TrishS

Hi,
I have been researching for weeks and going a little crazy. I have seen some amazing answers to topics so I though I would ask for help.
My husband and I will be traveling for the 1st time to Frankfurt-Switzerlnad-Paris
We will be flying in to Frankfurt: Int. Airport July 17
Here are my thoughts and would love any suggestions.
Arrive Frankfurt 10:45am Rent a car
Drive to see Neuschwansteinstraße Castle
Linderhof Place Austria

Drive to Switzerland spend 5 days
Either drive back to Frankfurt because drop off charges are so high then take a train to Paris
spend 5 days in Paris or drive to Paris?

We then are going to take high speed train to London then taxi to-transfer Harwich to get on a cruise for 11 days. Then fly home from London

This is why we will have luggage and thought a car would be nice.
Any help would be wonderful. The only thing set is our flights and cruise.
Everything else is flexible.
Hopefully I'm posting correctly, it's my first time on this board and not sure. Sorry if not correct.
I couldn't figure out how to tag more than one place. Let me know if I should switch it.

greg

I presume Linderhof Palace near Oberammergau, Germany?
For the car drop-off, you probably need to investigate several places to strike a balance between the cost vs. having to carry luggage on trains. I don't think FRA-Paris drop-off charge is that bad. Hertz is showing about 200EU for that convenience. FRA-Paris train, if you can get hold of an internet non-refundable fare, is about 69EU per person according to www.bahn.com.

adrienne

I would take the train from Frankfurt to Paris. Are you spending any time in Frankfurt or only returning there to drop off the car. If so, then drop it off at the closest spot in Germany to the Swiss border.

I've asked the editors to add tags for Germany and France. Tagging for multiple countries is a computer function rather than a fodor's function. Hold down the control key and click on multiple entries.

Michael

Drop off the car in Kehl, if possible, cross the border and take the TGV from Strasbourg to Paris. If you order the tickets 3 months ahead of time, you will probably get a good deal, but on non-exchangeable, non-refundable tickets.

TrishS

Greg: Yes your correct Linderhof Palace near Oberammergau, Germany. If we did drop off in Paris is it a nice drive? We would could drop down to Geneva and go that route.

adrienne: Thanks for adding the tags and the directions how to do it.

We could spend 2 days in Frankfurt, is there an area of the Rhine river near by that is worth driving to?
Michael:
Just checked out the suggestion: It looks like a good idea. Can't get ours yet ,be price looks good as far as I can check.
How do we get from Kehl to Strasbourg? I'm from California and feel train/transfer challenged. We don't have trains here so I am a little unsure of my self.
Very great ideas. Thanks so much

adrienne

You take a train from Kehl to Strasbourg. It only takes a quarter hour. If you've ever been in an airport you'll find a train station to be much easier.

The trains run every half hour except at mid day. Use the German rail site for schedules:

bahn.de

TrishS

Thanks so much.

Travelforbeer

Or you could drop the car at the Bahnhof in Stuttgart or Karlsrue and jump on the TGV to Paris without having to change trains...in case you have a lot of luggage or don't want to bother with a train change. Just a thought...

TrishS

Since we are coming from Lucern Switzerland that morning I was thinking of getting a train a little closer. I can drop our car off in Lorrach and take a train over to Basel and then catch a 12:30 TGV train to Paris.

How much time do you think we should allow to get to Lorrach from Lucern?
We will be driving on Sunday July 21st.

Michael

www.viamichelin.com will give you distance, time and cost for any itinerary that you specify.

TrishS

I have mapped it but I was just wondering about summer traffic?

Michael

You can specify the date which may change traffic conditions; just try it out.