[pramit]

[apologies in advance for posting in this thread. if anyone has a recommendation on where this belongs, please let me know- or if you're an admin, feel free to move to the appropriate area]

hello!

the missus and i are booked for a trip to europe (flying into berlin and flying out of venice) and i've been researching various options for doing the berlin-venice drive. there are a bunch of really great ideas and suggestions around but i was wondering if anyone on the board had any recommendations. i'd love to have done a ED pickup in munich, but i already have my f10.

next... i've got a car reservation with sixt and it says that i should get a BMW 3er, but i was wondering how sure that would be. anyone ever rented with a sixt in germany and have any experience with what kinds of cars they have?

thanks for now, and i'll be sure to think of you as i let it rip on the 'bahn.

best!

[delvek]

The destinations are endless, you need to decide if you want to stick to Western or Eastern Europe on your way down to Venice. Venice favors the Eastern but depending on the length of your vacation you can easily tour Western Europe as well. Also important is the time of year as this would weigh heavily on my destination choices.

As far as Sixt, they are pretty popular (along with Europcar) although I have never used either. I use a local rental car company when I have a need. If its just you and your wife a BMW 3er would be fine, my only recommendation is that you request diesel.

[Touring]

I have only good experiences with Sixt.

Try to cruise along Cote Azur. Spectacular coastline, and you will see Monaco, Nice, St.Tropez, Cannes. And the alps are fantastic.

[Mobileum]

Originally Posted by Touring

I have only good experiences with Sixt.

Try to cruise along Cote Azur. Spectacular coastline, and you will see Monaco, Nice, St.Tropez, Cannes. And the alps are fantastic.

I think this will be a huge detour. Why not take Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Salzburg, Venice.

I think Sixt only use diesel BMW. Sixt is one of BMW's biggest customers.

[EdM5]

I don't know what your budget is for the trip but you can rent an M3, Z4 or Porsche as well at Sixt Deutschland.

As you are traveling from Germany to Italy, I think you'd have to include one of those magnificent Alps mountain roads, like for example the Furkapass or the Stilfserjoch (Passo d. Stelvio). They are mindblowing.

[GordonGecko]

Sixt are excellent. If you call or email them before hand they are usually kind enough to try to accommodate a request for a specific brand of car in the size category. But they will not promise it. Btw they also rent 5ers!

[UKMS]

Sixt are great .... however you may find a fairly heavy one-way charge because you are taking it between two countries. The sixt website will show it as 'included' but if you compare berlin-berlin as opposed to berlin-venice they are likely to add around 500 euros ..... but I guess that may not be much different to 2 x flights

M

[Robin_NL]

Don't forget Siena and Florence when you're there.

Afaik Sixt Munich for example rents Ferraris etc.

[pharding]

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is right on the way and well worth seeing. I would drive through Switzerland with a stop in Interlaken on the way.

[pramit]

Wow! Thanks guys! HUUUGE help. I connected with Sixt and they've been incredible. They have killer social customer service on http://flyertalk.com and they've slotted me for a 3er with an upgrade if possible. They also upgraded my membership (you know, those frequent renter cards) to a gold card. Unreal stuff!

Originally Posted by Mobileum

I think this will be a huge detour. Why not take Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Salzburg, Venice.

I think Sixt only use diesel BMW. Sixt is one of BMW's biggest customers.

great tips! thank you so much!

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

I don't know what your budget is for the trip but you can rent an M3, Z4 or Porsche as well at Sixt Deutschland.

As you are traveling from Germany to Italy, I think you'd have to include one of those magnificent Alps mountain roads, like for example the Furkapass or the Stilfserjoch (Passo d. Stelvio). They are mindblowing.

i don't know about the exotics. at most i'd do a 5er. the others might be a little small given that we'll have a couple of suitcases with us.

thanks for the tips on the passes. i've got a coworker who's from switzerland and she's also giving me some solid tips for routes in that area.

Originally Posted by ukstevens

Sixt are great .... however you may find a fairly heavy one-way charge because you are taking it between two countries. The sixt website will show it as 'included' but if you compare berlin-berlin as opposed to berlin-venice they are likely to add around 500 euros ..... but I guess that may not be much different to 2 x flights

M

the dropoff charge is a bit steep (around 400€), but if you factor in flights etc for two of us, it's coming to just a little bit more. and the wife and i are perfectly ok with that. (one of the reasons i love her is because she's always down for a road trip. we did greece like this right after we got married)

Originally Posted by pharding

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is right on the way and well worth seeing. I would drive through Switzerland with a stop in Interlaken on the way.

thanks for the tip again. will definitely route it and see if it's possible.

i promise to share pictures once we get back.

thanks again you guys!

p