If you decide to travel in Germany, it definitely helps to learn a little of the language. When visiting some of the German Castles off the beaten path, some of the locals who can only speak German may be more willing to give you some cool history lessons about the castle and the surrounding area.
It could also help you in other areas of Europe. When I was in Italy I couldn't speak a word of Italian, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out a large majority of Italians speak German as a second language. Believe me, It made getting around a whole lot easier. I discovered the same thing when I went skiing in Austria. It is also estimated that the German language is spoken by 120 million people world-wide and that every tenth book published in the world is composed in German!
Learning German, even if it is just enough to get the basics down can expand the enjoyment of your European vacation experience. If you decide to use a taxi service or really have fun by taking the train route you can at least get to where you're going. It will also make your dining experience more enjoyable, instead of just pointing at the menu and keeping your fingers crossed you may actually know what your ordering.
You don't have to take a college course to learn either. One of the best ways to learn is by taking the Rosseta Stone Language Courses. They are fun and you can learn at your own pace. They are highly regarded and are even being used by the U.S. Army for some additional language training. They have different skill levels depending on how much you already know. If you already speak German you might want to check some of their other courses like Italian or French. That way after your done visiting all the German Castles you can cruise on down to Italy or over to France and really have vacation to remember!
So by learning German you will truly be able to experience the European culture during your vacation, and you may even pick up a friend or two along the way.
