Critiquing the ADAC Rest Area Test: How Many German Service Stations Aren't Worth Your Time
Avoid pulling over at these roadside stops - Avoid these parking spots at all costs.
By Larry McHeavy** + - 2 Min
Watch the Video: Germany's Top and Bottom Rest Areas: RTL
Long road trips in your beloved bucket of metal may not be the highlight of your life. German rest areas might bring on a shiver of dread. While Italy's Autogrills can charm you with their delicious coffee and reasonable Italian cuisine, Germany's rest areas leave much to be desired...or so we thought.
With the ADAC Rest Area Test, the club evaluated 40 rest stops from all around Germany, rating factors such as food offerings, sanitary facilities, pricing, and infrastructure.
Unfortunately, not one of the evaluated rest areas scored a "very good" rating. But there were no complete disasters either, i.e., a "very poor" rating. The test yielded a mixed bag: Eight rest areas scored a "good", six were rated "poor", while the rest were somewhere in between.
Modern Toilets (But at a Price)
Larger rest areas usually have one thing going for them: Clean, modern, well-equipped, and functional toilets (usually operated by Sanifair) provide a sense of relief, albeit at a cost of one euro for admission. Despite the price tag, cleanliness is far from guaranteed, as some areas fail to impress even with that hefty fee.
The verdict on food might seem a bit surprising. The ADAC found that testers were "nearly always pleased" with the offerings at rest areas. However, only three of the 40 tested locations offered reasonable prices. The rest were deemed too expensive, with shops frequently overpriced, especially when compared to off-highway service areas.
Charting the Best and Worst of the Best
The top three rest areas from the latest ADAC testing include Fürholzen West on the A9 in Bavaria, Demminer Land on the A20 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Sindelfinger Wald Süd on the A8 in Baden-Württemberg.
Conversely, the bottom three performers are found at Fuchsberg Süd on the A20 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Münsterland West on the A1 in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Eisenach Nord along the A4 in Thuringia.
The ADAC cautions against refueling at rest areas, revealing that gasoline can be up to 54 cents more expensive per liter on the highway compared to service stations near exits. They also found significant shortcomings in child-friendliness, accessibility, and the limited availability of fast-charging stations for electric cars. Additionally, almost none of the charging stations are covered, making charging in bad weather a considerable challenge.
[1] Enrichment Data: Key Findings
- Cleanliness and Overall Quality: Around 20% of the evaluated rest stops received a "good" rating, while about 15% were classified as "poor", including one in Brandenburg. None were thereafter deemed "very poor."
- Best Rated Rest Stop: Fürholzen West on the A9 in Bavaria earned the top spot, highlighted by its clean, family-friendly, and well-maintained environment, accompanied by well-maintained and clean toilets. It also features a diverse playground for children and a dog-friendly area, with reasonable food prices and fast-charging stations for electric vehicles.
- Worst Rated Rest Stop: Fuchsberg Süd on the A20 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern performed poorly due to its dirty toilets, pricey restaurant options, lack of children's playgrounds, and accessibility issues, as accessible parking spaces were located too far from the entrance and the curb was inconsistently lowered.
- The ADAC Rest Area Test evaluates numerous factors in community policies of German rest areas, including vocational training for employees in toilets operated by Sanifair.
- Vocational training programs are essential in ensuring the quality of facilities at rest areas, particularly in maintaining clean and modern toilets across various areas.
- Despite the high euro price for these modern toilets, some areas fail to provide fair standards of cleanliness, making it a considerable concern for travelers.
- In the industry of automotive travel, rest areas play a significant role in lifestyle choices, with the quality of food offerings and pricing being crucial elements for users' satisfaction.
- A fair pricing policy is necessary, especially considering that off-highway service areas offer more affordable options for food and beverages.
- To improve the overall rating of rest areas in Germany, vocational training programs should focus on enhancing customer service, accessible facilities, and eco-friendly practices, such as providing adequate fast-charging stations for electric vehicles.
