I am coming to Germany in September and already planning what to pack in my two suitcases. Can you all share what are things you brought from home that you didn't really need (or could easily get in Germany) and what are things you didn't think you would need but wish you took from home... I want to only pack the essentials since i have limited space.
This happened to me in 2021 when I got a job in Frankfurt and had only around a week to find accommodation.
I was honestly quite desperate at that point and was contacting people everywhere, including Facebook groups.
Then I found this room.
The person on Facebook seemed completely normal. We spoke for a while, she sent me pictures, answered my questions and even gave me the contact details of the "landlord".
The apartment looked really good and the room was supposedly only €500 warm in Frankfurt. At that time I was just happy that I had finally found something.
Then I started emailing the landlord.
At first everything looked okay, but slowly it started feeling strange.
He sent me a contract which looked quite weird, kept emailing me asking when I was going to make the payment, and then asked me to transfer €1,050 upfront for the rent and deposit.
I hadn't even seen the apartment.
Then came the classic story: he was apparently in Belgium with his grandchild, so he couldn't meet me personally.
That was the point where I stopped.
Looking back, there were so many red flags:
Luckily I realised it before sending the money.
I’m sharing the screenshots because when you desperately need accommodation, it becomes very easy to ignore things you would normally question.
So especially if you are coming to Germany for the first time: don’t let the pressure of finding a room make you transfer money too quickly.
Has anyone else here had a similar experience with a rental scam in Germany? What was the first thing that made you realise something was wrong?
This is something I remember worrying about when travelling to a new country.
You land in Germany, you need Google Maps, you want to message your family, maybe check your train… but you don’t have a German SIM yet.
The good thing is that airports like Frankfurt and Berlin have free Wi-Fi, so you won’t suddenly be completely offline after landing. (but be careful after you get out of the airport you still would need internet to travel to you destination)
But another option that I think newcomers should know about is a travel eSIM.
If your phone supports eSIM, you can buy one for Germany before leaving your home country, install it, and then turn it on when you arrive.
For example, Airalo currently offers a Germany data eSIM that doesn’t require identity verification. Saily and Holafly also have Germany options. (I personally have used Saily multiple times when I go outside Europe)
Most of these are data-only though. So you can use WhatsApp, Maps, Uber, DB Navigator etc., but you normally won’t get a German phone number.
Then once you’re settled, get a proper German prepaid SIM. Telekom, Vodafone CallYa and O2 are good places to start. You’ll need to verify your identity for a German prepaid SIM, but you don’t need to immediately lock yourself into a long contract.
So if you’re landing in Germany soon, internet is probably one thing you really don’t need to stress about :)
For people already living here: which SIM/provider are you using and would you recommend it to a newcomer?
Hey everyone!
I’m Abhiram Raghavendra Rao, from Bangalore, India, and I’ll be starting my MSc in Biogeosciences at the University of Koblenz this winter semester.
I’ll be leaving Bangalore on 4th October from Kempegowda International Airport, reaching Frankfurt on 5th October, and then travelling from Frankfurt to Koblenz.
Is anyone else travelling around the same time, especially from Bangalore or reaching Frankfurt/Koblenz on the 5th? Would be great to connect and maybe travel together from Frankfurt to Koblenz. 😄
I’m also looking for accommodation in Koblenz, preferably a private room in a WG/shared apartment. If anyone has any leads, available rooms, or knows someone who is looking for a flatmate, please let me know!
A little about me:
🌱 Vegetarian
🚭 Non-smoker
🍺 Non-drinker
🎬 Love movies
📚 Into books and anime
🌍 Love travelling and exploring new places
😄 Pretty chill, clean and easygoing
Would be great to connect with some future classmates/neighbours before reaching Germany!
Feel free to DM me if you're travelling around the same time or have any accommodation leads. 🇩🇪✈️