Is it safe for Americans to travel in Germany?

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Nantucket

Having lived in Houston, Tx, I experienced why so many Americans are concerned about safety in other countries. In Houston I had to "learn" that it isn't safe in almost all neighborhoods to go outside after sunset. In Heidelberg (or any other German city) where I lived before I came to the US I would walk home at night after a party for 3 miles without being scared at all (I am female by the way). To make it short.
Even the Germans who disliked George W. Bush would never have attacked an American only because of his/her nationality. And now that Barack Obama is president there is rather a descending anti-American sentiment! When he was elected many Germans felt like he also became "their" president.

Come to Germany and experience a new kind of "freedom". This is a civilised, open-minded, Western country and you will enjoy it! There is so much to see in Germany.

Dislexia Wulf

I don't know where you got the information from that most of the world is starting to get faith back in America but let me assure you that is BS. Just have a look: Iran is not interested in the warm breath of Obama, Russia want to buy more missles and guns and China has two issues where warships are involved and if you'd ask anyone of Afghanistan or Iraq or some members of Guantanamo live ins you would surely change that statement. Anyways Germany is safe so far and no one is interested if you are American or what so ever. They don't give a **** on it. Hey and remember there are no go areas in the East. A lot of Nazis are in the parliament of the Eastern provinces with more than 10 %.

CheGuevara

Actually it's safer to walk along the street in Germany than in the US.
Crime rates are lower and the weapon laws are by far more restrictive.

And people in Germany don't generally hate America or people from the US! We just disagreed with president Bush's politics, especially about the middle east.

People from the US do have a bit of a reputation being arrogant though. Just be polite and a bit humble. People will definitely be nice to you.

Giving myself BA Rick

Germany is absolutely safe for us Americans. We are the occupiers and no one would ever touch us. Because they know if they touch us we will blow their f...head of straight away. Same applies for afghanistan and Iraq.

K_B

Of course you'll be safe. Well, as safe as you would be anywhere in the world, including America. If you're an idiot and you step out in front of a car, or go around stating how great America and how rubbish everyone else is, then yes you're going to end up in trouble. If you take correct precautions, as with anywhere in the world you should be fine.

Germany is a Westernised country, I don't think it'll be the same culture shock as if you went to India or Thailand.

Try and learn a few simple german words, be polite, always say thank you and please in German if you can, because whenever you're in another country, it's always appreciated if you try and speak something in the native language, even if you're rubbish at it!

Just be sensible, keep your head about you, but enjoy learning about another culture, etc, etc.

I'd definitely recommend travelling around, learning, experiencing.

Good luck.

meee

its safer there than in the us
dont worry
youll be fine

Ich liebe den Sommer!!!

Why do you think itÂ´s not safe? Actually itÂ´s safe.

Nothing Lasts Forever

Yes, we are friendly.

Petticoatlove

I'm sorry to say but I had to laugh while reading your question. First of all the film Hostel is a FILM. Now I am not saying that it could never happen, whether that be in Europe or anywhere else in the world but dont you find it rather ridiculous that most thriller/horror movies are american and play in america and then there is this once it happens in Europe and you guys completely freak out. I dont see why you dont freak out about living in America if horror movies are the base of your fear. Second of all, in America most people have guns right, so say you get robbed, the chance of getting shot is 90% if not 100% higher than in Europe. I do not know what it is like living in America but here in Europe no race gets discriminated, which means that whether you are black, yellow, red or whatever the chance of getting robbed or being the victim of a crime is just as high as a if you were a white person. I do not know where you got the prejudice from that germans do not like Americans but let me tell you that that is complete and utter nonsense. You will find that most Germans actually love Americans and would love to visit it or even live there themselves. So bottom line: Dont worry, Europe is very safe, which doesn't mean that you should loose your common sense though, walking through a park in the middle of the night is always a bad idea, anywhere in the world. And dont forget, most American have European roots.

Alwin E

To cut my answer short (I'm native):

Germans LOVE the American people. We disagreed with the Bush government, and we have a watching eye on Obama, but nobody here EVER said any word of hatred against an American. Even in the hottest days of political debate about the Iraq war, none of your soldiers stationed here was beaten up by angry Germans when he walked the streets.

There's little crime here, and if you should be attacked or robbed (which is unlikely), then it sure isn't because you're American. Sure we have some criminals, racists, and criminal racists here; but the police usually take proper care of them. -- Police surveillance didn't help a (German) friend of mine recently to get beaten up and robbed of his mobile phone when he took an "abbreviation" through a park at night in a badly renowned area, but the police had the robbers three hours laters. (Instruction to robbers: If you steal a mobile phone, SWITCH IT OFF, otherwise you will be located!)

But 99.9% of Germany's area are safe to go. Just come over here and see for yourself.

---
@love:
> For some reason germans always want to speak english

For the reason we want to practice our English conversation skills? I'm sure nobody will be insulted if you ask
"Ich wÃ¼rde gerne Deutsch sprechen, damit ich die Sprache besser lerne." [I would like to speak German to learn the language better.]
Everybody will sure agree and switch to German immediately.

twiggy.

germans hate americans. but they wont do anything to hurt you.
just dont preach about america or be obnoxious.
keep to yourself and be polite(:

travelhun

No worries.
We Germans have our Baby-eating problems now relatively under control and only very rarely, every other day or so, form a screaming mob to torch the American embassy. I myself haven't foamed at the mouth at America for, like, HOURS now!
/sarcasm

Look mate, no one is going to hate you just because of your passport okay? Relax, come over and we'll have a drink.

love426

Hostel is a bunch a sheise. I always go to hostels in germany and they are very nice. Germany is probably the most safe european country to travel to for americans. For some reason germans always want to speak english, i mostly do not. I would learn a few german phrases to make it seem like you care about their culture. This is a wonderful opportunity and you should deffinently take it. Germany is amazingly beautiful and you will enjoy it.

And hostels are cool, you should check them out! haha :)

Mo Fayed

Most people in the world don't give a monkey's who is the president of the USA. I have never heard of American tourists being attacked in Germany, not for being American anyway. Just use your head and stay clear of crowds of drunks when it is chucking-out time for the clubs and bars, same as you would anywhere else. When Germans want to pick trouble they normally do so on the basis of what soccer team they support.

(This advice does not extend to people who are not Caucasian travelling in the old Eastern part of Germany. There are a lot of neo-nazis about).

robert43041

Relax, take a breath and enjoy. Germany is not exactly Teheran...for an american

dr no

The story of Hostel takes place and was shot in Slovakia.

When traveling to Germany or other European countries keep your political ideas to yourself and don't criticize the politics of your guest country same as Americans expect visitors to the USA.
After all the news in America on other countries are often very backward.

Bob

The notion that Europeans don't like Americans was a piece of propaganda from the Bush Administration to explain why no European government, bar the British, agreed with the administration on a single thing. The truth is that the European political mainstream is just significantly to the left of where the Bush administration was.

Most Europeans love Obama, and have never stopped liking Americans in general, they just didn't like the policies of the Bush administration.

As long as you exercise common sense you should be fine, whilst most European cities are safer than their American counterparts, there are, as with any city, obviously areas to avoid.

Equally, if you are polite and don't appear to look down on Germany as in some way inferior to the USA you should be fine. The Germans have done more than any other nation on Earth to come to terms with their activity in WW2 (the allies shouldn't be proud of everything they did either), however, I equally wouldn't bring up the subject of the war in conversation out of politeness.

Golani77

I think yes .
Ich denke dass es werden keinen problemen geben , meine fressee !

Fuhrer Alwin Himar E

To cut my answer short (I'm native): Yes !

boy

No, you'll burn to hell.

Sasha M

I think german are racist I don't think you are safe maybe you should not go. They may mistake you for and african lol I am kidding I am sure they are nice people but I agree that movie hostel really did scare me and keeps me from going there.

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