Car Rental for Romantic Road

BEA, the "Romantic Road" area of Germany is the area roughly between Frankfurt and Munich. It includes towns such as Rothenburg, Wurzburg, etc. (some of Rick's favourite stops).

I don't know what you call a romantic road, but you can check www.europcar.com
A few years ago we rented from this guys and the price was excellent. It makes a lot of different in price when you rent by the week.We paid $125/week inluding the 18% VAT, in Amsterdam. each country has different price range.

If you can fit all of your bodies and luggage into an economy-size manual-transmission diesel vehicle then it won't be too expensive. Looking for bigger vehicles with automatic transmission will increase the price as will dropping off in a different country...that can add a hefty surcharge.

Try this website: https://www.economycarrentals.com/, their prices are very good and they inclcude everything ! (insurance, taxes, nothing extra and you're totally covered).
My wife and I were there March of 2007 and did exactly the same. We rented a car in Frankfurt and drove all the way down to Reute (right next to Fussen).
If you can, stay in Reute at the Maximilian Hotel. The Koch family owns it and they treat you as if you were their own family, they'll guide you to places of incredible beauty. Their food is delicious and abundant. You can spend relaxing evenings in their game room, jacuzzi or bar -some locals attend it and they mingle with the tourists, it's great- Take a look at the hotel at:
Maximilian
the friendly boutique hotel
Familie Koch
Reuttener Straße 1
6600 EHENBICHL/Reutte- Tirol
Tel: +43 (5672) 62585
Fax: +43 (5672) 62585-54
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.hotelmaximilian.at

Ask us more if you want, we loved it !

Actually, the Romantic Road, as officially defined by German Tourism, goes from Würzburg to Füssen. The Frankfurt to Würzburg and Augsburg to Munich legs were added by the bus company to connect to towns more comonly used by tourists as destinations, and the Frankfurt to Munich route leaves out the southern part from Augsburg to Füssen. See www.romanticroad.com.

In my opinion, having spent five days exploring the Romantic Road by public transportation in October, driving the Romantic Road is a waste of time. The road itself is a boring, winding, two lane road congested with trucks, farm equipment and other tourists. Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Füssen are the high points, and you can go between them by train - less expensive with a €27 Bayern-Ticket (for up to five people) and certainly less hassle than driving. There are a few notable towns in between, Nördlingen and to a lesser extent Feuchtwangen and Landsberg am Lech, but they don't justify the time and expense of a car.

Lee, thanks for the clarification on the Romantic Raod. I was just providing a "rough idea" of the location.

I agree that in most cases public transport is the way to go, but I suppose this depends on whether one wants to get "off the beaten track" to visit some of the smaller towns in the area. Yes, Rothenburg is definetly one of the highlights of the RR.

I've heard that the RR Coach isn't as good an option as it previously was. It was apparently taken over by a different firm last year, and the service has been degraded in some ways. I believe Rick has a note on this in the Germany book?

From around €50 per day incl. taxes and insurances from www.sixt.com. Book a Diesel, it gets much better milage plus Diesel is around $1 per gallon cheaper than regular gas.

When I first started planning my trip, I made a list of all the sites officially on the Romantic Road (22 of them). Several (3) I eliminated because I had already seen them or I could get to them easily another time. Another eight I eliminate because, after extensive research, I could find nothing of significance there. I visited the other eleven, for at least an hour each, often more, even (4) overnight.

Of the five days, three and a half days were spent traveling by bus, not the Romantic Road coach, but local buses. These buses do not go directly between sites on the RR. Their routes are designed for local commuters and they stop in every little "off the beaten track" burg along the Road. I can tell you authoritatively, that 1) you can get to these towns with public transportation, and 2) there is nothing there worth seeing, certainly not at the cost of a rental car.

Simran, I am thinking about the same trip the last week of March/first week of April. Spending a few days in Munich, then picking up a car and going to Berchtesgaden and then back up the Romantic Road.

I understand what some folk say as far as it being a local road and being congested at times, but I thought it would be a nice break from the big cities.

We have been to Rothenburg (loved it), but would like to see Dinkelsbühl and some of the other smaller towns - each have their own unique appeal.

Also, with the dollar being in the toilet, hotel and food expenses are a bit less.

Have you looked at the Romantic Road web site?

Lee, I really appreciate what you wrote. We also plan to go to the "Romantic Road" area per RS suggestion next July. I could not find any town anywhere remotely close to Rothenburg or Fussen to either pick up, or drop off a rental car. I was so frustrated I gave up. From reading your post, sounds like taking a train to Rothenburg, then to Fussen is a good way to go. What do you think? Thanks so much.

One of the greatest benefits of this site is the differance of opinions. It is interesting to raed all viewpoints because we all are trying to make the best of a great trip. I would beg to differ on Lees observation. I for one enjoy driving and am very happy driving through the countryside. I alaways rent a car and drive when visiting Germany. As much as I love flat out driving on the autobahn, we spend a lot of our time on the back roads.
Simran, while it is usually cheaper to rent by the week, only you can decide if the 3 day rental is worth the expense. What is your ultimate goal? What is the best way for you to get to that goal. Are you only interested in the major sights or are you free wheeling enough that you may enjoy wandering around and stopping somewhere that catches your eye?
Let's make traveling great in 08.

I am going to have to agree with John...the car is so much easier when you are "exploring", and allows so much more creativity.

Go to autoeurope.com, and see what you can find on their website. My travel agent (and RS) reccomended them. They are rental car broker that handles all of the major auto rental companies; but they provide the service for a lot less $$$$.

If you have any problems call them at their headquarters, and tell them what you are thinking of doing. They are absolutely wonderful at suggesting alternatives.

I've driven and taken the train. It's possible to take the train, but it was a hike from the station into the center of Rothenburg. Be sure to travel light.

I really liked the Prince Bishop Residenz and chapel in Wurzburg, essentially the North end of the Romantic Road.

I would second the suggestion to get a diesel if you rent a car.