Usefull informations
Booking with us
Accommodations
First and foremost, the factor of well-being plays a significant role. Service and customer orientation should be just as important to our hosts as they are to us. You can rely on finding a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast as an active traveler.
In some remote areas of the Black Forest, there may only be one accommodation within several kilometers. Along classic long-distance trails, on mountain trails, and ridge routes, we often have to adjust the stages so that you can actually find accommodation at the end, either directly on the trail or easily reachable from there – either on foot or by public transportation.
We also consider whether accommodations have their own restaurant and whether there are options in the area for you to dine in the evenings. We also take into account the opening hours of the hotel restaurants and the rest days at the accommodation as much as possible. If you happen to arrive on a rest day, you will receive information in advance about arrival and dining options in your travel documents.
Luggage transfer
We strive to handle the luggage transfer for you as smoothly as possible. Depending on the number of suitcases and the hotels to be visited, our drivers take different routes each day, so it may happen that your luggage is picked up and delivered at different times. Please keep this in mind!
- Luggage drop-off: We kindly ask you to drop off your luggage at the hotel reception for transport by 9:00 am at the latest.
- Luggage pickup: Your luggage will arrive at the reception of the next hotel no later than 6:00 pm.
- Registered luggage: one suitcase per person weighing 20kg.
- Additional luggage: can be registered at any time for an additional fee.
To ensure a smooth process, you will receive luggage tags from us with your travel documents, which you should attach carefully and visibly to your suitcase. One luggage tag is provided per registered piece of luggage in the travel documents.
After receiving your travel documents, please double-check the luggage tags to ensure that the travel route and hotels match your booking confirmation and hotel vouchers.
Levels
You can find a short description of the applied level for the particular tour in the general tour information. Just click on “more information”.
Booking process – On-request booking
When you hit the “Start planning” button, you continue to modify and individualise your desired tour. You can easily make changes yourself, whether it’s adding an extra night, changing accommodation, or adding packed lunch. Click on „Customize“ or „Replace“ for all available options in each accommodation.
If you would like to book the offer, you can click „Book Now“ to confirm your booking request. Follow the next steps and fill in your personal details.
The selected hotels are subject to availability. If an accommodation is fully booked, we will search for an alternative for you. Please note that this may result in price differences.
What is the “Flex-Option”?
The Flex-Option is an upgrade that you can secure for all of our tours. With this option, you have the opportunity to rebook or cancel the booked trip free of charge up to 12 days before arrival. Plan your next vacation with peace of mind; we give you the flexibility at only 29 € per person.
Your Benefits
- Book early and secure complete flexibility.
- Rebook or cancel your trip free of charge up to 12 days before departure.
- No need to provide reasons or a medical certificate.
- Plan with ease and book worry-free.
- If you reschedule your trip, the Flex Option moves to the new date with you.
Security certificate
As a tour operator, we are required by German travel law to secure ourselves against insolvency. The security certificate serves as proof of this security for you. Therefore, please keep it carefully until the end of your trip.
The security certificate is a proof that WE as the tour operator have taken out such insolvency insurance. It should not be confused with travel insurance, which YOU as the traveler should separately take out to cover your trip in case of illness, accident, etc.
General terms & conditions
These terms and conditions, to the extent effectively agreed upon, become part of the package travel contract concluded between the customer or traveler and Original Landreisen AG. They supplement the legal provisions of §§ 651a – y BGB (German Civil Code) and Articles 250 and 252 of the EGBGB (Introductory Act to the German Civil Code) and expand upon them. These terms and conditions apply to the package tours of OLAG. They do not apply to the arrangement of third-party services (such as guided tours and admission tickets) and not to contracts for accommodation services or their arrangement.
Invoice & methods of payment
For processing your booking, it usually takes 2-4 working days. Once we have received confirmation from all accommodations, we will send you the binding booking confirmation/invoice via email. Only then does the travel contract come into effect.
The deposit amounting to 20% of the total travel price is due immediately. The remaining payment is due three weeks before the start of the trip. You will not receive a separate payment reminder for this. The bank details can be found in the booking confirmation/invoice.
The common payment method within the EU is bank transfer. You can find the details of our bank account on your invoice/booking confirmation.
We also accept payment by credit card (MasterCard and VISA). Please let us know if you prefer this option, and we will send you a payment link via email.
Payments via PayPal are not possible.
Travel insurance
It can always happen that you are unable to embark on a planned trip. Whether you sprained your ankle, unexpectedly lost your job, or were summoned to a court hearing, the reasons can vary greatly. However, in all cases (and many more), travel insurance covers the costs incurred if you need to cancel your trip with us.
You can find the cancellation conditions in our General Terms and Conditions , which you receive with every confirmation email from us.
We recommend at least taking out a single trip travel cancellation insurance. This covers the case if an illness or accident occurring before the start of the trip makes the trip impossible for you.
You can find information for foreign travellers on the website of our partner Hanse-Merkur website .
Preparing for your tour
The travel documents consist of components that we provide to you digitally, as well as parts that we still send by post.
After full payment for your trip, you will receive an email from us with information about the itinerary and accommodations.
We will send maps, luggage tags, and a small surprise by mail to the first accommodation of your journey, where you will receive everything upon arrival.
Pack list
A good preparation is half the battle – and that also applies to hiking and cycling. You can get an overview of what needs to go into your travel luggage based on the following packing list:
- passports and | or ID cards
- tickets for trains | flights | busses
- important necessary medicine
- purse or wallet with cash, debit and credit cards
- your mobile phone
- a daypack, possibly with water-resistant cover
- first aid mini-kit for your daypack incl. insect repellent (mosquitos and ticks!)
- Original Landreisen travel documents
- outdoor clothes: fast-drying and breathable materialsto be worn in multiple layers depending on the weather
- well broken in hiking boots respectively boots with a good sole and sufficient grip
- casual clothes
- sun glasses, hat or cap, sunscreen
- hiking poles (particularly helpful in wet and slippery conditions)
- thermos bottle and lunchbox
Emergency hotline service
For emergencies outside of business hours, we offer an emergency hotline service.
Please dial our regular business phone number: +49 761 88 79 3110
You are either forwarded directly to one of our team members or you can listen to the announcement on the voicemail for receiving a mobile phone number for emergency.
General telephone numbers for emergencies in Germany
Police: 110
Firefighters: 112
General: 112
Foreign guests staying in Germany who require police or other emergency services in case of an emergency can dial emergency numbers using their foreign phones. The European emergency number is 112, and it is valid in all EU countries, including Germany.
Therefore, if a foreign guest experiences an emergency situation, they can simply dial the number 112, regardless of whether their phone uses a foreign SIM card or a German network. It is important to note that some mobile phones can also dial emergency numbers without a SIM card, as long as they have network coverage.
Travelling - Getting there
Entry to Germany
If you come from a country that is a member of the Schengen Agreement, you do not need a visa for a short stay of up to 90 days for entry into Germany or another country in the Schengen Area. A list of the associated countries can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
You’re from a different country and you want to check if you need a visa? Click HERE.
If you need a visa, please contact the German diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate general) in your country of residence.
Recommended vaccines
As a tour operator, we are not allowed to provide recommendations regarding vaccinations. However, it is advisable to seek medical advice before embarking on a trip and to inquire about the recommended vaccinations for the destination.
Health authorities or specialized travel clinics can provide relevant information on this matter.
Getting around Germany
Germany has an efficient public transportation system, including trains, buses, trams, and subways. Consider purchasing a rail pass if you plan to travel extensively by train.
Alternatively, rental cars are available for exploring rural areas.
Largest train company “Deutsche Bahn”: https://int.bahn.de/en
This website is also useful to check the schedule for local busses, trains, trams and subways
Largest bus & train company “Flixbus” and “Flixtrain”: https://www.flixbus.de/ and https://www.flixtrain.de/
The most common rental cars are also available in Germany:
www.europcar.de
www.sixt.de
www.hertz.de
www.enterprise.de
www.avis.de
Getting to the Black Forest
By plane:
The closest airports are actually Basel-Mulhouse and Zurich, both in Switzerland. For international flights you can also search for connections to Zurich in Switzerland and Stuttgart and Frankfurt in Germany.
Then you continue by long-distance trains and local trains and busses in order to arrive to the first stop of your tour.
By train and bus:
Long-distance trains usually connect to the cities of Pforzheim, Freiburg and Basel Bad Bf.
From there you continue with local trains and busses to Hinterzarten, Stühlingen or to depart from Weil am Rhein and Wehr.
You can buy the tickets for the complete route on the website of “Deutsche Bahn”.
Please check the detail site for each trail for specific information.
Communication with the locals
The official language is German, but many Germans speak English, especially in tourist areas. Learning a few basic German phrases or carrying a dictionary with you can be helpful, but English is usually sufficient for basic communication at least.
Some of your hosts and staff in accommodations in rural aereas do not necessarily speak fluent English though. Please be understanding and prepare yourself with a few words in German if necessary.
Currency and availability of ATMs
The official currency is the Euro (EUR). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but it’s highly advisable to carry some cash for small purchases and in case of emergencies.
On the trails, you will sometimes find small kiosks and serviced huts and they only accept cash.
ATMs can often be found in bank branches. Fees will depend on your own contract and that of the local bank institution. If necessary, inquire with your bank about this.
Note: In the region, banks have recently (as of February 2024) introduced opening hours in many places, which also apply to ATMs. Cash withdrawals are often not possible between 11 PM and 6 AM.
Finding your path – signposting
All three trails are very well signposted. This is done by the local chapters of the Black Forest Association.
Each hiking trail has its own specific diamond-shaped marker that distinguishes it from other hiking trails, whether regional or long-distance. Look out for these markers, which are usually placed on trees, road signs, fences, and other prominent landmarks just before or after intersections. Small arrows often help to indicate the correct direction to continue.
For the bike trail, it’s not a diamond-shaped marker, but a specially designed logo that shows you the way.
Daily expenses for food and drinks
The daily costs for meals during travel in Germany can vary depending on your dining preferences and where you choose to eat. Here’s a rough estimate of meal costs per day and person:
Breakfast: Is always included in the tour you book with us.
Lunch: On the trail, if at all, you will probably find budget options (street food €5-10 for
example like a sandwich, currywurst, or kebab) and mid-range option (casual restaurant or bistro €10-20 for a set lunch menu or a main course with a drink)
We recommend to check upon booking if there is an option for packed lunch in your accommodation!
Dinner: You will probably eat in the hotels’ own restaurants most of the time, which are rather mid-range option and higher-end option. So this means around €15-35 for a main course with 1-2 drinks.
Drinks:
- Water: €1-3 for a bottle of water.
- Soft drinks: €2-4 for a soft drink.
- Beer: €3-5 for a small beer in a restaurant or bar.
- Wine: €4-8 for a glass of house wine.
Snacks and coffee:
- Coffee: €2-4 for a cup of coffee.
- Pastries or cakes: €2-5 for a slice of cake or pastry.
Tipping
In Germany, restaurant and café prices do not typically include a service charge. The same applies to taxi drivers as well.
It’s common to round up the bill to the nearest euro or add a few euros extra. However, tipping practices may vary depending on the establishment and region.
It’s customary to leave around 5 – 10% of the bill as a tip, regardless of the quality of service.
Only in case of truly poor service, you can choose to forego the tip. Anything else is considered impolite. Tips are usually shared among both service staff and kitchen personnel. Feel free to leave more if you received exceptional service, as many employees in the hospitality industry earn only the minimum wage.
It works as follows in most cases:
You ask for the bill. This is also the moment when you can already tell the waiter/waitress if you would like to pay cash or by debit/credit card. You receive the bill and either the waiter/waitress leaves in order to give you some time to check, or he/she will stand politely next to your table waiting.
Then you hand over the cash or the debit/credit card and you tell him/her the amount you would like to pay. Afterward, you will receive your change or your card back. That’s pretty much it 😊
General telephone numbers for emergencies in Germany
- Police: 110
- Firefighters: 112
- General: 112