Public holidays + bridge days are a bummer for travelers in Germany.

Like the Frugal Traveler (@frugaltraveler) who tweeted:  “What a difference a day makes”, because he had been unable to get a room, I, too, have found that these 4 day weekends are a real bummer for someone who wants to travel on a budget. First of all - the less expensive rooms are booked early; and second - the hotels raise their rates.

What travelers, from abroad, do not realize is that Germany has 16 public holidays each year. May, alone, has 5 – this year!  For Germans a public holiday combined with a bridge day is the opportune time  for a get-away weekend… usually in-country... perhaps a weekend of visiting another city (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich) or engaging in some in outdoor activities – hiking, water rafting, etc.  

Lesson learned… when the people in the country you wish to visit are ranked as number one in terms of travelling the most… you have to assume that they never stay home.. even for a 4 day weekend.