As kids, many of us dreamt of driving a sports car on the high-speed German autobahn or along winding mountain roads in the Alps or Black Forest.
If that's you, here's some good news: TravelMaven can make your dream a reality!
As it turns out, most German car companies come from southern Germany and have museums (more like art galleries) dedicated to their brands in their hometowns. These include Audi in Ingolstadt, BMW in Munich, and Porsche & Mercedes in Stuttgart.
What better way to see these automotive museums than on a driving tour! Our small group (maximum 12 guests) will fly into Germany, pick up rental cars, and tour the highways and byways of Bavaria and the German Alps, while also paying tribute to German automotive engineering and history by visiting these museums in the places where it all began.
Using GPS routing, guests will have their own cars, and get themselves from place to place. Four days will be filled with car museums, linked together with driving days. In the evening, we will enjoy dinner (and a few regional beers) together before spending the night in a local hotel. Then, the next day, we'll do it again!
Please note the following unique features of this tour:
PICK YOUR OWN CAR: There are dozens of rental car options available in Frankfurt, ranging from sporty hatchbacks to truly exotic machines. At the same time, we expect that some guests will want their own cars, while others will want to share. As a result, we have decided that, while we will help with the booking process, guests will select and pay for their own rental car. Prices start about $60 per day for a VW Golf, while a BMW M8 convertible is a cool $390 per day!
ACCOMMODATION: Most TravelMaven tours utilize character-rich hotels in central locations because we spend lots of time in our hotels, make walking tours from them, and don't need parking. Obviously, this German Car Museum tour is different. As such, on this tour we will stay in more practical hotels on the edge of town with parking available nearby.
FLIGHTS: TravelMaven sells Land Packages that do not include flights. However, guests should note that Condor Airlines (affiliate of Lufthansa) offers ideal timing for those flying from Toronto to Frankfurt. As of Dec 14, return tickets are available for $1,040 (a great deal for direct flights). There are also good deals available on reward flights for those who collect Aeroplan points.
LAND PACKAGE: $2,580
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $450
TYPE: Driving Tour
GROUP: Max 12 guests
LENGTH: 7 hotel nights
DATES:
Departs Toronto: Sat Sep 14, 2024
Begins in Frankfurt: Sun Sep 15, 2024
Ends in Frankfurt: Sun Sep 22, 2024
LAND PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Rothenburg ob der Tauber hotel (tbd) 1 night
Ingolstadt hotel (tbd) 2 nights
Fussen hotel (tbd) 1 night
Stuttgart hotel (tbd) 3 nights
Breakfast daily
Dinners (5)
Entry & tours of car museums (4)
All taxes and fees
This tour is guaranteed to depart. This Land Package price is based on double occupancy, and guaranteed once the 20% nonrefundable deposit is received.
SAT SEPT 14: Depart Toronto
While some guests may depart from other cities or on different flights, Condor Airlines departs Pearson Airport at 19:50 bound for Frankfurt.
SUN SEPT 15: Arrive in Frankfurt; drive to Rothenburg; Welcome Dinner (D)
Condor lands in Frankfurt at 09:20. Our first order of business will be to pick up our rental cars before heading 180 km southeast through the German countryside to Rothenburg ob der Tauber - the most famous medieval town in Germany! After checking into our hotel and having some time to relax and explore Rothenburg, we will enjoy our Welcome Dinner together.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
MON SEPT 16: Drive to Ingolstadt; visit the Audi Forum Museum (B,D)
After breakfast and check-out, we will head 175 km south along the Romantic Road to Ingolstadt, home of the largest Audi factory and their corporate Forum Museum. After our tour, we will check into our nearby hotel and enjoy a group dinner.
Audi Museum
TUE SEPT 17: Drive to Munich; visit the BMW Welt & Museum; Motorworld Munchen ((B)
After breakfast we will drive 75 km south to the northern edge of Munich, global headquarters of BMW and home to their spectacular BMW Welt & Museum. Afterwards, we'll visit Motorworld Munchen before returning to Ingolstadt.
BMW Museum
WED SEPT 18: Driving Day (B,D)
On this day, guests will make their own plan to drive 220 km south into the German Alps, with Neuschwanstein Castle as our afternoon destination. If this place looks familiar, it's because Disney copied it in their logo and at Magic Kingdom. Our day will end in Fussen, the southern end of the Romantic Road and doorway to the Alps, with a group dinner.
Neuschwanstein Castle
THU SEPT 19: Drivng Day (B,D)
On this day, guests will depart when they like to make the 250 km drive northwest towards Stuttgart. Options include going through Austria and/or Switzerland. After check-in, we will gather for a group dinner to discuss their day.
Autobahning through the Alps!
FRI SEPT 20: Visit Porsche Museum (B)
On this day we will visit the Porsche Mmuseum in the morning, with free time in the afternoon and evening (possibly for a drive into the Black Forest). Please note: factory tours may also be available. Ask Barry if you are interested.
Porsche Museum
SAT SEPT 21: Visit Mercedes Benz Museum; Motorworld (B,D)
On this day we will visit the Mercedes Benz Museum in the morning and Motorworld Stuttgart in the afternoon. In the evening, we will have our Farewell Dinner.
Mercedes Benz Museum
SUN SEPT 22: Drive to Frankfurt; fly home (B)
After our final breakfast, guests will make their own way (departing early to sightsee or mid-morning to go direct) 225 km north to Frankfurt to catch flights home (Condor Airlines departs at 15:40, arriving in Toronto at 18:00).
German Country Road
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