Ancestry Trip Planning Consultation

Overview

Have you ever dreamed of traveling back to your ancestral hometowns in Germany?

But you just don’t find the time to plan it all? Or are you unsure about how to find the right accommodation, attractions and people that can help you find out more about your German ancestors?

Then, the “Ancestry Trip Planning Consultation” with me (Sonja Irani, main tour guide and travel consultant at My Ancestor’s Journey) is perfect for you!

In our private video call (around 1 hour, but can also be longer if needed), we will create your ancestry dream trip together – according to your specific travel style, time, budget and wishes.

All you need is 1 hour of your time – and I will take care of everything else!

What’s included

Private Video Call (1 hour) with ancestry travel expert and German native Sonja Irani

Individual Hometown Planning Sheet customized to your ancestry trip / hometown area

Optional: Customized itinerary including all stops and activities for your trip to Germany

Optional: All booked services (hotels, transport and attractions) of your choice

Travel in a private group or solo (minimum 1 traveler, maximum 25 travelers)

Your investment: $289 for a 1-hour private & customized Ancestry Trip Planning Consult!

If you decide to book this ancestry trip consultation, just click on the “Book Now” Button below and you will be redirected to our booking partner WeTravel.com to securely complete your booking.

Book Now

How it works

Step 1:
Private Consultation
Call on Zoom

In our 1 hour private video call (on Zoom), you can ask me (Sonja) any questions you may have about planning your ancestry-inspired trip to Germany, especially to your ancestral German hometown(s). The price for this is $289.

Step 2:
Customized Research & Hometown Package Planning Sheet

After our call, I will research the options that best fit your travel style, interests, time, budget etc. and will find and connect you to ancestry researchers or guides that can help you learn more about your German ancestors in your hometown area. I will then send you your individual Hometown Planning Sheet via email!

Step 3:
Optional: Customized Itinerary & Final Booking

In two further private calls, I can create a completely customized itinerary for your whole ancestry trip including hotels, transport, sightseeing attractions etc. (for an additional fee of $197). If you are happy with this itinerary, you can book your all-inclusive package with one click (for an additional fee of $350 per person).

Check Availability

Requirements

Please note: In order to make the most of our ancestry trip planning session, there are two requirements you need to fulfill before you can click on “Book Now”:

1. Requirement: You have already decided to definitely travel to Germany in the near future either this year or next and perhaps have already booked your flights.

2. Requirement: You need to have done some prior ancestry research. You should have confirmed at least one ancestral hometown where at least one of your German ancestors came from.

I am not a genealogist and therefore not able to assist you with any ancestry research or genealogy questions.

However, I can suggest genealogists or archives in your German hometown regions to you should you wish do to any ancestry research while you are in Germany.

Book Now

Example Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in your ancestors’ hometown

Today, your ancestral adventure begins: Willkommen in your German hometown! We can pre-book the transport to get to your German hometown for you according to your preferences and depending on where you are staying prior to this tour. The mode of transport can either be a rental car, trains, taxi or a combination of different modes of transport. Arrive at your pre-booked accommodation and make yourself comfortable. It’s an almost magical feeling to be “back home”, knowing that for the next few days, you will walk in the same paths as your German ancestors once did. Here, you are finally at the place where you can literally walk in their footsteps. Meals included today: Depending on your choice, dinner in your hotel or local restaurant can be included tonight.

Day 2: Full day in your ancestors’ hometown

Explore your ancestors’ hometown with the help of a local guide (recommended) or by yourself. Visit churches, former homes, farms, graveyards and much more. You might be surprised what is still there for you to explore after so many centuries. Now it will come in handy that we got in touch with local key contacts (tour guides, historians, members of heritage societies etc.) during our consultation sessions. These people might even be able to connect you to living relatives. And perhaps, you can meet some of them today. Meals included today: Depending on your choice, breakfast, lunch and/or dinner

Day 3: Day trip to a living history museum or emigration museum

Today, you will feel like you stepped back in time as you stroll through an open-air museum (also known as “living history museums”). These museums can be found all over Germany and often focus on past living conditions and local customs in that area. So it is likely that there is one near your German ancestral hometown(s). Through stepping into the old houses here, you can learn a lot more about your ancestors’ daily lives, their struggles and their reasons to emigrate to America. If you found out the emigration port of your German ancestors and you are not too far away, we would also recommend a visit. The two most common emigration harbors in Germany are Bremerhaven (sometimes referred to as Bremen) and Hamburg. Both of these cities have fantastic emigration museums, too. Meals included today: Depending on your choice, breakfast, lunch and/or dinner

Day 4: Departure

“All things have an end, just the sausage has two” (German saying). Today, you will checkout from your accommodation and say goodbye to your ancestral town or village, all the new experiences you have made here and the people you’ve met. By the end of this trip, you will understand the reasons why your German ancestors emigrated and also have some insights into what their lives were really like back in the home country. The next stop is up to you: Maybe you will continue your vacation in Germany with some general “Germany bucket list sightseeing” or you hop over to another European country. Meals included today: Depending on your choice, breakfast at your accommodation

Day 1: Arrival in your ancestors’ hometown

Today, your ancestral adventure begins: Willkommen in your German hometown!

We can pre-book the transport to get to your German hometown for you according to your preferences and depending on where you are staying prior to this tour. The mode of transport can either be a rental car, trains, taxi or a combination of different modes of transport.

Arrive at your pre-booked accommodation and make yourself comfortable. It’s an almost magical feeling to be “back home”, knowing that for the next few days, you will walk in the same paths as your German ancestors once did. Here, you are finally at the place where you can literally walk in their footsteps.

Meals included today: Depending on your choice, dinner in your hotel or local restaurant can be included tonight.

Day 2: Full day in your ancestors’ hometown

Explore your ancestors’ hometown with the help of a local guide (recommended) or by yourself. Visit churches, former homes, farms, graveyards and much more.

You might be surprised what is still there for you to explore after so many centuries. Now it will come in handy that we got in touch with local key contacts (tour guides, historians, members of heritage societies etc.) during our consultation sessions.

These people might even be able to connect you to living relatives. And perhaps, you can meet some of them today.

Meals included today: Depending on your choice, breakfast, lunch and/or dinner

Day 3: Day trip to a living history museum or emigration museum

Today, you will feel like you stepped back in time as you stroll through an open-air museum (also known as “living history museums”).

These museums can be found all over Germany and often focus on past living conditions and local customs in that area. So it is likely that there is one near your German ancestral hometown(s).

Through stepping into the old houses here, you can learn a lot more about your ancestors’ daily lives, their struggles and their reasons to emigrate to America.

If you found out the emigration port of your German ancestors and you are not too far away, we would also recommend a visit. The two most common emigration harbors in Germany are Bremerhaven (sometimes referred to as Bremen) and Hamburg. Both of these cities have fantastic emigration museums, too.

Meals included today: Depending on your choice, breakfast, lunch and/or dinner

Old farm house in the open-air museum Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony, Germany

Day 4: Departure

“All things have an end, just the sausage has two” (German saying)

Today, you will checkout from your accommodation and say goodbye to your ancestral town or village, all the new experiences you have made here and the people you’ve met.

By the end of this trip, you will understand the reasons why your German ancestors emigrated and also have some insights into what their lives were really like back in the home country.

The next stop is up to you: Maybe you will continue your vacation in Germany with some general “Germany bucket list sightseeing” or you hop over to another European country.

Meals included today: Depending on your choice, breakfast at your accommodation

Your investment for a fully customized trip!

To save yourself tons of time googling or “ChatGPTing” your way to your ancestry trip and “last minute stressing out”!

Part 1: Consultation price due when booking your call:

$289 (US-Dollar)

This price is per consultation (no matter how many are in your group) and includes the following:

1 Live Video Call* with ancestry travel expert and German native Sonja Irani (around 1 hour), in which we talk about your interests, travel needs and what you want to find out about your German ancestors while on your trip in Germany.

*This call usually takes place at 1 pm EST (Eastern Standard Time), which is 7 pm German time and you pick the date on the calendar in WeTravel! (or another time, which we can discuss).

After our call, you will receive: Your Customized Hometown Planning Sheet, which includes places to see, things to do, ancestry- and emigration related museums to visit, and a contact to a local ancestry researcher who can tell you more about your German ancestors’ lives!

Pay securely through our payment provider partner WeTravel.com by credit card or ACH payment. You can choose your currency and pay in US Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Euros and more.

Book Your Call

OPTIONAL: Part 2: Your full customized itinerary for your Germany visit

If you like me to research more services and create a fully customized Germany (ancestry) trip itinerary for you (such as hotels, transportation etc.) for either just your German ancestral hometown visit or your overall Germany trip (or any other European countries), you can book this additional package for:

$197 (US-Dollar)

This price is per consultation (no matter how many are in your group) and includes the following:

1 Additional Video Call with ancestry travel expert and German native Sonja Irani (around 1 hour)

Completely customized Itinerary for your Germany trip (including accommodation, transport, things to do and see, museums, ancestry tours and anything else that you would like to add)

quedlinburg-germany-5-©sonja_irani_my_ancestors_journey

OPTIONAL: Part 3: Tour price for all tour services booked through me:

$350 (per person)

This price is per person / paying tour participant and includes the following:

The cost for your all-inclusive Germany Ancestry Trip Package depends on the services you have chosen to include or not to include in your package and booked through me (accommodation, transport, meals, museum entries, local guides etc.). Example below!

It also includes my travel advisor and tour operator services, which cover professional tour operator insurances, and ongoing support throughout the duration of your trip. So you can have peace of mind that if plans change, I will find an alternative.

Here is a sample itinerary with sample pricing for 2 people (6 days / 5 nights) in 2026:

1. Hotel in the hometown region for 3 nights with breakfast for 2 people

2. Entry tickets to the open-air museum Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony and private guided tour in Englisch with a local guide

3. Hotel ATLANTIC Grand Hotel Bremen: 1 comfort double room for 2 people, 2 nights with breakfast buffet

4. Emigration-themed guided walking tour (2 hours) in Bremen with me (Sonja) as your guide

5. German Emigration Museum in Bremerhaven: Entry tickets and private guided tour in English

Total Tour Price in Euros: € 2,518.00

Total Tour Price per person in Euros: € 1,259.00

Total Tour Price in USD: $ 2,914.00

Tour Price per person in USD: $ 1,457.00

Total Tour Price in US-Dollars based on current currency exchange rate (March 2026):
€1 = $1.16 / $1 = 0,86 €

Please note that these are just sample prices!

Your price will depend on what you choose to include or not include in your package. However, the activities and services mentioned above are the most popular with ancestral travelers and give you a guideline for the tour price you can expect.

*Please note: The guests in this example chose to get around in their own rental car, which they book themselves. So this sample tour price does not include transportation. However, it is also possible to book train tickets, a rental car or other modes of transportation with your private Hometown Package tour. Just let me know in our consultation Zoom Calls.

Don’t miss out! Limited time offer:

If you book this tour by December 24, 2024, you get 24% off the tour price!
Just enter the code 24OCTOBER24 on the checkout page!

Get your complete trip planning consultation now for $189.24 USD instead of $249!

Check availability

Terms & Conditions

1. Payment: The payment for part 1 is required in full via our secure payment partner WeTravel.com before your video call consult starts.

2. Time and date: When you book your call viaWeTravel, the standard time for your consultation call is 1 pm EST (New York time), which is 7 pm CET (Germany time) because I am located in Germany. This applies Monday to Friday. If you like to start the call at a different time, please send me an email at least 24 hours before our call to contact@myancestorsjourney.com.

3. Rescheduling: If you need to reschedule our Zoom Call, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance by writing an email to contact@myancestorsjourney.com.

4. Refunds: You can receive a refund if you let me know that you would like to cancel your consult at least 24 hours in advance by writing an email to contact@myancestorsjourney.com. If I have to cancel our consult due to an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances, I will let you know as soon as possible. You can then either reschedule, or will be granted a full refund.

5. No show: If you do not show up to a video live call and you haven’t informed me via email, you are not entitled to reschedule your call or to a refund.

6. Included insurance: My Ancestor’s Journey is a licensed tour operator and provides both insolvency insurance and travel liability insurance with every tour booking that includes 2 or more services (eg. accommodation and museum visit) for the traveler. These two insurances are required by German law for professional tour operators.

7. When you book your Germany Hometown Tour Package through us, you agree to our terms and conditions for multi-day tours.

Book Now

Hallo, I’m Sonja!
Your personal ancestry trip planner

My name is Sonja Irani and I am the founder and main tour guide at My Ancestor’s Journey – a specialized tour operator for ancestry-inspired tours based in Bremen, northern Germany.

As such, I know a lot about emigration history and the typical questions that come up when Americans with German ancestors plan an ancestry trip to Germany.

I also hold a Master’s degree in Tourism Destination Development and wrote my Master thesis about “the most memorable travel experiences of North American ancestral travelers to Germany”.

Born and raised in Germany and an avid traveler myself, I am here to help you with any questions you might have about the specific challenges when planning an ancestry trip to Germany – especially to your small German hometowns.

Book your call today and let’s walk in your ancestor’s footsteps together!

Count me in!

Me at Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, southern Germany

Your special discount ends in …

–

DAYS

–

HOURS

–

MINUTES

–

SECONDS

Start planning your Germany dream trip today and book your call for your all-in package today!

Don’t forget!
Just enter the code 24OCTOBER24 at the checkout to receive 24 % off your consult!

What our previous travelers say

“We had always dreamed of visiting our German ancestors’ homeland, and Sonja’s expert guidance and planning made our bucket list trip a reality.”

Debbie, Duane, Bernice and Doug
from Illinois, USA

“Our ancestry-themed tour of Bremen with Sonja was extremely memorable, personalized and a highlight of our Germany trip.”

Olivier and Lynn
from Boston, USA

Tour Guide Sonja Irani in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin — Me in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

I am looking forward to planning your ancestry-inspired Germany dream trip with you!

Bis Bald! (See you soon!)

Sonja

Book Your Call

Frequently asked questions

Are flights included in this tour?

No, flights are not included in the tour price and not part of this consultation package. You will need book your own flights from the US to Germany and back. However, I can give you some tips on how to find good flights deals in the consultation.

Is previous ancestry research required?

Yes, some ancestry research is required! You should have confirmed at least one ancestral hometown or the home region where at least one of your German ancestors came from. I am not a genealogist and therefore not able to assist you with any ancestry research or genealogy questions. Knowing which emigration port your ancestor left from (Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg or other) will also be beneficial for planning your trip activities!

How does the consultation work?

Once you booked a date for the consultation, I will send you a link to the Zoom call. On the day of the call, you just click on this link and you can join the call.

How long will each consultation be?

Each consultation call will last for about 60 minutes (1 hour). We can also have an additional preparation call (about 1 hour) shortly before your trip if you like.

At what time and day do the calls take place?

The consultation calls take place on any day you pick (Monday to Friday) and that’s still available in the calendar. The calls normally take place at 1 pm EST (New York time), which is 7 pm CET (Germany time) because I am located in Germany. However, we can also discuss another time that suits you better. In that case, please write an email at least 24 hours before your call to contact@myancestorsjourney.com.

What if I have mobility or health issues?

Please let me know during the consultation calls if you have any mobility or health issues or any requests. That way, we can ensure that you will have a good time during the tour!

Is health insurance included in the tour price?

No, private health insurance is not included in our tour price. Your health insurance back home will not cover any treatments during a medical emergency in Germany. For this reason, we highly recommend to get additional travel health insurance – especially if you are over 50 years old.

I am a solo traveler. Can I still book this tour?

Yes, you can! The Germany Hometown Package can be booked for one person up to a group of 25 people at a time.

Is this consultation for Americans only?

This Ancestry Trip Planning Consultation has been designed primarily for US-Americans who have German ancestors. However, you can also take it if you live in another part of the world, have German ancestors and plan an ancestry-inspired trip to Germany.

How do I book and pay for this travel consultation?

You can book the video call consultation by clicking on the button “Book Now” on this page. You will then be forwarded to a booking page of our secure and specialized tour payment provider partner WeTravel.com. If you would like to book all services for your trip through us, you can book your customized Germany Ancestry Trip Tour Package the same way.

My question has not been answered. How can I contact you?

If you have any additional questions about our tours or consultations, send an email to contact@myancestorsjourney.com.

Overview

What’s included

How it works

Requirements

Example Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in your ancestors’ hometown

Day 2: Full day in your ancestors’ hometown

Day 3: Day trip to a living history museum or emigration museum

Day 4: Departure

Your investment for a fully customized trip!

To save yourself tons of time googling or “ChatGPTing” your way to your ancestry trip and “last minute stressing out”!

Part 1: Consultation price due when booking your call:

OPTIONAL: Part 2: Your full customized itinerary for your Germany visit

OPTIONAL: Part 3: Tour price for all tour services booked through me:

Terms & Conditions

Hallo, I’m Sonja!
Your personal ancestry trip planner

Your special discount ends in …

What our previous travelers say

Frequently asked questions

BOOK NOW!

BOOK N OW

Still have a question?

Contact us!

Overview

What’s included

How it works

Requirements

Example Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in your ancestors’ hometown

Day 2: Full day in your ancestors’ hometown

Day 3: Day trip to a living history museum or emigration museum

Day 4: Departure

Your investment for a fully customized trip!

To save yourself tons of time googling or “ChatGPTing” your way to your ancestry trip and “last minute stressing out”!

Part 1: Consultation price due when booking your call:

OPTIONAL: Part 2: Your full customized itinerary for your Germany visit

OPTIONAL: Part 3: Tour price for all tour services booked through me:

Terms & Conditions

Hallo, I’m Sonja! Your personal ancestry trip planner

Your special discount ends in …

What our previous travelers say

Frequently asked questions

BOOK NOW!

BOOK NOW

Still have a question?Contact us!

Hallo, I’m Sonja!
Your personal ancestry trip planner

BOOK N OW

Still have a question?

Contact us!