Since it has been clear that in many federal states hotels, holiday apartments and campsites are allowed to open again at the end of the month, rapid booking inquiries are rapidly increasing. But that doesn't mean that Germany is fully booked in summer. We show what the situation is and where you can still find it.
Finally the prospect of vacation – at least in your own country. Since it has been known that some federal states will reopen hotels, campsites and holiday apartments at the end of the month, many fear that Germany will burst at the seams in summer and that there will be no more free accommodation available.
In fact, demand is very high in some regions. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which was one of the first federal states to announce the opening of tourism, there are already the first bottlenecks. Hotels may accommodate guests from the federal state there from May 18 and guests from the federal territory from May 25.
Hotels in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania overbooked at Pentecost
Tobias Woitendorf, Managing Director of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Tourism Association, tells FOCUS Online that many hotels are already overbooked there: "Especially at Pentecost, the demand goes beyond capacity because hoteliers are only allowed to occupy 60 percent of their houses because of Corona." Since many of these hotels had a high pre-booking status from before Corona, they are now forced to cancel bookings. "We usually have a 90 percent load here at Pentecost even without Corona," explains Woitendorf.
However, he hopes that the situation will ease soon. Because if the infection in the state does not worsen, the hoteliers should soon be able to fully occupy the plan. "A 60 percent occupancy would not be economically viable in the long term for a hotel," said the association chief.
Lower Saxony and the Saarland have also set occupancy limits of 50 percent each, with the latter state being allowed to increase to 75 percent as of May 31. In Bavaria, where hotels will resume operations at the end of May, there is no quota – hoteliers can rent out all rooms here. However, as they are currently not allowed to open the spa or pool, wellness hotels in particular fear cancellations and a rather declining demand. Especially if this regulation would also apply to the summer months.
Bookings for summer are below the previous year's level
Those who benefit significantly from the crisis are holiday apartments. As Michelle Schwefel from the German Holiday Home Association in Berlin told VIP News, all bookings had dropped from one day to the other due to the lockdown with a wave of cancellations, but they have risen quickly since the relaxation announcements. Because this type of holiday proves to be ideal, especially in Corona times: "There is no higher risk of infection than at home in a holiday apartment, because hygiene and contact rules at the holiday location are particularly good", says Schwefel.
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Despite the higher demand, capacities are still free: "For the summer season, bookings for vacation rentals in Germany are still around 10 to 20 percent lower than in the same period last year". This is partly due to the cancellations and partly due to the fact that many people cannot or do not want to travel due to short-time work, financial bottlenecks or fear of infection.
If you want to vacation in a holiday apartment, you shouldn't wait too long. Because of the strict regulations in hotels, apartments are even more popular. Even those who would normally travel abroad are now booking more, according to the association. Accommodations on the Baltic and North Sea are particularly popular, followed by the Alpine regions and the low mountain ranges. Attention: In Lower Saxony there is a re-occupancy period of seven days. This means that landlords can only occupy their apartments every seven days.
Demand for camping vacations is growing rapidly
Camping holidays are now even more popular than they already were. “We saw a very strong demand for camping in Germany immediately after the first loosening was announced. The camping community has been waiting eagerly for these easing and would like to start right away, ”says Uwe Frers, managing director of ADAC Camping when asked by FOCUS Online. So there are definitely places that are already booked for the summer.
This is also due to the fact that, depending on the federal state, there are quotas similar to hotels – especially in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there is currently an occupancy limit of 60 percent for campsites and only 50 percent in Lower Saxony. In addition, because of Corona, the sanitary facilities have to remain closed for the time being, so that only campers with their own sanitary equipment can arrive there.
“It will be very, very tight, even for Ascension and Pentecost,” explains Frers. That's why he advises all camping holidaymakers not to leave without a fixed reservation – otherwise they could face closed barriers.
- More information about camping in Germany and current regulations at www.pincamp.de