Stuttgart Germany Cheat Sheet
Welcome to your quick resource guide, aka “cheat sheet” to Vilseck, Germany!
Need a local mechanic? New hair dresser? Yummy foods?
Oh wait… orthodontics for the kids right?
Don’t forget a pet groomer for your fur baby! 🐕
Local Community in Stuttgart Germany
Once you PCS to Germany, you have to completely rebuild your trusted local community.
The good news: We already vetted your list of options for you!
I understand how intimidating it can be to move to a new foreign country. Especially when you’re looking for a new “local spot” to take care of all your needs while living in Germany.
Kein Stress, “No Stress” as the Germans say.
I built this resource guide to provide you with a number of local businesses that will help you throughout your tour.
These are businesses that I literally use on a monthly basis.
In fact, we all do…
I’ve been living here since 2014, so over the years, I crowd sourced and cross referenced these recommendations in military spouse groups who have personally experienced them as well.
These are actual human beings that already have a personal investment in your well being while living in their country.
Each affiliate I recommend is hand selected.
I see them as “strategic partners”
Trusted by the community to provide you with a full range of products & services!
*Did I miss a business that needs to be shared with the American community? I want to hear about it!
Popular Vilseck Attractions:
Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival | The Stuttgart Fairgrounds | Mercedes & Porsche Museum | Motorworld
Stuttgart Germany First Look
First off, let’s get you familiar with the basics.
Stuttgart is a joint service military community split into 5 main installations:
- Panzer Kaserne (25mins to downtown Stuttgart): PX & commissary, shoppette, fitness center, USO, bowling alley, Panzer hotel, post office, banks, MWR, VAT/UTAP, HUB teen center, child youth sports, child development center (CDC), etc
- – Patch Barracks (18mins to downtown Stuttgart): Main commissary, thrift store, shoppette + gas station, library, movie theater, post office, car wash, clinic, outdoor track, Java cafe, arts & crafts, food court, casino, etc
- Kelley Barracks (13mins to downtown Stuttgart): Drama theatre, clinic, mail room, commissary, gas station, gym, child development center, car wash, outdoor recreation, wood hobby shop, laundry mat, etc
- Robinson Barracks (22mins to downtown Stuttgart): Commissary, library, furniture store, AFN Stuttgart, etc
- Stuttgart Army Airfield (18mins to downtown Stuttgart): Aviation arms for each command
Inprocessing = Panzer Kaserne (Garrison HQs)
US European Command HQs = Patch Barracks
US Africa Command HQs = Kelley Barracks
Are you new to Stuttgart and need a sponsor? Here’s how you get one!
Oh.. and check out the Stuttgart App for a wide range of services!
Stuttgart Transportation:
🚆 – The closest train stations are in the city of Böblingen (Panzer Kaserne), Vaihingen (Patch & Kelley Barracks), Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, and the VVS Stuttgart Regional Transit
✈️ – The closest airports are Frankfurt (~1hr 50mins), Munich (~2hr 10mins), Nuremberg (~2hrs 30mins), Frankfurt Hahn (~2hrs 40mins)
🚘 – Closest highway (autobahn) = A8, A831
🚌 – On base “Duty Bus”
DODEA Schools at USAG Stuttgart Germany
There are 5 schools total on different bases + CDC:
- Stuttgart & Patch Elementary School and Stuttgart High School (Panzer Kaserne)
- Patch Middle School (Patch Barracks)
- Robinson Elementary (Robinson Barracks)
- Child Development Center (CDC): child care for ages 6 weeks – 5yrs old (pre-school)
See a list of all DoDEA Europe Schools by district here
Learn how to PCS to Germany with kids. Oh.. and this is what it’s like to go to school on base in Germany!
Adult Education in Stuttgart Germany
The Stuttgart Education Center consists of a learning center, testing program, and two major colleges:
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Maryland Global Campus
Stuttgart Germany Cheat Sheet
Below is your official Stuttgart Germany cheat sheet categorized by industry.
Make sure to tell them DTV sent you! 😉
*Keep in mind, most of these companies speak English and accept VAT forms.
PCS to Germany: Cheat Sheets
Grafenwoehr | Vilseck | Hohenfels | Garmisch + Edelweiss L&R | Stuttgart | Ansbach | KMC + Baumholder | Wiesbaden | Spangdahlem
*Stay tuned for additional cheat sheet information
Automobiles 🚗
Tax FREE Vehicles! Custom Builds! Pre Order from the States!
Just imagine… a gigantic red ribbon on top of your brand new BMW, ready to hit the autobahn for your first family vacation overseas!
The ONLY company I’d recommend turning this dream into a reality is Bavarian Motor Cars. I’ve been working with this company from the very beginning. Since 2014, they’ve sponsored all my events, they’ve put my friends in new cars, and they’ve become family for my wife and I.
This is what you can expect when you walk into a BMW dealership right outside of base.
Here’s the deal, if you just want to start fresh with a new car for your family, you have to check out all the special offers they provide:
- Tax Free, military discounted offers
- Pre ordered, custom builds guaranteed to be ready before you even arrive
- VIP delivery service (Free one night stay in a beautiful 4 star hotel, or get it delivered right to the base with that red ribbon 😉)
- Stateside trade ins, meaning they can trade in your old car while you’re still in the US
- Loaner car programs & much more!
If this is something you’re interested in, I highly recommend checking their inventory or contacting one of their representatives with your questions.
Tell them “DTV” sent you!
Spearheaded by two of England’s finest; brother’s David and James Sweeney are co-founders of Used Car Guys.
We’re two brothers with a history of car sales and customer service, working alongside the U.S. Military in Germany for over 23 years. We are from a large Irish family and grew up in Cambridge, England – check it out!
Family First, Community Always!
Used Car Guys was founded in January 2012 on the principles of providing great quality cars, superior customer service and being all-round good guys.
We want to be the car dealers that you would recommend to your boss, your buddies and your grandparents. We wanted to build the company our mum would be proud of and the company that you would recommend to your mum – And plenty of people have recommended them.
Get your FIRST LOOK 👀 of Used Car Guys here!
To speak to them directly, go to their contact page.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or message them directly on Whatsapp 0172 7129046.
*Keep in mind, Used Car Guys can deliver to ANY military base throughout Germany. Learn more here!
Let them know DTV sent ya!
POV Shipping 🚢
Rental Cars 🚗
Taxi & Shuttle Service 🚕
Cleaning Services 🧹
Towing & Junking 🛻
Car Mechanic 🛠️
Insurance ⛑️
Pet Services 🐕
Language & Culture 🇩🇪
🎟️ Use coupon code “MilitaryDTV” for 10% OFF!
Travel 🧳
If you’re like me, your Euro plan is to make long lasting memories by visiting as many countries as possible with your family.
Well then, let me introduce you to EuroTrip Adventures.
This budget friendly travel company provides unique opportunities for you to see all of Europe!
Primarily through extended bus travel, but they also offer a handful of flights to top European destinations.
And they’re super convenient for military personnel with pick up locations in:
- Grafenwoehr, Kaiserslautern, Wiesbaden, and Stuttgart
Other locations include:
- Nuremberg, Munich, Ingolstadt, Mannheim, and Frankfurt
I’ve been on a ton of their trips, so naturally, I made an entire review blog of them here.
Get to planning with their upcoming destinations here, check out all their reviews, or contact them directly with your questions.
EuroTrip Adventures: +49 172 4557667
Restaurants 🍽️
For a FULL list of restaurants, download our FREE Stuttgart Military Food Guide!
Hotels/Temporary Lodging 🏨
Welcome to your fairytale, an all-season pass to Germany’s most premiere Armed Forces Recreation Center situated in the beautiful Bavarian alps of Garmisch-Partenkirchen!
Edelweiss Lodge & Resort is the perfect vacation get away for eligible service members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their families and other authorized users.
This is by far my favorite destination in Germany, and they have it all! Get your FIRST LOOK 👀 here.
Celebrate in true festival fashion with events like the Munich Oktoberfest, take advantage of the skiing or snowboarding in the winter season high above the Bavarian alps, or visit iconic historic castles that inspired Walt Disney.
This Resort gives you & your family an opportunity to play in Germany’s most scenic outdoor playground. Climb, bike, or glide your way through one of their alpine adventures.
The sky is truly the limit: “Ride the Alps” on your motorcycle, take horse drawn carriage rides through the city, or try a gondola ride to the “Zugspitze,” Germany’s mightiest mountain.
To get started, explore their spacious room options (including the cabins – Vacation Village and Campground), choose your dates and get ready for memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime!
📍 St. Martinstrasse 120, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany 82467
📱 From USA: (011-49) 8821-9440, From Europe: (49) 8821-9440
📧 vacation@edelweissresort.zendesk.com
♿️ Wheelchair accessible
🐕 Pet friendly
Health & Beauty 💆🏻♀️
Real Estate 🏠
Furniture 🛋️
Kid’s Activities 🛝
Banking 🏦
Every base in Germany has two on-base banking options. Service Credit Union (who I use and recommend) & Community Bank.
There’s also Andrews Federal Credit Union (for Wiesbaden only).
These banks will have ATMs on-base and also at Edelweiss Lodge & Resort.
You don’t need to cancel any banking in the US while living in Germany (unless your lienholder won’t allow you to ship your POV overseas).
Most service members & civilians open up an on base bank account because they need a convenient way to pay their German landlord and their German cell phone/internet/data plan. In order to do this, you’ll need an International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
While there are several ways to get an IBAN, most people on base find going through an English speaking human being inside a bank convenient and satisfying, especially when it comes to face to face or over the phone customer service, which Service Credit Union excels at (in my opinion).
We’ve been using SCU since 2014 for online banking, auto loans, and converting dollars to euro (learn about the exchange rate here).
For us, it’s about convenience, flexibility, and long-term benefits.
Reasons why we use Service Credit Union (SCU):
- You can keep your account for life, even when you PCS back to the States
- Works in both Euros and USD, which is a game changer if you live off base
- No ATM fees at SCU machines with your SCU debit card
- No foreign transaction fees (SCU credit card)
- Same-day debit and credit card printing on base
- Cash advances when you need them
- 14 branches across Germany
- V-Pay cards if your landlord or utility company needs a German-style card
- IBAN (International Bank Account Number) for paying German bills
- Competitive loan rates — I even financed my car through them
Miscellaneous ℹ️
FREE Stuff for your PCS to Stuttgart Germany
If you’re moving to the Stuttgart area, you have to take advantage of all my FREE stuff.
It literally cost nothing and will be super valuable to you during your PCS to Germany.
1) FREE PCS to Germany checklist
No matter if you’re Active Duty or Civilian this checklist will go over the most important and most expensive items to take care of first!
In fact, this checklist is applicable to ALL military installations in Germany, and it’s a living document – which means it’s ALWAYS relevant to you and your family.
2) FREE Guide – 30 things you MUST Know before PCSing to Germany with the US military
This is by far my most popular download (and blog post) on the internet.
The title gives it away.
I’ve been here since 2014, so I categorized the 30 most important “things” you MUST know.
For more content on PCS prep, travel, or local life as an American living in Germany, subscribe to the channel and I’ll catch you in the next one!
PCS to Germany: Cheat Sheets
Grafenwoehr | Vilseck | Hohenfels | Garmisch + Edelweiss L&R | Stuttgart | Ansbach | KMC + Baumholder | Wiesbaden | Spangdahlem
*Stay tuned for additional cheat sheet information
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