Germany Train Help?

Although I'm not familiar with Villingen, the Deutsche Bahn website will often list commuter, Straßenbahn, or bus stations. The main train station is listed as "Villingen (Schwartzw)", and this is probably close to the car rental agency.

Patricia, I'm sure Lee will be able to provide concise and detailed information to answer this question. However, I'll make an attempt..... I don't generally book / reserve tickets in advance. I usually try to buy locally a few days before I'll be travelling. The problem with pre-purchase on the net, is that you're "locked into" a specific train and departure time. If you miss that train or your plans change, it could be a major headache to change the ticket. I'm aware of some discounts for older local residents, but not sure if "Senior Discounts" are provided for tourists? There appears to be about a dozen stations listed for Villingen. Unfortunately, I'm not sure which one is the correct one to choose for your trip? Good luck and happy travels!

The advantage to reserving ahead is, as you found out, the discounts. But those are non-changeable, no refund, type of ticket so be sure that is what you want to do. The savings discounts are limited in number and not available the day of travel. The Germany site is easy to use. You need to create an account and print out your tickets. Be absolutely certain to have the credit card on you that you used to purchased the tickets. That is the validation.

Thank you for your replies. Villingen does have several stations, again with language issues we cannot find the station nearest the Avis pick up shop. (Avis site only available in German and no tourism office in Villingen). We will be in Basel for several days before leaving, so will likely check out the German Train Station well beforehand and get some help.
Just thought it would be easy to confirm a few travel details from home - but it is off to adventure travels :)

First, you should know that there are three train stations in Basel. One is Basel SNCF (French Rail). You don't need to worry about it. Next to it is Basel SBB (Swiss Rail). The final one is Basel Bad (Badischer) Bf (on the Bahn query page use "Basel Bad Bf"). It's run by German Rail and is a border station for German Rail and for the Baden-Württemberg-Ticket. It's about a mile away from Basel SBB and there are rail and tram (streetcar) connections between the two stations. Basel Bad to Villingen-Schwenningen takes about 2 hours by regional train. You don't need reservations; in fact you can't get them on regional trains. The fare from Basel Bad Bf to V-S is €29 for two (up to five, actually) with a Baden-Württemberg-Ticket. You don't need advance purchase. Ba-Wü-Tickets are not limited in quantity, they are always available at that price from an automat (€2 more at a counter), even right up to train time. They are an all-day, hop on/off ticket for any regional trains in the Land of Baden-Württemberg.

Patricia, use the German Rail query page in English, here. Or, if you are already on the query page, in German, change the language, top right. Do you have an address for the car rental office? If so, enter it as to: and change the radio button from Station/stop to address.

There is an English language webpage for the location at http://www.avis.com/car-rental/location/EUR/DE/Villingen-Schwenningen and the address is Rottweiler Strasse 24. That looks about 2500 - 3000 feet northeast of the station, as the crow flies.

Wow! I am so impressed with the help here.... to the last post, yes that is the correct Avis address, but which train station is that you are referring to?
Again, many thanks to each of you!

Looks like your exact routing depends on when, but for sure you go to the Villingen (Schwarzw) Bahnhof and take a bus, probably from in front of the station. Depending on the time and the bus, you'll go different routes and stop at different places and walk the final way. (Or maybe there will be a taxi from the Villingen Bahnhof.) Put in from Villingen (Schwarzw) and to the address, "Villingen-Schwenningen, Rottweiler Straße 24". When you get the connections, expand them by clicking the '>' symbol for a connection or click "Show details for all". It will show "Villigen (Schwarzw) bus" as a start, the bus number, and your last stop on that route (somehow the names all look alike, don't they). If you click on the bus number, it will show you all the stops on that bus's route. Near the connection information, there will be a symbol of a walking man and the word "Walk" with the walking time. Click on the walk symbol and a map will appear below showing the streets on your walk.

Wow - who knew the DB Bahn website had sooooo much information, even how far the walk is and a map with that. As a newby, both to Europe travel and Rick Steves website, cannot say how much I appreciate people taking time out of their busy lives to help us out here! Happy July 4th to USA and post Canada day to our fellow Canadians - safe and fun travels to all :)

"That looks about 2500 - 3000 feet northeast of the station, as the crow flies." What if the crow has to pull a 40# rollaboard. (LOL)

The advance purchase Sparpreis or Europa-Spezial tickets are only for a trip with at least one leg of an express train (ICE/EC/IC) of the Bahn. They require at least 3 days purchase in advance of travel, but more, up to 92 days is recommended, as the lowest price ticket sell out first and then the fare goes up. But Sparpreis (Savings fare) tickets are from anywhere in Germany to anywhere else and start at €29 per person. Europa-Spezial tickets are from anywhere in Germany to anywhere outside Germany (or visa versa), as long as (in most cases) there are no changes of trains outside Germany, and they start at €39 per person.

LOL about the 40 pound luggage, each, pulled by two old crows... who are blurry eyed and carrying maps and cursing the fact that they have such limited German language skills... having to reach that Avis office by a certain time but really wanting to stop for coffee and kuchen or a cold beer :)

BTW, that €29 Baden-Württemberg-Ticket is valid not only for the regional trains in Baden-Württemberg but also for almost all buses in the area. It should be good for the bus from Villingen (Schwarzw) station to the stop near the rental office.

There's a chance that the Avis folk may speak English. How about giving them a call and asking how they recommend to get from the station to their place. You never know, they may even volunteer to collect you from the station?