Alpine Driving
Apr 28th, 2004, 11:00 AM
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Alpine Driving
Is this possible to do in 1 day: Pick up the rental car in Kitzbuhel at 9AM, drive to the top of Grossglockner and return the car in Salzburg that same evening? Is it worth it?
Can only afford to rent a car for one day, but I fear this might be too ambitious.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Can only afford to rent a car for one day, but I fear this might be too ambitious.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Apr 28th, 2004, 12:11 PM
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To give you a succint answer:
Can do. Is worth it. Go for it.
I would work out with Avis a "late drop" in Salzburg. The easiest Avis office to reach in Salzburg is near the train station. It is just a short walk across the "platz" in front, and along a street, to a right turn. (from our way).
Please notice that the "top of the Grossglockner HochAlpenstrasse" is not the end of the road by any means. If you approach from the north, I strongly suggest going all the way to the national park and its viewpoints. Otherwise you miss more than half.
If you approach from the south, go to the national park area first and then drive over it.
If you drive sensibly, the road is not terrifying. I have been over it several times, with me at the wheel, and my partner at the wheel.
There are viewpoints all along to help you enjoy the scenes.
I endorse it. But remember it is a toll road, and it is not cheap.
Can do. Is worth it. Go for it.
I would work out with Avis a "late drop" in Salzburg. The easiest Avis office to reach in Salzburg is near the train station. It is just a short walk across the "platz" in front, and along a street, to a right turn. (from our way).
Please notice that the "top of the Grossglockner HochAlpenstrasse" is not the end of the road by any means. If you approach from the north, I strongly suggest going all the way to the national park and its viewpoints. Otherwise you miss more than half.
If you approach from the south, go to the national park area first and then drive over it.
If you drive sensibly, the road is not terrifying. I have been over it several times, with me at the wheel, and my partner at the wheel.
There are viewpoints all along to help you enjoy the scenes.
I endorse it. But remember it is a toll road, and it is not cheap.
Apr 29th, 2004, 05:44 AM
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Bob_Brown: Thank you so much for answering my question so thoroughly! Especially, since I was having such a difficult time gauging how long it would take us to drive this route. Rented the car and am looking forward to some thrilling driving!
Andree: Will do. Have a great trip.
Andree: Will do. Have a great trip.
Apr 29th, 2004, 07:43 AM
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Guys you are test my memory on costs. I paid in schillings the first time and in euros the most recent time in 2002.
I recall 30€, but as I said, that tests it. I cannot be sure because we paid cash and have no record of the transaction any more.
If you are going to drive it on more than one day, or more than way on one day, you can pay just a little more for a seasonal pass. The marginal cost is very small. The scale is set to get a good chunk of the tourists' money. The residents who know about it, buy the pass at the opening of the road and pay the fee for the whole summer season just once.
We found out about it from Frau Kramser who runs Landhaus Christof in Heiligenblut, which was our abode for 4 nights while we toured that area.
You need a map of Austria to follow the routes, but from Kitzbuhl you can drive to the approach from the north AND return to Salzburg that way. By paying the seasonal fee, it will cost you a little more but you will get two whacks at it.
I know, the cost is a factor. Well, if you take the southern approach, you go through a long toll tunnel, the Felbertaurentunnel. The route goes through Lienz which is well to the south of Heiligenblut. It is fairly scenic,but a major deviation from your primary target.
To return to Salzburg, the most direct is right over the top of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse! If you go another way to avoid the Grossglockner, you still pay toll on a a highway tunnel on the autobahn from Salburg to Klagenfurt.
Looking at the scenery is the main reason you are going, and that can take up some time. That is the reason i suggeted you arrange for a late rental car drop in Salzburg. I think such is possible. (I hope it is possible.)
I know I have dropped cars at airports before opening hours.
I do suggest you be at the rental office before opening time, get your car, and be on your way.
We drove from Langenfeld in the Ötztal past Innsbruck, south on the Brenner Pass into Italy, and then east across northern Italy to Bruneck and then back into Austria to Lienz. Then we ascended the Grossglockner and took the turn out to the national park viewing areas before continuing on to Salzburg. We got to Salzburg about 6:30 PM or so that same evening. It was a long but rewarding day.
That is why I say you can make the trip that you describe, but because there is so much to see, I suggest starting as early as you can and covering your bets by arranging, if possible, for a late return of the rental car.
Also, I don't know how you are with manual transmissions, but usually engines in those European cars are small. You need the manual shift to avoid losing key power in the transmission. Also, gearing down is vital on the downhill plunges.
Even so, I thought it prudent to stop several times and let the brakes cool.
We had an Opel Astra and the gears were such that 2nd gear was too slow and 3rd let the car go too fast. I either held up traffic or used my brakes.
At one of the view points on the north side, there is a decent restaurant.
The owners are very adept with English.
I recall 30€, but as I said, that tests it. I cannot be sure because we paid cash and have no record of the transaction any more.
If you are going to drive it on more than one day, or more than way on one day, you can pay just a little more for a seasonal pass. The marginal cost is very small. The scale is set to get a good chunk of the tourists' money. The residents who know about it, buy the pass at the opening of the road and pay the fee for the whole summer season just once.
We found out about it from Frau Kramser who runs Landhaus Christof in Heiligenblut, which was our abode for 4 nights while we toured that area.
You need a map of Austria to follow the routes, but from Kitzbuhl you can drive to the approach from the north AND return to Salzburg that way. By paying the seasonal fee, it will cost you a little more but you will get two whacks at it.
I know, the cost is a factor. Well, if you take the southern approach, you go through a long toll tunnel, the Felbertaurentunnel. The route goes through Lienz which is well to the south of Heiligenblut. It is fairly scenic,but a major deviation from your primary target.
To return to Salzburg, the most direct is right over the top of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse! If you go another way to avoid the Grossglockner, you still pay toll on a a highway tunnel on the autobahn from Salburg to Klagenfurt.
Looking at the scenery is the main reason you are going, and that can take up some time. That is the reason i suggeted you arrange for a late rental car drop in Salzburg. I think such is possible. (I hope it is possible.)
I know I have dropped cars at airports before opening hours.
I do suggest you be at the rental office before opening time, get your car, and be on your way.
We drove from Langenfeld in the Ötztal past Innsbruck, south on the Brenner Pass into Italy, and then east across northern Italy to Bruneck and then back into Austria to Lienz. Then we ascended the Grossglockner and took the turn out to the national park viewing areas before continuing on to Salzburg. We got to Salzburg about 6:30 PM or so that same evening. It was a long but rewarding day.
That is why I say you can make the trip that you describe, but because there is so much to see, I suggest starting as early as you can and covering your bets by arranging, if possible, for a late return of the rental car.
Also, I don't know how you are with manual transmissions, but usually engines in those European cars are small. You need the manual shift to avoid losing key power in the transmission. Also, gearing down is vital on the downhill plunges.
Even so, I thought it prudent to stop several times and let the brakes cool.
We had an Opel Astra and the gears were such that 2nd gear was too slow and 3rd let the car go too fast. I either held up traffic or used my brakes.
At one of the view points on the north side, there is a decent restaurant.
The owners are very adept with English.
