We will be in Dresden and want to take a day trip to Seiffen. Trains do not go directly to Seiffen. You have to train to Freiburg and then take a bus. Does anyone know of a van service or driver who would take 2 people to Seiffen from Dresden for a day trip?
You could rent a car for a day, but its normal to connect via bus outside of the densely populated spots in Germany. The bus systems are excellent. Looks like it will take 2 to 2 1/2 hours and either 1 or 2 connections.
Sadly the bus system isn't that excellent. Seiffen is deep in the mountains and the last village before the border. There are only one or two busses each day. And although Seiffen is often full of tour busses Dresdens local transport company doesn't seem to offer day trips to the village in December. And the few van services I found don't look recommendable (no English, tight shedule and not enough time for shopping).
Renting a car is the best idea in this case. If you start early you could see both Seiffen and Freiberg (btw: FreibErg, not Freiburg), which is a interesting town with a beautiful Christmas market. Try to reach Seiffen before the tourist hordes appear, after some hours of shopping drive to Freiberg, do some seightseeing and when it gets dark visit the Christmas market. The local specialty of Freiberg is Eierschecke btw., which you can try at Cafe Hartmann (opposite the town hall on the town square). If you are lucky you can also see a miner's parade.