FRA Questions
 

Hi everyone! Not sure if this is the correct Forum (this or world destinations: germany?).

My wife and I are arriving into FRA Terminal 2 at 7:20 PM Local Time, and I'm trying to decide to stay at the Airport and drive out in the morning, or drive straight out. How long would you say it takes to have your rental car from the Hertz airport terminal? Realistically what is the driving time to Rothenburg? We're travelling light (no checked baggage) and are arriving Club Europe on British Airways, so we should be off the plane and ready to boogie relatively quickly.

Are there any Rental car providers that I wouldn't know about from the US that I should consider? (For a one-way rental from FRA to Munich). Thanks!

I definitely would leave the same evening, as loosing one night in an airport hotel does not seem so charming. In FRA you should be out of the airport with your rental car in about 1:30 hours maximum and another 1:30 (186 kilometers, mostly no speedlimits on the highways) will take you to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (I assume you mean this and not one of the many other Rothenburg in Germany as it is in the direction of Munich). So after all you should be there at 10:20 approx.

Regarding rental cars you can consider one of the big companies like Hertz or Avis, whereas I personally would prefer Sixt in FRA. If you are looking for the best rate (and are a little bit capable of the german language) go for www.billiger-mietwagen.de - I have saved lots of money with them!

Have a nice trip
cma410

There is an Avis Station in Terminal 2, the cars are in the basement of the terminal. You can be in your rental car in 10-20 min after your plane docks and you have status with the rental company. Another 5-10 min to get out of the parking structure and onto the Autobahn.
Two providers you should compare is www.sixt.de and www.europcar.de.
For driving distances check www.mapquest.de. There are several Rothenburgs, so make sure you get to the right one. zip-code (PLZ = Postleitzahl) helps.
Calculate 100 - 120 km per hour average on the Autobahn and 60 - 80 on regular roads.

Yes, I'm sorry I wasn't clear, Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

I would also recommend Sixt - they have a large fleet of premium cars, and even in the cheaper categories tend to offer nicer cars than the competition (i.e. Audis and VWs instead of Opels or Peugeots). Best of all, they don't charge a one-way fee for rentals within Germany.

Also it depends where you want to drop the car, SIXT has far more stations all over Germany than AVIS or Hertz !

It is very convenient and not expensive at all. On the weekends they offer really great weekend rates too ^

Germany it is!

Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum

In Munich we want to drop it at Haupbanhof (spelling?), the main train station.

I assume all the big car rental chains have offices at the Hauptbahnhof in Munich so that is nothing to consider.

The total driving time is about 2 hours (about 120 miles), subject to traffic condition of course. Try to use www.viamicheline OR mappy.com to map out your exact location.

Note that you pay extra taxes when picking up and dropping off at airport & train stations, plus drop-off charges at different location from original.

Hertz uses the DB Travel agent as drop off point in Munich Hbf and East train stations, so often its tricky to figure out where to park the car before you drop off the keys.

10-20 is a little optimistic. I have had it often, that the plane was "parked" away. Next, with Avis you have to go to the counter first .. even with status. Let them know you arrive with BA in Terminal 2 and the car will be ready at terminal 2 (not at T1) ... it doesn't take long on the counter.
The airport is just next to A3 (Autobahn 3 to Nuremberg/Munich), which you would go. There are some speed limits on A3!
Michelin is a good advise. And yes, Sixt has nice cars. I have gotten also nice cars from Avis.
Anyway, I would drive directly to Rothenburg like the other posters recommended.

The rental car drop off for most rental car agencies at Munich Train Station is at a parking facility about one block away from the train station. If you want to drop off your car at Munich Sixt is the best rental car agency. They are from Munich and have the most stations across the city.

I suggest you try to book your car from the US in order to pay up-front in US Dollars. Otherwise you have to deal with the high Euro-Dollar exchange rate.

So far the best rate for a smaller car (Golf or similar) with nav has been with Hertz, so I'm probably going to make a reservation tonight to lock in my rate.

Just another option for really cheap cars:

www.sixti.com

Sixti is a branch of Sixt and does only rent two types of cars. It is not possible to do a one-way rent. But it's cheap ;)

Greez from Grand Hyatt Berlin,
Jonathan