It's long been a requirement in Italy. And if "nearby countries" includes Austria, which I don't see happening, they'll need it there, too. But I thought he said they already had them.

>>What about IDP, it is required in Spain, France has shifted to this being a requirement, any other countries on this list?<<

The OP mentions having his IDP in the first post . . ."I have my international license"

And even if he didn't . . . that is the very <i>least</i> of their worries. That could be taken care of in a few minutes in any AAA office.

With 5 countries in a month, you are right the car becomes the prime consideration as you will eating and sleeping in there and pointing at things as you whiz by.

Sorry - buty ou have to choose betwen staying in time shares and spending most of your time hiking or handing around the facilities or spending the bulk of time every day driving long dstances to get to NOT the major sights you want to see - but the FEW sights that are within 2 o3 even 3 hours of these very rural time shares.

I know that using time shares is tempting - but with 3 kids, 2 of then young adults, and wanting to actually see some major sights in europe - this plan just will not work.

I would bag the timeshares and then figure out what you really want to do. And if you want to do it as a road trip, esp given the cost/problems of young drivers.

Do not take this as an attack on road trips. We have done probably 20 of them in euope, 2 with our tween/teen DDs. But we had a major city as the anchor at each end for 4 or 5 days and in between we had NO 1 night stops but several 2 or 3 nights depending on the size of the towns. But we stayed in the towns with the sights we wanted to see and never stuck ourselves with more than about 4/4.5 hours driving per day so we could stop and see another quaint sight and have a nice lunch in the middle of the day. And not be forced to be up at 6 am to be on the road and turning up in strange towns at 10 or 11 pm and finding our way in the dark.

Pjbvickers, Hi.
I hope you will return soon and let us know your latest thoughts on your proposed trip.

I am sure you were excited with the idea of giving your family a memorable trip to Europe and had spent time thinking about it, and feeling good that you could make it happen with the time shares. I feel sorry about all the limitations of the time shares. It is a rotten thing to be told that your plans are not good and will not bring the trip you were counting on, but people would be more unkind and irresponsible if they were not truthful with you. Do keep in mind that it may come across in a rough way, but many people who post here live or have lived in Europe, or have traveled there a lot and know what they are talking about.

Time shares may be good for some people, depending on their needs, but the whole thing makes angry because the salespeople are gifted at deceit, making you believe they are fine for travel in Europe when they clearly are not. Most of the sales people have not even been to Europe, so know nothing about the places they are selling and the time shares places may cost as much as a simple hotel or apartment in a good location. It makes me angry because, though some are legitimate, many are just scammers, like hundreds of the so called vacation clubs. They prey on people's desire to travel and to provide nice vacations for their families, and it is easy to be pulled in.

Anyway, can you possibly trade them back in or trade them for any better located properties? There might be something that could repair this situation. Be frank and maybe someone will have some ideas.

>>I know that using time shares is tempting - but with 3 kids, 2 of then young adults, and wanting to actually see some major sights in europe - this plan just will not work.<<

I have stayed in about 20 timeshares in Europe (15+ in the UK) and most are rural to VERY rural. IME/IMO many would be FANTABULOUS locations for a family holiday -- especially w/ someone w/ slight special needs. That is not an issue -- most are w/i reasonable driving distance of <i>some</i> lovely countryside and <i>some</i> major/minor sites.

But (in general) they are mainly best for folks who have been to the various countries previously and don't need to dash about seeing sights. They are for exploring a pretty limited geographic area, relaxing, using the resort's facilities/amenities, enjoying the posh accommodations. So any ONE or TWO of these would be nice respites in between a driving tour --- but they are spread too far apart and too rural to be the bases for the entire trip. This is simply not a practical plan . . . especially by car.

And to clarify - one would need a car AT each of them -- but driving from one to the other - nope.

Now, IF one had 4 or 5 timeshares in one country (or adjacent countries) - THAT would be doable.

For instance one trip I stayed in three UK timeshare resorts during a 4.5 week trip -- one on Deeside, one near Stratford-upon-Avon, and one in Hampshire. Driving from one to the next - no problem. But that's not Germany/France/Spain/NW England/Italy