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TurboDem

(262 posts)
Sun Sep 3, 2023, 07:18 PM Sep 2023

Have any of you ever traveled to Germany as part of a tour group?

I've decided to check off one more thing from my bucket list and that is to travel to Germany.

Normally I travel alone, but since I want to tour at least one concentration camp and learn some more about holocaust history I think I would feel better doing it as part of a tour group. To be honest, since I've never been there I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for tours that include holocaust history.

As a gay man I would prefer going as part of a gay tour group, but if that's not possible any tour group would do.

Thanks in advance for any information.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Have any of you ever traveled to Germany as part of a tour group? (Original Post) TurboDem Sep 2023 OP
Yes but it was 1973 DURHAM D Sep 2023 #1
I was born in Munich and we actually lived sdfernando Sep 2023 #2
Most of the tour companies I have used offer tours to sinkingfeeling Sep 2023 #3
How about Rick Steves? Nittersing Sep 2023 #4
There are DUers who live there. Mosby Sep 2023 #5
a cruise down the Danube/Rhine via UCLA Alumni Travel DBoon Sep 2023 #6
Have you considered going to Poland? DURHAM D Sep 2023 #7
not sure why a gay person would want to visit poland nt msongs Sep 2023 #8
How weird. DURHAM D Sep 2023 #9

sdfernando

(5,288 posts)
2. I was born in Munich and we actually lived
Sun Sep 3, 2023, 07:26 PM
Sep 2023

in Dachau. The US Army took over the camp and my Dad said we lived here in what used to be SS housing. This was in the early 60s and before any touring through the camp. It’s only about 20 minutes from München, easy to get to….and you can take in the Bavarian capital.

sinkingfeeling

(52,749 posts)
3. Most of the tour companies I have used offer tours to
Sun Sep 3, 2023, 07:34 PM
Sep 2023

Germany and include Dachau. I would recommend EF Go Ahead, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and gAdventures (Canadian). The one company I would avoid is Gate1.. I know gAdventures are supportive of LGBT.

Just do some Google research to find one that matches your budget and time schedule.

DBoon

(22,955 posts)
6. a cruise down the Danube/Rhine via UCLA Alumni Travel
Sun Sep 3, 2023, 09:31 PM
Sep 2023

No concentration camp tours, but some interesting holocaust-related options in Budapest and at German stops (esp. Nuremberg)

Alumni Travel always has an academic specialist on the trip, and the group would be very gay-friendly

DURHAM D

(32,814 posts)
7. Have you considered going to Poland?
Sun Sep 3, 2023, 10:12 PM
Sep 2023

Auschwitz is very very interesting. Dachau has been sterilized. It doesn't really tell the story.

The day we (myself and two friends) went to Auschwitz we got more attention than we needed. This was 1983 and most of the people there were Russian and there was a bus load of Romanians. There were a few Germans as well and like elsewhere in Poland they were ignored. Naturally the Poles hated them and they also didn't like the Russians.

Apparently the only time Americans had visited was in groups on buses. The guides told us that no Americans had ever driven in my car. One of my friends I was traveling with was fluent in Polish. He was Polish American and grew up in Buffalo NY in a Polish environment. The entire staff came around and spent time with us and did not want us to leave. We got invitations to dinner and offers of lodging. Obviously it was a memorable trip.

DURHAM D

(32,814 posts)
9. How weird.
Sun Sep 3, 2023, 10:36 PM
Sep 2023

My friend from Buffalo was gay. He had several interesting encounters in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Your comment made me think about him and brings back great memories.



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