One way rental recommendation (Swi to Ger)

bobo_97 · #1 27.04.2011, 16:45

Hi,

I need to go from Zurich Airport 9th of May to Dusseldorf Airport 10th of May (very early).

I checked the major car rental companies and for one day (and one way) it is around 500CHF.

Train is not an option as it arrives 0625 and my flight is 06:35.

Any good options out there?

Cheers

mirfield · #2 27.04.2011, 16:58

If you are in ZRH on the 9th, can you fly from there to DUS?

Air Berlin have a few direct flights a day from €113. Even with a hotel, it should be cheaper (and less hassle) than driving.

jako · #3 27.04.2011, 17:14

I would say going the night before - flight, or night train - is probably your only alternatives.

bobo_97 · #4 27.04.2011, 19:29

I arrive on the 9th from South America at 19:00 and wont make the last plane or train....as my flight is from Dusseldorf at 06:25 (airberlin changed it from 11:00 to 06:25!!)

summerrain · #5 27.04.2011, 20:28

	Quote:	bobo_97
	I arrive on the 9th from South America at 19:00 and wont make the last plane or train....as my flight is from Dusseldorf at 06:25 (airberlin changed it from 11:00 to 06:25!!)

Tricky, will it cost less than 500CHF to change your flight out from Dusseldorf? If so, I would rather do that, than spend 500 chuffs on a rental car. Try talking to them to see what they say, afterall, its their fault for changing the flight!

Verbier · #6 28.04.2011, 00:15

It is 450 km so about 4 hours with some breaks.

Why not see if there is a student that could drive you up the night before (or very early in the morning - not my recommendation since does not leave time for problems). Or you drive and he drives back.

Then put you/family and the student up in an Ibis for the evening.

Should be able to do it for less than the CHF 500.

bobo_97 · #7 28.04.2011, 03:41

one would think airberlin would feel a bit guilty changing tickets but they dont care at all.....on their website u cannot buy tickets as "connecting flights". we bought tickets from zurich to dusseldorf and then dusseldorf to samos (which goes one time a week).....they changed the latter flight from 11ish to 06:25 so now it forces u to go the day before or one wont catch the flight. In my case I arrive very late so there is no flight at that time....

anyway, getting a student or unempoyed person to drive there and back sounds good...i dont know any....do u guys?

rainer_d · #8 28.04.2011, 08:47

It would really surprise me if this worked out well.
According to google maps, it takes at least 5.5h by car.

But this area (Köln/Düsseldorf) is AFAIK the most densely populated region in Germany, with the most traffic jams etc.
There is no guarantee that you actually make it in time.

http://www.wdr.de/verkehrslage/

It will be difficult to find somebody who has the time (Monday morning!) and willingness to drive you (not to mention finding somebody who actually shows up...) - and I certainly wouldn't drive it myself.
500 for rental is probably for a very cheap car. But doing 625km in a small car is no fun. Even less so under time-pressure.

I would take another flight from Düsseldorf. Or an earlier flight to Zurich, so you can take the train.

#9 28.04.2011, 11:04

Re: need a person to drive me from Zurich to Dusseldorf

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...fasScrollDir=1

Quote: I arrive on the 9th from South America at 19:00 and wont make the last plane or train....as my flight is from Dusseldorf at 06:25 (airberlin changed it from 11:00 to 06:25!!)

He arrives in Zurich at 19:00 That leaves only 1h 22min to go from Zurich to Basel Badische Bahnhof.

SBB Zurich airport 19:04, Basel Bad BHf 20:41

Quote: Basel Bad Station to Düsseldorf airport leaving Basel at 20:22

It can't be done by train.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________

If you hire the car and drive us there to Düsseldorf, I will drive the hire car back for you to Zurich airport for CHF 250,--

(I live in Bern and have to travel to Zurich and back by train. I know Germany, I lived there 12 years)

http://www.viamichelin.de/web/Routenplaner

Distance 615 Km, time: 5 Hours 35 minutes

#10 28.04.2011, 11:16

	Quote:	k_and_e
	Swiss has a flight to Dusseldorf at 20:40. I think that is much more convenient than the car and probably just as expensive.

This looks to be the best idea!

Verbier · #11 28.04.2011, 12:14

He arrives from South America at 19:00 (which means out of the airport at 20:00 earliest IF the plane is on time). Assuming the family is there ready to go you might get on the road at 20:30-21:00.

There is NO WAY someone getting off a plane (with jet lag) should be driving at night for 4+ hours. That means the "chauffeur" will need to do the up and back (with preferably a stay-over at an inexpensive hotel AT THE AIRPORT since you have an early flight.

Link: http://www.dusseldorfairporthotels.com/