traveler8586

We will be taking our first vacation to Europe in September. We have 15 nights and are renting a minivan for our trek across Europe. Here's our 'rough' itinerary:

-Fly into Munich (2 nights)
-Drive to Neuschwanstein castle, then onto Innsbruck (1 night)
-Drive to Verona (2 nights)
-Drive to Bologna (2 nights)
-Drive to Grindelwald (2 nights)
-Drive to Lucerne (1 night)
-Drive through France on way to Paris (1 night somewhere in between Lucerne and Paris)
-Drive to/fly out of Paris (4 nights)

Having never been to Europe, can you offer any advice/tips on driving across Europe...anything I need to know about? Is is vastly different than driving here in the states? Any road signs I need to familiarize myself with before going? Also, from mapping the routes, there seems to be a lot of tolls in Europe..is that right?

According to Google Maps, the longest drive we will have is from Bologna to Grindelwald (about 6 hours)...are Google Maps distances and times accurate? Or do I need to plan for longer than the approximate times given by Google Maps?

We will need a very good GPS system so I'd love to hear your recommendations for that as well.

Any advice you can offer to help me with my preparation (and lessen my anxiety/stress level about driving through Europe) is greatly appreciated!

kerouac

1. Do not try an international drop-off of a rental car. The fees are incredible. However, it is not too difficult to drop off a car just before crossing a border and getting a new one on the other side of the border.

2. Learn all of the international road signs, because they are used everywhere in Europe. Often there will be no words, even if you can speak the local language. Take a look at them using Google.

3. If you really want to avoid tolls, it is possible to do so, but you will go crazy if you try to avoid ALL tolls. Use www.viamichelin.com to plot some of your itineraries. It will tell you the exact cost of any tolls or else plot out scenic slow routes if you prefer.

Dukey1

Get OFF your horn; stay OUT of the passing lane except when you are passing; make sure you know if you need a sticker/vignette to drive on certain roadways and which ones those are; use your turn signals; don't leave ANYTHING in the car.

maxima

Be familiar with areas that have no entry/no parking for vehicles. There are a lot of places with narrower streets so parking with a mini van may be difficult. You may need to park at a garage or area farther away from the areas you want to tour in the cities and may need to take public transit to these areas.

you are not allowing for much time in each place. While you have 2 nights, you will spend time getting there and should allow for traffic delays, rest stops, refueling etc. In effect you will probably have only one full day in the places you have 2 nights.

jujubean

Hey Travel,

How fun your trip sounds. My family did a similar trip a few years ago - looping from Munich back to Munich and going through Austria, Italy, Lichtenstein and Switzerland. Though no France on that trip. We had a great time - our only rough patch was trying to "find" Venice in the fog and dark - I know, it should have been easy, but - it wasn't.

My tips are these:

*Never let the fuel tank get below a quarter of a tank - ever.
*don't speed in tunnels - there is almost always a police officer at the outlet (surprise!).
*Don't try too hard to avoid tolls and larger roads - sometimes it's good just to get "there" - and some of the larger roads are true feats of engineering that are fun to drive on.
*In Switzerland you may need a sticker - double and triple check on this - as it turned out our car had one - but I've heard most don't.
*as others have said - know your roads signs! I am American and the signs were sometimes hard to decipher - print out a crib sheet and take it with you. I promise you will not regret it if you do.
*** learn how to ask for and understand directions in each language of each country you are going to - carry a small notepad with you so that if you're just too tired to comprehend what someone is saying, they can draw a picture for you - helped us find Venice! Way better than hand gestures. And of course - learn how to say a very appreciative thank you!

GPS is great - but there where times when a good map was the thing we needed. I was glad I purchased one for each country we were driving through.
**my husband got an international driving permit through AAA - normally not required, but I think we needed it for Lichtenstein (can't fully remember)

As for your other questions - if you bring a GPS from home make sure it has the countries that you are going to loaded and ready to go. I did find that google maps was pretty good on estimating times and distances - but I did not use any google maps for our trips. I like to see the whole picture that a regional or Country map gives you - puts your destination in context.

As for being different than the US - it is. But not too much. We have found that European drivers don't have patience for bad drivers. As stated above, if you are slow, stay in the slow lane - the passing lane is for passing not parking. Also, familiarize yourself with rules for roundabouts, and try as hard as you can to really know the route you are going so that you don't have to slow down to figure it out.

Anyway, that's our 2 cents. Have fun!

xyz99

I found times on viamichelin pretty accurate, plus they will also tell you how much you need for tolls for each segment. Have cash on hand for tolls. Some take credit cards, but it is easier fi you have cash.

I don't necessarily agree with kerouac on his #1 item, I think it depends on a lot of variables, so do not eliminate that option without looking into it. Depending on your budget, the time "cost" of dropping the car off on one side of the border, getting a bus/train to cross the border, get a new car might be more important than a couple hundred euros.

You need an international driver license if you are stopped by police.

dugi_otok

European traffic and road signs on page 8 and other info:
http://images.hertz.com/pdfs/european_drivers_guide.pdf

France and Italy Super Highways have tolls. Switzerland and Austria have road taxes(vignettes). Germany has neither.

http://www.german-way.com/travel-and...d-switzerland/

A good description of driving in Italy:
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/autostrada.htm

Driving tip: Drive in the right lane, use left lane only for passing.Italians tailgate, scary but you learn to ignore.

I use viamichelin not google maps so I cannot comment on accuracy of their driving times. But viamichelin is very accurate.Add in time for stops.

I bought a Garmin Nuvi GPS on Amazon which included Europe map. It still works well. There are newer models than mine now available.Lern to use it before you leave. Program your destinations at home, even Hotels, etc. It is also good for walking in cities.

Driving is very similar to driving at home. You will have no problems. Another thing you need to know are the signs at the toll booths, which line to get in, will American credit cards work, etc.That is another topic. Read up on the latest.

spaarne

<i>Tips for driving through Europe (first timer)
Posted by: traveler8586 on Jun 29, 14 at 12:47pm
Having never been to Europe, can you offer any advice/tips on driving across Europe...anything I need to know about? </i>

This illustrated introduction to driving in Europe can get your engine started http://tinyurl.com/pdpdk26.

First start at your AAA and get a Planning Map of Europe. Highlight your targets and consider your routes. Mark it up.

Don't rely on Google Maps or GPS exclusively. Technology is great, when it works. Invest in a Michelin Europe Map [ISBN 2067170112] and regional Michelin maps for the areas you will be visiting, e.g. Switzerland map #729, Burgundy map #519. Get the Michelin Green Guides and Red Hotel/Restaurant guides for those areas also.

If you don't know German, French, and Italian get Berlitz pocket dictionaries/phrase books.

kerouac

There are plenty of free autoroutes in France, depending on the routes you take. For example they are free in Alsace and Brittany, but they are also free in any area with difficult access, such as the Massif Central or the Dordogne area. Maps are good for telling you what is free.

It's true that it is nearly impossible to get through Switzerland without a "vignette" giving you the right to use the motorways.

bvlenci

Why don't you drive through Germany instead of France on your way to Paris? If you drop the car in Stuttgart, for example, you can get a direct train to Paris from there and avoid any cross-border drop-off charges.

I don't see any point in visiting a place for one night only. Between getting there and leaving the next day, you have almost no time to see anything.

In Italy, nearly every town or city has a limited traffic zone (ZTL) where only residents, delivery vehicles, taxis, and the like are allowed to enter. It's very easy to accidentally stray into these zones and you'll get a big fine in your mailbox up to a year later. Also, your car rental agency will make a hefty charge to your credit card for helping the police track you down. Make sure you understand where these zones are in Verona and Bologna. Bologna is particularly tricky. We go there fairly often, but almost always take the train because of the difficult parking and the ZTL. We once drove to Verona, but I don't remember whether it was difficult to avoid the ZTL.

You need an IDP to drive in Italy; you can get it at AAA very cheaply. If you bring along your own passport-sized photos, it will be even cheaper.

Pvoyageuse

Beware of the legal alcohol limit in each country you'll be visiting.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunk_d...law_by_country

dugi_otok

You didn't ask, but......

I would substitute Mittenwald for Innsbruck. You will get a little bit of German alpine village on your vacation.There are many possible attractions between Fussen and Mittenwald.

I would drop Lucerne and stay 3 nights in Grindelwald.This is arguably the best of Switzerland.It also eliminates two 1 night stops in a row.Then Beaune,Burgundy,France could be your 1 night stop when driving Grindelwald to Paris.

Dukey1

"Italians tailgate, scary but you learn to ignore."

I am sorry but the above statement is oh, so incorrect. Italians <B>do not</B>tailgate. Everybody who ever drives <B>in front of an Italian</B> and this often iccludes <B>other</B> Italians, simply is not driving <B>fast enough</B> ever!

Kathie

You have scheduled two nights in most places, which gives you just one full day in that location. As it is, it appears you will spend most of your time in transit, driving from one place to another. If that is what you want, fine. But if you wanted to see a bit of some of these places, you'll need to re-think your itinerary. Personally, I don't like to schedule fewer than three nights anywhere, as that is just two full days.

Sassafrass

Who is "we" ? Kids? If so, that is a huge amount of time in a car seat.

A good bit of your actual time in places is so rushed, it is like drive by or movie version. A lot of the wonder of places in Europe is walking around in beautiful towns and cities that are so unique and different from the US. You may really be into driving with sightseeing and cultural experiences secondary. If so, though it would be absolute torture for me, your trip will be fun for you.

Also, perhaps you have absolutely no interest, and we all have different likes, but you are going very close to lovely Venice between Verona and Bologna. OTOH, if food is of greater interest, then you are hitting the right place with Bologna.

tomboy

Re the comment(s) above on passing:
When/if you deign to enter the left lane to pass:
1. Speed up to pass, then pull back in
2. Get it done!! Pass the other car by going at least 10mph faster than the other car.
3. If you spend more than 15 seconds in the left lane, be assured you'll have a BMW 2 feet behind your rear bumper.

Pegontheroad

I agree with those who think you have too many changes. This schedule would drive me batty. You will spend way too much time driving and too little time seeing anything.

I like Rick Steves' advice: "Assume that you will return."

nytraveler

A couple of notes:

Learn the proper names of the places you are going (We were questioned by some American who heard us speaking English at a rest atop in Austria. They wanted to go to Vienna and couldn't find the right road - even though the sign saying "Wien" ws right in front of them.)

Get proper maps - good, detailed one with all local routes marked (I don;t trust GPS for a minute).

Speed limits are generally faster in europe - and in some places in Germany there are still no limits.

BUT - do not EVER drive in the left lane. This is for passing only. You pass and move into right lane - and repeat as needed. If on roads without limits you can expect to be passed by cars doing 150 and you better get out of their way fast.

Cannot stress strongly enough not to drive in pedestrian zones - the fines will be hundreds of euros.

Do not pick up the car until you leave Munich and drop as soon as you get to Paris.

Yes, there will be large drop off fee - think of it as part of the rental.

If you want a special vehicle - minivan, esp if you want automatic transmission - arrange to pick it up at the largest possible office (usually airport is best) to have the best chance of getting what you have reserved.

I have found most drivers in europe to be more skillful than in the US - since it is usually harder to get a license. But they will be impatient if you dither, are confused or (CRIME!) drive too slowly for traffic.

We have done numerous road trips in europe and enjoyed all of them. But we are both strong, assertive drivers that like driving fast cars fast - and have a good sense of direction as well as a lot of practice being the navigator. (Don;t understand not finding Venice - it's at the end of the causeway.)

And we have never been lost - although once or twice we went a teeny roundabout to get where we were going. (Once to stay in a chateau near Bayeux that gave directions via a small road that went through their farm - and we were doing it in the fog after dark - 5 pm in November.)

IMDonehere

We have rented cars many times in many countries each had its own adventure.

We have gotten lost many times, but usually not for long.

In many European cities a car is a burden because they originated long before cars were even a notion.

The trains in Europe are far superior to those in the US and I would consider using them.

Many times rentals in Europe are through a broker even for the major rental car companies, so be sure you know the actual company from whom you are renting.

Sometimes if you disobey the law you may be required to pay on the spot.

It is much harder to be scofflaw these days, due to computerization.

If you get a ticket you will pay an admin fee to the car rental company regardless of the final adjudication.

In Italy do not fight their customs, embrace them.

StCirq

I can't even begin to imagine following this absolutely harrowing itinerary, especially in a minivan that is going to encounter innumerable OBSTACLES (hello ZTLS!) and narrow alleyways, but whatever you plan to do, get hold of a Michelin atlas of Europe. It has all the road signs, which are no-brainers, and all the stupid stuff you need to know about merging into traffic on highways in various countries, and roundabouts, and such.

You're going to see a helluva lot of tarmac and not much else, but you'll be in good company with the millions of Brits and Dutch who do this every summer and seem to enjoy it.To me, it would be hell on wheels.