We will be traveling in SW Germany at the end of the month for 8 days. We fly into Frankfurt with stops including Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Black Forest (staying in Baden Baden) and Mosel Valley (staying in Cochem or Trier). I have found a car online through Auto Europe for the 5 days between Heidelberg and returning to Frankfurt for 235USD (including sales tax but not not insurance -- would get through credit card). At a minimum, we plan to take the train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg. Is it more economical ro travel by rail throughout the visit vs. renting a car? How much sightseeing freedom would we lose by using the rail only? What are the best rail pass options for us?
Thank you (again) for your help!
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%26gt;We fly into Frankfurt with stops including Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Black Forest (staying in Baden Baden) and Mosel Valley (staying in Cochem or Trier).
I would suggest a change in itinerary. Take the train to Heidelberg, then to Freiburg (instead of Baden-Baden). Southern part of the Black Forest is much more interesting than the north. Since you are visiting cities, a car will not help you a lot. Then, rent a car from Freiburg, drive through the Black Forest (although this can also easily be done by train), through Stuttgart (maybe park outside and take a tram or train into the city) and on to Mosel valley.
OTOH, when in the southern or middle Black Forest, there is a scheme of towns and villages that people staying in a hotel or B%26amp;Bs in these towns can use the public transport (trains, buses) in the entire southern 2/3 of the BF for free. Google Konus Card.
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As the distances are not so far you could stick to regional trains. Than you can use the special mini group (2-5 persons) tickets for regional trains.
Baden-Württemberg Ticket EUR 27,00
bahn.de/regional/view/mdb/pv/planen_buchen/l…
Rhineland-Palatinate TIcket EUR 25,00
bahn.de/regional/view/mdb/alle/dbregio/ausfl…
Both tickets do cover nearly all local public transport in their state. E.g. the trams and buses in Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Freiburg and Trier (only buses there).
Validity:
Mo-Fr 9am till 3am next day
Sa,So midnight till 3am next day
Heidelberg - Stuttgart
Here I would recommend the scenic route along the river Neckar.
Give at the DB timetable Eberbach as via station
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/e
From: Heidelberg
To: Stuttgart
Via: Eberbach
and select as means of transport %26quot;only local transport%26quot;
Stuttgart - Freiburg or Baden-Baden
Either via Donaueschingen - Titisee - Freiburg (the Hell Valley Railway) or Villingen - Offenburg (- Baden-Baden) (the Black Forest Railway). Both are really scenic.
Freiburg/Baden-Baden to Cochem/Trier
That%26#39;s a longer trip with regional trains. On weekdays you could use a combination of the Baden-Württemberg Ticket and Rhineland-Palatinate Ticket. On Sa or Su use the Happy-Weekend-Ticket (EUR 33,00).
%26gt; How much sightseeing freedom would we lose by using the rail only?
Concerning the cities: you%26#39;ll rather win
Parking is often not easy to find, never for free and you%26#39;ll end up using public transport there anyway.
You%26#39;ll also win scenery wise, as on the train you can concentrate on the landscape, by car at least the driver has to concentrate on the road/the traffic in first place.
Of course you could explore more places in the countryside by car - but as you have anyway only 8 days the places along the train route will keep you more than busy.
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If all you want to do is visit the center of large cities, the train is best. If you want to visit the countryside and more rural places the car is best. Remember that if you miss an hourly train or bus by a few seconds, that you will have to wait a whole hour until the next one. The car allows you to see things in the countryside at your pace, not public transportation%26#39;s fixed schedule, and you can stop where you want, when you want, not at fixed points that may be distant from where you want to really go. Then there is the matter of luggage. A suitcase thrown in the trunk of the car is no problem, but everytime you make a stop along the way by train you will have to find and use a locker.
There is plenty to see along the way when driving (way too much, and if you stopped to see it all, you would never arrive at your destination). Whereas by rail, you probably wouldn%26#39;t be aware that these excellent places even exist.
I don%26#39;t buy that you will see more from the train than by driving. If you drive properly, leaving a large gap between you and the vehicle you are following, you should be able to view the scenery, not however if you insist on driving on the bumper of a large truck ahead. Another advantage of driving is that most rural accomodations will be much cheaper than in the center of large cities.
From your described itinerary, to me a car would be best. The part of Heidelberg you will want to see is very small and walkable just parking in one garage. Stuttgart has excellent public transportation to take you close to where you are likely to visit and you can just park your car and use it, either downtown or at a more remote park and ride.
And lastly, your being an American, you are used to driving and not taking trains and other public transportation. You wouldn%26#39;t have to worry about schedules and timing activities to correspond to them.
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I would take the car in your case and I agree wiith everything Marcopolko wrote about the advantages of the car. On our recent 3 week trip with a car (parked and took the train to the big cities) we stopped many times for photo ops. During our last week in the Italian Dolomites, Austria and the Grossglockner Road, Mittenwald and Triberg in the Black Forest we had no reservations and just winged it that final week. We knew pretty much the route we were going to take but not exactly where we were going to stay and with the exception of one place, got our cheapest rooms in the small towns at B%26amp;B%26#39;s and small pensions. The people at those places were very nice and helpful and are some of our best memories of the trip. I drove at a nice pace with gaps between me and cars in front as MPolko suggests and saw much more scenery than the times we were on the train. During our first two weeks mainly in Italy we had reservations at each town and thoroughly enjoyed our time but the last week just winging it was a blast. Learn the road signs and if on the Autobahn do not pass on the right and stay out of the fast lane except to pass. Pack light and have fun.
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It%26#39;s true that there%26#39;s a learning curve with trains, and that they require more advance planning.
But driving has its difficulties too. Finding parking. Getting lost while you%26#39;re finding parking. Figuring out what that parking sign really says. Paying those pesky parking fees. Driving when jet-lagged. Navigating your way while driving in unfamiliar territory. Traffic jams (never good when you%26#39;re headed for your departure flight!) And most importantly, the fact that you are having to do all the work. On the train, if you want to use the loo, picnic, or break open a bottle of wine, you just do it. It%26#39;s also a way to mingle with local people a bit more than you could by car. For me, driving is what I do when I go to work. I prefer doing a little planning %26quot;work%26quot; in advance and using my vacation time to really vacation.
I don%26#39;t despise driving in Germany - it%26#39;s okay - it%26#39;s just that I feel more like I%26#39;m on vacation when I%26#39;m not doing what I have to do all the time back home.
With the train you%26#39;ll have more flexibility if you pick up a pocket train schedule from one of the manned stations for the rail route you%26#39;re exploring. If you%26#39;re staying in Cochem and you got a pocket timetable there, for example, and you%26#39;ve made a daytrip to Traben-Trarbach, but want to linger longer there before heading back for your evening boat cruise to Beilstein, you needn%26#39;t walk back to the station to check departures - just check your schedule for a later departure that gets you there on time. If you go somewhere that seems boring, you can hop on a train to somewhere else without worrying about how/when you can get back.
Cars in Germany are a good choice if you must travel with a lot of stuff, if you have trouble walking, or if you have must-see locations that are not serviced by train. They can be convenient in Germany if you want to do a farm stay, or stay in a hilltop castle, or visit some town in remote, more wild territory. But there are 6,000 train stations in Germany, and trains do go almost everywhere, fast, regularly and dependably. I see nothing in your particular itin. that isn%26#39;t well served by train for such a short trip.
Almost forgot the gas. Isn %26#39;t it around $7-$8 per gallon now?
Follow abalada%26#39;s advice on train daypasses. Also, compare the German Rail twinpass option (around $170 each for a 4-day pass, I think.) Those are super flexible and convenient, if a bit more expensive (any trains including the fast ones, anytime, no need to worry about dealing with ticket machines or individual tickets, not too expensive to add extra days.)
I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll have a great trip whether you drive or ride the rails.
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It%26#39;s dependence on rail and bus schedules vs. full flexibility. Whenever I travel I rent cars as they give me the desired independence and flexibility. Afterall we%26#39;re talking about your most valuable time of the year.
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