My son and daughter in law (Finnish) live abroad. One year they visited from Southern Germany in the winter. Our house was declared too cold so the central heating was on full but was still not warm enough. Downstairs is mostly ceramic tiled floor with the exception of a carpeted lounge which may have contributed to cold feeling but, we did provide slippers. I was often standing with the back door open wide trying to get some relief from the heat! On another occasion, on the day they arrived, horror of horrors the central heating boiler broke. They had two heaters in their bedroom and the blast hit you when the door was opened. We have now found a solution; they stay with daughter who is also a hot house flower. When we stay with them (now in Finland) we take T shirts in winter to cope with the heat. Incidentally, someone (sorry did not get the name) mentioned fermented fish in Sweden. The story we have been told is that a batch of fish, caught by Finnish fishermen, had gone off so it was canned and sold to the Swedish people as a delicacy!
From the other perspective, we once rented an old farmhouse in Wales over the New Year in a very cold snap (the border collie dog that was there always lived outside but every opportunity she got to get inside the house was taken). The owners had moved to a modern house in the village which should have made us think. We spent the entire time indoors huddled over the inadequate coal fire wrapped in blankets.
As for food, we find typical German food unpalatable. At one restaurant, three plates of food were passed between us (son and us) trying to find something we could eat - cold fish and gnocchi was one offering - even husband, who always eats everything struggled. German father in law's idea of a salad was cucumber sliced in cream. So I sympathise with your guests if that is what they are used to.
really?
