We are picking up a BMW euro delivery car in Munich on a Monday morning and driving to Venice in one day. 1.Best route that is scenic but not too long? 2.How long a drive should we anticipate? 3.Is there a hotel near the euro delivery dealership (north Munich) that anyone recommends? (2 parents 3 kids). 4. We have a hotel in Venice but I am not clear on where we leave the car on the mainland? Thanks!!

There are parking structures right by the train station in Mestre (the last stop before Venice proper, a ten minute ride). I left a brand new car there and found it untouched when I came back. You might be more worried since your car is fancier than the one I leased. In any case, leave no visible items of any interest visible in the car.

When are you arriving in Munich? Why do you want to stay near the delivery dealership?

As I recall, the dealership is on a U-Bahn route. You could stay in Munich and train to the dealership in the morning.

You could buy a family ticket from the Airport to a downtown hotel -- cheap, then from the hotel to the dealership.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn City-Nord in Leopoldstrasse when we picked up our Euro-Delivery in Munich 3 years ago. It was a nice, clean and comfortable business hotel and only cost us about $100 per night back then.

It was a quick taxi ride of about 7-8 Euro. I suggest you take a taxi in order to get some idea of the location and driving situation around the delivery point.

The hotel is situated in a very nice neighborhood with lots of exotic cars parked on the streets overnight, but I'm sure the hotel can help you with paid and covered parking nearby.

Congratulations with your new car.

Thanks for your reply..I don't really want to stay near the dealership but we arrive in Munich on Sunday night from Dortmund, need to return a rental car, get a hotel, then get to the dealership Mon am, get the car and high tail it to Venice. Any idea on how long to Venice? Thanks

If you're returning the car to the airport, why not spend the night there?

Mapquest shows it to be about 5 hours, 11 minutes. With kids & stopping, maybe 6 and 1/2 hours.

Monday mornings are busy for European Delivery. Get there early (when it opens). You will still have a 2-hour wait. Good Luck.

Hi mmj1, your question #4 "We have a hotel in Venice but I am not clear on where we leave the car on the mainland?"

When you arrive to Venice drive over the causeway. The actual name of it is Ponte della Liberta. Well I called it a causeway, but guess bridge is a better term.

You will drive into the Piazzale Roma. You will see on your right a multilevel parking garage. Pull in of course. Maybe have some Euro in your hand and when the parking attendant greets you sort of shake hands and hand him the euro's and ask if he will park your automobile in a "good place". A tip at the beginning works best. Tell him how many nights you will be in Venice. And do not look or listen when you see this wondering BMW screeching away from you to its parking place. Please, I am serious, do yourself a favor, LOL. And enjoy Venice!

Mmj - You could do an extremely scenic route through the Dolomites.

The best IMO is the Val Gardena - Gardena Pass - Corvara - Valparola Pass - Falzarego Pass - Cortina route.

To join this route, take the 'Val Gardena' exit from the Brenner Pass autostrada south of Bressanone.

If you don't want to do mountain passes, an attractive alternative is the Val Pusteria route from Fortezza to Cortina via Dobbiaco.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Steve James' suggested scenic route via Val Gardena (Groedner Tal) and Cortina is great, but I wouldn't (or coudn't) do it in one day to Venice. Too may passes and hairpin curves!

The fastetst, and in some stretches fairly scenic route is as follows:

Munich - Salzburg Autobahn A-8 as far as a short stretch after the border crossing into Austria (the A-8 becomes the Austrian A-1), where the A-1 intersects with the Austrian A-10 (about 120km from Munich. Head south on the A-10 to Villach (150km) This whole stretch is scenic and interesting. Sections of it require a toll in addition to the Austrian Autobahn toll (see below)

In Villach, take the autobahn south to Undine (130km). In Italy the autobahn becomes A-23. Continue on the A-23 to Palmanova (19km), and take the A-4 to Venice (103 km). I agree with Michael that parking the car in Mester and taking the train to Venice is a good idea.

The enrire 500km-plus trip will take you about 6 hours.

If you want to add about 50km on a scneic, non-autobahn route: Get off the Munich Salzburg autobahn at Bernau.(about 63km from Munich) Follow the B-305 road to Grassau, Marquarstein, Reit im Winkel, Berchtesgaden, and on to Hallein, where you catch the A-10. Stretches of this routing are on the very scenic Deutsche Alpenstrasse (German Alpine Highway). The road is very good. Bernau to Hallein: About 100km

Now, the Austrian Autobahn toll: You need an autobahn decal to drive on the Austrian autobahns. Don't drive them without it. They wil catch you and it is a very expensiove proposition, and cash on the barrel right then and there, in EUROS. You can get a decal on any of the Ssalzburg autobahn. You can get a decal for 7 days, and it costs about 10 dollars (payable in EURO or on VISA)

Thanks, Where do I get the decal for the Austria autobahn?

You can get it at the rest stop at the German/Austria border.

Many many gas stations in Germany will have the Austrian toll stickers too - there will be a sign saying something like "Vignette hier" or "Pickerl hier" with a red Autobahn symbol (red for Austria). Same price.

We picked up a 5 series in Feb. of 2002.
Fabulous experience. Your dealer or BMW should have sent you a packet on how "to's", if not call and ask them.
Your packet will instruct you how to get there. From downtown Marienstrasse on the train, takes about twenty minutes maximum.
We stayed at the Trypp hotel and it was great. We are going over this February and picking up another one, and are staying at the Comfort Inn. Using coupons. But according to reviews on Trip Advisor it is a very good deal.
It does not sound like you have the time but the BMW factory tour is really unbelivable ( the only 3 story factory in the world, it makes the 3 series )
Good luck!!

kbob, have you returned from the BMW pick up? How did it work out?

I hope they are not still en route to Venice!!

Geez, guess I need to have my eyes examined!