We are stationed in South Carolina and wanted to visit Europe before I retired next year. Leave started on May 9th. At midnight I faxed my information to Atlanta and BWI for trip to Germany or England and to Ramstein/Rhein-Main/Mildenhall for flight back. Had been calling Atlanta to see how many seats, fluctuated wildly. When we arrived at Thurs May 9th at 1330 for 1415 showtime they showed 45 seats. In the end they looked like they picked up everyone on the list. Our first mistake was not parking in long term parking. Cost for 8 days at Atlanta was $101. We got on the flight and processed through, cost for 6 people was under $80 (can't beat that). While waiting called ahead to Ramstein and made Space A lodging reservations(can do this 72 hours in advance if you are outside Germany, 24 hours in Germany, cost for one bedroom with queen, fold out queen and fold out single--$41 per night), they had available room at Landstuhl, 15 minutes from base. Arrived at Rhein-Main AB early Friday morning. No rental cars at the two rental places at the terminal, went around the base a little then caught a shuttle (only twice a day at 0900 and 1130) to the Frankfurt IAP to find a rental. Looking for a van, nobody had one until I got to Europcar. Cost for a van (9 passenger Mercedes) for 7 days was 760 Euros (our biggest expense). There are 6 of us so the only thing that will fit us all is a van. Drove down to Landstuhl, arrived that afternoon. Spent Saturday and Sunday in Germany then Monday morning headed out to England to visit friends. Again made reservations 24 hours ahead of time for 3 days at Lakenheath. They had a unit available (4 bedroom TLF, again $41 a night). Advised not to travel thru France because of toll fees, drove thru Luxembourg, Belgium and then France toward the end. Cost for tunnel was 351 Euros round trip(cost depends on size of vehicle and number of people -- www.eurotunnel.com). 35 minute tunnel was very comfortable, drive your vehicle on to the train and just ride in your vehicle...even had bathrooms on the train. From England we again made Space A lodging reservations for Thursday night at Rhein-Main AB just for one night. Drove back to Rhein-Main on Thursday, spent one night then returned vehicle and checked in at terminal. Signing up as soon as leave started really helped out here, we were almost at the top of Cat III list after a week. I was thinking we'd have to contend with Cat IIs but they did not get that here in Germany (7 years stationed in Okinawa, I had to consider that). It really gives you a very good chance of getting back as a Cat III. They started with 24 seats and ended up taking about 60. Cost to get us back to US...about $146 for 6 people. Flew in to Atlanta about 1600 Friday, Out of the terminal and in our car by 1730 and we were home before 2300 on 17 May. Intentionally left out many details to keep short. All in all an experience to remember. Hope some information here will help others....Ed
