I am planning a trip to Germany and Austria next october for 16 days. After running the Berlin marathon, me and my wife are going to take a train to Salzburg and spend 2 days.Then we plan to rent a car to visit the Salzkammergut area (Gmunden?), Grossglockner (Heiligenblut?), Berchtesgaden (Schonau?), Mittenwald, and Romantic Road. Then we plan to drop off the car in Bamberg or Heidelberg and get a train to Frankfurt to fly home. We will be glad to receive sugestions!

It's much easier (and shorter)to get to Frankfurt by train from Heidelberg than Bamberg. In fact, depending on when your plane leaves FRA, you might be able to spend the night in Heidelberg and get to the FRA airport in time for your flight. Check http://bahn.de for schedules.

If you have time while you still have the car, take the short run from Heidelberg to Speyer and- if you have more time - on to the Weinstrasse (Neustadt a.d.W. and towns and villages north and south of it), you might catch one of the wine festivals.

We've taken the train both from FRA to Bamberg and Bamberg to FRA.

I'm not sure what is meant by it being much easier from Heidelberg to Frankfurt as it is not at all difficult from Bamberg. Maybe the train in Heidelberg picks you up at your hotel, but I doubt it.

It is a 2 hour 23 minute ride from Bamberg, and only 50-55 from Heidelberg.

There's also a bus you can arrange from Heidelberg to the Airport. 29 euro one way, door to door. http://www.cvb-heidelberg.de/e705/e743/index_eng.html

Thanks everyone. Would you please comment about these places: Gmunden,Heiligenblut and Schonau...

Come on, Rufus. No need to be sarcastic. We are all trying to help travellers to enjoy their trip. I think the difference between 1 hour and 2 1/2 hrs. makes it an easier trip.