trizzy

My question is regarding vignettes in the below listed countries? Does anyone have experience or know if they are needed and how much they cost currently? Countries I will be driving through include Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria with a chance of Slovakia and Slovenia.

I will be tentatively picking up and returning a rental car in Amsterdam for a 3 week period where my plans are to visit Krakow, Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Munich with a few stops in between. There will be 2 of us traveling and we both have had previous experience driving in Europe, but not within the countries mentioned above.


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

T

hetismij2

You will need vignettes for Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland should you go there, and a milieu sticker for German cities - that your hire car company has to organise. Make sure you are allowed to take a hire car into all those countries.

There is no toll on Dutch roads, only on a couple of tunnels which don't affect your route. Ditto (for now!) Germany, but if you want to take the car into Munich you will need the milieu sticker.

Russ

Before entertaining any vignette worries you should find out whether the company you plan to use permits its vehicles to be driven in those countries you've listed. Most rental companies do not permit you to take their cars into one or more Eastern European countries.

trizzy

Thanks for the responses I've checked with the rental company (hertz) and of course I got someone from the armpit of the usa who thought it was pretty funny that there was a country called "Hungry".

They mentioned there were restrictions but couldn't afford me much of an explanation on what the restrictions were.

Does anyone have experience with renting and driving around these countries (Germany, Austria, Czech, Hungary)? Any rental company recommendations? I went with Hertz as I am a member and can get a nifty discount, but am open to any functional rental car company that will allow me to drive in central europe. I may have to make a new post...

T

ParisAmsterdam

Call AutoEurope.com They are based in Maine and have an 800 number. They are brokers and can get you the best deal. Just as important, they have staff who are knowledgeable. They won't even giggle if you ask about driving to Turkey! LOL

nytraveler

Where you can take a rental car depends on the rental company, where you pick up the car and what type of car it is (they are usually much more stringent with the automatics and the mid size and larger, more lenient with the compacts and smaller).

However, I think you have another potential problem. We have done MANY road trips in europe and been to many countries - but not SO many countries and cities in so little time. I fear it will be a lot more road/driving (which can be fun in some places with the right car) and packing/unpacking, checking in and out than seeing sights or enjoying the countryside.

Russ

I don't rent cars anymore - I never had a rental disaster, but it's so much more hassle overall IMO than train travel, especially when visiting major cities (like you are planning to do.) Europcar (which I booked through AutoEurope) worked alright for me. But that was just my experience...

Rental outfits seem to have a LOT of VERY unhappy customers who vent over on Tripadvisor/Germany; I'd read up there if you want more personal feedback:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...g-Germany.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...z-Germany.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...urt_Hesse.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...urt_Hesse.html

tomboy

I've gone thru Gemut.com (based in Oregon) a number of times, all very satisfactory. 1st and 2nd times were in Germany, their specialty. 3rd was for rentals for driving thru Czech and Slovak Republics. 4th time was for driving in PO, CzRep, SlRep, Austria, Hungary. 5th and 6th times were in France. I felt their service was a little more personal, and at a good rate.

trizzy

Thanks tomboy I'll give them a check.

Not a fan of travel by train just my personal preference, I find the spots in between the cities usually afford the greatest experiences "Life is a journey, not a destination" haha!

Previously I have traveled by train exclusively as well as driven and feel like I experienced and enjoyed my time so much more when I drove. Personal preference.

Thanks for everyone's advice!