cjtrav

My daughter and I are spending 2 weeks in Austria and southern Germany. Starting with 4 days in Vienna and ending with 4 days in Munich. Looking for help in the middle. Our thought right now is to leave Vienna by train on day 5 by way of Halstatt and spend the next 2 nights in Salzburg. Rent a car there (is it a problem to rent in Austria and return in Germany) and spend the next 6 days wandering aroung Tirol and Bavaria. My daughter would like to be in Rothenburg the last night before heading back to Munich so we're looking for suggestions that include that in the loop. Because it's the middle of October, weren't sure if the weather should be a consideration of where we go. Never driven ourselves in Europe so a little nervous but looking for a new adventure! Thanks for any help!

Underhill

Do you have accommodations in Munich? If not, get them ASAP--because of Oktoberfest things will be tight.

Most car-rental agencies charge a hefty fee for renting in one country and dropping off in another. Check the fine print carefully.

Goldens

The 2013 dates for Oktoberfest are September 21-October 6.

Bellarosa70032

You may want to consider taking the train to Munich from Salzburg, then renting the car at the train station there. The one-way fees usually are 250+ Euros , and that's notincluding the rental fees.

pja1

Hi cjtrav,

You could look into renting/picking up a car in Freilassing, Germany, which is about 15 minutes outside of Salzburg, thus eliminating any drop off fees, plus renting in Germany is usually a bit cheaper than renting in Austria. We've rented cars through Andy Bestor at www.gemut.com for our last 3 trips to Germany, etc. and booked a car again through them for another Germany/Austria trip later this year.

Weather in October shouldn't be a concern at all. We've done many rips to Bavaria and Austria in October and we've experienced very pleasant weather. Cool to warm days and chilly nights and early mornings. Very little rain. That's just what we experienced on our trips.

As for a route... depends on what interests you. You could do Innsbruck area (we love staying in nearby Hall in Tirol), Fuessen (incl. Neuschwanstein and Hohenschewangau castles, the Zugspitze, Linderhof Palace, etc.) to Rothenburg to Munich.

If interested, we have photo's (3 pages of them) at:

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html

Paul

pja1

Since you've never driven in Germany or Austria, be aware that to drive on Austria's highways, you need to buy a "Vignette", which is a toll sticker for the car windshield. You can buy them at gas stations, convenience stores, etc. You can buy them in Germany also. Cost is 8.30 Euro for a sticker good for 10 consecutive days (it's the cheapest version of the toll sticker). A Reflecive Safety Vest is also required to have in the car. Check the trunk of your rental car. If it doesn't have one, buy this when buying the Vignette. It's cheap. We took it home with us and now keep it in our car. Can't hurt to have one anyway.

http://www.austria.info/us/plan-your...a-1084578.html

Paul

Cowboy1968

To rent from Freilassing to Munich should be the cheapest option.

The loop to Rothenburg ob der Tauber will take you far away from your other destinations. You may want to check on a map if it's "worth" it. Especially at the end of that trip where you will have seen many quaint villages or small towns (like aforementioned Hall in Tirol near Innsbruck) I don't know if you will experience Rothenburg as something so way over the top...

The austria.info website which Paul mentioned errs on one account: You don't need the vignette in Austria to drive on any highway, but only on motorways (A or S roads). But your route may take you at least here and there on a motorway if only for a few kms, so the small fee may be worth the peace of mind that you cannot go wrong (which then is a costly misdemeanor).

Austria usually monitors speed limits MUCH more thoroughly than Germany, also and especially with mobile units, and on by-ways. So it really pays off to know the limit.

Regarding your actual routing you have tons of options:

Freilassing/Berchtesgaden - Herrenchiemsee palace - Kufstein - Hall & Innsbruck - and the Füssen area sights which Paul explained. Between Kufstein and Innsbruck you have the Swarovski (sp?) whatsoever World (I forgot the real name, but Google shall know)

A more "alpine" (and more scenic route than the former) route would take you from Freilassing to Lofer (Austria) and via Zell am See or Kitzbühel to the Gerlos Pass and Krimml cascades - and eventually back the Inn valley towards Innsbruck. If you veered off this more direct route at the start towards Bischofshofen you could also incorporate the ice caves (Eisriesenwelt) into your itinerary.

pja1

Hi again,

I agree that Rothenburg doesn't fit nicely into a loop from Salzburg-Tirol-Munich, but it isn't a major inconvenience. Do you have 6 days or 6 nights to "wander around Tirol and Bavaria"?

As Cowboy1968 stated, the Austrian Vignette is well worth the small price for the peace of mind it brings. Fines are very expensive and payable on the spot if caught on a highway without one.

There are "tons of options" as far as scenic routes. If you have 6 nights between Salzburg and Munich, and Rothenburg is a "must see", I'd go with:

Salzburg to Hall in Tirol/Innsbruck - 2 nights.
Hall in Tirol to Fuessen - 2 nights.
Fuessen to Rothenburg - 2 nights.
Rothenburg to Munich.

IF Rothenburg is out, I'd consider adding Zell am See, the Zillertal (Mayrhofen, Zell am Ziller, etc.) or Mittenwald in it's place or simply adding a night or two to one of the others.

All these places are within 2 to 3 hours driving of one another, leaving you plenty of time to wander or stop on your drive from one place to the next.

Paul

AisleSeat

If you decide to rent in Germany don't pick up your car at an airport or train station. That adds 19% to the bill. It is usually worth a taxi ride to a rental lot away from the teain station or airport. It sounds like a great trip.

One thing that is a little cheesy. But fun if they are still doing it. They have had a Bavarian Folk evening with yodeling, slap dancing and a lot more each night at 7 at the upstairs of the Hofbreau Haus. When you go wandering in the Alps souh of Munich you can drive to Garmish on the autobahn then side track about 10 miles to Mittenwald. Then come back through Garmish to Etfal Monastary, Linderhof, Oberammergau, Wiesekirche, Fussen and Schwangau.

Going the other way Rothenburg is a great destination but I would take tge autobahn over the smaller roads.

Enjoy your trip

cjtrav

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. I did know about the 8 euro sticker for Austria, not a problem. Great advice about picking up the car in Freilassing instead of Salsburg and not at train stations or airports. I saved almost half by booking in Freissling and dropping off at an address in Munich that wasn't an airport or rail station. Not sure where it is but I'm sure a taxi driver will be able to get us to the hotel! My daughter is still stuck on Rothenburg so I think we are going to take 3-4 nights at one central place to tour the castles, Zugsptize,Obergammergau etc. Top contenders are Mittenwald, Hall and Reutte. Chose those over Innsbruck, Fussen and Garmisch based on comments on this site that the previous 3 were more picturesque and less commercial but open to suggestions. Thanks again!

pja1

Central location makes a lot of sense. My vote out of your top contenders is Mittenwald. We've visited Reutte and I wouldn't even have it on my list.

Paul

AisleSeat

Sounds like a good start. Btw the 19% surtax is only when you pick up the car. you can drop it at a train station or airport with no penalty. I will vote with your daughter, go to Rothenburg. It is worth the drive. Use the autobahn to get there quicker. The smaller roads can be congested. I never found much to see in Reutte unless you are going to the sommeroddellbahn luge ride. I think there is one of those near Neuschwanstein. Mittenwald is great to pop in and see one of the violin makers shops. Maybe you can pick out a new fiddle.

Aramis

Mittenwald is commercial - don't be mislead on that account. It is, however cozier than Garmisch, and more scenic the Fuessen.