Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Its a touch screen (or with buttons), and the DB ticket machine as well, are a but cluttered to use. The are many options on it. This is also my opinion about the Dutch railway machines. If you're not used to them you won't get a ticket in 30 seconds.

I was taking the train here right over the border in Germany and had only 5 minutes to buy a ticket. A couple was being intimate and couldn't decide. When it was finally my turn, but I had only 1 minute. Then the train arrived already. Alas, I failed to buy a ticket, and the machine required some kind of German pass in order to pay. I just boarded without paying, and then paid at the next big station to continue travel from Aachen to Berlin HBF (not smart to board w/o ticket BTW). On big train stations you can always buy a ticket with cash though, or use ATM to get cash. Using ATM with American bank card might be expensive.

A moneybelt is worn under the clothes. Normally, nobody will notice it. I have to admit I'm not sure if its necessary in Berlin but I swear by it and I usually wear one instead of a wallet. When I use my moneybelt I don't care people think I'm a tourist.

Speaking of 80s, hitchhiking is easy in Germany.

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...Etiquette.html

http://www.learn-german-language-sof...s/FSGerman.htm

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Well, I have to chime in here on the beer. :)

I live in Berlin (and am an American).

Berliner Pilsner all the way! Brewed by Berliners in Berlin, and it tastes great.

Berliner Buergerbraeu is also from Berlin but pretty hard to find.

Then I'd go with Radeberger (they are the same company as Berliner Pilsner).

Don't buy Beck's. They are owned by a Belgium Company, InBev, the same clowns that just bought Budweiser in the US.

If you want to get an "Oktoberfest feeling" since it starts on Saturday, try Augustiner or Paulaner, but you know, that's a Munich thing and not a Berlin thing.

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Ohhh I almost forgot, a friend of mine did this with his colleagues: Trabi Safari, drive in a Trabant (THE car of former DDR / former East Germany) through Berlin and wave "ich bin ein Berliner!" :)

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Brontides links are really good. I can confirm most of whats written there.

Some remarks though:
- Credit card
You often can pay with one, but don't expect to. You can get cash with it at any atm I'm aware of, if you got a PIN. This applies to VISA and Mastercard and mostly American Express.
Btw. I disagree on the statement that credit cards are technically advanced. The debit cards used all over Europe (EC/Maestro) fulfill the same purpose and are much less vulnerable to fraud. :)
- Table Fee
I never ever came across those. Only in the mediterranean regions of europe. Water/Bred/Anything isn't free though.
- Smoking
Since 2008 smoking is prohibited in Germany everywhere they serve food and most pubs as well. There is still much debate about it, so you might find some rebels, but generally you are not allowed to smoke in restaurants/bars

One addition: Don't expect to easily find a free hotspot over here. We had court rules saying that whoever has an open AP is responsible for everything done with it. So they are mostly all protected.

Guess this threat is quite a good nerds guide to Germany/Europe now ;-)
Have fun!

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Speaking of debit/credit cards keep a few EUR coins with you for minor errands, then you don't have to pull your card for such. Are toilets free? Just an example. In Europe sometimes you have to pay something between 25 cent to a EUR, but if you have to, its usually a clean one. Toilets should be pretty clean though compared to e.g. France or the Mediteranian area...

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

So aircrack-ng and a USB WiFi are considered mandatory equipment for tourists, then?

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

There is one thing you should not miss here in Berlin: the "Fernsehturm" (television tower), which has a rotating, affordable restaurant in 300 meters (1000 ft) height. I highly recommend to survey Berlin from there. To get a (satellite) preview of this prominent building, just search for "berlin, fernsehturm" at maps.google.com.

Public transport information (also in English) is here: http://www.bvg.de, and the official internet portal of Berlin (with english version as well) is http://www.berlin.de.

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Oh and finally, to get detailed advice of type "how do I get from A to B" for the whole public transport system, also in English, visit http://www.fahrinfo-berlin.de.

Re: berlin trip for the americans
 

Owning a copy of aircrack-ng is illegal in Germany, as is using it. [1] [2]

Don't be stupid. It isn't worth it.

The Fernsehturm is at Alexanderplatz, you can't miss it. Metro and busses stop there. Lots of stores, restaurants, nice park. Don't know about WiFi though.