Dodge the Dull Stops: Which German Motorway Services to Steer Clear of
- by Christian Hensen, Road Trip Buddy
- 2 Mini Vans
Avoid pit stops at these highway rest areas - Avoid these highway stops under any circumstances.
Watch the Video: German Motorway Services - The Gems and the Pits with RTL
Hitting the open road for a long car journey can turn into a nerve-wracking experience, especially when it comes to deciding on pit stops. German motorway services, often referred to as "Raststätten" or "Tankstellen," don't always receive the best reviews. But fear not, fellow travelers! Europe's Italians have them beat with their Autogrills offering great coffee and authentic dishes at reasonable prices.
However, there's hope for us Germans, as proved by the recent ADAC Rest Area Test. This comprehensive evaluation assessed 40 motorway services based on various aspects, such as food offerings, cleanliness, pricing, and infrastructure.
The disappointing news? None of the tested rest areas reached an "excellent" rating. To their credit, no service stations landed in the "very poor" category either. The overall picture is a mixed bag: Eight services scored a "good," while six received a "poor" rating, with the rest falling somewhere in between.
Clean Bathrooms - At a Price
For larger motorway services, you can generally trust the condition of the restrooms. Although they may require a one-euro fee for entry, the facilities are often modern, well-equipped, and functional. However, the cleanliness didn't always meet the highest standards in every case – especially considering the entry fee.
When it comes to the grub, you might be surprised at the testers' conclusions. The ADAC reports that 95% of the time, they were "almost always satisfied" with the food offerings at the services. The catch? Only three out of the 40 tested facilities offered fair prices, while the rest were labeled as overpriced, with shops often charging more than their off-highway counterparts.
The Best and Worst German Motorway Services According to ADAC
You'll want to fuel up at these top three motorway services based on the ADAC Rest Area Test:1. "Füurholzen West" in Bavaria on the A92. "Demminer Land" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A203. "Sindelfinger Wald Süd" in Baden-Württemberg on the A8
On the other side of the spectrum, avoid these bottom three:1. "Fuchsberg Süd" in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A202. "Münsterland West" in North Rhine-Westphalia on the A13. "Eisenach Nord" in Thuringia along the A4
In general, the ADAC encourages drivers to refuel outside of the motorway services, as prices can be up to 54 cents more per liter along the motorway compared to nearby service stations.
Other disappointing findings were in regards to child-friendliness and accessibility, as well as the insufficient number of fast-charging points for electric cars. The real shocker? Almost none of the charging points are covered, which can make charging electric vehicles in bad weather quite the challenge.
Want to avoid poor pit stops and enhance your road trip experience? Follow these helpful insider tips and hit the Autobahn with confidence!
- The recent ADAC Rest Area Test revealed that while none of the evaluated German motorway services attained an 'excellent' rating, they generally provided decent facilities for travelers, such as cleaner restrooms in larger services for a fee, and a variety of vocational training options could be found at some of these services.
2.When it comes to dining at motorway services, the ADAC report showed that while 95% of the time testers were 'almost always satisfied' with the food offerings, many of the services were found to be overpriced, making it advisable for travelers to opt for vocational training centers at some motorway services for a more affordable dining experience.
