Traveling by automobile in Germany isn't really that hard if you have a good mapbook and that would be the ADAC (Allgemeinder Deutcher Automobil-Club e.v.)-Europe and Germanys largest automobile club. It has all the roads, places of interest, even rest stops, and it is big enough to read. It is one of the best investments you can make for your trip. Do not depend on the maps given to you at the car rental.

To get the most from your trip, you will want a rental car, preferably a mid-size. Your travel agent can make all the arrangements for you. She will have to specify if you want an automatic, otherwise you will get a standard. Also, you will want to accept the insurance waiver; it doesn't cost that much and it will save you a lot in case there is an accident of some kind. When you arrive at the airport and come to your car rental area all you will have to do is show them the rental car voucher that comes with your airplane ticket, your credit card with which the car will be paid, your drivers license, and your passport and the car is yours and you are off for your wonderful vacation. I hope you have a good map like the one suggested at the top of the article.

The majority of Germans obey traffic laws to the letter and expect everyone else to. There will be all kinds of traffic on regular roads: Bicycles, farm equipment, small handicap vehicles, pedestrian, and they all have the same rights as a regular vehicle. On the Autobahn, the right hand lane is for trucks and slower traffic,(trucks have to stay in the right hand lane except when passing)the middle lane is for normal traffic and passing, and left hand lane is for fast traffic.

The Autobahns have service stations, restaurants, and limited mechanical work available and they are all reasonably close together so you are never really very far from a service.

You might want to take a look at International road signs to see what they are.

Most service stations are self-service. On the smaller roads there aren't many service stations in the villages and practically no public restrooms. Your regular tourist attractions do have public restrooms.

Caution means stop, and proceed slowly.

Meals are simple. If you are staying at a pension, they almost always serve breakfast and they are always good. For lunch, you can stop at one of the stores with a bakery and meat counter and get bread, salami, cheese and juice or water to drink. It makes a very good lunch and it is fun to stop by the side of the road and eat and see what is around you. For dinner, in the mid-size villages there is always a number of restaurants to choose from. The smaller villages mostly do not have a restaurant or any place to eat or buy food so if you are traveling at meal time you will want to keep these things in mind.

You can drink the water in most places in Germany but the Germans do not drink it and they look at you funny when you do. Juices and bottled water can be found almost anywhere. Tip: Do not drink the water in France.

There are no motels: Hotels, pensions, or gasthauses are what they have or if you are a really free spirit, there are places that have "room frei" signs and that means that they have a room in a private home they will rent out for the night.

Well, I could write more but I had better close this down.

Happy traveling.

Learn more about this author, Linda Eoff.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Insider tips for traveling in Germany?
We want to hear your view. Write now!