My husband and I are renting a car and driving from Sweden to Germany, ending in Frankfurt. We do not have hotel reservations as of yet for the night before our flight. Has anyone returned a car to the airport? Is it a nightmare that we should avoid? I will take all advice!
Posted by
Carmel, CA
28 posts
It's easier to turn it in at the airport than in the city. There are clearly marked signs for rental returns. If it's a weekday, the morning rush hour traffic is really heavy, so don't stay too far from the airport and give yourself extra time to get there.
Posted by
Malibu
15 posts
I agree, the airport is fine. In addition, if you reserve at the nearby Hotel Ibis, they will pick you up at the airport and drop you off the next day for your flight.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
It actually depends on whom you rent with. E.g. Sixt have a station right next to the downtown Westin Grand and NH. Europcar have a downtown station right next to the IBIS Centrum hotel and the InterContinental etc etc. Returning a car at the airport is easy BUT there's only one gas station to refill the car right at the airport and they charge premiums. So getting it all over with the night before and than taking the S-Bahn into the airport the next morning can be much more relaxing.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Be sure to verify the operating hours of the return location, especially if you decide to return it to the train station. I had planned on returning an Avis car to the Munich Central train station, only to find that it was closed that day because of a relatively minor religious holiday (this was midweek and most businesses were open) and there was no option to return the car and drop the keys in a box, as there would be in the US.