Setup
If ~/germany/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and start naturally.
When to Use
User is planning a Germany trip and needs practical guidance beyond generic inspiration: Schengen entry checks, rail versus car decisions, region choice, seasonal tradeoffs, budgeting, and on-the-ground execution.
Architecture
Memory lives in ~/germany/. See memory-template.md for structure.
~/germany/
└── memory.md # Trip context and evolving constraints
Quick Reference
Use this map to jump into the right decision module before building the route.
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Entry, Border, and Core Planning | |
| Schengen, passport, visas, current border systems | entry-and-documents.md |
| Customs, allowances, restricted items, cash rules | customs-and-border.md |
| Region selection and route architecture | regions.md |
| Sample itineraries for 5-21 days | itineraries.md |
| Accommodation strategy by trip style | accommodation.md |
| Budget framing and cost traps | budget-and-costs.md |
| Cards, cash, tips, and payment friction | payments-and-tipping.md |
| Transport and Movement | |
| ICE, regional rail, airports, local transit | transport-domestic.md |
| Scenic driving, rental cars, low-emission zones | road-trips-and-driving.md |
| Major Regions and Cities | |
| Berlin playbook | berlin.md |
| Munich and Upper Bavaria playbook | munich-and-upper-bavaria.md |
| Franconia and Romantic Road playbook | franconia-and-romantic-road.md |
| Rhine, Moselle, Cologne, and west playbook | rhine-moselle-and-west.md |
| Hamburg and the north playbook | hamburg-and-north.md |
| Black Forest and southwest playbook | black-forest-and-southwest.md |
| Saxony and east playbook | saxony-and-east.md |
| Lifestyle and Execution | |
| Food strategy by region and timing | food-guide.md |
| Beer halls, wine regions, and drinking context | beer-and-wine-regions.md |
| Nightlife by city type | nightlife.md |
| Culture, etiquette, Sundays, and quiet hours | culture-and-etiquette.md |
| Traveling with children or mixed ages | family-travel.md |
| Accessibility and low-mobility planning | accessibility.md |
| Christmas markets and major festival logic | christmas-markets-and-festivals.md |
| Conditions and Tools | |
| Emergencies, protests, weather alerts, disruptions | safety-and-emergencies.md |
| Climate and seasonality planning | weather-and-seasonality.md |
| Connectivity, rail apps, transport cards, useful tools | telecoms-and-apps.md |
| Research source map | sources.md |
Core Rules
1. Route by Cluster, Not by Checkbox
For short trips, keep one anchor cluster per week: Berlin and nearby east, Bavaria, Rhine-west, or north Germany. Germany is efficient, but transfer churn still destroys trip quality.
2. Confirm Entry and Border Friction Before Booking
Use entry-and-documents.md first: Schengen stay limits, passport validity, visa pathway when relevant, and the current EES or ETIAS status before locking non-refundable plans.
3. Decide Rail vs Car Early
Germany works differently depending on route shape:
- Rail-first for Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and most intercity hops
- Car-first for the Black Forest, Alpine villages, Romantic Road detours, and some wine-country loops
4. Make Every Plan Season-Aware
Use weather-and-seasonality.md before promising Christmas markets, lake swimming, Alpine road loops, or shoulder-season castle routes. Winter closures, summer crowds, and shoulder weather matter.
5. Budget for Full Germany Math
Price the real trip, not the hotel headline:
- Rail reservations and local transit add-ons
- City tax, parking, and low-emission-zone friction
- Breakfast value versus station-area markups
- Cash-only or card-friction exposure in smaller venues
6. Protect Sundays, Holidays, and Event Windows
Germany rewards timing discipline. Sunday closures, trade-fair demand, Oktoberfest pressure, and Christmas market crowd waves can reshape where users should stay and when they should move.
7. Deliver Operational Plans
Output should include:
- Base-city strategy
- Day-by-day flow with transfer buffers
- Reservation deadlines or event-pressure warnings
- Rail and car alternative when relevant
- Safety, payment, and emergency quick notes
Common Traps
- Treating Germany as a frictionless "add one more city" country.
- Using a car by default for Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, or Cologne city stays.
- Assuming every restaurant, kiosk, or market stall is card-friendly.
- Planning Sunday arrival with no food, pharmacy, or grocery strategy.
- Trying to combine Berlin, Bavaria, Rhine castles, and the Alps in one short trip.
- Treating Christmas markets, Oktoberfest, and major fair dates as normal-demand periods.
Security & Privacy
Data that stays local: Trip preferences in ~/germany/
This skill does NOT: Access files outside ~/germany/ or make network requests.
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
travel— General trip planning and itinerary structurebooking— Reservation workflows and confirmation hygienecar-rental— Better rental strategy and handoff logisticsfood— Deeper restaurant and cuisine recommendationsgerman— Language support for bookings, transport, and service interactions
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star germany - Stay updated:
clawhub sync