Car rental question-is this a bad idea?

Most car rental companies (if not all) in Belgium allow you to drive to Germany and back. It is probably not economical to rent a car and drive substantial distance for just one person comparing to train.

Thank you for the quick response. He would have his cousin in the car with him as well.

For calculating routes, distances, driving times, and how much it will cost, I recommend: http://www.viamichelin.com/

For Waterloo (Belgium) to Leipzig viamichelin shows:

• Costs 80.66 € (Toll 0.00 € | Petrol 80.66 €)
• Time 07h14 with 06h46 on motorways (not including any stops)
• Distance 701 km with 677 km on motorways

I would be frazzled after 7+ hours on motorways/autobahnen. It would be better to share driving with his cousin.

There is usually no issue taking a hire car into a different country, so long as you tell the hire car company and return it in the same country you hired in, and you don't plan to take it to places like Albania, Russia, Belarus etc.

I love driving in Europe. Especially on the autobahn. No one ever passes on the right (or left, in British Isles). The trucks (mostly) stay in tight caravans and don't pass each other on a hill. And the rest stops typically have quality coffee and snacks.

Once he gets a car, starts filling it with provision and shed layers of clothing, why would he want to go through the hassle of repacking again?

If his cousin helps with driving, they can easily make it. Or, break the trip in half and spend the night near a happy, Dortmunder Beer Garden!

Your husband needs to be aware that, unlike US companies, European companies will charge for a second driver, but it is a good idea to have one for such a long trip.

Tell your husband he won't have any problems driving in Germany. Just don't get in the left lane unless you're passing. Germans on the autobahns are rather aggressive on those driving in the left lane--flashing lights, etc.

And if he's into history and off the beaten path battlefields, an automobile is the only way to efficiently see such sites quickly. And the boys will be able to see so much more via automobile.

FYI: I usually book through AutoEurope.com, a consolidator in New England. I will double check with Hertz and see if my Gold Card discount is better. Sometimes yes, sometimes no vs. AutoEurope.

I think it is a great idea!

The roads are great, the drivers well trained so the roads are safer, excellent rest stops with fresh cappacino. Read the small print carefully, I have seen many restrictions but they vary from agency to agency and one that allows Belgium to/from Germany should be easy to find. He could do a loop and explore quite a bit rather than drive straight through.

It is worth learning the road signs, there is a page of them in Europe Through the Backdoor. And it helps to know a few words like "Ausfahrt" means exit and that "stau" means traffic jam.

One advantage you may have, it is a) still an advantage, and b) you'd view it as an advantage, is the hire car will have Belgian licence plates. Belgian drivers have a wee bit of a reputation.

One other thing about Belgium is you also need to know the Dutch and French translations of the place names. If you are going for example to Mons, in French speaking Belgium, the signs in Flanders will point to Bergen.

Thank you for all of the helpful replies. He has driven before in France twice and Portugal twice so he is not at all worried about driving in Europe. I am the one that always does the worrying. I think driving is definitely the route he is going to take :)