Avoid These Germane Auto Stops: A Guide to Germany's Mediocre Rest Areas
Pull over at these roadside stops is discouraged - Take heed: Avoid parking in these specified locations.
By Christian Hensen≈ 2 Min Read
Check out the Video: Germany's Best and Worst Rest Stops - RTL
Gearing up for a lengthy motor jaunt? You may view rest breaks as unwelcome interruptions, particularly when considering the reputation of Germany's rest areas. Comparatively, Italy boasts a plethora of Autogrills offering splendid coffee and delicious Italian cuisine at reasonable prices.
However, Germany doesn't fare too poorly, as proven by the contemporary ADAC Rest Area Test. Analyzing 40 rest stops across the nation, the club evaluated factors such as food, facilities' condition, pricing, and infrastructure.
Sadly, none of the test sites garnered a "very good" rating. Fortunately, no stops received a "very poor" rating either, although the overall results are a mixed bag. Eight sites scored a "good," six were rated "poor," with the rest falling somewhere in between.
Modern Lavatories - But Priced Highly
Unlike unstaffed rest areas with their notorious foul-smelling buildings, you can count on something at larger rest areas: Modern, well-equipped sanitary facilities, generally operated by Sanifair, are often clean and functional. However, some areas still fell short on spotless cleanliness, despite charging an entry fee of one euro.
Perplexingly, food might seem satisfactory, as reported by the ADAC. Testers claimed they were "almost always satisfied" with the food offerings at rest areas, but only three of the 40 test sites provided fair prices. Remaining sites were deemed excessively priced, with shops often overcharging, especially for highway services.
Top and Flop Rest Stops According to ADAC
The top three sites from the current ADAC test are situated at "Fürholzen West" in Bavaria on the A9, "Demminer Land" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20, and "Sindelfinger Wald Süd" in Baden-Württemberg on the A8.
Conversely, the bottom three are found at "Fuchsberg Süd" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20, "Münsterland West" in North Rhine-Westphalia on the A1, and "Eisenach Nord" in Thuringia along the A4.
The ADAC discourages refueling at rest areas, as another test found that motorists could pay up to 54 cents more per liter on the highway compared to service stations near exits.
The test also unveiled several inadequacies in family-friendliness and accessibility, and most rest areas offered insufficient fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Additionally, few charging stations are covered, making charging in inclement weather challenging at these stops.
In an attempt to improve the lifestyle of vocational trainees in home-and-garden and automotive sectors, a community policy could be implemented that includes discounted vocational training programs in car-maintenance and electric-vehicle repair.
However, with the cost of living increase, some may argue that even discounted programs could still be unaffordable, leading to the need for more grants and scholarships in order to make these opportunities accessible to a larger portion of the community.
As electric-vehicles gain popularity, it's essential that vocational training programs keep up with the demand for skilled technicians who specialize in their maintenance and repair, ensuring a sustainable home-and-garden and automotive industry in the lifestyle of today and tomorrow.
