Visiting - Need Help!

Thanks for asking this - I can tell I need some great clarification!

So, the plan is really munich --> Bielefeld --> Berlin. But, while in Bielefeld, I could take day-trips to Cologne and Dusseldorf. And, because it is en route, I thought it might be worth leaving Munich a day early, and staying a night in Nuremberg, even though there is some time lost associated with having to get into a new hotel, etc.

Also, the plan for the rental is mostly associated with staying in Bielefeld rather than for the entire trip. I love to drive and see everything, and I can see myself taking small drives everyday to go explore, and also to use the vehicle to then drive to Cologne and Dusseldorf instead of taking the train, since I'd have the car during that time period.

Finally, I plan to use the trains to go from Munich to Bielefeld, and from Bielefeld to Berlin. (And, also Nuremburg if I make that stop.)

Thanks for the reminder on insurance. Technically I should be covered under the company policy (which I know is true in Canada, Mexico, and some Latin American countries, but I need to check with Germany. Drivers license wise, it looks like I am covered. )

 

I really appreciate this. Not just for me, but for society. Although I am certainly a BA, and obviously a BE (beer enthusiast ), I am very careful. That said, my very careful means I probably still have a little bit of alcohol in my system, rather than 0. So, this may very well change my calculus.

My thoughts with visiting cologne and Düsseldorf is to see parts of the city, not just have a brew. That said, yea, you know, I’d love to have something to drink with my meal.

Also, I really appreciate your thoughts on parking. I’m not sure what I expected, but I guess I assumed that there would be someplace to park in a larger city for maybe 20 Euros, and maybe in a smaller city for 10 (for a full day). But, if it’s going to be more like 45 or more, then I am certainly starting to get priced out pretty hard core.

The other motivation to have a vehicle was to be able to go hike, or go to a different down for dinner, and so on. Again, the idea that 0 alcohol is allowed is important, and may change my decision.

It sounds like I need to do a bit more searching, reading. One of my concerns was whether I’d get stuck, miss a train, and unable to get back.

Love this community.

 

I’m sorry for the silence for all those that have contributed so much. I’ve had some personal items going on. (My wife has an ill eas that came up out of nowhere about 6 weeks ago following a very bad bout of COVID that we all got), and it’s been fairly life-altering. We’re still working on diagnosis. Rightly or wrongly, we have a better handle on things, and I have set up several support structures, and so I am STILL going on this trip.)

My flight is booked. I fly into Munich early this Thursday (arrive 8am), stay there till Sunday. Head to Bielefeld. Stay there till the following Sunday. Head to Berlin, and stay there Sunday, Mon, Tues. Flight back around 10am Wed (I get home about 5:30pm same day).

Have my hotels booked. Due to a special, I was able to get a pretty sweet deal in Berlin.

Haven’t booked a rental still, because I am narrowing my dates. Although I think I’d quite enjoy driving between Munich, Bielefeld, and Berlin, I am quite sure I won’t want to drive in Munich or Berlin, and in Bielefeld, I’m also mostly sure that I won’t want a car everyday. So, probably going to get it for about 5 days.

Planning a day trip to Frankfurt (and nearby Büdingen, where my wife was born), but no plans yet beyond that. I’ll probably drive for that. Also really hoping to take a day trip to Cologne/Düsseldorf.

I originally planned (hoped?) to spend a day in Nuremberg on my way from Munich to Bielefeld, but not planning on it anymore. I think it will be too taxing to try to switch hotels again.

As of now, planning to bring a carryon (my laptop bag), a “personal item” (a reusable tote that I fill with quick-access items for the plane, where I often stash my iPad, a jacket, sunglasses, etc.), and a large checked bag (which, if it fits, will actually have a medium checked bag inside). The goal is to have a second suitcase to go back with full of goodies for the family. I am bringing dress clothes for the conference, “normal clothes” for the 2 weeks I am there, my nice camera (probably just 1 lens, but maybe 2, no flash, and extra battery pack), headlamp, hiking boots, rain gear, and obligatory toiletry items. For sure, no way I could get that into a checked bag with the dress clothes, so if I am committing to a checked bag, I might as well have a plan to bring stuff back for wife and daughter (and surely something for myself). I’m planning to take an Uber from München airport to hotel, hotel to Bahnhof, and from Bahnhof to Hotel in Berlin (hotel in Bielefeld is across the street from Bahnhof, so that part is irrelevant). So, I’m not going to be “lugging the luggage around the city” by foot. Yea, it would be easier otherwise, but this is for sure going to work best. Yes, I recognize that I am fucked if my bag gets lost, but I am not changing airlines, and only one layover (either direction), so I feel good about my decision.

Need to look back at where people are, and check a DM that I had, but I would be open to trying to meet up with fellow BAs while I am out there everywhere.

Really appreciate everyone’s feedback.

 

Wanted to say especially thanks for your thoughtful comments, especially the note on the travel time. Yes, Munich isn’t an ideal location from the standpoint of the long travel between it and Bielefeld, nor is Berlin, but I am OK with making it work. Perfectly valid, and honestly I think I made a mistake when first thinking about this, because I didn’t realize Munich was so far away. I think I probably checked the travel time, and accidentally checked the drive and not the train time (5hr 30 vs 7hr 10). On the day I travel to Bielefeld. I was not planning on doing much before leaving, and I need to get there by 6-8pm. So, it isn’t so bad to me if I leave between 11-1 (by train or 1-3 if I get a rental). I need to be getting up about 6-7am everyday, so I should still hVe a solid half-day of adventure in me before I leave.

The travel to Berlin is not quite so bad, and will actually follow a group excursion (hike) earlier in the day. So, wasn’t really planning anything after that anyway, and again should be timed about right. For some reason I kept thinking Berlin was 3 hours - again, must have accidentally looked at driving and not train time.

 

Another quick comment:

Planning to get the phone carrier to add a month of intent National Unlimited on Monday. According to a recent TPG article, it’s $100 (vs doing a daily unlimited for $10), and will keep me from having to deal with trying to find wifi.

Planning to call company vehicle insurance company to verify there are no issues on that front.

 

Also, one more question. Customs.

OK, so I have researched this, but pretty clueless on exactly how much I can bring back, and whether I will have to pay any additional amount at customs. Say I bring back a couple steins, a piece of jewelry, a book, a wood carving, some candy, a couple toys, 3 beers, and some miscellaneous items. Any problems here? Anyone see an issue?

Having a hard time also understanding getting a refund on the VAT. I am not sure if it is worth the effort. I’m not going to be spending like 10k, I’m talking about maybe $400 across everything above. I know what I have to save and produce to get the refund, but if I read everything correctly, once I return home I still have to contact EVERY store by postage mail to get a refund. Seems like a lot of work for what may amount to, like, $40 total. Am I being dense?

 

I probably mis-states this someplace, but I wasn’t suggesting renting a car just for that. I have no problem using the trains, and intend to do so for various reasons.

A question regarding luggage on trains. How does this work - do they “check it” like an airline, or do you get on a car and there is a place for your luggage, or? …sorry, I just have no reference for what this is like. I am a prep-er, so I over prepare for this type of thing.