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Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald

London, United...
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Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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We are flying from Bristol to Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport in August.

Out easyjet tickets say "check-in Swiss sector" for both onward and return journey.

We plan to hire a car from the airport and drive to Frieburg for a few days of black Forrest exploration. Then drive down to Switzerland (may be Grindelwald/Lauterbrennan) for few days before heading back to the UK.

My question is

1. Do we hire a car from a company which has a counter on the Swiss side of the airport? Then drive into Switzerland and find our way into Germany (towards Freiburg)?

2. Or is it better to hire a car from a company which has a counter on the French side and drive to Freiburg? Is it possible for us to get to the French sector on exit within the airport?

3. If we are able to get the car from the French side, what do we do when we return the car at the end of our trip? Can we return it on the Switzerland side? If not, is it difficult to get to the French side from Grindelwald?

What would people suggest?

Basel, Switzerland
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1. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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It's the same companies on either corner of the airport building. There is a fence between the Swiss and French parking lots you cannot cross. Since your last leg is within Switzerland, it's probably cheaper to get the car from the Swiss lot and drive north through Basel to Freiburg. There is only one road to Basel from the airport, so you can't get lost. I do not know if the rental company you choose will charge an extra if you "switch countries" between start and return, you'd have to ask.

If you use the Swiss highway system, you'd need a sticker on your front windshield which probably is already on the "Swiss car", but likely not on the "French car".

You can leave the airport through the "French door" or the "Swiss door", and reenter if you erred.

Schindellegi...
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2. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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Be aware that for driving in part of Freiburg im Breisgau (and for several other cities in Germany) an environment badge is required for the car.

More on that for instance at http://www.environmental-badge.co.uk/en/environmental-badge.html map at http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/umweltzone%20freiburg.php

London, United...
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3. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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Thank you

Where do I get the environmental badge? Will the rental companies be able to organise one for us?

Schindellegi...
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4. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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Sorry, have not rented a car in France, Switzerland or Germany for a while. Best probably is to check with the car rental company. But I doubt a car rented in France (or Basel/Mulhouse airport Swiss side) will systematically have the environmental badge for the cities in Germany that require one. As you cannot order such a badge online in advance (need to have licence plate and car registration information), worst case you will have to buy one - available at several garages, offices in Germany for usually 5, maximum 10 Euro.

The whole "vignette" and "sticker" business in Europe seems to become ridiculous. Next to Germany, some cities in Denmark and Austria now also require "environmental badges". At least 9 countries use highway "vignettes". To my knowledge only Hungary is using a kind of "electronic vignette" - car licence plate is recorded when buying the vignette, check is done by cameras, no need to add an other sticker on the windshield (but still: has to be bought).

Imho the question is not really a joke any more: when will we be at the point where the windshield will be totally plastered with stickers to be allowed to drive everywhere in Europe?

Canton of Valais...
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5. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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You might look at this thread on the German forums which deals with the "Umwelt" or "Environmental" stickers...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187281-i1303-k6643866-Need_guidance_on_umwelt_stickers-Freiburg_im_Breisgau_Baden_Wurttemberg.html

I agree wtih jm2cents - there should be toll barriers where "casual" visitors can pay for driving rather than creating either complicated payment options or more stickers... and license plate ID is the first step (essential IMO)

Freiburg im...
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6. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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If Freiburg is the only larger town in German you have in view, using a P&R location would be the better choice:

(click "Karte" to the right of "Umweltzone Freiburg")

http://www.freiburg.de/pb/,Lde/232967.html

Or follow the car park guidance system towards "Schwabentorgarage". It's accessible without the sticker, for getting there you have to stick strictly to the B 31 a. (Autobahn exit "Freiburg-Mitte" and straight on)

And yes, it's really ridiculous.

Edited: 8 years ago
London, United...
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7. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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1. Hire the car on the French sector and drive up to Black Forest area for a few days. (I will get the environmental badge for the car whilst in the area)

2. Then drive down to the Swiss Alps (Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen) for a few days. (Get the swiss vignette at the border between Germany and Switzerland).

Now, here is my question. On our way back from Swiss Alps to the Basel airport, can't I drive to the French side of the airport to return the hire car? How difficult is it? Is it a long detour?

The reason I ask is because I believe the cost of hire car on the Swiss side is much greater than it is on the French side. Or does it work out the same with the vignette cost?

Edited: 8 years ago
Wengen, Switzerland
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8. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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When driving back to the airport you can you should avoid arriving at the Swiss sector. As mentioned above, you cannot move a car between both sectors. But you can walk on foot between the sectors. But if your car rental drop of point is in the French sector you should try to get there.

The Swiss sector is linked to Switzerland by a special "customs road" that goes straight to Switzerland, and has no connections to the French road network. Have a look at google maps and look for the "Route Douanière". Now this is the road you need to avoid.

So when driving back first drive to Basel. Then there follow the signs "France", don't follow the signs "airport" as that will put you on this customs road to the Swiss sector. So follow "France", and stay on the freeway. Once you've passed French customs you take the second exit and you'll be at the airport.

Freiburg im...
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9. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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"How difficult is it?"

It's dead easy. Just follow the signs towards "Mulhouse". The (toll-free) motorway between Basel and Mulhouse has an exit to the airport.

"Is it a long detour?"

Not worth mentioning.

London, United...
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10. Re: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport - Blackforest - Grindelwald
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Thanks huwe and Krist.

The other thing I am worried about is the GPS. The cost through the car hire company is more than £100 per week. I have used navigation apps (like 'navmii' and 'here') on my smartphone when I was in US last year. Do you know if there are such apps for black forest area and switzerland?