Building a Travel Schedule

From German Girls Genealogy (Teresa Steinkamp McMillin & Debra A. Hoffman):

 

This series of posts, continued from last month, outlines our preparation for a German trip to research beyond church records. Before embarking on a research trip abroad, you want to make sure you’ve done your homework. The next step, outlined in this post, is creating your schedule.

Flights

 

Flights from the US to Germany usually depart in the afternoon and are usually on Thursdays or Sunday, but other days are available. The more economical time to travel to Germany is typically from January through March or October through December. You should typically book from two to eight months out. We are about 3 months out right now.

 

We typically fly into Frankfurt, which is about an 8-to-8.5-hour direct flight. Layovers can significantly increase total travel time. Frankfurt is 6 hours ahead of the Eastern United States. A 4 pm flight would have you landing in Frankfurt in the early morning hours of the following day. Avoiding jet lag requires you to change your schedule to be able to rapidly adjust to the time change or plan for time to acclimate when you arrive. You may not want to plan to drive far the first day and it should be considered a travel day with activities starting the next day.

 

Time of Year

 

Our past two trips have occurred in April and in January. The best weather was obviously April, but while January was colder, it was not wetter and we were fine and were even able to comfortably walk around outside. Temperatures typically average in the 30°F in January. April is warmer; typically, in the low 50°Fs to low 60°Fs. Remember that Germany reports its temperature using Celsius rather than Fahrenheit.

 

Hotels

 

We have stayed in some wonderful hotels in Germany. We typically look for a hotel that provides a breakfast. When staying in Karlsruhe, our hotel’s restaurant was not available; however, they provided a coffee machine and pretzels, except it was later in the morning and did not work for our schedule for getting to the archives. Also, we found that the availability of restaurants that serve breakfast may be minimal depending on where you are staying. That is something to keep in mind when researching hotels and areas, especially if breakfast and/or coffee is important to your morning routine.

 

Another consideration is the hotel room. We found out that a double room does not necessarily mean two double beds! So, carefully check out the lodgings or you may find yourself getting closely acquainted with your travel partner quickly!

 

Some hotels have multiple levels and maybe no elevator. Pack as lightly as you can. If stairs are an issue for you, make sure to speak with the hotel ahead of time. If you rented a car, you want to ask the hotel about parking options. Often there is parking available for an additional fee. 

 

Archives Appointments

 

Finally, it is important to know the archives/research repositories that you will be visiting. Know their hours and if there are times that they are not open. Some of the smaller archives may require more advance notice of a research visit as their holdings may be offsite. We have had different experiences at each of the archives we have visited. Some provide extensive oversight and will only provide you with the documents you have requested. Others will provide pulls onsite. Most German archives are closed on the weekend, and some may have other days where they are closed, such as Monday, or that close early, such as Fridays. Some will close for lunch. Knowing how the repository operates will allow you to plan appropriately, so that you can maximum your research time.

 

You will also want to know what items may be taken into the research rooms. Are laptops, cell phones, scanners, or other devices allowed? Can you take in a notebook and pens? Or perhaps only pieces of paper and pencils are allowed. Will there be wifi available? Are there options for plugging in your laptop or other electronic devices? If so, make sure to bring an adapter. Finally, what options do you have for copying any records you find?

 

It is also a good idea to reach out to the archives and connect with an archivist who may lead you to additional materials and can work with you to navigate their holdings. We have had all positive experiences in working with staff; however, they are not going to hold your hands, decipher your documents, or do your research for you. 

 

Overall

 

Our research trips have been wonderful experiences with great genealogical finds. While it can seem daunting, it is straightforward with the proper advance planning. 

 

Next week, we’ll continue to discuss the next steps for planning a research trip.