Berlin wants Emirates. Emirates wants to fly to Berlin. But German law prevents it…unless Emirates gives up another lucrative German route. Welcome to the politics of Emirates in Germany. Michael Müller, the mayor of Berlin, is courting Emirates. He...
German Politicians Plot To Raise Airline Ticket Prices, Institute Price Floor

Flummoxed that air travel remains cheaper than rail travel in many shorthaul markets, some German politicians want to place punitive tariffs on cheap flights. Alexander Dobrindt, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), a party that is part of...
Turning A Long Layover Into A Great Afternoon In Berlin

Even a half-day layover in Berlin is long enough to enjoy one of my favorite cities in Europe. I first fell in love with Berlin in 2006, the first time I visited the city. It’s an amazing city with...
Why I’ll Stick To Taxis And Avoid Uber In Germany

Uber is back across Germany…but be careful, as the drivers are not exactly well-experienced. I was recently in Germany with my business partner. We landed in Frankfurt and needed to get to Mainz. When I travel alone, I take...
German Appeals Court Rules Kuwait Airways Cannot Be Forced To Carry Israeli Passengers

While condemning the discriminatory policy, a German appeals court in Frankfurt nevertheless ruled that Kuwait Airways cannot be forced to carry Israeli passengers. An Israeli student in Germany had purchased a ticket in 2016 on Kuwait Airways to travel...
Review: Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy Frankfurt

A luxury hotel nestled in the heart of Frankfurt’s Sachsenhausen district offers opulent accommodations and beautiful common areas, but the service left something to be desired. My business partner John and I had some work in Frankfurt last week...
Why My German EasyPASS “Global Entry” Stopped Working

I landed in Frankfurt last week and proceeded directly to the EasyPass lanes. It was my first attempt at entering Germany with my new trusted traveler credentials obtained a few weeks prior. image: easypass.de The machine read my passport,...
Quick And Easy: Joining German EasyPASS “Global Entry” Program

During my transit through Frankfurt last month, I had an opportunity to join the German Trusted Traveler Program called EasyPASS. EasyPASS is the German equivalent of Global Entry and available to U.S. citizens, whether you have Global Entry in the...
Which Hyatt in Germany is Best?

There are seven Hyatt hotels in Germany. Which one is best? The seven properties include: Hyatt Regency Cologne Grand Hyatt Berlin Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf Hyatt Regency Mainz Park Hyatt Hamburg Hyatt Place Frankfurt Hyatt House Dusseldorf For purposes of...
Review: Hyatt Regency Mainz

There is no Hyatt I stay at more than this hotel. Over the years, I have come to consider this hotel a second home and the staff part of my extended German family. It’s not the best Hyatt, but...
Hamburg Airport Evacuated, Shut Down

Hamburg Airport remains closed this evening after losing power this morning. Thus far, engineers have been unable to restore even partial power. Around 1oam this morning (CET), an electrical short-circuit lurched Hamburg (HAM) into darkness. Both passenger terminals were evacuated....
Review: Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf (Suite)

In my review of the Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf yesterday, I mentioned I received a suite upgrade on my final evening. A Regency Suite King will be the focus of this review. For a detailed review of the hotel’s amenities...