Driving from Munich to Barcelona

Old Apr 26th, 2017, 10:19 PM
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Driving from Munich to Barcelona

Group of 4 we are arriving in Munich in 13 September and will be driving thru Europe and flying out of Barcelona. We have leased a car and booked flights, and want to go to the following destinations and any others places that anyone can recommend what would be the best way to go. We want to go to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Zagreb not sure were to go from here we have been to Venice, Milan, Nice, Monaco any suggestions to reach Barcelona flying out of Barcelona night of the 8th Oct and have accommodation booked from the 4th Oct, thank you in advance for your suggestions.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 01:21 AM
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1. Please plot this route on Google maps or similar to get a sense of the days needed for driving from Munich to all of the destinations on your list? Add time for construction delays, border crossings, purchasing vignettes (in local currency); and time for using facilities. And eating, if you're into that.

2. Confirm that you can take a rental car into all of those countries, and that the car will contain all of the requisite emergency equipment specific to each of the countries you will be driving in. There's almost always a drop-off fee for a different location, so check the cost on that if this is a concern.

3. Research each destination and identify your "must see" and "must do." Factor time for hotel and parking logistics.

Kindly return to the forum with at least a draft itinerary and more pointed questions.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 02:20 AM
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Thanks for your reply. I have ploted the driving from Munich to Barcelona taking in to account what we want to see and staying around two nights in each destination max of around 300ks between each stop. I thought someone may have done something similar and could suggest a route we could take.

The car has been leased and we can go to all destinations no problems as it is a brand new car it comes with everything. Some suggestions on which way we could travel and some suggestions as to places that are great to see would be great especially between Zagreb and Barcelona.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 03:40 AM
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"The car has been leased and we can go to all destinations no problems as it is a brand new car it comes with everything." Our brand new car came with everything, as well. Except the required fire extinguisher for travel in Poland; the breath analyzer for travel in France (so we were told); and the gate (for our station wagon) for our dog in the Czech Republic. On this last point we were spared a hefty ticket by a considerate officer conducting random vehicle checks near the border with Germany in an area where, allegedly, stolen vehicles are often transited through. Just saying.

"Places that are great to see" are often in the eye of the beholder. What are the interests of everyone in the group? I could suggest you take an overnight to drive the Großglockner Highway or visit Krimml Falls, but if you're not into nature the suggestions are pointless. And so forth.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 05:02 AM
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I have been on travel boards for 20 years and have never seen anyone request that route before. Even the combination of countries is unusual, when you throw in Spain.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 05:08 AM
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>

I, too, have been on travel boards for decades and never seen anyone make such a request. Sounds horrible. Good luck to you.

2 nights in each destination and 300 km between stops? Are you suicidal?
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 05:29 AM
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Barcelona is extremely far away from Munich and the rest of your itinerary. Why not simply do Central Europe and book a cheap flight to Barcelona from one of the airports in the region? Zagreb to Barcelona is over 1600km (1000 mi), over 16 hours driving non-stop and that's if you take the direct route through Italy and the French Riviera. Take any other route and you will have to go through the Alps, so you can easily add another 50% to 100% to the distance and travel time. Make your way round the itinerary, finish off with Zagreb and Slovenia, drive the 90 minutes from Slovenia to Venice, return the car there (if possible) and take a short Vueling or Ryanair flight to Barcelona.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 05:47 AM
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Can the car lease be cancelled or altered? Can your flight tickets be changed?

If you must keep the car, and must drive it to Barcelona, it would be more logical to see things between Munich and Barcelona, so ditch this itinerary and focus on Germany and France.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 07:19 AM
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This is insanity -- leased car or not.

A seriously doubt anyone on this or other travel boards has tried that drive. You only have 3 weeks from 14 September to 4 October.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 07:37 AM
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So in 20 days you do 15 stops and drive 3500 kms - 2000+ miles (I had time to plot it on google I just added towns from Nice to Barcelona along the seaside, quite easy).

You spend 24 hours just driving on fastest roads according to google, which is notoriously optimistic.

So count 30-40 hours or 2 hours a day, not much.

Great trip. So what was the question ? You have an itinerary a car what else ? You can even stop in Nice and go to the beach.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 06:02 PM
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Thanks for the replies the question was what would be the best way to go as we start in Munich and any suggestions from Zagreb to Barcelona as we have seen south of France Nice, Monaco, Venice wondering if anyone had some suggestions of other destinations of the way they besides the obvious.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 07:21 PM
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I don't get it. Just look at a map. Avoid the blue zones - that is water - and pick your way !
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 07:52 PM
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We are leasing a car in Munich this summer and driving to Spain and Portugal. We live in Oregon so long drives are pretty normal for us - 5-6 hours to Seattle is a typical weekend drive for us. So I understand that everything seems so close in Europe. It's tempting to see as much as possible. That being said, my ambitious summer itinerary is spread over nearly 6 weeks with mostly 3 and 4 nights stops. Unlike the other posters, I think your plan might be doable. You'll still need country specific vignettes and each country's required emergency equipment. You'll need yellow safety vests for one. Consider skipping a destination or two and making sure you have a longer stay somewhere. It's tiring unpacking and repacking a car, finding parking in a big city, etc... But I like a good road trip and often find a week in one place is too long so I say go for it! (If you do go to Vienna, consider a side-trip to Bratislava. It's great!)
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 08:05 PM
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A car is more of a burden in European cities than a help.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 10:12 PM
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WoinParis really you are not nice was any of that called for don't reply with flippant answers. This is were we would like to go for reasons I don't need to share and I thought thee maybe people out there that could suggest something. Sorry I wasted my time.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 10:39 PM
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And I don't understand YOUR responses!

From what I can tell, WoinParis gave a VERY responsive answer to your actual question -- he actually helped you plot a route! I don't understand why you are attacking him. Obviously, I am missing something here....

You don't need to share your reasons. You don't even need to share your reactions or your decisions! But if you want expert advice, then you might want to consider expressing appreciation for whatever you learn -- including what EVERY one who responded to your post said. I'm sure you realize that attacking someone who took the time and energy to try to answer your question isn't a very effective strategy for encouraging others to help you.

Better "waste your time" online with experienced travelers who are actually thinking realistically about your proposal (no matter whether you like what they say or not) than waste about 3 weeks and LOTS of money with a plan that experienced travelers agree is really not likely to be enjoyable. JMO.

My advice? I'm with those who question the merits of your plan -- IMO, you aren't giving yourselves enough time to see any of the places along your route. But that's just my opinion.

I would recommend that you google the term, "sunk cost," and see if that give you reason to rethink your plan.

Good luck! I think you will need it.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 11:28 PM
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Kja really what abuse and saying avoid the blue it's water was not a flippant remark well I do. And for your information We are experienced travellers and travelled extensively all over the world by all means of transport. We are all use to driving distances living in Australia as it can take up to two hours to get to work each day and over 100km each way so driving for three hours every day or second day is nothing hence that is why I want to share what we are doing and if others had some interesting suggestions thanks for offering the good luck I am sure we will have a great time
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 11:56 PM
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Experienced travelers, maybe; experienced in requesting and receiving input, I don't think so.

'nuff said.
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Old Apr 28th, 2017, 01:29 AM
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Ignoring the wisdom offered thus far, I am going to give you the itinerary you are asking for, OP:

Sept. 13: Arrive in Munich. Pick up rental car. Head to hotel and pray they will let you check in early. Use public transit to see Munich.

Sept. 14: Dedicated day for seeing Munich. Ask the hotel for recommendations for Weißwurst Frühstück (white sausage breakfast) and plan to be at one of the places they suggest at 10:00-11:00AM for Weißwurst Frühstück. Go see the Englischer Garten, Marienplatz, plus wherever else you wanted to see that you didn't see on the 13th.

Sept. 15: Leave Munich and drive to Dachau. See the Concentration Camp and leave feeling very depressed. Drive to Nuremberg. Check into hotel. Go into the Altstadt and just wander around, popping into old churches and the castle. If it is of interest, the Nazi DOcumentation Center is most excellent but you will need about 3 hours to do it properly. Take a walk around the zeppelin field.

Sept. 16: Head to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Best to take the train there. Spend the day in this charming walled city. The city museum is most excellent although many skip it in favor of the crime museum but you cane asily do both in a day. Return to Nuremberg.

Sept. 17: Leave Nuremberg and drive to Würzburg. Spend the rest of the day here. If you're lucky, there might be some Federweißer to sample. Stay overnight in Würzburg.

Sept. 18: Leave Würzburg and head to Heidelberg. Spend the rest of the day here -- the castle is a nice walk. Stay in a hotel here.

Sept. 19: Leave Heidelberg and drive to Strasbourg. Welcome to France! Spend the rest of the day here. Stay in a hotel here.

Sept. 20: Spend the day in Strasbourg. Overnight here again.

Sept. 21: Leave Strasbourg and drive to Basel. Check into hotel in Basel.

Sept. 22: Spend the day seeing Basel. Overnight in Basel.

Sept. 23: Leave Basel and drive to Lyon via Geneva. Stop in Geneva for the night.

Sept. 24: Finish your sightseeing in Geneva and drive to Lyon. Check into hotel.

Sept. 25: Lyon. Stay overnight in Lyon.

Sept. 26: Today is a long travel day. You will either be driving to Montpellier or Avignon or Sete. The choice is up to you.

Sept. 27: Spend the day in the city you stopped at. If you picked Sete, head to a beach and chill out or take a day cruise.

Sept. 28: Leave and drive to Toulouse. Overnight in Toulouse.

Sept. 29: Spend the day in Toulouse. Overnight in Toulouse.

Sept. 30: This is another long travel day. leave Toulouse and drive to Bilbao. Welcome to Spain! Overnight in Bilbao.

Oct. 1: Spend the day in Bilbao. See the sight and eat tapas. Overnight in Bilbao.

Oct. 2: This is another long travel day. Leave Bilbao and drive to Zaragoza. Eat tapas and drink cerveza. Stay overnight in Zaragoza.

Oct. 3: Spend the day in Zaragoza OR leave early in the morning and drive to Valencia and overnight there. Eat tapas and drink cerveza.

Oct. 4: Leave Zaragoza (or Valencia) and drive to Barcelona.
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Old Apr 28th, 2017, 01:31 AM
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Driving in Australia (or Canada and the USA) is nothing like driving those distances in Europe (I am from Canada and now live in the UK). I have never done a road trip like this because spending most of my vacation time in a car is not something that interests me (I prefer to spend my time seeing the towns/cities I am visiting) but hopefully someone who shares your interest in road trips will reply.
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