Suggestions for a Summer ROAD TRIP - Trip Starting and Ending in Munich for 1 Week: July 29 - Aug 5

NOW - given where we just have been on the river cruise --- where would YOU go for a one week road trip week from Munich?

I would head to the Alps for some high altitude hiking. With one week you could pick two spots in Germany, Austria or northern Italy as a base. For example a few nights in Mittenwald then a few night in the Dolomites wouldnt be the worst way to spend a week in July.

anyone know of a travel agent who speaks English who can book the car and the lodging along the road trip?

What’s a travel agent? ;)

For a car just book directly with the rental agency, I prefer Sixt when I book a car in Munich. As for a room, booking.com is often recommended here and I’ve used them to book rooms at small family run hotels and pensions in the Alps. It has been a long time since I found any value in a travel agent.

DJ

Hi DJ,
Thank you for taking the time to reply! I will look into the Sixt car rental company you suggested.
Well, I know what you mean about using a travel agent.. but I look at it this way... travel agents do not charge you anything. They have a lot of resources the average individual does not have as well as discounts due to their many affiliations. They can reduce the effort and also provide me with many more choices. I do like looking, searching and even booking travel online myself and also greatly appreciate the tips that people like you provide in these online forums, as well. So my viewpoint is this: why not avail myself and benefit from all available resources including a travel agent. I found a travel agent who is local and personally experienced in European travel. I can call and talk with her and she is eager to help. In booking European travel, both the language and time zone differences in calling can be an issue for me. Do you see a downside to using a travel agent?
Thanks again, DJ!

"...where would YOU go for a one week road trip week from Munich?"

First off, the pick-up location... You will return the car in Munich - but your cruise ends in Passau. If I wanted a car (which I never do in Germany these days) I would pick it up in Passau. It's unclear to me why you would prefer to travel to Munich (by train I suppose) first and then rent your car in the middle of a big city like that - unless you have already planned some time from that week in Munich and will pick it up later on after your Munich stay. Is that your reasoning? And when you return the car... it's not necessary to drive it into Munich, either. You can drop at the airport, or possibly at a town nearby like Freising (where many spend their final night and then shuttle to the airport.)

Most travel agents IME have traveled in Europe previously, but such travel rarely informs their daily duties... Has your TA done a road trip around Bavaria? Does she have personal experience in those B&B's that she can book for this area? It would be unlikely that her experience matches your plans.

They have a lot of resources the average individual does not have as
well as discounts due to their many affiliations. They can reduce the
effort and also provide me with many more choices.

If I were a TA I would book you in places that offered the healthiest commissions - that reduces your choices and likely means discounts are illusions. I think most posters on this forum (at least those with experience at German B&B's and private accommodations like apartments) will tell you that you'll find more choices and lower prices if you independently peruse the local tourist office websites for accommodations; many or perhaps most of those are accessible in English.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an alpine town you might consider, one that invites individuals like you to book with them in English - it serves as an example of what I'm suggesting; here's the local TI's search page:

https://booking.gapa.de/garmischpartenkirchen/en/accommodation/search

Try narrowing the search to private rooms, pensions, guest houses.

If you find something attractive, you can google the address or establishment to check reviews, if you wish. (I've often booked blindly in Germany over the last 40 years - standards are high as a rule - and I only once booked a dog.)

Contacting owners directly by email means you don't have to concern yourself with time zones and phones.

Anyway, it seems to me you can ask for recommendations from your travel agent in this town or that town, then check her results against what you are able to find on your own at sites like the Garmisch-Partenkirchen site (or booking.com or other common engines, which also offer B&B's.) Maybe you accept some of hers, maybe stick with the ones you find...

It's always a bit of work to do your own searching, but it's more likely to turn up places that meet your personal expectations.

You may be interested in previous discussions on the question you raise:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/using-a-travel-agent
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/travel-agent-yes-or-no
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/to-use-a-travel-agent-or-to-not-use-a-travel-agent-that-is-the-question

There are so many places you might visit in a week that you really need to be specific about what kind of experience you want, if possible.

Wow, Russ! Thank you!

What an informative and generous reply! You cleared up a number of things. Yes, you are right; TAs are probably much like realtors, or at least my experience with realtors! They prefer to show you what pays the highest commission. I can't blame them as it is their living - but do not want to make poor choices. I will take your advice and do my own searching and still take a look at her suggestions as well. On my own, I have already found and booked the best deal on airline tickets ($961 each; RT non-stop from LAX to Munich on Lufthansa) as well as the Danube boat/bike river cruise ($1500 each includes electric bike, double room with huge opening window on upper deck, meals, etc) .. so that is in place.

The week after the river cruise is a bit more complicated for sure with the road trip and all driving & lodging. Thank you for the suggestion of the town Freising, outside of Munich. You make an excellent point. In my research, I discovered that renting a car in Passau was not really possible. It is ideal but not do-able. I discovered that there seems to be only car rental one agency in Passau and they are only open til 10 or 11 am on the Sunday we disembark. I am not sure we will disembark in time enough to get there. Plus, they have a very limited choice of cars. We want a GPS and an automatic. So, because we have to fly out of Munich, I thought it made the most sense to go to Munich to get the car - but maybe not! Kind of a waste of time so I see your point completely. I will definitely look into that.

Here's what we have roughly come up now for a road trip: 8 days and nights:
Start in or near Munich (wherever car is rented)
Start on Sun., July 29th after renting car: Drive to Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Linz, Český Krumlov, and Prague and then back to Munich to fly out on Monday noon Aug 6th. So that's 8 days and nights of road trip and lodging. What do you think of this itinerary? I have mapped it and I think it is doable with not too much driving each day. But I am just not sure. Honestly, this is our first trip to Europe and I feel like we are flying blind a bit (so to speak).. but I feel that all will be interesting no matter what... I am just trying to make some good, wise & fun choices.

You really seem to have a feel for what we are trying to do here and I greatly appreciate you input.
Again, thanks Russ!
Just FYI: Our river cruise: The Danube Waltz by BIKE + BOAT Passau-Budapest on the MV Carissima: https://en.radreisen.at/austria/bike-and-boat/danube-waltz-bike-and-boat-mv-carissima

"I discovered that there seems to be only car rental one agency in Passau and they are only open til 10 or 11 am on the Sunday..."

I think there's both an Avis and a Sixt - but if you haven't yet spent time in Passau, it's a good idea to stay. It's a completely lovely little place you can negotiate on foot. (We stayed overnight there 2 years ago prior to a day cruise to Linz.) Stay the pm and get the car on Monday.

Another idea might be to hop on a train to Regensburg, a great old-world city with UNESCO World Heritage status. The trip takes about 1.5 hours and €28/2 ("Servus Ticket".) See Regensburg and then get your car there sometime on Monday. After Regensburg, you would be poised for a visit to Franconia in northern Bavaria (a personal favorite and a terrific part of Germany) and/or Prague. (Munich is of course possible as well - it's about 2.25 hours by direct regional train from Passau and about the same cost.)

"Honestly, this is our first trip to Europe and I feel like we are flying blind a bit (so to speak).. but I feel that all will be interesting no matter what..."

If I'm being honest, your newness to Europe is the reason you've planned 8 destinations in 8 days... That's not odd at all back home but in Europe, especially in this part of Europe, the interesting things to see and do are much more tightly packed - and in fact it will probably be MORE interesting if you see fewer places and drive fewer miles. For example... leaving aside what's WITHIN Salzburg and Berchtesgaden (which could be done from a single base actually) for the moment... What about these places a short drive OUTSIDE S. & B.?

Herrenchiemsee (Island palace, ferry)

The chairlift at Aschau (near Herrenchiemsee) - nice views from up top

Hohenwerfen Fortress (tour, falconry show)

Burghausen Castle

Eisreisenwelt

While it's true you would probably enjoy yourselves on a long driving route... I do think you'll go home with a greater number of memorable experiences if you can somehow manage less time on the asphalt.

The other concern... maybe you are tea drinkers but I really enjoy the breweries, brewery-restaurants, and brew pubs of Bavaria... check out this map just for the beer mecca of Bamberg and surrounds!! If you want to try some of those at will, or some of the Franconian wines, then the tighter your driving schedule, the greater the chance of driving under the influence (and permissible German blood alcohol percentages are quite low by comparison with the states.) This is one of many reasons I travel by train. By car, I'd want a less demanding driving schedule.

If either (or both) of you are beer drinkers, then I would highly recommend Kloster Andechs, in Andechs, which is near Munich. This is a monastery where beer has been brewed by Benedictine monks since 1455. There are places to eat also, and for me, there is nothing better than beer, pretzels, and weisswurst there on the terrace on a warm afternoon. Go to http://andechs.de/en/ for information. There is a very interesting abbey on the grounds, and free parking close by. If you are not fans of beer, then your time would be best spent elsewhere.

Drive to Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Linz, Český Krumlov, and Prague and then back to Munich

Can I stick my oar in here?

I'm very curious about which places you have chosen and why. You are planning a long drive all the way to Liechtenstein but not into the mountains of Switzerland not a million miles further. You have the burden of paying for and driving in the long Austrian tunnels and having to buy both Austrian and Swiss Vignettes (and of course the mandatory for Austria IDP) but you are only going to Liechtenstein. Why? There's nothing there. Really. Is it just to check off a box?

I understand how difficult it is as a first time visitor to whittle down all the fabulous things that are here. Like opening up a chocolate box and not wanting to miss out anything. I've done it.

Please take a moment and explain what it is about the list that attracts you to each place. Many of us here have intimate knowledge of all of them, some like me many but not all, but as a collective brain you have so much more knowledge here than any travel agent can possibly have - and we have no profit motive. The more you share the more we can help, and you will wind up with a trip you will love.

anyone know of a travel agent who speaks English who can book the car and the lodging along the road trip

when we get done with you, it will be you. Well done on already getting the flights on your own.

Liechtenstein is one of several European mini states, but that doesn't make it interesting at all. If there weren't any Liechtenstein signs
you wouldn't even realize you are in a different country. The capital town Vaduz is sort of boring and the countryside is under average as far as the Alps are concerned. If I were you I wouldn't go to Liechtenstein. You intend to drive too much. Less would be more. Drive to Innsbruck straightaway from Munich.

Thanks Nigel and demag! I am so impressed by the help that you and others have offered me on this forum. I appreciate the comments about using a travel agent... I agree... I can figure this out myself -
and, after all, who best knows what we would like - but us! But your help is absolutely invaluable as I negotiate all the many choices. Good info on Lichtenstein -- I believe we'll skip that!

And I agree.. my initial road trip itinerary was waaay too much for 8 days. Yes, the old adage that less is more has often been a lesson for me. Again, thanks so much!!!

A layman's opinion. Yes, you are trying to hit as many of the 'big names' as you can in your original schedule, and you will end up feeling like taking another holiday afterwards to recuperate.

Option A: Spend the first night in Passau, it has a pleasant old town and waterfront. Rent an auto the next day, set off to the Berchtesgaden area, via splendid Burghausen, and spend 3 or 4 nights here: you could easily spend the whole week. From here you can delve into Salzburg for a day or two by car (or by local bus - cheap and less hassle). A few local attractions and places off the top of my head: Ramsau and it's famous church, Reit, Ruhpolding, Bad Reichenhall, Herrenchiemsee Palace, salt mines, caves, Eagle's Nest, beautiful Konigsee and the Jennerbahn, a day trip to Halstatt or to the lake area east of Salzburg. Then leave the Berchtesgaden area for Oberammergau to spend 3 or 4 nights, stopping off at Bad Tolz and Benediktbeuern on the way: you could easily spend the whole week here as well. Within easy striking distance are the Fussen area with it's famous castles, Mittenwald, Innsbruck, Ettal Abbey, Linderhof Palace, Wieskirche, Murnau, Andech Monastery to name a few.

Option B: Train to Munich on Sunday and base in Munich for a week, using public transport to reach some of the closer places mentioned above as well as Nuremberg, Regensburg, Landsburg, Dachau, Ulm. Munich itself is worth a good three days.
Whatever you choose, the fewer the BnB's, the more relaxing you will find it. Others might argue differently but I think Oberammergau and Berchtesgaden are both close enough to the airport to avoid spending your final night elsewhere, given your departure time. Delivery of the car in Munich is a breeze.

Book your own car, use www.AutoEurope.com. It's a straight forward process on their website, they show the options of automatic drive and a GPS (separate charge for the GPS, paid locally, will be about 60 dollars or euros, can't remember), choose the 'Super Cover' coverage, and the final quote should mention the drop-off fee. Book your own accommodation: once you have decided on your itinery, shout up again if you have any questions. You will feel empowered, nothing to worry about.

Thank you Gunderson!

I just created a New Topic based on all the great direction from people like you. I love a lot of what you have suggested here. Thank you.

The new post is entitled: "8 Days --- Passau to Munich: What to do? Where to go?"

We are refining as we go. This new post gives more detail and hopefully it is helpful.

Thank you again for all you offered. You are very generous!