tapfree

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this information! I've talked to my parents and we are removing Salzburg from our itinerary since our travel would be on the heavy travel days (thank you Cowboy1968 and Travelforbeer). I am feeling better with having the additional time in our locations given that there will be lost days with travel between Munich & Koln and Koln & Berlin.

One other question, since we are returning our rental car back in at the Tegel airport (our plane leaves at 9:40 am) how much time should we allow to get to the airport with traffic to comfortably make our connection?

Travelforbeer

Hi again Tap- Personally I would turn the car in within 24 hours of arriving in Berlin. Use public transportation to get around Berlin and save the cost of parking the car for several days. Then take a taxi to Tegel the morning of your departure. Get to the airport 2 to 2 1/2 hours before your flight. Get your boarding passes at your hotel the night before. Google Tegel airport to get a preview of where everything is located. If you get through security quickly you can always visit the duty free or get a snack (or last beer) before boarding your flight.
I am planning to follow all of these steps when we return from Munich this September.
Have a great trip!!!

tapfree

Thank you! You all have been a huge help to me with this planning process, especially for all the helpful advice given I'm traveling with my elderly parents.

I had wondered if we should turn the car in when we arrive in Berlin. Do you feel that my father be able to use the public transportation? Although he says that parachuting out of a plane is still in his future, I know that he isn't as agile as he used to be!

traveller1959

Berlin is easy to drive, but it is quite difficult to find parking. Usually you drive into a parking garage for parking. Dropping off your father at points of interests and then driving into the nearest parking garage and walking back to meet your father would be the most comfortable solution for your father.

Public transport is pretty convenient, but you have to walk to the subway stations, walk down to the platforms and up again, so using public transport may be a little bit more strenuous than being chauffeured and dropped off right at the place.

BTW, driving time from Berlin city centre (whereever your are) to Tegel airport takes about 20 minutes. Tegel Airport is very compact and easy to navigate.

FlaAnn

I'm coming late into the discussion, but wanted to second all the good advice given above about the amount of driving you would have been doing! I also wanted to mention that if your father is interested in the US cemeteries, there is one just outside the city of Trier (which is lovely and very historic on its own merits).

The American Cemetery in Luxembourg is where General Patton is buried and it's a really lovely stop, if you would be interested in going via Trier enroute to Koln, or instead of Koln. Trier is about 2 hours south on the Mosel; the entire Eifel region is very scenic and calm, with nice accommodations and friendly "small town" people who are used to Americans due to the bases in the area. The cemetery has a wonderful memorial with the names of all buried there, and lays out the entire Battle of the Bulge on a huge map at the entrance. Patton's grave stands alone, facing those of all the troops buried there(over 5,000). It's really quite touching. It's open 9-5:00 and there is a staff person to answer questions.

I personally love Koln, but you might enjoy the smaller city more? You'll have a wonderful trip wherever you go, and I know your parents will appreciate it very much.

tapfree

Thank you traveller1959 for the help! I might keep my options open and make the decision on the car once we get to Berlin and base our mode of transportation on how he is doing (and how I'm doing)!

FlaAnn, you have given me something to discuss with dad. I am a fan of General Patton and his burial site and the US cemeteries would be something where I would like to pay my respects.

With all the great advice and insight, I am putting to rest some of my anxieties on getting my parents around and starting to feel like this will be a blessing of a memory that I will never get to experience again!