I'm always on the lookout for creative ways to immerse Tiger in different languages and cultures, particularly when it comes to German and French which I am trying to teach her. She already watches lots of Netflix in German and we regularly read story books in German, so this time I decided to take things a step further by booking a spontaneous trip to Cologne, Germany with a super cheap flight with Ryanair (just £72). What followed was a whirlwind weekend filled with adventure and hopefully lots of German language exposure for both of us!
Friday: From the seaside to Stansted
We kicked off our journey by driving from Ramsgate to London Stansted after school on Friday 16 February (1h50 minutes, 98 miles) to the Premier Inn at Stansted (£43). The Premier Inn does have its own car park but this was apparently full when I had tried to reserve it (typically, it didn't look that full when I got there!) and apparently the Mid Stay Car Park was right next door so I had booked that using Holiday Extras for £55.28. The 10 minute walk from the Mid Stay Car Park to the hotel was across a bustling roundabout though and was a bit wild with a 5 year old in the dark, so I am in two minds about doing that again. The best tip I have though is to drive through the Mid Stay Car Park to almost the exit barriers and park there to lessen the walk. We parked in L at stop 15. We didn't go in but there is also a BP petrol garage, a McDonalds and a Holiday Inn all clumped together beside the Premier Inn.
Saturday: Planes, trains, and the best soft play
After a cozy night at the Premier Inn, we were ready to embark on our German adventure. Thankfully, we had some wonderful flight times with the flight to Cologne not leaving until 10.40 so we did not have to get up at the crack of dawn. So Saturday morning started with Tiger enjoying a bath bomb in our bathtub at the Premier Inn (a bit of a luxury as we don't have a bath at home), before hopping on the bus to the airport for a mere £4 (children are free). Fast Track security for £8 each (booked on Holiday Extras) was really worth it at Stansted and ensured a smooth journey, and by 12:55, we had landed in Cologne.
A quick ride on the S19 train to Loevenich followed by a 15-minute walk led us to the fantastic Silly Billy soft play, where trampolines, ball pits, climbing frames, electric cars and inflatables kept Tiger entertained until 7pm. We paid 16.50 Euro (£14) for entry (11 euro for children 2-11 and includes one electric car token, plus 5.50 euro for the adult). The food was wonderful too, possibly a little on the pricey side but I really didn't mind. I spent 28.80 Euro (£25) altogether for drinks, a huge pizza and a chicken nugget meal and with hindsight I'd have brought a large water bottle but otherwise you are stuck, as you are not supposed to bring in your own food. On the German language side of things, we were there for 4 hours and I kept sending Tiger off to make friends!
As it was dark by the time we left, rather than walk or bus and take the train, I booked a quick Uber ride (23 euro / £20) to the Lyskirchen hotel (£142.59 for 2 nights). I had to drag a very tired Tiger out to the REWE supermarket before bed where we spent 46 euro (£40), as in Germany the shops are mostly closed on Sunday, but was glad we persevered as we managed to ensure we had enough snacks for snacks in the room and to skip breakfast expenses.
Sunday: Cathedrals, Cinema, and Chocolate
After breakfast in our room, we were up and off for 9.30am on Sunday for a stroll along the Rhein river towards the Koelner Dom (aka Cathedral) where we met our photographer named Nadiia for our photoshoot (booked on Airbnb Experiences, this was £85) and strolled across the Hohenzoller bridge bedecked with padlocks.
After we bid Nadiia goodbye, a train ride took us to a delicious lunch at Toscanini (50 euro / £45 with tip) and onto the cinema around the corner for a delightful kids' film 'Raus aus dem Teich' (Migration) (14.30 euros / £12) before we explored the chocolatey wonders of the chocolate museum (16 euro for adults, free for children) which was right next to our hotel. A leisurely ride on the Bimmelbahn (10 euro adult, 5 euro child), a land train, completed our day before unwinding in the hotel's swimming pool.
Monday: McDonald's, Cathedral, and Homeward Bound
Despite me waking up feeling under the weather on Monday, after a 12 o'clock check out a quick trip to McDonald's and a visit to the Cologne Cathedral lifted our spirits.
The Cologne Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic masterpiece officially known as Kölner Dom, began construction in 1248 and achieved completion in 1880. As Germany's most visited landmark, its soaring spires, reaching 157 meters, make it the third-tallest church globally. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, despite enduring damage in World War II, the cathedral persevered and underwent meticulous restoration. I'd have loved to walk up to the tower but little legs and feeling a bit under the weather prevented us this time!
We then hopped on a train to the airport (just 13 minutes away!) and navigated the special assistance security line, with Tiger enjoying the airport play area with loads of kids. A straightforward flight home, landing at 17:30, and a relatively easy (free) bus back to the car park and drive home, marked the end of our Cologne escapade.
Until our next spontaneous adventure, tschüss, Cologne!
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