EasyJet

[evenstar]

Not sure if you will actually do any driving in Germany, but here the speed limits are posted everywhere, but as a general rule, it's 50 in villages, 100 on open roads, and no limit on the autobahn unless otherwise posted (iirc 130 is recommended). If you see the sign below, it's no limit, but more often than not, especially in the area where I live, there is a posted limit.



Be careful for speed cameras, though - they're everywhere. And don't drink and drive (although that should be obvious). The Germans are really strict about that.

[CitizenCain]

Got my International Driving Permit.

Now, what the fuck is a kilometer and how many of them am I allowed to traverse per hour?

.6 miles. And as many of them as you can get away with, right? I'm pretty sure there are still a half dozen traffic cam tickets that the UK is expecting me to pay off before the apocalypse.

[Nessus]

.6 miles. And as many of them as you can get away with, right? I'm pretty sure there are still a half dozen traffic cam tickets that the UK is expecting me to pay off before the apocalypse.

There's an urban myth floating around Finland about a guy who got busted for speeding in the UK, and showed them his Finnish license, and he got a ticket for someone named "Ajokortti Körkort". That's "driver's license" in Finnish and Swedish, respectively.

[CitizenCain]

Not being in the jurisdiction when they get around to mailing off your ticket works too... though I guess that way makes for a more amusing tale.

[Dreadnaught]

Not sure if you will actually do any driving in Germany, but here the speed limits are posted everywhere, but as a general rule, it's 50 in villages, 100 on open roads, and no limit on the autobahn unless otherwise posted (iirc 130 is recommended). If you see the sign below, it's no limit, but more often than not, especially in the area where I live, there is a posted limit.



Be careful for speed cameras, though - they're everywhere. And don't drink and drive (although that should be obvious). The Germans are really strict about that.

I will actually probably be driving in Germany, so thanks for the tip! Depends on whether it's best to drive from Berlin to Wolfsburg or take the train.

There's an urban myth floating around Finland about a guy who got busted for speeding in the UK, and showed them his Finnish license, and he got a ticket for someone named "Ajokortti Körkort". That's "driver's license" in Finnish and Swedish, respectively.

[Khendraja'aro]

I will actually probably be driving in Germany, so thanks for the tip! Depends on whether it's best to drive from Berlin to Wolfsburg or take the train.

I'd take the train. There's a direct connection and you'll avoid the A2 where the traffic can be quite heavy. Not to mention that with the train, you'll avoid possible traffic jams as well.

Given the current gas prices over here, the train would be actually cheaper than renting a car + gas (39€ for IC, 47 for ICE (train types)) and it's only one hour from Berlin main station to Wolfsburg. Driving by car might take up to two hours, depending on where you're starting in Berlin.

Not being in the jurisdiction when they get around to mailing off your ticket works too... though I guess that way makes for a more amusing tale.

On the Autobahn are also police patrols which will stop you right then and there if you're speeding.

[Dreadnaught]

I know, you're right. It just feels like I should be driving there. And I don't even like driving, I prefer trains. Plus the train is really a lot faster and cheaper in this case, so I'll probably take your advice. I'll have plenty of time to drive during the second half of this crazy trip.

[Khendraja'aro]

Public transport in Germany is pretty dense, so unless you want to do sightseeing in smaller towns and villages I'd recommend using bus and train when visiting larger cities.

Spares you from having to search for parking spots as well.

[Nessus]

You know, while I haven't driven a car in years (it'll be a decade soon!), riding the Autobahn is something I'd want to experience at some point. It's one of the least morally dubious legacies of Nazism.

[Khendraja'aro]

Well, in that case you should take care to drive during the non-peak-hours (like, noon, or late in the evening) and choose an Autobahn with at 3 lanes and relatively few construction sites. I.e. steer clear of the A7

[Nessus]

I'd also need a car. And some vacation time. Sigh

[CitizenCain]

Steal your boss' car. Kill both birds with one stone.

[Dreadnaught]

It's weird how I dislike driving and actually prefer trains. But somehow I underestimated train travel for several sections of this trip. I'm in socialist Europe for frack's sake.

The final phase of the trip would involve a 7.5 hour drive from one of the vacation spots to a work meeting. My mom suggested I look at trains and, what do you know, the train (which is 2.5 hours away from the vacation spot) takes about 2 hours. For 35 Euros. The time savings is easily three hours, so it's completely worth it. I see no reason why I shouldn't get cheap subsidized travel on the backs of overtaxed French people.

Interestingly, the French rail system directs all Americans to buy through Rail-Europe which looks incredibly scammy. But through the magic of Google Translate built into Chrome, I just booked directly.