Our Guest House in Germany

Our guest house in Germany is perfect, and exactly what we need.

We could easily see ourselves living in a house like this, which is incredibly convenient since we literally can’t leave this home for 14 days (and then we’ll live in it for another 2-3 weeks after quarantine).

PCSing during a pandemic was ridiculous, but the craziness didn’t stop once we arrived. Everyone who comes into Germany (as of June 2020), is supposed to do a strict quarantine for two weeks.

This includes no driving around and no going on walks. We can go in our backyard (thankfully we have a backyard), and that’s it. Actually, we took out some trash and recyclables to the front yard the other day and it felt like freedom.

Our Guest House in Germany

I had zero idea what to expect before we arrived here as far as where we were staying.

When we got our assignment notification the very first thing I did was make a reservation at Karin’s Guest House in Geilenkirchen, Germany. I saw them pop up in different threads and heard good things, so I wanted to book them and reserve our spot ASAP.

The info on their site was perfect on paper (enough beds for us, a backyard, a car rental, cell phone to borrow, toys for the kids, a kitchen, etc.), but there weren’t any photos, so I had no idea what to expect.

BONUS: Read to the bottom and then check out a video, narrated by the newest little tour guide on the block!

Inside our German Guest House

Were we getting a shoebox hotel room with a postage-size backyard, or something more?

Thankfully, it’s something more.

The Downstairs

It’s a pretty normal little house, which is exactly what we needed.

Downstairs has a kitchen (without an oven, but with appliances, plates, kits plates and bowls, utensils, bowls, some storage containers, and a tiny European-size fridge), a dining area, a living area complete a TV programmed with British stations, toys for the kids to play with, a storage area under the stairs, the laundry room, and a half bathroom.

There is zero air conditioning, but thankfully there are ceiling fans and standing fans when we need them, and we open up the windows to get cross breezes flowing.

Upstairs

Head upstairs, and you’ll find that it’s pretty traditional.

There’s one full bathroom, three bedrooms—one “master,” and two rooms for the kids with two twin beds in each room, plus a desk in one of the rooms; perfect if you’re PCSing during the school year—and a storage room.

They provided a crib, towels, and toilet paper.

The Backyard (garden)

The backyard, or the “garden” as it’s called in Europe, is the perfect play area for the kids. They’ve been enjoying their time outside.

There’s also a small patio with a table and two chairs—great for us grown ups to relax with some coffee or beer while we watch the kids play.

We’re extra thankful for the few outside toys like balls and a couple buckets. The kids have been extra resourceful with coming up with entertainment.

Germany House Quirks

There are a few differences between an American house and a German house (or European homes for that matter).

The windows, for example, open two different ways. Open them wide for more air flow, or open them from the top for just a breeze.

Then there’s the rolladen, basically rolling shutters that almost completely block out the light and a lot of the heat. It’s also great for falling asleep at a decent hour since the sun stays up until well past 10pm during the summer.

Another quirk: European fridges. They’re much smaller than Americans are used to. Plus side, you can shop more frequently and get fresh food and produce as opposed to shelf-stable foods that will last forever.

Toilets have a push button flush instead of a handle, and there’s a…um…poop shelf. Check out this handy post for more info on that.

WATCH: Check out our German guest house:

Have you stayed in a German guest house? Was yours like this? Tell me about it below.