Rental car and B&B suggestions in Germany, Nov 2012

thanks for all the helpful comments! i do regret that we are going to miss the christmas markets - i love them!
i appreciate the restaurant recommendations, too - i hadn't thought to ask for those! i am sure we will find lots of great places but it's always nice to have some recommendations as well.

Hi Lara, The extra fee for driving on Austria's highways (not secondary roads) is only 8 Euro, which is to buy the "Vignette" (a toll sticker for you windshield) that allows driving on highways. I believe you'd also need an IDP (Int. Driving Permit) from AAA for about $20. We've had good experiences and prices renting through www.gemut.com. We also use our AmEx card for the rental costs and buy the AmEx "Premium Car Rental Protection Plan", which costs approx. $25 for the entire rental period, not per day. I would suggest thinking about staying in Munich your last 2 (or all 3 ) nights. Either all 3 in Munich or 2 in Munich and 1 at the airport. You can pick up the car at the airport and go directly to Garmisch/Mittenwald OR the Salzburg/Berchtesgaden area. Just a note, we visited Mittenwald in late Nov. 2010 and it was pretty dead. Also, Mittenwald/Garmisch to Salzburg is about 3 hours each way under good driving conditions. By train I think (not sure) you have to back through Munich. Salzburg is an easier day trip from Munich. Paul

thanks paul! we'd toyed with the idea of just getting the car as soon as we arrive and driving out that day, but decided we'd rather have a couple of days in munich to get acclimated and then start out.
thanks for the info on the rental car. i will check out that company, and also see what protections my credit cards afford us. and thanks for the info on the distance to salzburg - we will check into that a bit more.

About a 5 or 10 minute drive from Rothenburg is Castle Colmberg. If your boyfriend gets excitement from just driving a BMW then staying the night in a real medieval castle should knock his socks off! http://www.burg-colmberg.de/showpage.php?SiteID=8&lang=2 Mittenwald is nice, but 3 nights is really pushing it. I think you should rather stay the 3 nights in Horn Schwangau at castle Neuschwanstein. Take a day trip to Mittenwald and another daytrip to castle Linderhof...another of King Ludwig's castles. Mittenwald is an excellent place if you're into stringed instruments. Lots of luthiers in the area and high quality violins, cellos, etc.

Paul is correct, you need an IDP to drive in Austria but they are easy to get at AAA and combined with a vignette it's still cheaper than 2 round trip tickets from Munich to Salzburg plus a car gives you a lot more flexibility. Also get the autobahn vignette immediately after crossing the border, if you are on the Autobahn from Munich, there is a big service plaza at the border. My suggestion would be to cut out one night in Mittenwald/Garmisch and stay in Salzburg. Find a hotel with parking outside of the old town and take pubic transportation into the old town. There is a lot to see and the Eulenspiegel is a very nice and reasonably price restaurant near the river. As for "fun" driving, your boy friend should be aware that, as has been said above, the autobahns in Germany are the only ones that unlimited speed zones and they are few and far between. They take driving very seriously in Europe and in both Germany and Austria (Switzerland too) the fines for moving violations are means tested to make sure they get your attention. I think the current record is held by a multi-millionaire in Switzerland who got nailed $290,000 for doing the equivalent of 85 in 50 zone. Some folks just have no sense of humor.

thanks for the additional info! when i say my boyfriend wants to have fun driving in germany, i just mean he wants to be able to drive around a nicer car than his american SUV and wander around some scenic roads. :) it'll be a big change from the DC area!
we've booked all our stays except for munich - still trying to decide where to stay in the city. our first few choices are booked up. so if you have any suggestions please pass them along!

Stay city center near Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt - it's the center of the pedestrian zones with lots of sites, stores, restaurants, etc. The efficient metro system (U-Bahn, S-Bahn) will whisk you straight from the airport to Marienplatz. I don't know your budget, but a very nice hotel near the Marienplatz is the Hotel Platzl. A very nice hotel near Viktualienmarkt is Hotel Torbrau. Some lower cost but still nice hotels are Viktualienmarkt are the Hotel Am Viktualienmarkt and Blauer Bock Hotel.

Hi Lara, For lunch, dinner or just an afternoon coffee and pastry in Mittenwald, we love "Der kleiner Kartoffelsack" in the pedestrian zone. If you like chocolate, get a "Mohr im Hemd" here. www.derkartoffelsack.de For Italian, try "Da Mamma Lucia". We found it to be very good. www.mammalucia.de Paul

Have you picked up Rick Steves' tour book for Germany and Austria. You will find lots of B&B and restaurant suggestions. If you are staying in Munich city center upon arrival in Munich, then you don't need a car until you are ready to leave. I use AutoEurope or Kemwel for my rentals. You can check their prices online. You could pick your car up at the airport or the central train station. Picking up at the airport will enable you quicker and easier access to the autobahn. Pick up a Michelin, or similar, map at a Barnes & Noble and familiarize yourself with your routes. If you rent an Audi or BMW, not sure why, make sure your credit card insurance covers these cars. Mine does not. Also, make sure you take a copy of your contract with you. Watch the the rental agency does not tack on additional fees or charge you more than contracted with AutoEurope. Since you are motoring, you could stay on the outskirts of Salzburg and take the bus into the city. We love Haus Ballwein. I agree with the poster about Mittenwald. Cute town with lots of tourist type shops and not much else. The church is beautiful. I would prefer to stay several nights in Salzburg over staying in Mittenwald. Garmisch is ok, but IMPO too touristy. Just south of Garmisch in Austria is the town of Lermoos which has a lot of hiking. However, you never know what the weather might be like in November. Look at my blog at www.european-trip-2010.blogspot.com to see the cities and B&Bs we stayed at in the areas you are visiting. Have a great trip!