the web and some in real life and they are very nice people. But when I encounter American tourists back here in Germany I tend to use the French method and pretend I don't speak English. Tourists are a different breed for some reason.
great video! when I travel I feel im a guest in that country so all the silly oddity things that im not used to is part of the trip and the fun of it... I rarely get upset. I just go with it and figure that its just the way it is in that country. this was a fun video.
Same, but I think he is accurate about Amis (americans) being annoyed by all these things - I have in fact met a number of Americans who've been to Germany and complained about at least all of these things. I used to live in Germany and Germans complain about all the opposite things in the USA (they HATE the 'envelope' sheets and beds for example). As a Canadian who grew up in a kind of hybrid culture (ie we use german-style duvet and beds everywhere I have lived), I found this hilarious. Fav German complaint about the USA? Ice served in the glasses of water in restaurants - they HATE it!
Regarding the mattresses..I hate those american beds with only one mattress and, even worse, only one big blanket. Whenever your partner moves during the night, you are bouncing also. Two mattresses reduce that, less vibration due to the separation. And do not even get me started on the blanket! I want my own to make a burrito at night and not wake up freezing during the nigt because my partner has wraped himself in it!. In the US, hotel personnel always looks suspiciuous at me when I ask for a second blanket :D
I had the EXACT same thing happen to me at check in at a German hotel, someone just cut straight in front of me. Was quite shocked that the desk staff member didn't say "actually, she was first". In the UK, they definitely would have haha
Well, I'm a German living since more than a decade in the US. And I gotta say, besides of the restroom thing would it better for you to shut up. Service in the USA? You order three things, at least one of them is going to be wrong for sure. You order four things, you ain't getting one of them and another one is wrong. Then on top of this always this bullshit small talk about nothing, what a waste of time.
I was just in Germany for the Berlin marathon and had a really nice time in the city. I was very impressed with its transportation system. The UBahn trains were punctual, clean and everything seemed very organized. I noticed how disciplined the Germans are when crossing the street, everyone waits for the walk sign even though there may be no cars coming. It’s easy to understand why it is that way because you have trams sharing the street with vehicles. It was very nice to see this coming from New York City, where everyone jaywalks.😂
We were there for the Marathon, too. Thoroughly enjoyed, in spite of the huge crowds. The public transit is the bomb! We learned a long time ago, if you're getting off at the next stop, get up (or stay up) and move close to the door beforehand. That's the "rule" all over the world. The only time you can sit and wait till the train stops is when the train is practically empty.
@@TheSwissChalet It was pretty common until the mid 70s. It was stopped as part of the feminist movement. It's referenced in quite a few movies even as late as the late 70s. Smokey an the Bandit is probably the last one. Frog- I need to use the little girls room, can I have a dime? Bandit- Crawl under. Frog- Crawl under? Lovely!
@@silkscreenart5515 People's memories are known to be quite inaccurate, I believe the fact that CEPTIA (Committee to End Pay Toilets in America) once exited, is telling us enough.
@@mariatheresavonhabsburg ???? Where did you live where you put a coin into a door to use a toilet in the USA in the 1960's-70's? I was in NYC and never came across that.
Just coming back from the US: The really, really wastful culture in America when it comes to waste/rubbish did annoy me a lot. All this plastic forks, plastic plates etc.. Every hotel and every event creates TONS of waste a day that will sit in the landfill for the next 70+ years. I think it makes totally sense to use reusable dishes/mugs and to invest a little effort to be more friendly to the environement.
@@gsogymrat not true, it depends on situation, like in pharmacy or bakery, where queues are small (less than 7) you will seldom see some one trying to overtake, and if so usualy a "hallo" or "Sorry I was first" can be heard. Lol and try to break the queue at ALDI cashcounter during rushhour like 12am/1pm and you will know /see that there are very strict queuerules enforced at some places and situations. :)
As a tourist, you have to adapt to the local way of doing things. When i go to the US, nobody cares, how we do things at home. I‘m in the US then. And a good part of going abroad is the fact, that things are different elsewhere.
Germans do it right . I only visit off season in the winter. Love it when the crowds are down and the parks are empty and you can just walk and enjoy Germany in a quiet way . Best mid winter vacation.
The thing about paying to go to the WC may be annoying,I would agree, but it’s actually the norm in many places in Europe. He should have mentioned that.
Hey Mark, I'll be on a 10-day trip between Vienna, Munich, and Prague this December. I love that I found your channel; it has been crazy how helpful you have been.
I have been an American tourist in Germany many times and I love visiting it. For one thing, there are incredible classical music concerts and Opera events just about everywhere- at great prices. Second, people are very friendly and helpful- especially if you can speak even a little bit of German.
If you want to discover authentic German service go to Berlin. In Berlin: 1. You will get the menu card when the waiter finds it legit. 2. The waiter is always right. 3. The rude attitude is part of the experience. 4. Never forget the gratitude, but don't expect any gratitude from the waiter for your tipping.
Oh, many Germans get annoyed but others not being able to, or just being to rude to form a line. Post offices years ago started to use a single line for all counters, instead of one line per counter as most people had been used to. People just didn't get the concept, while in reality it is way faster and more efficient for all. You may be lucky to have the guy in front of you who only buys a single stamp, or the person that takes 45 minutes to get some issue sorted out. With one line it does not matter. Lately I found people that try to skip the line in supermarkets. As soon as there are more than three people in line at the cashier, instead of just getting in line, they position themself in front of the next cashier and ask of they can open another one. If there indeed is a line and they did not notice yet, they gladly do, but it often makes no sense to wait there, because another cashier has first to stop whatever they are doing, maybe clean up packaging from that, get to the cashier, log in and open the cashier. Usually takes longer than just waiting in line. The experience with public transport also works for elevators. I never understood why you cannot simply first make some room to allow those who want to, to get off, so there is more room for other people to get in. Oh and of course shops being closed on Sundays. This is something that unions started together with limiting weekly work time etc. Back then a good idea. Today you often here people claim, but if they open on Sundays the people working there have to work more... Well maybe there is another less convenient shift. But work contracts in Germany usually are by weekly hours. If you have a contract for 40 hours, it does not matter how those are spread across the seven days of the week, within legal limits (max daily hours, long enough breaks in between shifts, a day of after a max number of work days) To staff an additional day you may need more staff though. Oh, and on Sundays or holidays a bonus is paid. The only ones arguing against opening on Sundays are still unions and the church. Having worked at an airport in my past in baggage handling, I always say if that is all the arguments against opening on Sundays those people have, I want to never see anyone of those going to a restaurant on Sundays, staying at a hotel on Sundays, taking a train or a flight on Sundays or during the night. The people working there should be otherwise protected the same way from working on Sundays and holidays, right?
I don't understand why people always claim that germans are waiting line -cutters! I never experienced that! Everybody always wait patiently. In Italy on the other hand they don't accept lines at all...
No, the missunderstanding is, what you consider a line. If there is space to pass through between two people, there is no line. If space to the person before you is one inch, that's a line.
For hotel beds with the two mattresses, if it’s two beds pushed together, it does have some advantages. If I’m staying in the room with my girlfriend, it’s annoying. But if I’m sharing a room with a friend or family member, you can separate the beds to have two separate beds. For two mattresses in a single hotel bed, I don't see a single advantage and it annoys me as a german aswell. Sometimes you see these mattresses in normal homes, where they have the advantage that each mattress can have the ideal specs for the person sleeping on it. But most people I know have a big mattress at home instead of two separate smaller mattresses in one bed. Its most beneficial if there is a huge weight difference between the couple.
My favourite things about traveling in other countries are the differences! And getting a break from rude Americans. Oh I know, people are rude all over the world. I just like getting the break from the rudes I deal with on the daily...
Yes, there are cultural differences. I hate the US "Over the top US waiter culture", basically begging for tips since they are not being paid. I am an IT consultant, having worked long hours and just wanting something to eat and some peace to do it, which is impossible in most US restaurants. I usually survive on fast food or go to Whole Foods and eat in my hotel room just to avoid US waiters. I get why they are desperate, but really ... just let me me eat in peace.
Another thing that I found very surprising was that there are no screens on the windows. When I first got into my hotel in Germany, I was horrified, but there simply aren’t the bugs that are in the United States. Also, they don’t have a top "flat" sheet on beds, just a duvet. I’ve actually started sleeping like that and it’s far more comfortable rather than having a sheet wrapped around your legs and coming out of the mattress.
The two mattresses are really helpful for switching them if they're old or you need two different types of mattresses (like for back pain etc.). Just get a sheet that goes over both :)
I am going to comment the typical Murican Way (I experienced during many years living in the US): "If you do not like it (or things) here, go back where you came from!" 🤷♂ Seriously, Muricans who get annoyed at things elsewhere, and expect things to be like in the US - should not travel.
I have fond memories of my trip to the Black Forest in the early 1990s. My mother and I stayed at a small inn near Spangdahlem AFB. It was cheap, the schnitzel and black forest gateau were great... and the techno rave in the room right below us lasted until 3 AM every. Single. Night. Truly the most ruthlessly efficient vacation I have ever been on.
yes but on the other hand its realy anoying, if you know you have to leave next stopp, but pretend to be the queen/the king himself and slowly grap your stuff and same slow start walking to the already open door, when others are already entering... such a behaviour is also very disrespectful LIKE the one when people are already waiting inside for the dorr to open and are leaving but a stupid one from outside already trys to enter evan so still people are leaving the train/bus etc
So: why are the toilets clean? Bc. somebody cleaned them. They do NOT Do it for free. They have to be payed. Waiting in line: horror! Beds: practical. You can easy change the lining, you can have your personal type of matress.... Pfand: If you like your glass, you can keep it! 😀 I have a lot of Weihnachtsmarkttassen.
True, but it is a surprise. This seems to be true throughout Europe, you’ve must carry that change around just in case. I’ve been in Scotland and Austria as well, same thing.
My wife and I just returned from Germany for our 30th anniversary. I am already plotting to go back! While I get all of these "annoyances", the only thing I couldn't wrap my head around was the bed setup in the hotels. It didn't bother me, but I can't pretend I enjoyed it either. My wife and I like to lay close to one another, so the crack and separate duvets were inconvenient. I know there is a reason for why they do it that way, but I never really heard an answer to the question. I will say this though. Every hotel we stayed in had amazing breakfast buffets! Doing my research before we went over, I had expectations for the "typical" German breakfast of cold cuts, cheeses, and bread. Boy, was I wrong! They did have those things, but so much more. Loved it. As for the "annoyances", I'm in their country, not the other way around. My job was to shut up, listen, and learn, but most of all, embrace the differences and find a way to have fun in the moment! I'd say we succeeded. Cannot wait to return!
The practical reason for the "crack" is easily explained: When I move while sleeping, I will not disturb my partner - any movement remains on my side. Also, we have separate duvets. It is more practical this way, although it might annoy one when spooning ;-)
For me, it’s the other way round. I have just returned from Australia where my husband and I had to share the duvet. My husband likes to sleep cool and I need more warmth I could not wait to have my own duvet for myself 😅
@@twocents-Thomas-Zadro well, I don't know that I would call it annoying, but at least a bit inconvenient! 😉If that's the worst part of the trip, I can't wait to go back!
I think there are differences from north to south. I live all in the north, being born where the angles came from, you know, the one part of the anglo-saxons that are now the english. We queue quite well here.
Yep. We call it 'queueing' in British English...just like a 'ride' is actually a 'lift'. An 'elevator' is also a lift, btw, but a different type. Anyway...I can feel myself getting started here, so I'll stop! Vive la difference!
@@oldfrittenfett1276no we don’t. Tell that to someone trying to get off a Metronom train in Hamburg Central Station. It’s elbows out and every man for himself
I love Germany, we go once a year to visit my Son and his family, none of these things annoy me or ever have annoyed me. I get in German mode and it takes me a day to do so, especially when driving. I actually admire the Germans for being rule followers, and detail oriented. I find them to be very friendly people as a whole, I really enjoy watching them and what as an American I find quirky such as their over the top rule following, like crossing the street only at crosswalks and only when they have the green running man as I call it. Even late at night when there is no cars on the road. Their traffic signals are awesome, they turn green, yellow then red as ours do but then they turn red, yellow then green and when the green light comes on you better go or you will hear the horn from the person behind you. My daughter in law is German born and raised all her life, love her so much, this is why my son lives there.
My husband was stationed there for 4 yrs when he was in the Air Force. He adored Germany and talked about it often. We went to Germany on a business trip. He was employed with BASF and a fabulous time.. we stayed an extra week. I loved the order and cleanliness of the German cities and towns. My only complaint was the stiff and formal behavior of many of the businesses and restaurant staff. Not use to that but understood that’s their way.
To me, there’s nothing wrong with formal behavior in a business such as a hotel, etc. I’d rather be called by my last name then just called by my first name by complete strangers like they doing the United States . I actually don’t go by my first name anyway, but my middle name and my last name unless it’s my friends or acquaintances, but I know I’m in the minority in the United States who feels that way probably
It's a business, as you point out. It's not an entertainment park with actors to make you lough. When it is time to be formal, if not in business with strangers ?
Nothing about Germany annoyed me. I was visiting friends, so they had told me about many of the differences, but they weren't annoying or inconvenient to me. I think if i were to move there the most difficult thing to adapt to would be learning how to properly sort the trash/recycling and getting used to stores being closed on Sundays. I found though, that mostly, the German culture seemed to suit me and I found the people I'd meet or interact with in public were very friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and the worst thing was leaving those wonderful German windows behind. Why don't we have them here in the USA?
@@gdok6088 Die beteiligten Parteien könnten sich um 90 Grad drehen, dann befänden sie sich senkrecht zum Matratzenspalt. Oder man könnte eine Münze werfen um sich auf eine Seite zu einigen, müsste dann nur aufpassen, dass sie nicht zwischen die Matratzen rutscht :)
With the beds: This way the layout of the beds can be changed easier from "a couple travelling together" (one queen bed) to "colleagues or brothers travelling together". The hotels can sell it as two single beds OR a queen bed.
I was guided by my German girlfriend (now my wife) when I first came here so I was explained things. Still the restaurant way surprised me a bit, my mother was serving tables all her life and my dad was a cook, so I know how important tips are for waiters, and I was going to give 20% tip. My girlfriend goes "OH Nooo No no. That is way too much" What, why? Service people are paid to do their job by the owner. There is no "Restaurant" minimum salary. Of course you can tip, but giving 15 or 20% is not normal and not expected. 5 to 10 % is good. I was also pissed at the paying public toilet at first. But yeah, they are clean so you should pay :)
It‘s funny that americans think water and toilets are free in the US. Both are costs that are already calculated in the prices. That’s what a business does. So everybody is paying for it.
I'd much rather pay for a toilet that is clean and available rather than some of the filthy ones here in the US. Would be nice though if more places took cards as a lot of people don't carry a pile of change around these days.
Not true, FLSA requires paying tipped workers at least the federal minimum wage, tips (up to 5.12) can be credited. This means, even if a server doesn't get a single tip in a month, the employer must pay him at least the min. wage. Many states mandate minimum wage berfore tips.
German here, giggling about the "Hallo" culture. Hadn't been aware of it, but it is an absolutely valid observation. Incidentally: you primarily find the kind of double beds presented here in Bavaria and in some of the very traditional and not very fancy hotels. The more modern ones have queen or kingsize beds with boxspring mattresses. 😉
I just got back from Germany. I loved it! The pay-to-pee public toilets were a big aggravation. Another minor irritation was that coffee in a restaurant did not come with refills. A side note is that my German mil uses the snarky "hello" in restaurants and stores when she wants to get attention. Thanks for the interesting video.
@@Peglegkickboxer we do. It’s rare to see as the places to redeem the 5-10¢ (state depending) are limited. In major cities like New York though you’ll see folks pushing carts & carrying bags picking through trash bins for redeemable items. I imagine they make decent money doing it too.
As a regular train commuter never have I experienced people entering a train before everybody had exited. Unless there was an undecided or scatty traveller who still had to pack their belongings after everybody was done exiting a minute ago.
I’m from the US and, while I do appreciate the wait staff being easily available, I hate the over friendliness. I’m uncomfortable with casual conversation. This also bothers me when I am made to share a table with people I don’t already know relatively well.
In Northern Europe, we treat waiters like all other people, polite and friendly. Of course, you pay for the cups. What you talk about is the same in Denmark and Norway for instance. The cleaners need time to clean. Why stress with being first in line. Americans are super loud and may be very superficial and annoying. Americans can talk very nice to you, but after a few minutes, they don't remember who you are.
Might be worth remembering you are going to their country not the other way around. When visitors come to the US they have to adapt to US ways of doing things too.
When people adapt it doesn't mean they like it and they are not annoyed. Also, things mentioned in this video are annoying to most people including Germans. There is nothing wrong in expressing opinion, when it can lead to a discussion to improve certain things and constructive criticism. For example - I wish there were free public toilets everywhere, so I don't experience seeing random people peeing under the tree in the middle of the day. Why immediately bash an honest opinion over being open minded?
@@jip8793 I didn't bash the opinion although I certainly could. However this was a video about visitors being annoyed by the habits of the people actually living in the country, so I gave my opinion on that. I live in the US and I don't see anyone modifying behaviour to make foreigners happier here, so why would anyone elsewhere do so for Americans. As I am sure you know, when you travel you are entering someone else's environment and you have to be able to tolerate the conditions there. I thought it was a valuable heads up potentially, it just seemed a strange perspective to me.
@@madmark1957 I understand your point. I interpret this video differently, as not expecting Germans to change their behavior - just pointing out mildly annoying things, to make the viewers aware of the differences. I appreciate such honest opinions, because it makes me prepared better for a distant travel. Basing on the entire content of this channel, I also know that the author has a lot of respect for the cultural differences.
yeah, here in Germany people just bum rush the train and get on while people are still getting off just to get a seat - and half the seats are probably already taken by backpacks or suitcases. And on the stairs to and from the platforms and in the station itself people don't keep right or left in a consistent manner, it's just a free for all. People will just stand still in the middle of escalators, leaving you no room to get past if you're in a hurry, etc. It's probably the most frustrating part of living in Germany. Then again, it's a good problem to have is that is the worst there is
Yeah, I haven't taken public transport in Germany for years because it's become such a shitty experience. Only the worst people there with no manners. It's a self-reinforcing cycle. I hear the same from so many people, they gladly never use public transport or trains anymore.
I come to Germany regularly, last time this afternoon, and I honestly haven't noticed the lack of line culture in all the years. Ok, it may not be as strong as what I saw in the UK, but a lack of it? No. Anyway, I primarily don't like people saying German people are boring. For me, a lot of really important things work very well in this country.
Hello, Germany is not a holiday resort where everyone makes sure that everything goes according to your wishes. This is a country with internal rules of conduct that are obviously a little different to those in your country: either you adapt to them or you have the freedom to stay at home!
I love GERMANY… It helps that I have a beautiful German wife… And we have a second home in Munich in addition to San Francisco But all that aside… It still drives me mad that I can’t get a glass of water or ice cubes without most restaurants making it a challenge… Things have greatly improved over the last 10 to 20 years but still the concept of ice cube is alien to most Germans… including my beautiful and wonderful in-laws … Or even comical Self-defense is to realize that I can go to Starbucks and ask them for a cup of ice and have that with me all day… Or a freeze a bottle of water in the refrigerator and take that out with me on day trips… Forget about asking for a free cup of ice at a fast food restaurant… You will get a quizzical sometimes angry look. I’ve gotten over the fact that we have to pay for any water that we get to drink at our meal… Many of us don’t wanna drink carbohydrates in the form of cola and beers or fruit juices… These are so bad for us… But the simple glass of water that is tapwater is still a struggle in almost every restaurant… Just be polite and firm and explain that you want a glass of water… And you will sometimes get it. The alternative is to suck it up and realize that the five euros that you’re paying for a bottle of Stillwater… Still adds up to less than what you would pay in an American restaurant for a comparable meal… So I see a bottle of Stillwater no matter the size as the price of doing business when having a dinner experience or even café experience pleasure… We need to just get over it just like Europeans have to get over the fact that we Americans have a tipping culture and the fact that in America, we don’t show the full price after tax but before tax… So assume that a 3 to 5 € Bottle of water with your meal is part of the ethical cost of the meal Now it is less stressful and antagonistic when accepting this fact that Water need to be accepted as part of the the price of a meal Overall, my family finds GERMANY much more tolerant and practical than some of the obtuse American customs that we have… We are not Karen’s… We have lived and traveled over most of the western and eastern world… Not to be a snob, but we know what we’re talking about when we say GERMANY is a relaxing refined place to visit … Not sure I would want to live in Germany given the stifling bureaucracy and some of the other frustrating facts of life such as the politics being in a stranglehold over major problems like the Ukraine issue and the fact that Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Telekom can be so frustrating to work with… And the fact that you have to buy a whole new kitchen every time you move into a house or an apartment “because that is the culture/tradition”
You have a house in SF and a second house in Munich - I imagine you won't go bankrupt from paying for bottled water! Drinks are the best source of income for most restaurants and it ensures they can also pay their staff a living wage without forcing the customers to pay a mandatory 20% tip.
For us it’s the little old ladies who see a crack of daylight between you and the person in front of you in a line and somehow morph into a piece of paper to occupy that unused space that was obviously empty. After the initial aggravation it became hilarious and we started making predictions about random bystanders who might squeeze in.
As to the shopping...When we first came to Germany, we came during Easter week and were shocked to see so many shops and restaurants closed. We were finally 'helped' by a helpful native as to what was going on, and they were fascinated that retail/restauranteurs in the US didn't have the entire Easter week off of work! The double bed didn't freak us out, it was the two folded duvets--we thought--are they sleeping bags? Obviously, once we got into bed we realized what was going on and were fine, but it was funny (I'm sure the jet lag didn't help). *I have to say though, the German people were SO helpful and courteous to my very disabled father! He suffered a stroke during our stay--they arranged a doctor who came to our hotel room, got us to the hospital and was there when Dad was released. The hotel organized a wheelchair, helped us locate medical supplies we needed (told me the German words--I speak some German, but I didn't know specialist medical vocabulary). When we took the train to Frankfurt (about a week later), while people do rush to get in, EVERYONE yielded for us--their courtesy and compassion was unbelievable! They helped my mom with tours, it was AMAZING, and my dad had the best time ever. He even said, he hadn't felt that comfortable in public for YEARS (people are very inconvenienced by the disabled here, so he always felt bad for holding people up here in the US)! YAY Germany!!
Do you think they would do the same for someone who is not white? Genuinely worried
@@Oystermato I don't know what circumstance has you, 'Genuinely worried', so I can't comment on that, but during our trips to Germany, (we've been 4 times) I've never witnessed racial or religious bias or bigotry. I have two Japanese friends who went to a conference in Stuttgart and had a lovely time. For what its worth, I DO think they'd be just as courteous if we weren't white.
@@Oystermato you're not gonna get shot in germany forhaving a darker skin tone.
@@Oystermato Germans do not have racial prejudices. Aaround 1946 about 20,000 half-Black babies were born to German women. Most of them were born to Black US soldiers - some married, some not.
@@helgafellay4352 Of course some Germans have prejudices or are plain racist - but you will find that in any country. The vast majority of Germans, though, are very open, friendly and welcoming. Also notice that Germany is one of the most diverse countries in the world these days. In most parts of Germany you won't even stick out that much by your looks.
As an American tourist, what frustrates me about Germany is the loud American tourists 😂
Yes, I have people like that just here at the Oktoberfest. In the subway they talk on the phone so loudly that all passengers in the carriage can hear them (even though nobody is interested in their conversation).
Probably, these people don't understand German, so they think the Germans don't understand them either. (But I guess almost 90% do.)
Kleiner Tipp: meide München, Berlin, Neuschwanstein, Heidelberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber....
@@roterfrosch5808 Ja, woanders sprechen amerikanische Touristen ganz sicher leiser 😅
@@zwiderwurzn5908 Woanders sind weniger amerikanische Touristen.
Do you consider yourself loud?
As an American, I love that shops are closed on Sunday. It should be a day for rest and relaxation.
For some people Sunday is the only day they have off to shop.
They have that in parts of canada too, where I live sunday is closed.
@@michaelmurphy2396 Then move to the South like I did! Thats what they do here, Tennessee in my case.
When you pay a deposit for mulled wine cups at the Christmas market, you either return the cup and get the deposit back, or you keep the cup as a souvenir and have only paid the deposit. Some people collect these mulled wine cups because they have a different design in different years even at the same stand. This way, the empty cups don't stand around and the stall operators don't suffer any financial losses. It's a fair deal I think.
I usually come to Germany for a large summer music festival. At least one cup always comes home with me. Cheap souvenir and good times with those cups.
I do this with the shopping carts at Aldi. For only 25 cents I have a cool platform to build go karts.
@@jesdadotcom who are you kidding, you have a whole new home right there!
Who wants to buy a souvenir cup that's been used and washed 100 times?!
@@fordwayne3833 I do when they are cool or very pretty!
Tip: If you want to order, everyone should have their menus closed, otherwise the waiter will think you are still choosing.
If you close your menu then how the heck are you supposed to order without pointing it out or trying to say it off the menu?
@@garrett7101 funny 😅
@garrett7101 I mean, since I guess you aren't planing to order two thirds of the menu at once it shouldn't be that hard to know exactly what you want to order after reading and closing the menu.
@ I mean, when you don’t speak the language, it’s hard to remember random words to tell your waiter, but thanks for your comment. Are you German?
@@garrett7101 If you would like to point to the dish, you can close the card but leave a finger between the pages. And yes, of course I am German, so I say what I think and don't sugarcoat everything ;)
Warteschlangenvordrängler? Hallo? (Those waiting-line-cutters frustrate me as a German, too. But as a German I don't have a problem to educate them 😅).
I have lived in Germany now for six years, and yes like you. I let them know it is my turn, and not theirs!
Do you say "Hallooooo!" to them?😁
@@jenniferpearce1052 Of course, an especially reproach full one 😆. Maybe followed by a "geht's noch?"
This American doesn't have a problem to educate them.
The famous answer to, "please go to the back of the queue" is, "There's already someone there".
The separate mattress thing sounds amazing. Especially if it means separate sheets. The wife can have her mattress, sheets, and blankets how she wants, and I can have the sheets how I want.
So let me get this straight, Americans get annoyed at having to pay the Pfand when they've only taken what they thought was the right amount to pay with?? OK, let's talk about US sales tax, shall we?! 🤔
Exactly, what a stupid complaint. They should keep a stack of crappy paper cups and just dump the beverage in that when my fellow Americans complain. Me? I gladly pay a $5 deposit for the frosted glass mug.
@andybaker2456 I don't think it is a complaint as much as he is stating. As a Texan, in the 1970s ,we paid a glass deposit on bottles. They have gotten away from that in most states,so most aren't aware. I don't know that anyone is upset. Just surprised and maybe annoyed at themselves that they stood in line and now have to do it all again. Once you know, you know and go on. Americans are pretty adaptable and go on with their vacation!😊
Paying for toilets is a problem? You should remind the Americans that being forced to pay 15-20% tips because an establishment won’t pay its waiters enough, is a much bigger problem!
Entirely two different subjects. Paying to use a toilet. As base as it gets and you charge for it?! Tipping is part of pay for the enjoyment of the interaction with someone serving you. It is often a pleasure to tip a waiter that has elevated his service to a craft. Unlike a god damn toilet! Oh what fun to pay for Mr. Toilet!
Both are stupid
@@daveking-sandbox9263 In Germany there’s tipping too… And servers in America make more money than in Germany
@@TomWatson-vu6fj Yes, but in Germany the tipping is an extra "pocket money" for the waiter, not his regular wage. Maybe waiters in the US "make" more money, but they have to kiss the customers' a**es, which I find very unnerving.
@@CharlesKim-ee8ie It is not as different as it seems. In Germany you don't pay for using the toilet either. You pay for the people who clean these toilets for you, so you can feel comfortable, have a pleasant smell in the loo etc. And of course not all public toilets have this service. Those which do not have it, are for free.
And to be honest, when I am eating out, I don't want to have much interaction with the waiter. I want to order my meal and drinks, be treated friendly and professionally but left alone then, instead of being annoyed with silly questions and unnerving over the top "friendliness".
First you order your Drinks, when they come back and bring the Drinks, you Order your Food. Thats the german way 😅
Wie es soll sein 😀
We in The Netherlands we do the same.
Same in England too
Same in the US so that shouldn't be a problem for Americans.
Also the American way. 🤷
The Sunday off is so amazing and great! I mean, I am used to it from my childhood on, first in Poland, then in Germany, but really, I would not live in a country where you have no general closing rules on Sundays. It is such a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, you can walk the streets without having to witness "business". That's the thing. It completely changes the general atmosphere, you just relax. In addition, I think it is a sign of respect towards the people who work in supermarkets and grocery shops, so they can enjoy their day off as well. Nobody NEEDS shopping on Sundays. As long as there are closed Sundays, I know that there's still hope for humanity 😅 It's far more than simply a day off. For me it is a symbol of freedom.
I'm Polish and 100% agree, so it's nice to have convenience, but I don't think it's worth the cost for society, culture, faith/respect and families, it's quiet and helps families have family time :) I agree with the need for workers to have time off too ^_^ I think things were better in Europe when that was everywhere, it's very much "profit only" "money corporations only" "convenience" mindset from America, and it's not healthy.
When you travel, you implicitely and explicitely agree to make new experiences and to be open for them. Otherwise you may remain at home 🤣😂🤣
yet in America, we're expected to make our visitors feel welcome, even learn their language, or risk be called names like intolerant or racist 😆
@@Mike1614YT I never experienced this when in the USA as I was always made welcome but nobody spoke French, or German, or Norwegian, the three languages I am using daily at home in Switzerland.
Oh, please. And there are no videos on RUclips of “superior” Europeans disparaging how Americans live.
@@Mike1614YT most Americans only speak English so that can't be true , the ting about making visitors feel welcome is difficult as there are visitors from all over the world who see things differently , the truth is no country change their culture for tourists not the USA, Germany or others , and why travel if one don't to experience the real culture , maybe Walter is just sensitive
Sounds like you need to Halllooooo the guy who "didn't know you were in line."
I really don't care what annoys Americans in Germany. When I visit an other country I educate myself in advance, don't expect everything to be the same way as at home and adapt!!! YOU are the visitor, you will have to roll with whatever you encounter!
you are absolutely right. but this video is good so people can avoid visiting rude countries like germany.
@@greeksoul No one forces anyone to visit Germany. If you or anyone else has so little respect for the country and its people maybe they should look for a country they have respect for.
@@beautifulbluebell2037 yes. i told u i agree. i like going to nice countries. i just went to see what we cleaned up in 1945.
@@greeksoul are you serious? how entitled can someone be to go visit some other country, and then expect native people to adapt to you rather than adapting to them. when you visit friends in their home, do you also feel entitled to make demands on how things are done in THEIR home? and then you have the audacity to call people rude for not liking to be treated like this? since when does being rude mean not putting up with your entitlement? If come to my place, you do things my way, or you dont come. you dont come to my place and then expect me to do things your way, like are you actually insane?
😎🫵🏼🇺🇲💘🇩🇪 I'll always feel at home in Germany I worked for SMA in Kassel for many years helping that company turn things around I was always polite, smiled, and enjoyed getting the "inside scoop" from my coworkers. Germans are way more civil than most Americans there is a more laid back pace there. Enjoy yourself in Germany it AIN'T hard to do if you can't have a good time in Germany it is a YOU problem not THEM! Best wishes from Buckeye Arizona USA 🌵🐎🇺🇸
Well, you are right: Paying for using the toilets is annoying! But it's more annoying to have to tip 20+ % 😜
You mean the automatic tip when the service is often very slow.
Most Americans never tip 20+% and you don 't have to tip at all. You should tip according to how good the service was.
@@reindeer7752 Only Americans who hate the working class tip less than 20%. If you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to eat out. Stay at home if you aren't going to compensate your server properly.
I hate the tipping system and think it should be done away with, but it is the system we have and we must abide by it. And yes you must tip, just because it is "optional" does not mean it is actually optional. That is someone's life.
If you are too cheap or too poor to tip, then stay home
@alastairhewitt380 - Can't you read the plus sign in the original comment and my reply? That means over 20%. Many waiters/waitresses make more than people on salary with a higher education or skills. They also can cheat on their taxes. I'm not going to tip someone for not doing their job.
@@reindeer7752 Tips are ridiculous, they pay them peanuts, that is the problem.
50 years visiting Germany. I still enjoy the cultural differences. It’s changed a bit over the years, with globalization through the internet, but Germany holds on to those long- ingrained traditions and that’s what I love about my G-Grandparents homeland.
I‘ve visited Germany as a solo traveler a couple of times recently, and people were almost always friendly and helpful, and also very tolerant of my attempts to speak the language. I think switching to English mostly happens when one’s attempts at German might be holding up other people. I can’t wait to visit again - I love Germany!
Yes you are right, I also switch to English if other customers are waiting to be served and I have the impression that it will be quicker and I will be better understood in English. It doesn´t mean that I do not appreciate your effort to speak our complicated language :-)
Don't most Germans speak English anyways?
@@briantravelman Certainly a lot do, but I think it‘s only respectful to make an effort when visiting a foreign country. I suspect that the good experiences I‘ve had in Germany are partly due to my showing a willingness to use their language.
... always just ask be polite "do you speak English please?" Almost all Germans know English some are very conscious they have accents or not the "perfect" words if you smile and are polite I only failed once to get English spoken 😎
@@briantravelman Aber natürlich sprechen meisten Deutschen die englische Sprache vorzüglich!
Let me be very German here: I don’t care at all. You are in a foreign country and things are done differently. The same I would say to Germans complaining that America does things differently. Just try to learn and adapt.
The whole premise of this is just bizarre. “Americans don’t like stuff/behaviour in a Germany because it’s German and not like America”? Eh? What? If you don’t like foreign things, don’t travel abroad. If you do travel abroad, don’t expect other countries to be like yours - part of the point, some would say MOST of the point, of visiting other countries is to experience other cultures and their way of doing things that is different from yours. I’m British, I go to France most years because it’s France - it’s different from the U.K. - they do French stuff in French ways that aren’t like the way we do them, and I like it. If I didn’t want that, I’d stay at home.
Well, it´s a learning curve, isn´t it? Your argument means, that you have to be open minded before you even start travelling, but on the other hand, how people can get more open to other behaivors, if they never travel? Seems you are the narrow minded in this.
Stay triggered.
Thats not the tone, cmon man
Thank you, David. You nailed it.
Yet you Brits don’t know how to act when you head to the Netherlands 😂. Was stationed in Germany and Italy. Bottom line upfront (BLUF), either you adapt or just stay dormant.
Tried to pay for a public toilet upon entering it at train station in Mainz. It wouldn't accept my Euro so I shrugged and went inside, thinking I was mistaken about having to pay for public toilets in Germany. Found out you pay if you want to LEAVE the toilet when you are done. A local saw me trying to leave the locked gate and came over and explained you pay when you LEAVE. It was kind of comical, feeling like I was locked in the bathroom. This was in 2007.
Thats funny
I was getting bamboozled by the whole toilet payment thing in Munich station, not having a coin, trying to work out credit cards, being a gormless tourist, when an elderly gent reached over and gave me two one euro coins--one for me and one for my son. I have been in love with all of Bavaria ever since!
😅😅😅😅😅😅
One of the bad parts of the issue is alot of the tunnels near stations smelled of urine, I'd assume due to lack of wanting to pay by some.
I don't recall that, and I lived in Mainz fairly recently, and traveled to it often since 2017. Might be why. Only needed to go there maybe once.
4:02 as a German I hate that too. I don't know why ppl do that, because they are just as annoyed when they're the ones trying to leave the train 😂
Also shoving you out the way while you're waiting to get on the train. And the door crowding. I've noticed door crowding is particularly common amongst older Germans. 9 minutes away from the train stop, everyone starts crowding the door. As if it's only going to be open for three seconds and they'll miss their chance to get off.
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Yes, it happens in Germany, but that doesn't mean the crowd people are all Germans.
And saying "excuse me" to them doesn't work😂Very uncivilized people.
No, the "erst aussteigen lassen" works pretty well in Germany. And sure, you gotta be ready to leave the train when you need to. But that should be doable. It's better for the whole process ("That's so Germany!". "If you say so, Idk, I've seen it in other EU countries as welL").
Nothing! Nothing annoys me! I love experiencing different cultures and ways of life.
I feel the exact same way :). I have a lot of fun with my Germany blogs:).
Remember, European food is real, takes time to prepare. Cooks are in the guild and European union doesn't allow processed foods.
Incorrect. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the european parliament and of the council | (m)‘processing’ means any action that substantially alters the initial product, including heating, smoking, curing, maturing, drying, marinating, extraction, extrusion or a combination of those processes;
Dried spices or mushrooms not allowed? Smoked salmon not allowed? Ground meet not allowed? Of course they are.
Beyond that, plenty of restaurants in Europe use prepared foodstuffs - sometimes with very poor results. Just one example: there is some premade paella brand that bars all over Spain heat up and sell because it's easy (but crappy). They all use the exact promotional banner. I avoid those places like the plague.
Recently spent a month in Italy and Romania. Regrettably, lots of toxic, processed food now there in restaurants and grocery stores. Sad. Fortunately, there are still more clean food options there than here in the U. S.
@@ursulasmith6402 You should go to Metro one day. That‘s where restaurants buy processed and pre-prepared food in bulk. For example, I have rarely eaten potato dumplings at a German restaurant that didn’t taste like Pfanni dumplings out of a packet. Only high end restaurants make their food from first principles.
@@Sabena-pl3cw The sad thing is: when normal restaurants try and make everything themselves with no processed ingredients, most people won't go there because it will be a little more expensive. A restaurant near my hometown did this and most locals never went there. They only survived with food-conscious customers who would drive an hour or more just to eat there. And the restaurant wasn't crazy expensive because they didn't want to be an exclusive haute cuisine place. They just wanted to make really good but regular food.
In addition to that, the owner and chef told me that he works many more hours per day than all the other restaurants that use processed ingredients - and in his case he didn't even earn more in the end. He just did it out of conviction for good food.
as German Tourist in the USA I never got real glas outside, always plastic waste, I prefer deposit😅
Very true! I prefer glass, too.
Ofttimes the reason you'll see that here is due to the potential for breakage and someone getting cut. It can be an insurance issue.
I suit happy culture makes regulations necessary. Glass breaks.
The trouble is that the glass can also be used as a weapon. I was in a club years ago and some dude threw a shot glass across the place and almost killed a woman. The bouncers had fun with him while waiting for police to arrive. That was the beginning of the end for glass in clubs in the US. This was early 90s.
@@currentsitguy That´s true. Germans do think people know that breaking a glass could lead to a shard, which can cut you.
Think of the families. It's good for a family if the stores are closed on Sundays. Think of the employees. In the past, most stores were closed at 2 p.m. on Saturday. I think generally 6 or 7 p.m. was considered the end of store shopping hours.
Also, people don't have more money to spend, they spread it out more days.
Funny you point out the surprise when the total for Glühwein is higher than anticipated due to the deposit. I think Germans have the same experience in the US where menu prices often don’t include tax.
With the one important difference that you don't get your tax back! You get your deposit back. It ensures that glasses are brought back and don't end up on the sidewalk or in the river. Or you can just take the glass mug home if you like - in that case you bought it.
3:50 this "ready to leave the train" thing shows, that US Americans don't know how to use public transport. The people that use public transport want to drive fast to their destination, so there's no time for "after the train stops I walk to the doors".
At the moment I am in the US and one thing that annoys me as a German tourist is how the Americans drive.
But why am I complaining? In 1997 I made my Florida Drivers License. It was a walk in the park compared to the tests I had to pass in Germany.
Americans don’t know how to drive. I feel saver driving 200 kilometers per hour in Germany than driving 65 Mph in the USA.
I have to add a reply. I've always appreciated good German vehicles and how they are engineered.
I translated that to the way Germans drive. The problem? This was based on reading and talking to people who visited Germany as I have never been.
I finally received confirmation when my son who lived in Germany a number of years told me, "Dad, you would love Germany, they drive just like you."
If you've ever relied on public transit in most of America (certainly Florida!) you'd understand why we make it so easy to drive.
I feel safer not driving in the USA. Too many unlicensed, uninsured, illegal motorists.
@Jlk6532
I can't speak for anyone but myself. I have had five BMW's in twenty years. Bought every one used. My observation is,
1) buy used, but be particular about the vehicle you are buying (most BMW's have a traceable history on their service, if serviced at a certified BMW dealership).
2) buy a BMW that has the inline six where the vehicle has been made and assembled in Munich. Germans, person-for-person are much more exacting in their personal work quality than Americans. The 3.0 liter is one of the best engines BMW has ever designed.
3) have access to a BMW dealership that has those same exacting standards and are honest. I have had the same customer service representative AND the same mechanic for the past fifteen of those twenty years. I was able to pick my mechanic. He is the only mechanic that works on my BMW.
4) lastly, if one can't afford a quality German car and service it on a consistent basis, then one shouldn't buy a high end German car. Dollar-for-dollar one pays for, for what one gets.
@@danasmith3288 When I was young I enjoyed renting US Cars, whenever I visited the USA. Meanwhile I am glad that I was able to rent a BMW. I am a Sales Manager and during the past 25 years I drove VW, Volvo, Mercedes and BMW, as company cars. Expect the Volvo I was always satisfied. BTW one X3 was manufactured in the USA and one was made in South Africa. My current Series 5 is made in Germany. To me it made no difference.
How ever the best car is useless when the driver doesn’t know how to operate it in a proper way😃
In German supermarkets, when a cashier opens, instead of the people at the front of another cashier line going first, the Germans all rush to get in front of each at the newly opened cashier.
Its funny how in the UK, at most supermarkets it is done like that so first people will be asked to move. But at aldi and lidl, the just announce on teh tannoy a new lane is opening and people from usualy all the way at the back just rush in
@connortopping6943 Not in my experience! If a new checkout opens, all bets are off, it literally becomes a case of "first come, first served". I've never seen anyone at the front of a neighbouring queue being asked to join a newly opened checkout first, regardless of the supermarket.
If you are annoyed because in different countries things are different from those at home - just stay at home.
It is slightly weird that Americans are vastly more religious than Germans but shops are closed on Sundays in Germany (and many other countries) but not in the States.
No church tax in the USA though.
i‘m not religious, but i like it, that there is one day in a week, where everything is closed and everything is not busy.
Shops used to all close on Sundays in America. What happened was large shopping malls and shopping centers were built outside of cities that required shops to be closed on Sundays, but not outside the cities. The shop keepers in the cities complained that customers were going shopping outside the cities on Sundays and the cities later changed to allow them to open on Sundays. I have been to religious places in Germany and met religious Germans. I used to work on ships from America to Bremerhaven.
There is just no benefit to opening them on sundays, people have plenty of time to go shopping on the other days. For the same reason plenty of shops are closed at noon because why open for the couple of people that are not working and didnt come in the morning.
@@xBox360BENUTZER There is a difference between not opening because it is unprofitable and not opening because an archaic law prohibits it.
Hopefully the Germans really don't give a Scheiße what American tourists of this ilk think.
Is there another video, "Why American Tourists ANNOY Germans so much" - that would be FAR more entertaining.
As a Brit visiting Germany, I loved it.
I embraced what I found.
It's not my country, I don't have a stake in this game - I just went with the flow.
I think he does have that video. I'm from the US and had a great time in Germany, the annoyances at home far outweigh any I had there
I lived in Bamberg for 5 yrs in the 80s...loved it. The no shoppingbon Sunday was something new. But I do recall something about businesses closing down I think at 2pm for "naptime" during the week....had to get used to that, plus the no noise after 10pm. I truly enjoyed living in Germany. It felt like home to me and I hope to get to go back one day soon. Thank you for sharing❤
💤 sleeping 😅..no... lunchtime 🧆🥘🍝🍲🥗
As a German I'd like to throw in my two cents on the service topic. There is good and bad service in Germany too. It's never so over the top as it is in the USA since the waitpersons don't depend so much on tips. But there is friendly and helpful service and not so friendly and not so helpful service. It's part of the quality of a restaurant and if the service is really bad I won't come again. And as has been mentioned before ordering your drinks first buys you time to select your food. If you still feel rushed by the waitperson it's not a place you should return to.
@@aperturix in my years traveling to Germany and it’s been many. Oktoberfest and to watch Bundesliga games, etc. Never have I ever encountered “friendly” service in Germany. I’m already used to it so it’s fine but rarely do they even smile 😂
@@MatrixDeception722 I just returned from Germany 🇩🇪 and that was the first thing I noticed how inexpressive and unfriendly people are, even though I tend to be that way myself it still shocked me, I also can see the other side as far as them being paid better than the USA and therefore not needing to act extra friendly to get better tips. It’s different culture than USA that’s for sure but well worth visiting and what a beautiful country.
@@MatrixDeception722 So if you go to Oktoberfest what do you expect? That's a cattle drive and I would never ever go there. Believe me you can get friendly service but the waitperson will never bother to boost your ego just to make you tip generously. On the other hand rude service is unacceptable and I wouldn't return to a place where I wasn't treated decently.
@@djobidjoba6143 As a German I would say I've rarely encountered rude or unfriendly service here. I think the difference is that the effort required in order to be perceived as friendly and polite is a lot lower than e.g. in the US. You do not need to be all cheery and smily and pretend that waiting on people is your kink. To Germans, if you are professional and say your pleases and thank yous, you're good. The bar is lower and by and large we don't jump higher than we have to.
@@aperturix At Oktoberfest I expect....nothing different than any other large gathering/party/event...happy people who have smiles on their faces. Large events in the US are common and people working don't walk around with frowns on their faces. Why would that ever be desirable?
As an American expat living here, American tourists frustrate me the most.
Ich auch, my friend.
I think we can agree that tourists, no matter from where they are, are the worst people. I always try and avoid German tourists when I'm abroad. I have a friend from the Netherlandw and she says it's the same for her: whenever she hears Dutch when she is on vacation, she quickly turns around and tries to avoid her fellow countrymen.
I also know a lot of Americans via the web and some in real life and they are very nice people. But when I encounter American tourists back here in Germany I tend to use the French method and pretend I don't speak English. Tourists are a different breed for some reason.
great video! when I travel I feel im a guest in that country so all the silly oddity things that im not used to is part of the trip and the fun of it... I rarely get upset. I just go with it and figure that its just the way it is in that country. this was a fun video.
Thank you!
So true. I always keep an open mind when I travel. That's part of the adventure. :)
Same, but I think he is accurate about Amis (americans) being annoyed by all these things - I have in fact met a number of Americans who've been to Germany and complained about at least all of these things. I used to live in Germany and Germans complain about all the opposite things in the USA (they HATE the 'envelope' sheets and beds for example). As a Canadian who grew up in a kind of hybrid culture (ie we use german-style duvet and beds everywhere I have lived), I found this hilarious. Fav German complaint about the USA? Ice served in the glasses of water in restaurants - they HATE it!
God bless you!! Not being religious, just a compliment from one person who understands to another ❤
@@jwbeaton I hate ice in my drinks as well.
Regarding the mattresses..I hate those american beds with only one mattress and, even worse, only one big blanket. Whenever your partner moves during the night, you are bouncing also. Two mattresses reduce that, less vibration due to the separation. And do not even get me started on the blanket! I want my own to make a burrito at night and not wake up freezing during the nigt because my partner has wraped himself in it!. In the US, hotel personnel always looks suspiciuous at me when I ask for a second blanket :D
I had the EXACT same thing happen to me at check in at a German hotel, someone just cut straight in front of me. Was quite shocked that the desk staff member didn't say "actually, she was first". In the UK, they definitely would have haha
This didn't happen.
I have had this happen to me so many times in the USA so amused that this is a complaint
@@hawklets03what do your base your doubt on? Have you ever been to Germany?
And in France, they would never cut
@@hawklets03 Lived here in Germany over 30 years. This happens a lot...
Well, I'm a German living since more than a decade in the US. And I gotta say, besides of the restroom thing would it better for you to shut up. Service in the USA? You order three things, at least one of them is going to be wrong for sure. You order four things, you ain't getting one of them and another one is wrong. Then on top of this always this bullshit small talk about nothing, what a waste of time.
I was just in Germany for the Berlin marathon and had a really nice time in the city. I was very impressed with its transportation system. The UBahn trains were punctual, clean and everything seemed very organized. I noticed how disciplined the Germans are when crossing the street, everyone waits for the walk sign even though there may be no cars coming. It’s easy to understand why it is that way because you have trams sharing the street with vehicles. It was very nice to see this coming from New York City, where everyone jaywalks.😂
We were there for the Marathon, too. Thoroughly enjoyed, in spite of the huge crowds. The public transit is the bomb! We learned a long time ago, if you're getting off at the next stop, get up (or stay up) and move close to the door beforehand. That's the "rule" all over the world. The only time you can sit and wait till the train stops is when the train is practically empty.
When I was young we had pay toilets all over in America. People forget this.
I'm over 50 and never saw a US pay toilet, and never heard my parents/grandparents mention that.
@@TheSwissChalet It was pretty common until the mid 70s. It was stopped as part of the feminist movement. It's referenced in quite a few movies even as late as the late 70s. Smokey an the Bandit is probably the last one. Frog- I need to use the little girls room, can I have a dime? Bandit- Crawl under. Frog- Crawl under? Lovely!
@@RebelCowboysRVs Ummm. No. I'm old and never seen a pay toilet. Where did you live?
@@silkscreenart5515
People's memories are known to be quite inaccurate, I believe the fact that CEPTIA (Committee to End Pay Toilets in America) once exited, is telling us enough.
@@mariatheresavonhabsburg ???? Where did you live where you put a coin into a door to use a toilet in the USA in the 1960's-70's? I was in NYC and never came across that.
Just coming back from the US: The really, really wastful culture in America when it comes to waste/rubbish did annoy me a lot. All this plastic forks, plastic plates etc.. Every hotel and every event creates TONS of waste a day that will sit in the landfill for the next 70+ years. I think it makes totally sense to use reusable dishes/mugs and to invest a little effort to be more friendly to the environement.
Lack of line culture? You'd think with Germans taking many processes seriously that queuing would also be one of them
maybe they have to take processes so seriously at work that they don't care about processes outside of work so much?
I've never been to Germany, but it strikes me as odd that Germans are concerned about rules and efficiency but don't queue.
@@gsogymrat not true, it depends on situation, like in pharmacy or bakery, where queues are small (less than 7) you will seldom see some one trying to overtake, and if so usualy a "hallo" or "Sorry I was first" can be heard. Lol and try to break the queue at ALDI cashcounter during rushhour like 12am/1pm and you will know /see that there are very strict queuerules enforced at some places and situations.
:)
@hfricke2661 Do Germans queue in airport terminals or do they have gate lice like in America?
Their country is going down the drain and they are lost in all of it.
As a tourist, you have to adapt to the local way of doing things. When i go to the US, nobody cares, how we do things at home. I‘m in the US then. And a good part of going abroad is the fact, that things are different elsewhere.
what will your next video be about? about why American English is not an official language in Europe?
Germans do it right . I only visit off season in the winter. Love it when the crowds are down and the parks are empty and you can just walk and enjoy Germany in a quiet way . Best mid winter vacation.
American tourists are easily annoyed.
The biggest problem is they feel entitled to loudly express it…
The thing about paying to go to the WC may be annoying,I would agree, but it’s actually the norm in many places in Europe. He should have mentioned that.
I was in Germany for 10 days alone these things never bothered me. Germans and everyone were extremely nice
Hey Mark, I'll be on a 10-day trip between Vienna, Munich, and Prague this December. I love that I found your channel; it has been crazy how helpful you have been.
Andere Länder, andere Sitten.
There is nothing wrong with it.
Love that you're visiting and showing off my hometown Bamberg. So sad I didn't bump into you. Hopefully next time!
I have been an American tourist in Germany many times and I love visiting it. For one thing, there are incredible classical music concerts and Opera events just about everywhere- at great prices. Second, people are very friendly and helpful- especially if you can speak even a little bit of German.
I like Germany too. You missed his question
And Americans, when you're in a German city, watch where you walk so you don't absent mindedly stroll into a bike path. You WILL get run down.
If you want to discover authentic German service go to Berlin. In Berlin: 1. You will get the menu card when the waiter finds it legit. 2. The waiter is always right. 3. The rude attitude is part of the experience. 4. Never forget the gratitude, but don't expect any gratitude from the waiter for your tipping.
Berlin ist not Germany
Ha ha ha ha ha...
@@karlheil7169 Auch wieder wahr.
Outside Germany I know only one place where they can even top the Berlin experience, Vienna.
Oh, many Germans get annoyed but others not being able to, or just being to rude to form a line. Post offices years ago started to use a single line for all counters, instead of one line per counter as most people had been used to. People just didn't get the concept, while in reality it is way faster and more efficient for all. You may be lucky to have the guy in front of you who only buys a single stamp, or the person that takes 45 minutes to get some issue sorted out. With one line it does not matter.
Lately I found people that try to skip the line in supermarkets. As soon as there are more than three people in line at the cashier, instead of just getting in line, they position themself in front of the next cashier and ask of they can open another one. If there indeed is a line and they did not notice yet, they gladly do, but it often makes no sense to wait there, because another cashier has first to stop whatever they are doing, maybe clean up packaging from that, get to the cashier, log in and open the cashier. Usually takes longer than just waiting in line.
The experience with public transport also works for elevators. I never understood why you cannot simply first make some room to allow those who want to, to get off, so there is more room for other people to get in.
Oh and of course shops being closed on Sundays. This is something that unions started together with limiting weekly work time etc. Back then a good idea.
Today you often here people claim, but if they open on Sundays the people working there have to work more... Well maybe there is another less convenient shift. But work contracts in Germany usually are by weekly hours. If you have a contract for 40 hours, it does not matter how those are spread across the seven days of the week, within legal limits (max daily hours, long enough breaks in between shifts, a day of after a max number of work days) To staff an additional day you may need more staff though. Oh, and on Sundays or holidays a bonus is paid.
The only ones arguing against opening on Sundays are still unions and the church.
Having worked at an airport in my past in baggage handling, I always say if that is all the arguments against opening on Sundays those people have, I want to never see anyone of those going to a restaurant on Sundays, staying at a hotel on Sundays, taking a train or a flight on Sundays or during the night. The people working there should be otherwise protected the same way from working on Sundays and holidays, right?
I don't understand why people always claim that germans are waiting line -cutters! I never experienced that! Everybody always wait patiently. In Italy on the other hand they don't accept lines at all...
Exactly. This has been my experience as well any time I've gone from Germany to Italy.
No, the missunderstanding is, what you consider a line. If there is space to pass through between two people, there is no line.
If space to the person before you is one inch, that's a line.
Don't worry, germans are also very much annoyed by people from the US
But of course your points are all very valid
For hotel beds with the two mattresses, if it’s two beds pushed together, it does have some advantages. If I’m staying in the room with my girlfriend, it’s annoying. But if I’m sharing a room with a friend or family member, you can separate the beds to have two separate beds. For two mattresses in a single hotel bed, I don't see a single advantage and it annoys me as a german aswell.
Sometimes you see these mattresses in normal homes, where they have the advantage that each mattress can have the ideal specs for the person sleeping on it. But most people I know have a big mattress at home instead of two separate smaller mattresses in one bed. Its most beneficial if there is a huge weight difference between the couple.
My favourite things about traveling in other countries are the differences! And getting a break from rude Americans. Oh I know, people are rude all over the world. I just like getting the break from the rudes I deal with on the daily...
Do you live in Miami?
I made a video about all the things Europeans are annoyed by American tourists. It’s so far 8 hours long …..
Yes, there are cultural differences. I hate the US "Over the top US waiter culture", basically begging for tips since they are not being paid. I am an IT consultant, having worked long hours and just wanting something to eat and some peace to do it, which is impossible in most US restaurants. I usually survive on fast food or go to Whole Foods and eat in my hotel room just to avoid US waiters. I get why they are desperate, but really ... just let me me eat in peace.
Another thing that I found very surprising was that there are no screens on the windows. When I first got into my hotel in Germany, I was horrified, but there simply aren’t the bugs that are in the United States. Also, they don’t have a top "flat" sheet on beds, just a duvet. I’ve actually started sleeping like that and it’s far more comfortable rather than having a sheet wrapped around your legs and coming out of the mattress.
Why America ANNOYS the whole world so much? It's America!
The two mattresses are really helpful for switching them if they're old or you need two different types of mattresses (like for back pain etc.). Just get a sheet that goes over both :)
I am going to comment the typical Murican Way (I experienced during many years living in the US): "If you do not like it (or things) here, go back where you came from!" 🤷♂
Seriously, Muricans who get annoyed at things elsewhere, and expect things to be like in the US - should not travel.
I have fond memories of my trip to the Black Forest in the early 1990s. My mother and I stayed at a small inn near Spangdahlem AFB. It was cheap, the schnitzel and black forest gateau were great... and the techno rave in the room right below us lasted until 3 AM every. Single. Night.
Truly the most ruthlessly efficient vacation I have ever been on.
3:42 Some bad behavior, even the children learn "Let them get off first, then get in!"
Children learn it, adults forgot it ;-)
Let children get off first?? Wtf is this comment?😂 diddy alert
yes but on the other hand its realy anoying, if you know you have to leave next stopp, but pretend to be the queen/the king himself and slowly grap your stuff and same slow start walking to the already open door, when others are already entering... such a behaviour is also very disrespectful LIKE the one when people are already waiting inside for the dorr to open and are leaving but a stupid one from outside already trys to enter evan so still people are leaving the train/bus etc
@@ryanmccluan7467 get your mind out of the gutter.
@@ryanmccluan7467 This is the english translation from "Erst aussteigen lassen, dann einsteigen!" 🙄😒
So: why are the toilets clean?
Bc. somebody cleaned them. They do NOT Do it for free. They have to be payed.
Waiting in line: horror!
Beds: practical. You can easy change the lining, you can have your personal type of matress....
Pfand: If you like your glass, you can keep it! 😀 I have a lot of Weihnachtsmarkttassen.
True, but it is a surprise. This seems to be true throughout Europe, you’ve must carry that change around just in case. I’ve been in Scotland and Austria as well, same thing.
My wife and I just returned from Germany for our 30th anniversary. I am already plotting to go back! While I get all of these "annoyances", the only thing I couldn't wrap my head around was the bed setup in the hotels. It didn't bother me, but I can't pretend I enjoyed it either. My wife and I like to lay close to one another, so the crack and separate duvets were inconvenient. I know there is a reason for why they do it that way, but I never really heard an answer to the question. I will say this though. Every hotel we stayed in had amazing breakfast buffets! Doing my research before we went over, I had expectations for the "typical" German breakfast of cold cuts, cheeses, and bread. Boy, was I wrong! They did have those things, but so much more. Loved it. As for the "annoyances", I'm in their country, not the other way around. My job was to shut up, listen, and learn, but most of all, embrace the differences and find a way to have fun in the moment! I'd say we succeeded. Cannot wait to return!
The practical reason for the "crack" is easily explained: When I move while sleeping, I will not disturb my partner - any movement remains on my side. Also, we have separate duvets. It is more practical this way, although it might annoy one when spooning ;-)
The crack is called "Besucherritze" in German. Literally "visitor crack".
For me, it’s the other way round. I have just returned from Australia where my husband and I had to share the duvet. My husband likes to sleep cool and I need more warmth I could not wait to have my own duvet for myself 😅
@@wohlhabendermanager 😆Love that!
@@twocents-Thomas-Zadro well, I don't know that I would call it annoying, but at least a bit inconvenient! 😉If that's the worst part of the trip, I can't wait to go back!
Why is paying for toilets annoying ?
The real annoying issue about public toilets in Germany is often there are none.
What is line culture?? ...oh... look... they open another checkout counter...hurry, hurry!!!!
I think there are differences from north to south. I live all in the north, being born where the angles came from, you know, the one part of the anglo-saxons that are now the english. We queue quite well here.
Weirdly, in Denmark when they open a new checkout, people stay in the same line instead of moving over. 🤷🏾♂️
Yep. We call it 'queueing' in British English...just like a 'ride' is actually a 'lift'. An 'elevator' is also a lift, btw, but a different type. Anyway...I can feel myself getting started here, so I'll stop! Vive la difference!
@@oldfrittenfett1276no we don’t. Tell that to someone trying to get off a Metronom train in Hamburg Central Station. It’s elbows out and every man for himself
I rush to the open check stand. Especially at Target. Lol
I love Germany, we go once a year to visit my Son and his family, none of these things annoy me or ever have annoyed me. I get in German mode and it takes me a day to do so, especially when driving. I actually admire the Germans for being rule followers, and detail oriented. I find them to be very friendly people as a whole, I really enjoy watching them and what as an American I find quirky such as their over the top rule following, like crossing the street only at crosswalks and only when they have the green running man as I call it. Even late at night when there is no cars on the road. Their traffic signals are awesome, they turn green, yellow then red as ours do but then they turn red, yellow then green and when the green light comes on you better go or you will hear the horn from the person behind you. My daughter in law is German born and raised all her life, love her so much, this is why my son lives there.
If you think German line culture is bad, try Hungary. Here we only have the "culture" of "how to get in front of those who are waiting ahead of us".
don't try that in the US!
In Poland too.
It IS worse in the old Soviet satellite states for sure. A thing required by circumstances.
My husband was stationed there for 4 yrs when he was in the Air Force. He adored Germany and talked about it often. We went to Germany on a business trip. He was employed with BASF and a fabulous time.. we stayed an extra week. I loved the order and cleanliness of the German cities and towns. My only complaint was the stiff and formal behavior of many of the businesses and restaurant staff. Not use to that but understood that’s their way.
To me, there’s nothing wrong with formal behavior in a business such as a hotel, etc. I’d rather be called by my last name then just called by my first name by complete strangers like they doing the United States
. I actually don’t go by my first name anyway, but my middle name and my last name unless it’s my friends or acquaintances, but I know I’m in the minority in the United States who feels that way probably
It's a business, as you point out. It's not an entertainment park with actors to make you lough.
When it is time to be formal, if not in business with strangers ?
Nothing about Germany annoyed me. I was visiting friends, so they had told me about many of the differences, but they weren't annoying or inconvenient to me. I think if i were to move there the most difficult thing to adapt to would be learning how to properly sort the trash/recycling and getting used to stores being closed on Sundays. I found though, that mostly, the German culture seemed to suit me and I found the people I'd meet or interact with in public were very friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and the worst thing was leaving those wonderful German windows behind. Why don't we have them here in the USA?
Just casually roasting the Germans with the birth rate 🤣🤣🤣
These are all points you have mentioned in (multiple) videos in the past, but Germany content is always appreciated!
I know a lot of Americans who have visited Germany, but I’ve never heard one come back with complaints.
So German racism seems to be acceptable to most Americans.
Zwei Matratzen sind bequemer. Man stört sich nicht gegenseitig, wenn man sich bewegt.
Gut gesagt.
Ah, so the German way is correct.
Nicht so gut, wenn du dich in der Mitte treffen willst
@@gdok6088 Die beteiligten Parteien könnten sich um 90 Grad drehen, dann befänden sie sich senkrecht zum Matratzenspalt. Oder man könnte eine Münze werfen um sich auf eine Seite zu einigen, müsste dann nur aufpassen, dass sie nicht zwischen die Matratzen rutscht :)
So I guess cuddling is out...non-existent in the cold Germany culture, I guess.
As an American who loves Germany, this video makes me miss it so much. ❤️🇩🇪
With the beds: This way the layout of the beds can be changed easier from "a couple travelling together" (one queen bed) to "colleagues or brothers travelling together". The hotels can sell it as two single beds OR a queen bed.
I was guided by my German girlfriend (now my wife) when I first came here so I was explained things. Still the restaurant way surprised me a bit, my mother was serving tables all her life and my dad was a cook, so I know how important tips are for waiters, and I was going to give 20% tip. My girlfriend goes "OH Nooo No no. That is way too much"
What, why?
Service people are paid to do their job by the owner. There is no "Restaurant" minimum salary.
Of course you can tip, but giving 15 or 20% is not normal and not expected. 5 to 10 % is good.
I was also pissed at the paying public toilet at first. But yeah, they are clean so you should pay :)
It‘s funny that americans think water and toilets are free in the US. Both are costs that are already calculated in the prices. That’s what a business does. So everybody is paying for it.
I'd much rather pay for a toilet that is clean and available rather than some of the filthy ones here in the US. Would be nice though if more places took cards as a lot of people don't carry a pile of change around these days.
@@effektgeraeteinfo Toilets in restaurants are free in Germany
Not true, FLSA requires paying tipped workers at least the federal minimum wage, tips (up to 5.12) can be credited. This means, even if a server doesn't get a single tip in a month, the employer must pay him at least the min. wage. Many states mandate minimum wage berfore tips.
German here, giggling about the "Hallo" culture. Hadn't been aware of it, but it is an absolutely valid observation. Incidentally: you primarily find the kind of double beds presented here in Bavaria and in some of the very traditional and not very fancy hotels. The more modern ones have queen or kingsize beds with boxspring mattresses. 😉
I've been to Germany three times so far, and I have not experienced almost any of these annoyances. I have always had a great time.
I just got back from Germany. I loved it! The pay-to-pee public toilets were a big aggravation. Another minor irritation was that coffee in a restaurant did not come with refills. A side note is that my German mil uses the snarky "hello" in restaurants and stores when she wants to get attention. Thanks for the interesting video.
The coffee in Germany does not usually come with refills however, I find the coffee taste much much better than the United States.
@@enjoystraveling I agree, it is very good coffee
America should consider a (real) glass/cup/mug deposit. Might cut down on some litter and waste.
America just needs a bottle deposit system for their bottles, cans, and cartons.
@@Peglegkickboxer we do. It’s rare to see as the places to redeem the 5-10¢ (state depending) are limited. In major cities like New York though you’ll see folks pushing carts & carrying bags picking through trash bins for redeemable items. I imagine they make decent money doing it too.
You need to understand Americans to understand how that won't work. Culture matters
As a regular train commuter never have I experienced people entering a train before everybody had exited. Unless there was an undecided or scatty traveller who still had to pack their belongings after everybody was done exiting a minute ago.
I’m from the US and, while I do appreciate the wait staff being easily available, I hate the over friendliness. I’m uncomfortable with casual conversation. This also bothers me when I am made to share a table with people I don’t already know relatively well.
In Northern Europe, we treat waiters like all other people, polite and friendly. Of course, you pay for the cups. What you talk about is the same in Denmark and Norway for instance. The cleaners need time to clean. Why stress with being first in line. Americans are super loud and may be very superficial and annoying. Americans can talk very nice to you, but after a few minutes, they don't remember who you are.
Might be worth remembering you are going to their country not the other way around. When visitors come to the US they have to adapt to US ways of doing things too.
When people adapt it doesn't mean they like it and they are not annoyed. Also, things mentioned in this video are annoying to most people including Germans. There is nothing wrong in expressing opinion, when it can lead to a discussion to improve certain things and constructive criticism. For example - I wish there were free public toilets everywhere, so I don't experience seeing random people peeing under the tree in the middle of the day. Why immediately bash an honest opinion over being open minded?
@@jip8793 I didn't bash the opinion although I certainly could. However this was a video about visitors being annoyed by the habits of the people actually living in the country, so I gave my opinion on that. I live in the US and I don't see anyone modifying behaviour to make foreigners happier here, so why would anyone elsewhere do so for Americans. As I am sure you know, when you travel you are entering someone else's environment and you have to be able to tolerate the conditions there. I thought it was a valuable heads up potentially, it just seemed a strange perspective to me.
@@madmark1957 I understand your point. I interpret this video differently, as not expecting Germans to change their behavior - just pointing out mildly annoying things, to make the viewers aware of the differences. I appreciate such honest opinions, because it makes me prepared better for a distant travel. Basing on the entire content of this channel, I also know that the author has a lot of respect for the cultural differences.
yeah, here in Germany people just bum rush the train and get on while people are still getting off just to get a seat - and half the seats are probably already taken by backpacks or suitcases. And on the stairs to and from the platforms and in the station itself people don't keep right or left in a consistent manner, it's just a free for all. People will just stand still in the middle of escalators, leaving you no room to get past if you're in a hurry, etc. It's probably the most frustrating part of living in Germany. Then again, it's a good problem to have is that is the worst there is
Yeah, I haven't taken public transport in Germany for years because it's become such a shitty experience. Only the worst people there with no manners. It's a self-reinforcing cycle. I hear the same from so many people, they gladly never use public transport or trains anymore.
I come to Germany regularly, last time this afternoon, and I honestly haven't noticed the lack of line culture in all the years. Ok, it may not be as strong as what I saw in the UK, but a lack of it? No. Anyway, I primarily don't like people saying German people are boring. For me, a lot of really important things work very well in this country.
The best thing is, you go back to the US as fast as possible - and this is really exciting!😂
Hello, Germany is not a holiday resort where everyone makes sure that everything goes according to your wishes. This is a country with internal rules of conduct that are obviously a little different to those in your country: either you adapt to them or you have the freedom to stay at home!
You're welcome, Gern geschehen, that the U.S. let you keep your country after 1945, Martin. We'll come and do as we please. Be more courteous.
@@tyjones5019 the USA is not the boss of the world even if you like to think so
@@tyjones5019 so in other words, you just admitted to being hostile for no reason.
I love GERMANY… It helps that I have a beautiful German wife… And we have a second home in Munich in addition to San Francisco
But all that aside… It still drives me mad that I can’t get a glass of water or ice cubes without most restaurants making it a challenge… Things have greatly improved over the last 10 to 20 years but still the concept of ice cube is alien to most Germans… including my beautiful and wonderful in-laws … Or even comical
Self-defense is to realize that I can go to Starbucks and ask them for a cup of ice and have that with me all day… Or a freeze a bottle of water in the refrigerator and take that out with me on day trips…
Forget about asking for a free cup of ice at a fast food restaurant… You will get a quizzical sometimes angry look.
I’ve gotten over the fact that we have to pay for any water that we get to drink at our meal… Many of us don’t wanna drink carbohydrates in the form of cola and beers or fruit juices… These are so bad for us… But the simple glass of water that is tapwater is still a struggle in almost every restaurant… Just be polite and firm and explain that you want a glass of water… And you will sometimes get it.
The alternative is to suck it up and realize that the five euros that you’re paying for a bottle of Stillwater… Still adds up to less than what you would pay in an American restaurant for a comparable meal… So I see a bottle of Stillwater no matter the size as the price of doing business when having a dinner experience or even café experience pleasure… We need to just get over it just like Europeans have to get over the fact that we Americans have a tipping culture and the fact that in America, we don’t show the full price after tax but before tax… So assume that a 3 to 5 € Bottle of water with your meal is part of the ethical cost of the meal
Now it is less stressful and antagonistic when accepting this fact that Water need to be accepted as part of the the price of a meal
Overall, my family finds GERMANY much more tolerant and practical than some of the obtuse American customs that we have… We are not Karen’s… We have lived and traveled over most of the western and eastern world… Not to be a snob, but we know what we’re talking about when we say GERMANY is a relaxing refined place to visit … Not sure I would want to live in Germany given the stifling bureaucracy and some of the other frustrating facts of life such as the politics being in a stranglehold over major problems like the Ukraine issue and the fact that Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Telekom can be so frustrating to work with… And the fact that you have to buy a whole new kitchen every time you move into a house or an apartment “because that is the culture/tradition”
You have a house in SF and a second house in Munich - I imagine you won't go bankrupt from paying for bottled water!
Drinks are the best source of income for most restaurants and it ensures they can also pay their staff a living wage without forcing the customers to pay a mandatory 20% tip.
For us it’s the little old ladies who see a crack of daylight between you and the person in front of you in a line and somehow morph into a piece of paper to occupy that unused space that was obviously empty. After the initial aggravation it became hilarious and we started making predictions about random bystanders who might squeeze in.
Little old ladies are invisible as everybody knows, so how could you see them?😅
The last time that I was in California I did not find the service culture to be anything special or better than Germany.
I am from Spain and you might as well have titled the video “Why Germany ANNOYS Spanish Tourists So Much” as well. Every single point applies.
And I'm sure Spain has a lot of annoying things that piss everyone else off too. It's a wonder we all live together on the same planet!
I didn't know Germans switched to Spanish all the time.
All of the "American" vids apply to Spain! 😂🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸👏💃
@@VidPS This whole "I´m so upset about this and that" thing is only about getting 15 minutes of disputable fame 😁
Mmm, there are quite a few difference to Spain. I live in Spain and the one thing that seems familiar was the part about the inattentive waiters.
Toll toilets are an idea that ABSOLUTELY needs to be adopted in the US