Page 559 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  557

Travelling by Coach
There is a good network of
inter-city coach services in
Germany, and journeys tend to
be cheaper than by express train.
Most towns have a central station
(Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof)
near the train station. It is here
that most bus services originate
and where timetables can be
obtained and tickets purchased.
Flixbus is a leading long-
distance coach provider. All
national bus companies have
Cars in heavy traffic on the Autobahn A3 near Ratingen websites, making ticket purchases
easy. Many local coach services
with a caravan or trailer outside driving licence. Most rental also operate from the central bus
built-up areas, do not exceed agencies require drivers to station, so it is easy to make a
70 km/h (44 mph), and on be over the age of 21 and to connection on arrival. Reisebus
motorways 100 km/h (62 mph). have an international licence. 24 offers a search and reserva tion
Drivers will be fined for speeding, portal for bus tours of Germany.
tailgating and parking offences. Hitchhiking
Note that parking meters may DIRECTORY
be quite far away from where Hitchhiking is popular among
you park. young people, but a safer Breakdown Services
method of finding a lift or a ADAC
travelling companion is through
Breakdown Services Tel (0180) 222 22 22.
ride-share agencies such as
In the event of a breakdown, Blablacar, where drivers offer AVD
turn on your flashing emergency spare seats on a journey for an Tel (0800) 990 99 09.
lights and position a warning agreed fee. You can even catch
triangle 100 m (100 yd) behind a ride from or to other EU Car Hire
your vehicle. Roadside assistance countries, (including the UK). Avis
is offered by ADAC and AVD Tel 55 77 55.
automobile associations – ∑ avis.com
although they may insist you Arriving by Coach
become a member. If you Travelling to Germany by coach Hertz
breakdown when lost, use one from the UK is not a very Tel (01806) 33 35 35.
of the telephones set at intervals attractive option, as the ∑ hertz.com
along the hard shoulder (see journey times are very long. Sixt Rent-a-Car
p556). If a road accident occurs, Routes are operated by Tel (01805) 25 25 25.
contact the police immediately. Eurolines, depart at Victoria ∑ sixt.com
Coach Station and arrive at
Berlin’s central coach station at Hitchhiking
Car Hire the Funkturm (ZOB). Other
Car-hire firms such as Avis, routes, also departing from Blablacar
Hertz and Sixt Rent-a-Car Victoria Station, terminate in ∑ blablacar.de
can be found at airports and Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Cologne, or blablacar.com
railway stations. Drivers need Dortmund or Munich.
to produce their passport and Coach Companies
Eurolines
∑ eurolines.de
Flixbus
Tel (030) 300 137 300.
∑ flixbus.com
Reisebus 24
(bus tours across Germany)
Tel (030) 2000 7747.
∑ reisebus24.de

Comfortable, long-distance, Meinfernbus coaches

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