Eurail with or without a rental car. . . .& B&Bs??

Hello Pattyflin,

It works this way: car rentals are pretty expensive when you rent for less than three days so the combo train + car makes sense if you only need the car for 2 days. If you think you may need it for 3 days then the train + car package does not make any sense. Of course if you need the car for 2 days in Germany and then for 4 days to go from lyon to Normandie and then to have a car there, then you probably should get the train + car and a rental for the 3/days…

For the second part of the questions, there is a lot of B and B in Europe, and it’s a real good solution if you plan ahead and take some time to call the b and b yourself. There is little you can do on the web as far as renting B and B’s.

We just added some hotels that are in the same price range as the B and B’s and some are really quite wonderful. You can have a look here and you will be able to book your hotels in France and Germany easily.

FC

We lease a car so I can’t advise you there, but the advice you just got from France.com is probably excellent.

As for B&Bs, there are a few reputable web sites. Do try the link you got from France.com because I know they are excellent. We’ve used them many times and never had a problem.

Also available are the Karen Brown listings and I can’t vouch for them personally since I haven’t ever used the service but have heard many good things about them. The web address is: http://www.karenbrown.com/

In France if you are off the beaten track, check the Logis de France web site. They have wonderful little hotels all over the place. We’ve used them for years and have only been disappointed once. (We were way out in the boonies and it just wasn’t as clean in the public areas as we would have liked. The room was fine.) The restaurants in the Logis are usually very good and reasonably priced. The web site in English is: http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/ You can search by town name or on a map.

Patti, Since you’re going to be gone 21 days, have you thought of leasing a car instead of taking the train? We lease from Peugeot and have always had good experiences with them. We use back roads and there is little traffic and excellent scenery. Most little towns have at least one very good hotel and restaurant. If you’re in a hurry, you can take the Autoroute and pay the tolls, but you miss the cute little towns.

Just a suggestion.

Patti: Lease the car as suggested by SalB. The Peugeout is an excellent car. And believe in Karen Brown. She reviewed a place in Burgundy that was outstanding and as described. Donerail

Well – thanks for all the great suggestions and recommendations.

So far, my plan is to be in Lyon for 10 days with a former (1978-79)exchange student. Then, I was planning to take a train to Zerbst or Jena, Germany where I might need a B&B, but I think I might could stay with a family for two days to whom I am related.

Then I want to get to Waldrohrbach, Germany for about two days of research. I would definitely need a B&B there.

What I would LOVE to do after that is to rent a car and go to Normandy and see all that is connected with 1944, etc where I would need a B&B. But I COULD just eliminate that and go back to Lyon because I know I will be welcome (and very secure) there.

I just want to see it all and do it all.

One last thing. . . .

Might I mention that I will be travelling alone to Germany and I’m female and over 60.

Would it be your opinion that I would be too much of a "target" and "at-risk" in an auto? (My husband isn’t sleeping well because his imagination is consumed with dire situations!)

So – would you want YOUR Mother to do this (have the adventure of her life!) or NOT?!?!

Thanks to everyone who has contributed thoughts.

Patti

Patti, I’m a female and over 60 and my advice is, Go for it.

You will not be a target for anything except kindness. People go out of their way to help women traveling alone. Most of your stay will be out in the country and country folks are usually kind by nature.

I think you would love Normandy and have no trouble traveling alone there. If you go the B&B route, you’ll meet the owners and they can be very helpful. If you don’t find B&Bs, try the Logis de France hotels. They are also very small-town with helpful people. They will be happy to guide you to nearby sights and restaurants.

Good grief, my grandmother traveled to Egypt in her late 70s and had a grand time. She even rode a camel! Tell your husband to stop worrying and be happy for you. He’s fortunate to have an adventurous wife. My husband has always encouraged me to travel.

I wish my mother would do something like that instead of sitting around waiting to die. She’s been waiting for nearly 30 years and having no luck at all. How much more fun to get out and enjoy herself. You’ve got the right idea.

BTW, Normandy is basically farming country. I don’t know where you’re from, but the people there are much like the people in Indiana or Ohio. They’re very quiet, kind and friendly. They still thank Americans for help in WWII. The main difference is they have amazing scenery and their food is a lot better than Indiana or Ohio. (I’m originally from Ohio.) I think you would have a wonderful time.

Driving in France is no more difficult than driving in Indiana or Ohio. They drive on the same side of the road and the directional signs are much the same. Lately stop signs are even in English. They do not have road rage. It’s considered impolite. Thank goodness!! We do avoid the Autoroutes because they drive very fast and also they are toll roads in most places. The N and D roads are prettier and cheaper. You can’t beat that combination!

Have a great time!!

Can’t resist. Just what "dire situations" is your husband imagining?

Just curious.

SalB: I think the "dire situations" are the same as what my wife feels on occasion. Good think I have the kitties to taste test tne food.

Pattiflynn: SalB is right. Just do it. I have felt a lot less safe in a number of places in the USA (white and black and other) than I have ever in LaFrance. Just be careful and be confident. You will have the time of your life. Donerail

Well – no matter WHAT, I am going to go AND I am going to enjoy myself.

My most important question is. . . .

would it be better to get the rental car or go by Eurail?

IS Eurail a lot safer? He’s paying for this trip – I think I owe it to him to placate just a tad! Afterall, who’d like to PAY to send their ‘most beloved’ to their ‘doom’??

Thanks – I value such rationally splendid opinions.

Patti

Patti, I’m not a train person so won’t be much help. I think you would be using SNCF (http://www.sncf.com) in France, not Eurail. I’m not sure what they call it in Germany.

I think your decision depends on what makes you comfortable and also how long you plan to use a car if you rent/lease one. If you want the car for the entire trip and it’s over 17 days, I’d highly recommend leasing because it’s much less expensive than renting. We always use the Peugeot leasing plan and it’s wonderful. (Yes, you can rent an automatic despite what you hear on many travel forums!) They have terrific 24 hour roadside assistance. We’ve only had to use it once over the years, but they were prompt and efficient. We were back on the road within thirty minutes. It might comfort your husband to know you could make a phone call and get immediate assistance. It might also make him more comfortable if you rented a cell phone with the car. We don’t, but there are two of us. By myself, I would take a cell phone. If it doesn’t help you, it would make your husband feel better!

If you just want a car for a few days, use the train until you get to wherever you need the car and then just rent for a couple days. It’s the more expensive option, but you would only be renting for a few days so it wouldn’t matter that much. Keep in mind that the train costs money too. You might figure out train fares with the car rental you think you’d need versus the Peugeot (or Renault) lease cost. I wouldn’t base my choice on cost, but I think you’d be more comfortable when you realize the cost is (probably) about the same.

As far as safer . . . There are potential problems with either and I think they would be minimal in either case. Public transportation is always safer than an automobile just because "people" are driving the cars. You know the old saying, "You’re more likely to be in an accident on the way to the airport than while flying." We all joke about it but we all drive to the airport. There is always the possibility of auto accidents and/or plane crashes but you can’t live your life worrying so much about it that you never do anything.

The roads are well built (better than ours) and well marked. The drivers in both France and Germany are fast and aggressive on the Autoroutes (freeways), but they don’t chat on cell phones, eat or read maps while driving. (All are illegal so don’t you do it either!) There is no road rage that we’ve ever seen. They are much more patient. If the worst happens, both countries have far better medical care than we do. (Pleasant thought!)

You need to just figure out what would be most comfortable for you and do it. It isn’t a decision someone else can make for you. Whatever you decide, you will not be sent to your doom. Goodness, would he worry so if you were going to Cleveland, Ohio?

Hello everybody – I’ve just joined, and how interesting you all are, and Pattiflyn I take my hat off to you for even THINKING about travelling thru France all alone – not that I think it’s a bad idea, am sure you will be very safe and have a truly great time. I am in the same age bracket and have been having a mental fight for ages trying to decide to buy a small house in France to retire to, but when I think about the logistics of it all am rather intimated. Yes, France is wonderful. I sincerely wish I had discovered it’s beauty many years ago.

cbluec, Hi. Welcome. We’re starting to look for that second home in France. Our house will be paid off next year so we’re free to spend that money in France if we find something.

The way we’re approaching it is to rent a place in an area we think we might like. We thought if we rented for a couple months and just lived there as locals, we might have a better feel for the area and how we might fit in. Our worst problem right now is deciding on an area. We’ve been all over France (except the very northeast corner) and we love them all. I suspect our choice will be made by housing prices, i.e. the lower the local real estate, the more we will prefer the area! Each region is different, but each region has its own strengths.

At any rate, you might consider renting a place for a month or so in several different regions and contacting a local estate agent while you’re there. It would be a fun vacation and might be useful.

Just a thought.

SalB: Have you checked out the nuances of French real estate laws? I hear it is a nightmare. A bigger nightmare if you are not from the EU. I picked up some real estate fliers when we were in the Rhone Alps – the prices make Boston look like a bargain. I couldn’t believe it. Maybe we all could start a commune. Donerail