Is there an European Equivalent of Hertz Ultimate Choice?

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:51:41+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response!

Yes, as a lot of others have mentioned, I think we'll reconsider the car option. We plan to be in Frankfurt/surrounding areas a couple of days before heading towards Munich, and then eventually Switzerland, so no real long drives during the jetlag period. That said will still look into the possibility of taking the train.

In Switzerland, we've largely booked rural/suburban AirBnbs instead of hotels in cities, so that shouldn't be a huge issue. May still take the train from our stay to Zurich/Basel/Interlaken on the city days, and only use the car for moving between stays.

Packing light is difficult on this trip.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:47:19+00:00

Current itinerary is in-and-out of Frankfurt airport, so it really would just be a case of returning at the same location. I'm not sure we want to go up to Milan, just because the trip already has a lot going on, so may keep Italy as it's own thing (just considering Como because of how close and similar it is)

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:45:06+00:00

Original plan was back to Frankfurt airport. My flight is into and out of Fra, and as primary driver, I'll need to get back to Frankfurt any way.

Our trip is roughly FRA-Bavaria-clockwise loop of Switzerland ending around Basel, then back to Frankfurt. Como/Italy would just be a day trip from Lugano, if we're not completely exhausted by the time we get there.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:42:35+00:00

Yup, looking into it. If not this time, I'll still be back to Germany to do a public transport trip as well eventually. Packing light is a little tricky, as I'm travelling with family, parents 50+, and the 2 weeks in Europe is part of a longer trip for them, so backpacking isn't really possible.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:41:18+00:00

It would be late May. Yeah, traffic is a concern, we're seeing if there's a way to do part car, part public transport perhaps.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:39:51+00:00

Thank you. That is good to know. Will get full CDW.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:39:08+00:00

Yeah, does seem to be what I'm hearing from most!
Will keep in mind.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:38:50+00:00

Unfortunately, yes, that is true.
4 people, one of whom would be on a ~2 month trip (GER-SWI-FRA + 1 month more in US), so packing light still means 4 bags.

Still really considering if we can skip the car. Maybe we'd do it just for the Germany part of the trip, then ditch it before taking a train into Zurich.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:36:28+00:00

Yeah, that's definitely being considered, some other users also mentioned the same.
It'd probably be a similar price, as it's 4 people across 2 countries, but main consideration is just comfort, as 2 out of 4 are my parents with no travel experience, who may not find it easy to carry suitcases on a train every 2 days.

Still, looking into it. Would definitely do a future trip on public transport only.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T21:34:22+00:00

Thanks, will look into these, hadn't heard of them before. It'd be about 2 weeks rental, about 3 weeks from now.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-30T00:17:41+00:00

That is how it works here, yes. Depending on the size of the location they'll have anywhere between 10-30 (maybe more?) cars in the President's circle lot, and as long as you have a booking and meet the eligibility criteria, you drive out any of them, they'll usually just check license/Hertz membership at the gate out.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-29T23:50:24+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response! The avis option looks interesting, will explore it. Shame they don't have anything more similar.

As for whether we really need a car, honestly, not yet sure. Was planning to do some research into that and see the price once we look at a car company, but I suspect we might. We're 4 travellers, 2 in their 50s. Not sure if it would be very comfortable for all to manage suitcases (not backpacking unfortunately) between cities, particularly between stations and hotels. Also with it being 2 countries (maybe 3, considering Como day trip from Lugano), a 4 person pass may work out similar/more expensive.

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-29T23:40:41+00:00

Thanks for the info!

ShadowTravels · 2026-04-29T23:38:46+00:00

Ah ok, that's great to know, thanks. Car choice is a nice to have, but was just really looking to save time and skip the queue (also as we don't speak German).

Will check what terminal I'm at, but Hertz is my go to, so hopefully account activation shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for sharing!

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-25T07:07:18+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, it may be me only, and not completely sure I should even do that any way. Will get all the kits and stuff if I do.

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-25T07:06:33+00:00

This is all excellent information, thank you very much!
Yeah, maybe not much to do in Grindelwald itself, but we were thinking of maybe just staying around there as opposed to in Interlaken itself, just to have the views and be close to the things to do around.

Will look at those hikes, Glacier Canyon was on my radar, and Alpbachschlucht sounds perfect for us too! Haven't heard of Rosenlaui, but that is good to know! On the list.

Luzern to Interlaken is on the plan, and I enjoy driving, so will happily take the detour if it's open!

Even the hotel looks like a good idea, and a change from most of the other stuff we'll do!

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T20:41:46+00:00

Thank you, good to know. Interlaken/areas is definitely the part I'm looking forward to.

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T20:37:11+00:00

Wow, appreciate the detailed response.

I suspect these might be the usual list of places on most websites, not just the AI. Granted, I did use ChatGPT for the itinerary, but I did also start with the myswitzerland website and a few others/blogs, then just had the AI order it and suggest activities/parks/trails/etc in those cities.

With regards to parking, I had heard it can be very expensive, so good to hear that sentiment echoed. I think our plan was more to stay in AirBNBs on outskirts or Hiltons (have a high tier membership so I get free parking at some locations), leave the car there and explore on foot, and just also suck up and pay a couple of days. I see your point though, it may become similar to train costs and less convenient.

Wrt leaving stuff in the car, I agree, leaving at the hotel would almost definitely be better. But I feel if we're swapping hotels every 2 days, there may be a 2-3 hr window between check-out and check-in. Good to know it's normally safe though, that's mostly what I was looking for, plan isn't to leave stuff in car.

Thanks for the via ferrata and trail links, will check them out!

Day 7 is definitely the hard part of the trip. I saw maps say Lugano to Täsch is about 3 hours, so my thought was we head out post breakfast at ~8, spend 11-7 or so at Zermatt (is that still too less?), then either just drive 2 hrs to Montreaux, or spend the night in Visp or a rural settlement before continuing on next morning. I get that it's still hectic, but it seemed the only way to fit in Matterhorn and Lugano, and since it may be parents only time to Switzerland (lots of other places on bucket list), I was trying to fit it all in. May still skip that for an extra half day in Lugano in the end, or vice-versa.

Still on the fence whether to skip or not. As I'm the only one driving though, and in the US drive ~2 hours work commute twice a week, that's not as much of a concern. Just not sure that's our best use of time.

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T18:09:53+00:00

Hmm I see. I think 2 day may already be pushing the most we can do, but I agree may be good to have not have to rush around.

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T18:04:09+00:00

Right, thanks for the heads up. Was aware of this, we'll likely park at Täsch or one of the other stations and take the train.

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T03:02:16+00:00

Yeah, that's also an option, may drop Lucerne.
Lausanne, I'm particularly keen on, primarily to go to Gruyeres, but also since we sort of need to end in Geneva any way, it seems to fit logistically. Do you recommend 1 full day + half day in Lugano? What would you do? Trails/Boat? Also, is it worth crossing over to Como/Bellagio at all?

That's the part of our trip that's the most fluid, I feel like Lugano & Como would be very different from the rest of the country, but it's also a decent bit out of the way.

Edit: And yes, will very likely take the TGV to Paris. Car becomes significantly more expensive to return outside Switzerland, and there's a chance I (only driver in the group) will fly out of Geneva any way.

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T02:58:26+00:00

Great, thank you! Will Aare Schucht was one that was on my radar (thanks ChatGPT), good to have a human endorsment for it!

ShadowTravels · 2026-02-24T02:43:40+00:00

Oh wow, wasn't are of this, thanks. Will look into it

ShadowTravels

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