Need advice on Germany road trip plans

It is usually expensive to rent a car in one country and return it in another. You may want to check the cost before you finalize your plans.

Thanks for your response, Kathy. We are just checking at this time whether its possible or not. The cost and logistics (though important) comes later.

Do you think it would be better to return the car at Munich / Frankfurt (i.e. before leaving Germany) and cross the border in a train? That would be our second option, if the first one doesn't work out.

The drop off fee for ending in one country and dropping off in another can be every high so cost will be factor. Drop car off in Germany and take train to Amsterdam. If you start trip picking car up in Netherlands,no problem.

If you don't need the car in the Netherlands wouldn't it just be easier to return the car in Germany and be done with it. I don't know how long the train ride is vs. driving, but almost anything can be done for a price. Sometimes it is the convenience factor we look for.

Thanks for your response, Barbara. The train would have to be our only option if cost for the rental is too high. The thing with trains is we have to stick to a timing and lose some of the freedom that riding in a car gives. However, if there are frequent trains to Amsterdam from Frankfurt, or from Munich to Zurich, then that's not a problem. We can even make up some time travelling by train.

What rental agencies would you recommend for such a trip?

The thing with trains is we have to stick to a timing and lose some of
the freedom that riding in a car gives.

I think you should at least consider the price for that "freedom". Sitting in traffic and paying a lot in car rental, gas, parking, and drop-off fees may not be as attractive as it looks. You're going to a part of the world with excellent train services (resulting in time and cost savings) - why not consider that option?

I think you should at least consider the price for that "freedom". Sitting in traffic and paying a lot in car rental, gas, parking, and drop-off fees may not be as attractive as it looks. You're going to a part of the world with excellent train services (resulting in time and cost savings) - why not consider that option?

I get your point, Agnes. It does make sense to cross the border with train.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice. Anyone did something similar in Europe or in Germany itself? Would love to hear more thoughts on it and some suggestions.

Another thought about dropping off the car in Germany before taking the train to A'dam - you aren't limited to dropping off in Frankfurt or Cologne. You could go as far north as, say, Dusseldorf, and drop off at the station there. Look at the Autoeurope or Gemut websites for car rental companies at your desired pick up and drop off locations.

The freedom thing is interesting when Dutch, Swiss and German trains are at least every hour, and on many routes twice an hour, and the trains going at upwards of 300 kilometers an hour leave cars doing no more than 130 kph or so standing still. Really standing still sometimes. Research STAU as it related to the autobahns.

Cars can stop when you see something interesting but take so much more time to get to the destination the time there is sacrificed.

I'm thinking that it is a really long way from Berlin by car.

I expect it is a typo but just to say that Frankfurt am Main is northwest from Munich. I don't think that you meant Frankfurt (Oder) which is in fact in the northeast.

When I cross borders in Europe, that is always done on a train, unless that route is momentarily taken over by a bus. I don't use the rental car option for numerous reasons, getting caught and sitting in a Stau is one of them. The Autobahn are two lanes in each direction, one for passing. I'm used to highways/Interstates in Calif where there are 5-6 lanes going in one direction.

I expect it is a typo but just to say that Frankfurt am Main is northwest from Munich. I don't think that you meant Frankfurt (Oder) which is in fact in the northeast.

Yes it was a typo, I meant to say northwest.

Thanks for your advice, I admit given the facts it does make more sense to undertake the last part of the journey (Germany to NED or SUI) by train.

Thanks all !!

If you are only interested in the big cities and not in rural areas in between, I think it would make sense to use the train more than once - Berlin to Munich is a lot faster by train than by car (and a car is not that useful in Munich).

While in Munich, we were planning to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber. What's the best way to get there?

Are trains/buses available and better options compared to car, while going to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and coming back to Munich?

If you are only interested in the big cities and not in rural areas in between, I think it would make sense to use the train more than once - Berlin to Munich is a lot faster by train than by car (and a car is not that useful in Munich).

I guess it does, however we were looking for the 'Autobahn experience' as part of the trip. What stretch of the autobahn would you recommend for that?

I’m curious about what you mean when you say you want the “Autobahn experience”? Is it sitting in a seamingly endless trafic jam (or Stau in German) or is it the near death experience that comes when you forget to check your mirrors when changing lanes and that BMW doing 200km/h gets bigger real fast in you rear view mirror?

The A9 between Berlin and Munich is a busy, often congested road. Frankly not the best place for a driver not used to high speeds. Your best option to get the "Autobahn experience" between Berlin and Munich is the A4 between Chemnitz and Eisenach, which is a six-lane highway and often pretty quiet. Along the road are Weimar, Erfurt and Wartburg castle, all highly recommended for a stopover.

Awesome, thanks for the tip Martin!

Any suggestions on how to cover Rothenburg ob der Tauber?

Also consider the times. Traffic on the Autobahn is often slowed down by trucks; on Sundays, trucks are not allowed on the Autobahn (with a few exceptions). Sunday mornings are a good bet if you want to drive fast (take care, though - another driver who texts his girlfriend instead of paying attention to the road can kill you very quickly at 200 kph, even if you do not do anything wrong yourself. At high speeds, you should always anticipate some stupidity of other people...).
Concerning Rothenburg ob der Tauber, check bahn.com for the railway connections. I think driving may actually be more comfortable in that case, but it probably depends on the traffic when getting out of Munich, and on whether you would rent a car only for that trip.

That's a good point about Sundays. Much easier without the trucks.

Then again some of the worst accidents (is an accident really ever an accident?) I have seen have been on Sundays because the boy racers (and the mid-life crisis racers) often pick Sunday mornings to let fly with sometimes fatal consequences.

Two really major ones stick out in my mind. A few years ago some bright spark ran his very fast car right into the trees on the A5 south of Baden-Baden. Nothing left of the car. Nothing left of the guy. Ambition apparently outran skill. Mid-day Sunday.

Last June I was driving on Sunday early morning from Munich to Stuttgart A8, just after Augsburg I was letting the horses off the reins - about 180 for me is a good cruising speed - when we all came to a shuddering rapid stop and stayed stopped. Engine off. Just short of 3 hours stopped, formed into a stau shape so the emergency vehicles could get through (left lane pull all the way left, right lane all the way right). When we eventually got going what was left of a motor-trike was under the back of one of the few trucks on a Sunday. How could he pick that one out? The other 20 or so bikers he was riding with were all stopped there too. Very sad. Bright sunshine and dry, too.

Sorry to be a downer - but if you are going for the autobahn experience you need to be prepared for everything. When the traffic stops you have to be prepared to throw the anchors out immediately or risk being in a secondary accident.