Do I need a passport to go to Germany?

Yes, as for going anywhere outside your own country. And it needs to be a passport book.

There are also visas - some countries require you to apply for a visa so they can check you out first, and if they're happy, they put a stamp or sticker in your passport. That's the visa. But with a US passport, you don't need one to go to Germany for up to 90 days at a time - otherwise I'd be telling you to google the German Embassy in Washington DC and see what their site says about getting a visa.

If you've been on a flight before, it's the same, with international extras. The extra parts are when you get off the plane, you come to immigration where your passport is checked and you might get asked about why you are visiting Germany. The immigration officer stamps your passport to grant entry and you move on to baggage reclaim. After that, you come to customs. Immigration checks YOU out, customs is to check your bags out. Very possibly you can walk straight through, but a customs officer can stop you and demand to look through your bags to make sure you have nothing you shouldn't have.

Going home, it's the same on arrival in the US, and you will get handed a customs form on the flight so take a pen to fill it in with. You hand that in when you get to customs. Obviously as an American coming home, immigration is not a problem. You still have to show your passport so they know you're American.

The best rule on what you can take is if you feel uncertain, don't take it. You can think of Europe as basically a no-gun zone (an amazing number of Americans still get guns confiscated at London Heathrow Airport) and you're right to plan on not bringing pepper spray. Otherwise, just pack clothes and whatever else you need to go away with. There are restrictions on bringing liquids in your hand baggage, but really, do you NEED makeup and shampoo on a flight? Pack them, and anything electrical, in your suitcase. (The reason for these restrictions is that some British Muslim terrorists were caught planning to bring liquid explosives on planes. They were caught before they could do it as the British police had been tracking them for months. I remember when these restrictions started - oddly enough just before I was going to visit Germany again!)

Talking of things electrical, Germany uses double the US voltage and the plugs are a different shape so if you want to bring along something like a hair dryer, you will need converters or it won't work.

It's a LONG flight and the time difference will make you feel horribly jetlagged. Flights tend to go overnight and this is the worst time for it. Probably you will arrive in the morning with your body still thinking it's the middle of the night and desperately wanting sleep. So plan on getting to where you can sleep as soon as possible and write off the first day. Going home, it's nowhere near so bad - normally it's a daytime flight and it will just feel like having an incredibly late night. You'll be OK in the morning.

Don't forget to change money. You can spend dollars on the air base but outside of that, Germany uses the euro. You can order euros at a bank before you travel. And think about travel insurance - especially if you don't have health insurance, or the health insurance you have doesn't cover you outside the US. It doesn't cost much for a short trip.

Sprechen Sie etwas deutsch? Germans, of course, speak German. Many will know some English from school but don't count on it - it's not their language and it will help to know at least a few basic phrases. Germans are unfailingly polite and "please" and "thank you" are appreciated. Take a German/English phrasebook with a good food section so you can understand restaurant menus, and so you can understand signs. Linguists will tell you that German and English are very closely related languages, but they separated over a thousand years ago so they certainly aren't the same now!

Be excited, not nervous. It'll be quite an experience the first time going there and I hope you come to enjoy Germany as much as I do. Guten Tag!

Yes, you'll need a passport. Depending on the length of time you'll be staying, you might need a visa (I think). Don't be scared--it's a great opportunity to experience another culture. Although you're going to an air base where English is spoken, I would advise you to learn at least a few phrases in German. Things like: Thank You, May I, Good Morning/evening, How are you... not just where's the bathroom.

You need to get a passport: also you need to get travel-health insurance when you purchase your plane ticket (accidents do happen and medical care is terribly expensive everywhere....)

With carry-on bag bring a few necessities (you can even bring chocolate bars or whatever) but no liquid anything unless very small jars or containers.

Yes you definitely need a passport.

Keep in mind that you are only allowed to stay 90 days out of

180 in the schengen area (this includes germany).

Well for the pepper spray i would not bother to bring it on the plane and finally through german immigrations...

Leave it at home and simple buy a new one in germany.

It´s avaliable for everyone who is at least 18 years old.

So you will have no trouble buying one in germany.

You MUST have a passport to board any airplane leaving the U.S. and landing in a foreign country. see 1st site below for all passport application info. see next two sites for what you may and may not take on the airplane. Be excited, not nervous...this will be a great adventure for you and you will have a great time.

http://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/E...

http://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Staying-...