I visited Oktoberfest with both Brits and Germans – how to avoid the tourist mistakes and drink better

THE smell of freshly cooked sausages wafts through the air, while the sound of a booming Oompah band drowns out the raucous laughter.

I have a very large beer tankard in both hands, which means I can only be in one place - Munich's Oktoberfest.

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The festival was first held in Munich in the early 1800s to celebrate the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria.

While it's grown in size over the years, the Oktoberfest is still very much a celebration - and one I've been lucky enough to be part of twice in my life.

This year, I headed to the festival with a large group of friends - both British and German - and on another trip I sat on a table with festival-goers from America and South Africa.

Nationalities can easily mix at the festival simply because everyone is there with the same aim - to have a good, old-fashioned knees up.

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From families with small children enjoying the fairground rides to the heaviest of drinkers, Oktoberfest always has an exciting and good-natured atmosphere.

That being said, foreign visitors - like us Brits - could still learn a thing or two from the locals.

Here are 11 tips for visiting Oktoberfest that I've learned from the Germans...

1. Make sure to plan well ahead, because flights and accommodation can get very expensive in the German city, especially if you leave it to the last minute.

2. If you're planning on dressing in the traditional garb, I would recommend buying something in the UK.

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I bought my Dirndl from Amazon for £20, knowing I wouldn't be too upset if it got dosed in beer, which it did.

Prices for cheap polyester Lederhosen and Dirndl can cost upwards of €80 (£66.50), with many places selling them for around €200 (£167).

Just don't expect to look like a local because many will spend hundreds on their outfits, knowing they will last them a lifetime.

3. Those holidaymakers heading to the festival in a large group should aim to book a table inside one of the tents.

There are 38 tents at Oktoberfest, meaning there's somewhere for everyone from huge party tents like Hofbrau to child-friendly spots like Augustiner-Festhalle.

When deciding on where to head, it's worth taking note of the beer that's being served as each tent generally only serves one type, and if you're planing on being particularly raucous, you might feel more comfortable in one of the adults-only tents.

Reserving a table is actually pretty tricky, with tents often prioritising locals and festival-goers who've been before.

If it's your first time visiting, I'd recommend reserving a table at Schottenhamel Festhalle because their tables can be booked online.

4. Reservations are made in exchange for food and drink vouchers, which can be used in the tent on the day of your booking.

However, these vouchers will need to be posted to the UK, which can cost an eye-watering €60 (£50) in postage fees, so make sure to factor that into your budget.

5. In Munich cash is still king, so make sure to have enough money to cover your purchases inside the tent.

While cash points are dotted around the festival site, you might not be allowed to re-enter a tent if you decide to leave so be sure to have enough cash.

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6. Make sure to have plenty of extra cash for tips too, because the more you tip the better service you're likely to have during your stay.

One Maß (a 1-litre tankard) of beer costs around €15 (£12.32), but we paid just under €20 (£16.70) per Maß once tips were included - which may seem like a lot but we were treated very well by our servers.

7. Beer served in the tent (Festbier) has been brewed specially for the festival and are generally stronger than your typical versions.

For instance, a lager was 6%, which gets you drunk considerably quicker when you're drinking by the litre.

8. Entry to the festival is free and there is plenty to do away from the beer halls, so give yourself plenty of time to visit the attractions and food stalls.

The entire site is very family-friendly, with school trips taking place during the day and families making the most of the fairground rides, face painting and puppet theatre.

One of the rides that shouldn't be missed is Munich Looping - the world's largest transportable rollercoaster.

9. Only small handbags and bum bags are allowed into the grounds of the festival.

Each bag is searched by security, who throw away any food or drink for safety reasons.

10. While the tents are inside, check the weather forecast and bring a brolly or a Cagoule - it's an autumn festival and you wouldn't want to come away with a cold on top of an atrocious hangover.

11. Despite its name, the Munich festival actually runs for two weeks in September and one week in October.

This year's festival will run until Sunday October 6, with dates for next year's festivities already being announced.

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Meanwhile, this European city break has 180-year-old beer gardens, cheap football and amazing street food.

And a new high-speed train service is soon set to link Berlin and Paris.

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