danielson - without wishing to detract from the people who've already posted an answer, you mention that you're leaving the UK on Easter Saturday. While I expect Germany likes to take time off around Easter similiarly to the UK, are German school holidays on substantially the same dates as the UK ? (German school holidays are much more regional than the UK, but Easter is observed on largely the same date everywhere in Germany). Is the date of your return perhaps a day when UK schools are still on holiday but German schools have resumed ?