Car rental

If you are planning a trip to explore country side and secluded little towns, you may wish to explore renting a car. The times we have decided to go that route, the nature of our trip changes considerably. We rarely visit a large city, and instead focus on scenic road trips, destinations that would normally require a lot of transfers (thus being time consuming with public transportation) and countryside accommodations.

On one of these trips we discovered Durbach , Germany (this place is so off the beaten path they do not have an English website). Durbach is a small quaint town full of mountains and valleys, whose main industry is wine/vineyards and scenery. This region full of vineyards and guest houses and is a great area for also visiting Strasburg, France and the quaint and colorful Alsace region.

Whether you opt for a car or train pass, I would strongly encourage very different trips depending on your chosen mode of transportation. Trains take you into the heart of large cities bursting with culture, museums and history. No need to worry about the steep parking rates or navigating tight and confusing road ways. Driving a car will give you a slower paced, more intimate vacation, with wonderful opportunities to explore the countryside and small little townships that rarely see visitors from the US.

Gas in Europe is expensive, but the cars tend to be smaller and get great gas mileage. Keep in mind, that you can drive a short distance and be in different region (or even a different country) with a distinctly different culture.