Rental car, Germany to Czech Republic
 

I am planing a trip for next May to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. My plan is to fly into Budapest and take trains from there through Vienna to Passau Germany to rent the car. I though that renting in Germany and returning in Germany at at the end of the trip in Dresden would work better for the car rental.

Any suggestions regarding car rental guidelines from Germany through the Czech Republic would be appreciated. Also any alternative suggestions would be appreciated as well.

Sounds a good plan to me.

Some rentals will 'forbid' you to drive into specific countries with specific makes of car.
I've never ever had a problem going into Czech republic from Dresden.

The car was a must for me but I think you have very good trains from Dresden to Praha. Worth checking if you don't need the car to go outside of cities.

Sorry, but I don't understand this itinerary geographically. Budapest to Vienna to Prague to Dresden BY RAIL makes more sense (to me).

Thanks for the input WoinParis.

We wanted the car to visit smaller out of the way towns. I know having a car in the larger cities is a problem but we do want to visit Cesky Krumlov, Cesky Budejovice, and see the countryside as well.

The only big city we will have the car in will be Prague. The last stop is Dresden where we will return the car and fly back to the US.

I am just concerned about the rental car company's policies regarding crossing borders.

Thanks again.

Dukey1,

That would be a way to do it.

But I am a big fan of seeing smaller towns along the way. The larger cities have their own attractions but I have found that I get a better feel for the country by being out in it, so to speak.

I would rather not spend thousands of dollars for a vacation just to spend my evenings a a Hilton talking with other Americans.

<<I am just concerned about the rental car company's policies regarding crossing borders.>>

You need to check with it - CR used to be a no-go for rental companies.

>>> I am just concerned about the rental car company's policies regarding crossing borders.

To do that, you have to read the terms and conditions, yes those fine prints, specific to each company. They might limit the type of cars allowed to be taken into your target companies as well as surcharges on those cars.

If you are using a third party CDW, you also have to digest the fine prints that come with the insurance.

It would have been helpful to have been informed about your desire to see smaller towns and having a car to do so makes perfect sense.

I also agree with checking DIRECTLY with a rental agency.

Your hotel issue is an entirely different thing IMO.

'You need to check with it - CR used to be a no-go for rental companies.'

Not anymore since this millenium. Not this year, not last year, not the year before, not the one before that, and not the one before that one too. And mybe further back.
With Sixt, Avis and Europcar at least.

Good to know WoinParis

<<I would rather not spend thousands of dollars for a vacation just to spend my evenings a a Hilton talking with other Americans.>>

What a strange remark. First, chauvinistic since it presumes the only people in Europe who travel and visit big cities are Americans, for some odd reason. Second, some strange belief that the only hotels in big cities are Hiltons or some such large, business American chain brand. Third, another odd belief that even if you were in a big city and staying in a Hilton, you would have to spend your time in the hotel talking to American guests, rather than spending your time out in the city you are visiting.

These kind of arrogant remarks show what kind of a traveler you are.

<<I would rather not spend thousands of dollars for a vacation just to spend my evenings a a Hilton talking with other Americans.>>

It's not as though you don't have many options. But I'd be sure to brush up on your German and Czech.

Christina,

I seams that you have very little to do today. Your critique of my travel style is very detailed and well received by others with nothing to do.

I frequently rent cars in Germany and drive them into Poland or CR.

I rent from SIXT and some classes of cars are restricted. The info is on their website.

Last May, when I posted a question about on their Facebook page, they replied within 24 hours.

Mark

'These kind of arrogant remarks show what kind of a traveler you are.'

Might I say that these kind of low grade psycho-something 'in depth analysis' remarks show what kind of person you are ?

BTW, for people used to traveling, talking about Marriots or Hiltons as chain upperscale hotels is quite frequent.

And strange as it is you find in there a lot of englishspeaking people, and a lot of US. At least it was clearly the case last I was in a Hilton (or a Marriot ?) in Koeln. last month. When was it you were in a Hilton ?

We rented a car in Frankfurt to spend a month traveling around Europe. we even got the International Driver's Licenses before going. But we were NOT allowed to take the rental car into the CR or into Poland. We had to go by train. We had no problems in Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, We were well aware of the rules before we left that we could not take it into "eastern" European countries.

Hi Moon.
What kind of car did you rent ?