DRIVING IN EUROPE
 

HELP--IN JUNE--DRIVING FROM PARIS TO FLORENCE--FLORENCE TO BARCELONA--BARCELONA TO PARIS--WHAT DO YOU THINK???

what do we think about what??? (other than that is one looooong drive)

Are you asking if this is a good idea?

If so, sure,
~ if you have the money for the expensive cross-border rental and
~ if you can afford the expensive fuel and the road tolls and
~ if you like endless drives and
~ if you have somebody to share the drive with and
~ if you plan on spending time in the regions between those cities.

By spending time in between I mean staying in and looking around regions like the Alsace, Burgundy, Switzerland, the Swiss/French Alps, Lombardy, Toscana, Liguria, Côte d'Azur, Provence...

But if your trip's intention is to visit Paris, Florence, and Barcelona, then driving from one to the next, and having a car in these cities, would not make sense, but flying would.

Cheap flights at www.skyscanner.net and www.whichbudget.com.
Maps at http://maps.google.com/ and at www.viamichelin.com

hello Dalai--car is quite a bit cheaper than the train--and ryanair--will check your cheap flight suggestions-thanks a lot!!!

How many of you? That makes a difference. The more of you the better the car works out financially. And if you can share the driving, better still.

And what is the balance of days you stay in big cities where a car is a liability (you pay for it even though it just sits there, and parking can cost a ton if you find any...) versus days when the car is useful?

Once you figure those things out, you can decide.

Just so you know, in Italy and (I think) in Spain you are required by law to have the International Driving Permit with you, at least one of you I would think. You may never have to show it, but if you have a mishap and a law enforcement officer asks for it, you better produce it or it could be a hassle. Get only the real one (lots of scams on the internet) from AAA; if you're in the US, start at this website:

http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpapplc...2&secure=N

HELLO AGAIN DALAI--YOUR ADVICE IS SOUNDING GOOD--RESEARCH SHOWS A COST OF 600EUROS FOR GAS AND TOLLS FOR THIS TRIP PLUS ROOM AND BOARD FOR THE DAYS AND NITES OUT--AIR IS LOOKING BETTER--THANK YOU

Go to Lyon and make a left.

Why are you posting in all caps? Is this an emergency or something? Driving from Paris to Florence, Florence to Barcelona, Barcelona to Paris is something that millions of people have done - it doesn't mean you should do it. It might be insane. It might be do-able.

Would you PLEASE stop posting in all caps?

I think if you have the time, money and enjoy driving, then I will say go for it. My husband and I have done two road trips in France and loved every minute of it.

May I suggest that you don't type in all caps because it seems like you are screaming.

I hope you enjoy your road trip. Make sure you bring your ipod.

Cross border rental need not be expensive. Certainly as you are not intending to go to Central/Eastern Europe. Check with your rental company that you will have more than just third party coverage if you take the car to another country. Europeans hire cars for long trips all the time, preferring to rent than clock up the Kms on their own car.
If you enjoy driving and are happy with driving in Europe, plus you have the time, then go for it. You will see so much more than you would by flying/training everywhere.

Thank you StCirq. I wondered what was up with the all Caps.

jdc

I think the most valuable thing for me, so I will post the question to you is can you speak enough of the language to read the signs. I have drive in Germany and France a couple of times and Italy once, I have navigated several times. Being able to read the signs if invaluable, at least to me.
I agree with a previous poster that if you have many people driving is more economical, that is how I have ended up driving the last couple of times.
In addition there is the ease of driving versus getting to some of the things you will want to experience. For example the chateau of the Loir are much easier to navigate by car.
Just my thoughts
RosieCaro

AER LINGUS SALE; Aerlingus.com has a fare sale to Europe good for travel thru June 15th. Dublin and Shannon, $398 rt, plus tax. Paris, Barcelona, London, Madrid and Amsterdam, $502 rt, plus tax. Good fares after June 15th. Iris

SORRY; Not too smart. Will re-post. Iris

I've already passed your info on to some friends. Thanks Iris

Hi, I apprecite the info. Always good to know a good fare.

Have driven all over europe and never had any trouble reading the road signs.

Most are standard symbols, others can easily be figured out - ad any guidebook will tell you how roads are labeld in each country (route #, closest town, final destinatin etc).

That's the least of anyone's problems.

The issue is - why do all that driving if all you want to see is those 3 cities If you want to see places in between - and have several weeks for the trip driving would be fine.

With limited time and only wanting to see thoe cities air is the only thing that makes sense.