The United States electricity is generally ran at 110 Volts so most electrical devices are designed to run off of 110 Volts. The German Electrical system is generally ran at 220-230 Volts. Some American devices are designed to be 'Dual-Voltage' and can be used in most parts of the world. To find out if a particular device is 'Dual-Voltage' you must look at either the device itself, the power box on the power cable (figure 3), or in the user guide (some devices must be switched from 110 to 220-230 with a switch on the device). If you are not sure if a device is 'Dual-Voltage' DO NOT plug it in to a German power receptacle!! (Figure 2). Once you have your 'Dual-Voltage' device you will need a plug adapter (Figure 1) so the plug of the device will fit into the German power receptacle. You can purchase these items through the links above. One alternative is to purchase a transformer which converts the power from 220 Volts to 110 Volts.

The areas known as the 'Red Light District' are generally a hot spot for drug addicts to hang out and deal. Upon entering any red light district it is not uncommon to see drugs being taken and distributed. The main 'attraction' of the red light district is the enormous sex industry where sex shops are seemingly everywhere you look and prostitutes are working in the vast number of 'Eros centers' (licensed brothels). Most big cities in Germany have red light districts but if you know what to look out for they are usually harmless. If you do decide to visit a red light district, be sure to keep a low profile and try not to act like a tourist. Although a good part of the red light district is corrupted, there are some parts that are harmless. There are several banks and shops that offer nothing more than good service.