Cruise ending in Basel

[SOShrink]

Our December Rhine Holiday Market Cruise aboard the SS Antoinette ends in Basel. We will then rent a car to spend a day or two in Baden Baden and Rothenburg, and ultimately fly home from Frankfurt. Unfortunately, there is no way to get around the one-way rental drop-off charge to another city to the best of my knowledge. I am looking for a hotel recommendation in Basel from the perspective of cruise passengers (proximity to the dock, schlepping luggage, good location for a one day stay in the winter season, parking, etc.). With regards to renting a car, we have found the best deal from the airport so one of us will be taking the ship's shuttle to the airport to pick up the car and then come back to pick up the rest of the family from the ship. Has anyone done anything like this?

[Bet & Peg]

Don't know if this wll help but we had a recommendation from a traveller from last year who praise the Hotel Euler. She stayed there pre-cruise and thought it fabulous - so we booked it! She said it came with a pre-paid tram card and shuttle from the airport and she took a taxi to the port. We're not renting a car so I can't comment on that part.

[Paulinda]

SOS - try posting your question regarding renting an auto on TripAdvisor or the Fodors Europe forum. There are many more knowledegable posters on those sights and you will definitely get an answer of some sort.

 

Have a great journey!

[troywest]

Anything in Switzerland is very expensive - including car rentals.

 

BUT, the Airport in Basel serves three countries.

 

EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (IATA: BSL, MLH, ICAO: LFSB) is an international airport 6 km (3.7 mi) northwest of Basel (Switzerland), 22 km (14 mi) southeast[3] of Mulhouse (France), and 70 km (43 mi) south of Freiburg (Germany).[3]

 

The airport is actually located in France, but is near the Swiss and German border.

 

BSL = Switzerrland

 

MLH = France (same airport)

 

Freiburg = Germany

 

So, one way cars could be much cheaper if you rent from the French or German sides of the same airport.