RC

I'm looking for ideas and info on how best to tour Germany, specifically from Munich to the Alps or to Austria by renting a car. <BR>Any ideas/suggestions on what to do and avoid would be greatly appreciated!

Bob

You can drive from Munich to Berchtesgaden. See that area and Salzburg. Then take Alpine highway from Berchtesgaden thru Reit Am Winkel to Garmisch. (easy one day drive at slow pace). Enjoy Garmisch, Oberammergau and that area. Drive over the Alps one day into Innsbruck. From there, depends on how much time you have. You did not say....one week, two days or one month.

RC

Thanks for the reply, Bob. <BR>I intend to spend about a week to 10 days. Do you have any suggestions regarding car rentals in Germany and anything that I need to know regarding driving across borders?

wes fowler

RC, <BR>I'll Email you in a day or two with four itineraries for southwestern Bavaria (Upper Bavaria). While they originate in a small farming village about 40 miles from Munich, they can easily be adapted to your needs. (I'm sure you have no intention of staying in Munich with an auto!) With the itineraries you'll get to see three Bavarian castles, Wieskirk, the monastery churches in Rottenbuch and Ettal, eleven Alpine lakes and some charming villages. <BR> <BR>Regarding borders, since both Germany and Austria are members of the European Community, you won't encounter any border crossing guards. Do be advised however that to drive in Austria you must have a vignette on your windshield. Nominal in cost for a week's travel in Austria, without it you'll face stiff on-the-spot fines. Here's an extract from the Austrian National Tourist Office website: <BR> <BR>Motorway subject to toll: Austria's motorways and speed roads (also city motorways) are subject to toll. The toll is effected by purchasing a sticker that has to be attached to cars' <BR>windscreens. The annual toll is ATS 550. - for automobiles and motor homes (up to 3.5 tons), for motorcycles ATS 220. - For people on holidays 2-month stickers (ATS 150.-) and 1-week stickers (ATS 70.-) are available. <BR> <BR>Infringements of the toll regulation will be punished with an additional charge of ATS 1,100. - or <BR>an administrative fine. The toll stickers may be purchased at automobile clubs in Austria and abroad, at petrol stations and stores close to the border as well at post offices, tobacco shops <BR>and petrol stations all over Austria. <BR> <BR>Feel free to Email me directly if you have any questions. <BR> <BR>

Michelle

Be careful renting a car in Munich. We rented through Avis and returned the car to the Munich airport. Three months after our return home we received an incredibly large charge on our credit card for supposed damage to the vehicle. We managed to have the charges removed months later but all correspondence had to be handled through Avis Europe.