FRANKFURT, GERMANY

Frankfurt stands on the banks of the River Main and was originally founded during the 1st century BC by Celtic and Germanic tribes. Once a vital inland port and center of trade it is now Europe's largest financial center after London. Beautiful cathedrals and Museums dot the river's southern shoreline in the part of Frankfurt called Sachsenhausen, believed to be the most elegant district of Frankfurt. This area is the oldest and most cultural and boasts charming cafes, boutiques and a vibrancy found nowhere else in the city.

How do I get to your school and get around in Frankfurt?
Frankfurt is the largest airport in the country and handles most international flights. The Rhine-Main Regional Transit System (RMV) provides excellent connections to/from Frankfurt city center. The S8 commuter line has intersections with every U-Bahn (Underground) and commuters line, and with most trams and buses in Frankfurt, the main transfer stations being Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (main station), Hauptwache, Konstablerwache and Frankfurt Süd.

Use the subway whenever you can. After you've mastered the route map and transfer points, you can easily (and cheaply) reach the main targets in and around town. Additionally, 40 bus routes, 14 streetcar lines, and seven subway connections continue to service the city and suburbs. The fare is DM1.30 (US 90 cents), rising to DM2.70 (US$1.80) during rush hours, whether or not you transfer.

Our School
Our school is located in one the most beautiful and elegant areas of Frankfurt. It is a very relaxed quarter, but it is close to the centre as well. There are lots of interesting pubs and cafes nearby and many of the most interesting museums are just around the corner. The school building is a beautiful historic building, the classrooms are nice and the school also has a cafe bar and terrace, were students can relax between lessons. Our teachers are a team of very motivated people who teach not just as a job, but who also take great troubles to help the students to have a good time- and the same for the school staff." The subway station "Schweizer Platz"and main High Street is only a 2-minute walk and the city center less than 5 minutes by underground.

School Accommodation
Self- Catering Apartments: choice of single or double rooms, fully equipped kitchens and living areas. The accommodations are located between 5 minutes on foot to a maximum of 20 minutes by metro from the school. Apartments are not air-conditioned but have fans. No telephones. Linens will be provided for you, please bring you own towels. Apartments are cleaned once every 2 weeks.

Host Family: single rooms available, with a choice of meal options (Breakfast or Halfboard) located within 20 minutes walk of the school. Linens are provided by your family and will be changed once a week. Bring towels, they will be washed regularly.

Typical Cultural Activities to Expect
City tour, German film evenings, trips to local museums, markets, opera, an open-air cinema, galleries, so many things to see! Places of interest include The Opera House, The Goethe House and Museum, The Stadel Art Institute and the famous Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, the Dom. Sachsenhausen has a open air market everyweek. The famous Frankfurt Zoo. Appelwein is a pub located in Altsachsenhausen is a current popular place.

Weekend Day Trips (optional and at additional price):
To interesting places and sites out side of Frankfurt. Frankfurt is so central it offers easy access to so many places, castles and other countries in Europe. (By Car/train Holland/Belgium 4 hrs, Austria 6hrs, Luxembourg 21/2 hours.) Recent excursions include: Heidelberg, boat tours on the Rhine, Koln (Cologne) and Marsburg.

Prices
Programs in Frankfurt start from $700.00 US for 2 weeks including accommodation and tuition. We have many program options and all year round start dates. If you want more detailed pricing or start date information, we suggest you request a brochure or call us Toll Free within North America at: Tel: 1 888 526 4758 (LANGPLUS) or outside of North America at 416 925 7117.

COUNTRY TIPS
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What is the local currency?
The unit of currency is the Deutschmark (DM), which is divided into 100 pfennig. Notes are available in denominations of DM10, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of DM1, 2, and 5 and 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 pfennig.

Are a passport, visa, or vaccinations necessary?
Citizens of the United States and Canada in possession of a valid US or Canadian passport, are not required to obtain a visa for Germany for a period of up to three months if traveling as a tourist. In case that a stay of more than three but less than six months is intended, a visa is required. If you are a resident of the U.S. but do not hold U.S. citizenship, a visa may be required.

Visitors from the U.S./Canada do not need inoculations.

Time Difference
Germany is on Central European Time, which is 6 hours a head of American Eastern Time.

Tipping
Tipping is not common in Germany. Although restaurants include a service charge in the bill, many people round up the bill when the service provided was good. Taxi drivers usually receive tips (10 percent is customary).

Business Hours
Shops and businesses are generally open from 9:00am to 6:00 PM. Monday-Friday. Thursday is late night shopping and the shops remain open to 8:30pm. Shops are open from 9:00 am- 1:00 PM on Saturday, except for the first Saturday of each month, when they remain open till 4:00 PM. Banks are generally open from 8:30am - 12:00/2:30pm-4:00pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Should I bring local currency, traveler's checks or use credit cards?
Germany is still a very traditional country, so everyone is very happy to accept local currency; after all, who doesn't like cash? But for safety and convenience sake, you might not want to have large amounts of either dollars or local currency on hand and so we would suggest you bring along travelers checks, which are accepted almost everywhere, or major credit cards to obtain cash along the way as needed. Be aware that you will charged a 'service charge' each time you cash travelers checks, so convert enough each time to cover your expenses for several days. In addition, if your traveler's checks are in a foreign currency such as U.S. Dollars, you need to be aware that you will receive a much better exchange rate if they are converted at a bank.

Cash and travelers checks can be exchanged at the official exchange rate of the day at any bank or exchange counter (airports, railway stations, tourist offices--a small commission applies); travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and stores may accept foreign currency but give you a lower rate to cover their handling.

Credit cards are accepted 50% of the time. In general, most larger hotels, car rental agencies, and upscale stores in the tourist areas will accept the major credit cards. Be aware, however, that many restaurants, cafes and stores will only accept cash so be sure to ask in advance.

How much will I spend a day?
This is very difficult to answer and depends on the person, however the prices below should give you a approx. idea.

Three-course meal without drink: 25-40DM, Budget meal -- DM 10-15DM
Laundromat: self service wash -- 6DM
Cafe meal: Sandwich, dessert and coffee -- 6DM

What is the weather like?
Germany has a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. The warmest time of the year is from May to September. The average temperature in July, for instance, varies from 16° to 20° C (61° to 68° F) according to location. In January, the variation is from -1° to 6° C (21° to 34° F). There is no specific rainy season.

Will my electrical gadgets work?
Electric current in Germany is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles per second. To operate small appliances, laptop computers or other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter. Check with a large electronics store in your area. Electric clocks, record players and tape recorders will not work properly even on converters because they use the 60 Cycle American/Canadian standard.

What is the best way to phone home?
There are numerous public phones around the city, which use phone cards and/or coins. All these phones can be used for both local and long distance phone calls. Phone cards can be purchased in shops and kiosks.

It is also smart to obtain an overseas phone card (they are usually free-of-charge) from your long distance carrier, such as MCI, AT&T or Sprint. MCI's Worldphone Program, for example, lets you phone the US/Canada from Germany or any other European countries at greatly reduced rates from what you would pay from the regular charge. The long distance carrier will give you a special number to call when placing your call.

What major holidays are there in Germany?
Business and public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany (6 January), Good Friday through Easter Monday (4 days in March or April; dates vary), Ascension Day (April or May; date varies), Whit Monday (May or June; date varies), Corpus Christi Day (June; date varies), and Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25-26 December).

THINGS TO SEE IN FRANKFURT
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Museums

Goethehaus: (Goethe's House) The birthplace of Germany's most outstanding poet (1749-1832). The original house, which had been open to the public since 1863, was destroyed in WWII; the present building is a meticulous reproduction of the original.
Jüdisches Museum: (Jewish Museum) This recently opened museum details the history of Frankfurt's Jewish community, which at one time was the second largest in Germany.
Museum für Kunsthandwerk: (Museum of Applied Arts) A monument to good taste, the Museum of Applied Arts contains beautifully crafted objects from all over the world.
Tädelsches Kunstinstitut und Stadtische Galerie: (Städelsches Art Institute & Municipal gallery) The Städelsches has a good, solid collection of art from the 14th century to the present.

Historical & Architectural Sites

Höchst Höchst: is one of the few areas of Frankfurt that escaped bombing during World War II. You can still see original half-timbered buildings and cobblestone streets.
Römer: (City Hall) The Römer is actually the city hall, and while it may not be as elaborate a building as others in Germany, its history is distinguished nonetheless.
Der Dom: The cathedral rests on Carolingian foundation dating from 852 A.D. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, the Cathedral was enlarged in the Gothic style.
Die Paulskirche: In the church of St.Paul, a classical building and the house where the first German parliament met.
Die Alte Oper Frankfurt: Concert hall, built in 1873.
Der Eschenheimer Turm: The most striking of the remaining gates, built in 1428.
Die Liebfrauenkirche: The Church of Our Lady was built in 1308 and enlarged in the 15th century.

Garden & Parks

Palmengarten und BotanischerGarten: (Tropical and Botanical Gardens)This idyllic tropical park, complete with a lake and strolling lovers, is open from 9 AM until dusk.
Zoo: Frankfurt Zoo, the largest zoo in West Germany and one of Europe's best has 3,200 animals of 600 species.