European Road Trip?
It could be easier and cheaper than you think to enjoy a tour throughout Europe – if you take to the road! A road trip also provides a lot more freedom than travelling by plane or train because it enables you to get to many locales that are not easily accessible by any other means or that you may not consider seeing normally.
There are a few practicalities that should be taken care of before the trip however:
• Make sure passports are in hand, as they will be needed at every border.
• All European rental companies require a valid driver’s license (and some countries require an international driving permit if you hold a US licence. Permits are available through the American Auto Association.)
• Also, check that the your health insurance will continue to provide coverage overseas (as well as completing your EHIC – European Health Insurance Card )
• Contact your credit card companies, and establish a budget.
Following through with each of these preparatory steps will make the entire experience much more enjoyable.
Now, it is time to plan the trip. In this brief example, the road trip will take a tour through the United Kingdom, to France, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Austria, Germany, and Holland, the lesson here being ‘be sure to have a loose itinerary and book a few hostels before leaving’.
The trip begins in the United Kingdom, which makes it necessary to take a ferry to the mainland. There are many ports along the coast of England and France, (plus a boat ride across the English Channel is an added adventure in and of itself).
Once in France, you might like to take the time to drive to a few sites. One such destination is Mont Saint Michel, an impressive fortress just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. There are many other attractions that might be of interest, such as wine tasting and castle tours in the Loire Valley (for some incredible WW2 history) or exploring the quaint medieval town of Strasbourg. Read the rest of this entry »