Great advice about accomodation and trains in Amsterdam. Thank you! After a week with the grandchildren near Frankfurt, we thought we would spend about three days driving through the black forest, spending the night in Baden-Baden, Strasburg and Zurich, then taking a scenic train to Garmisch for three more days with the family. (The family would drive to Garmisch directly) This gives us all a break. Any comments on this plan would be greatly appreciated. Should we make reservations along the way? Should we drop the car off before the Swiss border, if so where?

Check what the drop charge would be for a Zurich drop - it might be minimal. You have to compare that against the costs to move all your crew to a train station from the rental office if you drop in Germany and have to make your way to Zurich by train.

If dropping is the cheaper way to do it, you should probably dump the car in Basel - I don't think a drop charge would apply in the 3 country corner that is Basel. You can take a direct train from there to the Zurich main station in under an hour for less than 20 Euros.

Konstanz is another option for a drop but Basel is closer to Strasbourg by about an hour.

Taking a car from Germany to Swizterland will cost you extra. We wanted to drive into Basel for a day trip and it was something like 30 Euros a couple of years ago.

You only have 3 days. Depending upon what you want to do, you might change your mind about going to Zurich.

What are your interests? Germany is my favorite country and there is a lot to do.

Hi Aussiemaid,

The train trip from Zürich to Garmisch is very scenic; I've done it a few times. My favorite route is via Innsbruck, so you get to roll through the Tyrolian Alps.

If you buy your ticket 90 days early, you can snag a great deal. Take a look at

www.rail.ch

www.bahn.de

and get the best price.

Have fun!

s