Germany trip planning questions

[rentaweek Posting Member Find all posts View Profile Close rentaweek]

We will be at Residenz Mandelgarten and Ferienclub Erlenbruck. We are thinking of flying into Frankfurt and returning to US from Zurich. Ferienclub Erlenbruck is at Hinterzarten and is less than 2 hours drive to Zurich. It is about 3.5 hours drive to Munich. It seems the airfare leaving from Zuich is $200 less than leaving from Munich. Is it difficult to drive into the Zurich airport?

Please suggest where to get the rental car. Is there a one-way rental car charge in Germany? Should we pick up and return the rental car at Frankfurt for the first week? Then take the train to a big city (such as Stuttgart) in Southern Germany and pick up the rental car there for the second week. Should we return the car at Zurich at the end of the trip or return it at the same location and take the train to Zurich?

Or should we use the public transportation most of the time and get the rental car at the resort towns for a couple days?

Thanks in advance!

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Erlenbruck gives you a free 7 day regional rail pass that will get you as far as Basel, Switzerland and almost to Strasbourg, France.

The biggest disadvantage of not having a car at Erlenbruck is limited rail access to some of the interesting towns across the French border in Alsace-Lorraine, but you can reach several by rail. From Basel there are frequent trains to Zurich

Also, it is a bit of a hike from Erlenbruck to the station, but a pleasant walk. It is significantly uphill on the way back.

[rentaweek Posting Member Find all posts View Profile Close rentaweek]

Thank you for the information. Does Erlenbruck give only one free regional rail pass per unit, or a free rail pass to all occupants of each unit.? Where can I buy a rail pass for other members of my travel party? How much does the rail pass cost per person?

With my company discount, Enterprise Rent-A-Car gives me much better price (without the collision insurance) than auto europe or economycarrentals does. I think my credit card covers physical damage and/or theft of the rental vehicle. I am not sure if the credit card CDW benefits cover the accident cause by natural disaster (flood), rocks cracking the windshield, ...etc. Will I need to get any other insurance?

How much does gas cost in Germany right now?

Thanks in advance!

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I haven't driven in Germany since April so I cannot give you an answer on gas prices currently.

Erlenbruck gives one rail pass for each occupant.

[rentaweek Posting Member Find all posts View Profile Close rentaweek]

Where can I find out more information (routes, schedules, included buses,...etc.) for the free 7 day regional rail pass that Erlenbruck provides?

Please also suggest things to do.

Thanks in advance!

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

You might try contacting the resort. As I recall, the passes cover essentially the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, with some points beyond that, such as Basel, Switzerland. You can walk to the train station from the resort in about 30 minutes. It is downhill to the station, but uphill back.

As to places to see, Basel is one that would be on the list, as would Freiburg, Germany. You are also close to Alsace-Lorraine in France, and that is also somewhere that would be on my list. Stassbourg and Colmar would be the two most outstanding places to visit. The rail pass will get you almost to Strassbourg, but you would have to supplement the last segment. There are also a variety of interesting towns and castles south of those cities, which have rail service but are easier to do by car.

[rentaweek Posting Member Find all posts View Profile Close rentaweek]

It is proving difficult to get consecutive weeks via timeshare exchanges within the area we are looking. We are having a hard time getting one of our weeks. So as a last resort, we may have to rent a place.
Can anyone recommend any apartments/houses that can be canceled a week prior to check-in date? Hopefully, we can still get the timeshare week at the last minute.