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Anyone do a car off and on?

Posted by (Tacoma, WA, USA) on

So, far, it looks like we will be spending some time in Paris (do NOT want a car) some time in the French countryside (Normandy and further south to childrens' ascestral home county- do want a car), head to Germany (might want to take the train, as it will be winter, and I will be leaving husband at home and only taking my girls), and then be basing ourselves out of one town (will want a car at least part of the time).

Will I be shooting myself in the foot to get a car for two car rental periods? Or is it best to just suck it up and drive back to Germany? It's not that I am incapable of longer drives; I'd just like to opt out for once, but not if the cost is way too prohibitive. Thoughts? Experiences?

Posted by
10344 posts

You mentioned the cost of driving a rental car: gas is currently (as of Sept 15) averaging about $7.00 per gallon in Germany, diesel about $6.00 per gallon--and on a long road trip, racking up lots of kilometers, your fuel cost will be a significant cost and one you may want to consider in making decisions between train and car.

Posted by
671 posts

Kent and Steve, thank you! Last trip, we had the car (van) for a long stretch and then dropped off before Berlin, but there were six of us (two adults, two older kids) and the van was diesel, so the costs ran in our favor over the train. This time will be close- maybe we will do our bigger cities along the Rhine before heading to our base (small town, relatives, less public transport) and then pick up a car again. (Or maybe we will do the trip in reverse, not sure of the order, yet- depends on how we lay-out over Christmas time, which will need to be with my grandfather.)

Posted by
4132 posts

So, rent a different car in each of the two places you will need them.

What is the down side? If you are worried about cost, a few phone calls will tell you what that will be.

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