KiwiDeb

My daughter is currently leaving Egypt, on to Turkey for a few days then was looking to hire a car working her way up through Croatia to France. Travelling alone. She wants to experience as much of life as she can but as a, yes I know, an over protective mother,across the other side of the world, and I worry which would be the best route to take,is car the best option travelling alone, what visas are needed... ANY suggestions, tips, advice from seasoned travellers in that part of the world would be appreciated. I am all for letting the kids make their own way and path in life, but if I can pre advise her on some of the better routes and what to avoid, I will feel a lot better. Thanks

DebitNM

How old is she??

thursdaysd

Does she have a work permit? Public transport is fine in that part of the world and almost certainly cheaper than a car for a solo traveler.

suze

Because you say "young girl" is she even able to rent a car on her own?

KiwiDeb

She is 26...No work permit. Just winging it best she can.

thursdaysd

If she doesn't have a work permit she shouldn't be working..... Also, does she know about the Schengen 90 day limit?

KiwiDeb

Sorry when I say working her way up, I mean travelling her way up. Not working.I have googled Schengen 90 day limit.Luckily we are from one of the countries that doesnt require a visa so as long as she doesnt stay longer than 90 days it should be fine. Thanks for pointing that out though.

StCirq

Does she realize that if she rents a car in country X and drops it off in country Y there will be an enormous drop-off fee? Like 500-1,000 euros or more, depending on the countries involved?

adrienne

<< looking to hire a car working her way up through Croatia to France >>

Do you mean she intends to work or are you using "working" in the sense that she will be moving around from Turkey to France? If she is planning on working what type of work will she be doing and how will she get jobs? She'd better have work visas if she intends on getting work.

That car rental will cost her lots of money to drop it off in France, beyond the rental price and the cost of gas/tolls. This is not the best way unless she wants to go to out of the way places. Public transportation will be better and cheaper.

Is she interested in visiting the countries between Turkey and Croatia? How long will this trip take?

Entry visas to each country would depend on her nationality. I believe Turkey requires visas for everyone and currently uses evisas; getting visas at the Turkish port of entry have been discontinued. She's old enough to look into visa requirements herself.

PS She's not a young girl any more and hasn't been for at least 10 years.

KiwiDeb

All my replies dont seem to be showing

adrienne

I see your replies but since I was thinking and typing while you posted I could not see the one you posted at 8:09 until I posted and refreshed the screen.

KiwiDeb

And that did...Not working her way up sorry, travelling up.As a NZ citizen she will be free to travel without a visa.As long as she doesnt stay more than 90 days. No I didnt realise that the drop off fee would cost that much. This is the sort of advice I appreciate thank you. Sounds like public transport will be the way to go. She wants to go everywhere she can. all the countries in between. Sorry for he misleading "young Girl" She is still to me.

adrienne

That only covers the Schengen countries but not countries like Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Serbia. Your daughter needs to check each country's requirements for visas for NZ citizens.

<< Sorry for he misleading "young Girl" She is still to me. >>

We know you're trying to keep yourself young, as well! LOL

greg

It is not necessary to ask someone how much it costs to drop car in different country. If you just go to a car rental web site and request a quote specifying two different countries, you will be told in no uncertain term how much premium they will tack onto the rental. Before internet, which is more than two decades ago, these info were hard to come by. Now, accommodation availability, prices, weather, train connections, etc, can easily be looked up online. Whether public transport is the "way to go" or not depends on where she is heading to. While many people blindly rent cars for any trips, a more rational approach is to look at pros and cons of connecting specific destinations using public transit vs. a rental car.

nytraveler

I certainly hope a young girl (10 to 12 years ole) isn't traveling europe herself. If a young woman (16 to 22 or 23) there may be different responses depending on her age.

Oh sorry - see she is 26 - so actually just a woman - not a "kid" (she may be YOUR child but she is long past being a child). IMHO you're at least 5 or 6 years late to be organizing her travel for her.

You don't talk about her budget - but for a trip this long through so many countries a car is going to be a major expense for a single person(and this is from someone who loves road trips in europe).

If I were here I would lay out a sample itinerary and look at the cost of trains versus car, gas, toll and garage (the center of many cities are pedestrian only and there is o place to put a car).

adrienne

The other thing she needs to look into is if she rents a car in Turkey can she take it into the countries between Turkey and Croatia (does the rental agency allow the car to go into other countries).

KiwiDeb

Thanks to all the positive replies. some really good bits of advice. I appreciate them all. Google searches have given many mixed messages,so many different costs..no responses from emails to what I thought were reputable car companies.She isnt in a position to look up all these queries so thats why I thought I would do a bit of ground work for her. Kia pai tō rā.

thursdaysd

Rather than looking at car rental sites (and many posters here just use AutoEurope), you/she would be better off studying seat.61.com

KiwiDeb

Thank you Thursdaysd Great site. that has everything she will need.