Somethings are universal...
1.) Take an ATM/Credit card and use ATM's to get your cash while you are abroad. Do not exchange at the airport, banks or any other place because they will take a larger fee than the one at the machine. Also try to take out money that you know you will need or spend what you have because if you come home and exchange it, it will cost you. I brought home a 50 Euro note (at the time approx. $68 USD) and the bank charged me 30 DOLLARS to exchange it. BOGUS!
*The Euro varies in value everyday. I suggest getting the XE currency app on your phone and monitor it. The first year I went to Germany for every Euro it was $1.25 USD. This past summer it went up to $1.32 and went as high as $1.35. When it's at it average lowest, get your money out of the ATM.
2.) Waitstaff at restaurants actually get paid normal wages in Europe so you don't need to leave giant tips. If you think the service was good a couple of Euros will do. They have large wallets to do the entire transaction at the table so tip them then. DO NOT LEAVE IT ON THE TABLE. If you need to break a large Euro note tell them what you want them to have.
Example: You have a 20, your bill is 14, when you hand them the money tell them 16 and they will give you back 4 Euros :)
3.) You will have lots of change. I still have lots of change. They have coins for the following:
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents then 1 Euros and 2 Euros. The lowest bill you will carry is 5 Euros and the highest is 500.
4.) WC's are public bathrooms. You have to pay to use some of them (mainly in train stations but they are pretty nice), usually not more than a Euro.
5.) Eat lots of ice cream! and for a Euro a scoop you can't really pass that up! Go try to find the Nutella ice cream in the center of Würzburg. You are welcome in advance ;)
Pistachio...yum!
6.) Water is essentially seltzer and if you want your water without bubbles you have to tell them (ask for "Still Wasser"). Water is not free and usually comes in a giant bottle for the table. I suggest buying a large water bottle and filling it up. Allison did that and it was really helpful.
7.) There is no open container laws in Germany so feel free to drink while you walk. You can find beer literally every where and it's pretty cheap. There are so many kinds you can have a different beer at every meal. I'll probably have a list of beers for you to try while you are there. So yummy!
This is ok!
8.) To go along with the above, never ask for light beer (like Bud Light) there. It simply doesn't exist and they get a little grouchy about it. Apparently, it's a US and Canada thing.
9.) There is a bicycle lane between the street and the regular sidewalk. DO NOT WALK IN THE BIKE LANE! They get super mad and will either do one of the following: a.) Almost hit you. b.) hit you or c) Honk or ring there bell at you. Just don't do it and you are welcome.
10.) Do not sleep in your contacts on the plane. You don't want your lenses to dry up and scratch your eyes then end up in the hospital like my aunt did....Not. Fun.
11.) If language is an issue for you, it's helpful to know a few important phrases, stick to the major cities. They are more prone to speaking English and they don't give you an attitude either. Actually they are pretty excited to practice which makes it nice but do be considerate, if you know the language speak it. We'd be generally annoyed if someone came here and didn't bother to speak English to us so think about that when you go :)
12.) Make sure you fill that little Customs paper they give you on the way back where it asks you if you are bring fruit or meat into the country. Here's a hint: Don't. They won't let you have it.
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