We have been here 8 months. I have learned tons!

1. Search usareru driving test and take the practice test for you drivng test. way easier than confusing yourself with the book.

2. We are on pfc pay and it sucks. This is an expensive area. So we have learned that coupons are your best friend. Get them sent to you. You can use coupons up to six months expired.

If you want american tv have someone back home install a sling box for you. Watch the afn channels here for free. Don\'t do anything throuh tks they are way expensive. We use vodafone for internet and phone and it is twice as fast as tks. For 34 euro you can call all of europe and us at no cost. TKS charges you to call other providers and all german landlines.

3. vat forms will be your favorite thing. This will allow you to shop at stores like ikea and other. you pay tax up front but at the end of the shopping trip or within 30 days you can go back and use multiple recipts for the same store and get your 19% tax back.

4. the price you see on the economy stores is the price you pay. so if it is 5.99 euro that is all you pay.

5. Immerse yourself in the community. I stay away from the uso tours. I find them to be expensive and we have had found cheaper rates on our own. If you look at ryan air trains and just driving yourself you can save moeny. You aren\'t on other peoples time.

6. Do the head start german class wiht you spouse. It is helpful. Also thursdays at the acs center they do free german lessons and the guy who runs them is great.

7.Christmas markets are fantastic. Mainz Wiesbaden (walking distance) and rudesheim are the favorites. Nurmberg as well.

8. Bring sheets in your suitcase and blankets. They are not given.Once at the house you are on your own. It is expnesive at the px and the selection stinks.

9. The farmers markets are great. The fruits and veggies there last longer than the commissary.

10. Look for a transformer before coming over. They are expensive here.

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Alisha says:
July 18, 2011 at 8:02 pm

Hi I used to live in Wiesbaden and moved in 95?¢‚Ǩ¬? when I was 8 yrs old. My family never thought I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d still be looking for my best friend then to this day. Does anyone know how can I find a database or something useful to me finding her family? I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m pretty sure her mother either was stationed elsewhere or are now retired as well.


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Barbara says:
July 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm

Welcome to Wiesbaden! A lovely city, pleasantly sized, safe, green and conveniently located in the heart of Europe. You will love it! If you have a facebook account you can meet American Wiesbadeners and also locals online before you even get there on http://www.facebook.com/Americans.in.Wiesbaden?sk=wall
The community helps newcomers out with all kind of information on life in the new city and country.

If you do not have a facebook account now is the time to register. It makes staying in touch with friends and family so much easier when you are far away from each other!


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Britney Brown says:
June 10, 2011 at 8:20 am

I found this on Military Wives of Wiesbaden?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s facebook page http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=172102452848529 . Britney Brown permitted me to use the content for this website:

Here is a list of fantastic tips and ideas for your move to Wiesbaden:

- Make sure you call your bank and let them know you will be using your cards overseas. Many who do not end up having no access to their funds and/or credit cards upon arrival in Europe.

- It is worth going with your hubby during his inprocessing days (YES you can go!). It helps to understand how things work here a lot better. There are inprocessing briefings for literally EVERYTHING on base and they are there to answer your questions. Toward the end of your inprocessing, there will be a 3 Day German Headstart class that helps you acclimate and then they take a trip on the last day ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú well worth going!

?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Make sure you have all the precscriptions for your family filled right before you get here. You can not refill anything here until you have been seen by doctor.

?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú It will take approximately a month and a half for your car to arrive if you are having it shipped ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú many people purchase a ?¢‚Ǩ?ìhoopty?¢‚Ǩ¬ù vehicle upon arrival. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s usually a cheap-ish car that you use as a second vehicle after yours arrives. You will attend a German driving class for a 3 hour video then take a test to get your license. It is VERY dull but if you stay awake and learn the signs, you WILL pass. Don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t fret. And they drive on the right side of the road.

?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Consider purchasing everything you can before arriving here ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú things are much, much more expensive in Germany, particularly buying things ?¢‚Ǩ?ìon the Economy?¢‚Ǩ¬ù (outside of the PX or Commisary).

?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú For cell phones options, you can go with prepaid (my husband has a prepaid phone and it is cheaper if you don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t use it much) or you can go contract (it will be a 2 year contract). You get a cheaper rate if you are 24 and under and it won?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t go up once you turn 25, but you must ask for it. Before being allowed to get a phone contract, you MUST have a bank account in Germany (there is a bank located right next to the PX) and your post office box.

- You will not be able to get your post office box for mail forwarding until you arrive. Put your mail on hold with your local post office and you can forward it the first few days you are here.

- Upon arrival, you will go through the Frankfurt airport. A group of soldiers will meet you (in civilian clothing) at the baggage carousel who will walk you through the rest of your time at the airport and get you on the bus to Wiesbaden. After getting dropped off at the Welcome Center, Mr. Reed will come aboard the bus and introduce himself. You will check into the base and then your sponsor will arrive and take you over to the Wiesbaden Army Lodge. It is a BRAND NEW hotel where you will be staying. If you are Army, you don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have to pay for the room ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú the Army will take care of it. If you are Air Force or Navy, they do things a little differently. A light breakfast is free and there are microwaves and refridgerators in every room.


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Barbara says:
January 9, 2011 at 2:59 pm

Hi all, Wiesbaden is a very pleasant city in the heart of Europe and if you are pcsing here you are very lucky.
First of all it is not too tiny a place and yet not too big a city. The PX is not awesome but provides you with all you need and the economy gives you plenty of opportunities to shop around. The city is beautiful with a lot of 19th century buildings that still reflect the wealth of the 19th century. To this day Wiesbaden is a well of and consequently quite expensive city.
Wiesbaden has hot springs and was a spa since Roman times. It has an awesome park, a casino, theatres, movie theaters, an opera house, lots of stores, restaurants, bars etc.
Frankfurt International Airport is about 20 to 30 min away. Public transport is really great.
The city is safe and green and there is always a little breeze going so it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not getting too hot in the summer.
Wiesbaden is situated on the big European river Rhine and one of the most scenic areas on the Rhine is only 30 to 60 min by car away. Google ?¢‚Ǩ?ìLoreley?¢‚Ǩ¬ù or go here: http://www.welterbe-
mittelrheintal.de/index.php?id=318&L=3 and you will see what I am talking about. Lots of castles are waiting to be visited. You can be in Paris in four hours and in Berlin in maybe five hours.
If you are pcsing here join us on facebook. Just use the link or search for ?¢‚Ǩ?ìAmericans in Wiesbaden?¢‚Ǩ¬ù See you there!


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susanna says:
December 31, 2010 at 7:47 pm

Recommended restaurants:
China Town (Mainz)
Vapiano (Wiesbaden)
Rodeo (Frankfurt)


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Sylvie says:
October 20, 2010 at 1:13 pm

There is a few malls around if you miss your mall shopping (malls are not really common in Germany). One, there is the KMC in Ramstein which includes the PX and a few other stores. On the German side, you have the Hessencenter in Frankfurt and Main Taunus Zentrum near Frankfurt. We just recently discovered the mall Loop 5 in Darmstadt and that was the biggest mall we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been to so far in Germany.
I like our apartment in Hainerberg but the walls are pretty thin and you can hear your neighbor?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s music/review if a bit louder, really looking forward to having a house when we PCS.
Don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t like the Taunus theater on post but there is a movie theater in Frankfurt that shows movies in original language (so mainly English) exclusively.


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Christy says:
September 12, 2010 at 8:37 pm

This may skip around a bit but if you have questions I will let you know if I have the answer.
This is a great community to get involved and volunteer. Volunteer opportuites are very rewarding, wel, what isn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t when you are bringing joy to the people around you? I am all about the USO. Wanna get out and see the world around you? USO offers some great tours. If you dont want to fork over the money or want to stay longer, they can provide you with information and things to see. I made my friends and family envious with all my pictures! They are mostly weekend tours so you can bring the kids along too.
There is lots to do on and off post. On post: Taunus movie theater,get a stamp card it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s worth it & they have great popcorn too. Movies may not come to the theater as quickly as you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d like but if you have to see it the day it comes out then you can go off post cause they have english showings too. MWR just built a new bowling center in Hainerberg housing across from ACS and next to the new hotel (which may or may not be open yet, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s been delayed several times). If you are a scrapbooker then Romer Arts on the air field has a enough supplies to get you by but not sustain you. Oh, soccer (futball) fans? The Brita field is within walking distance of the PX area. The Christmas markets downtown are great! Lots of lights, toys, nutcrackers, and gifts galore! Try the gluwein (pronounced glue-vine). It sounds strange but its hot wine and yummy.
The more active you are in the community the more you will get out of this experience. For me, it was the adventure of a lifetime. I hope to make every duty station this fun!


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